Adrienne Lyle and Wizard. Photos © SusanJStickle.com.
Canada-1 and Spain Round Out Team Medals, Lisa Wilcox Wins FEI Prix St. Georges CDI 3*, FL Intl Youth Dressage Championships Have Opening Classes
Wellington, FL – February 20, 2014 – Team USA-1 held onto its lead from day one to emerge victorious from team competition in the Stillpoint Farm CDIO Nations Cup at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF).
USA-1 was crowned team gold medalists with an overall score of 423.543. Team USA-1 comprised Adrienne Lyle and Wizard, Silva Martin and Rosa Cha W, Tina Konyot and Calecto V, and Shawna Harding and Rigo.
Watch Adrienne Lyle’s FEI Grand Prix Special test with Wizard. Video courtesy of Campfield Videos.
For more video clips, visit the AGDF Facebook page in upcoming days!
The silver medal went to Canada-1, whose roster included Brittany Fraser and All In, Belinda Trussell with Anton, Chris Von Martels and Zilverstar, and Megan Lane and San D’or. Canada-1 finished second with a final cumulative score of 414.488.
Team Spain achieved a podium finish with a team composed of almost entirely small tour horses, earning bronze with a total score of 412.632. Juan Matute Jr. and Don Diego Ymas, Paula Matute and Tarpan Ymas, Carlos Munoz and Klouseau, and Marta Renilla and Presumido competed for Spain.
The Stillpoint Farm CDIO Nations Cup competition featured riders from nine teams, including two U.S. teams and two Canadian teams, as well as teams from Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, Colombia, and Spain. There are also individuals participating from Puerto Rico and Georgia. Individual medals will be presented after Friday’s FEI I-1 Freestyle and FEI Grand Prix Freestyle competition, part of the week’s featured “Friday Night Stars” event. AGDF 7 also hosts CDI 3* competition, presented by Peacock Ridge. Between CDIO and CDI 3* competition, 15 countries from around the globe are represented during Week 7 of the AGDF.
American Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover said that both USA teams came in to competition to win it and he’s looking forward to continuing to guide American teams to victories at Nations Cups across the globe.
“Of course, I came into this with not only the hope, but the expectation, that America would lead. I’m not a good loser at all. I like winning and so when America goes out, no matter where we are in the world, we’re going in to every arena with the idea of winning and of course doing our best. I was very proud of all of our riders, not only on this team but our B team as well. I’m looking forward to the next Nations Cups where America will be representing as well,” Dover commented.
Tuny Page of Stillpoint Farm was also on hand to express support for what she believes is the most important competition of the AGDF circuit. “I think this Nations Cup series is critical to the development of dressage in every country. It’s fantastic to see a team with young people here that probably haven’t ridden on a team before and have the experience of riding on a team. Our young Americans that haven’t ridden on a team before, where else would they get that chance? This has been really critical for the future development for everybody,” she remarked.
FEI Director of Dressage Trond Asmyr was thrilled to have the FEI Nations Cup competition in North America and hopes the success of the Stillpoint Farm CDIO Nations Cup will set the precedent for more dressage Nations Cup competitions outside of Europe.
“We had the first test for the Nations Cup (Series) for dressage last year, and we only had European events, so when this event came up as a possibility for being part of the Nations Cup, we immediately said ‘Yes, we want to have it here.'” Asmyr expressed. “We have two main goals with the Nations Cup. To give new people the possibility to come in, as we’ve seen here that it works. And also to make the sport more global than it has been. So for me to see that, yes, it’s only one show outside of Europe this year, but it shows that it’s possible.”
President of the Ground Jury Cesar Torrente (COL) was also excited to see the success of the format for Nations Cup competition, which served as a test for the Pan American Games.
“First of all, this was such a very interesting experience for the judges. Especially because this is going to be the format for the Pan American Games, so it was a wonderful opportunity to see how it works. I think the judges, as a panel and as a team, agree that it’s going to work,” Torrente explained.
He continued, “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the countries of the Americas to progress through the levels, and I just hope that next year we have some more representatives from Latin American countries.”
Adrienne Lyle was once again the top scoring American rider for USA-1, winning the FEI Grand Prix Special aboard Wizard with a score of 71.059%. Lyle won both of the large tour CDIO classes so far and was thrilled with her first true team experience.
“I went to the Olympics as an individual, so yes it was part of a team, but not technically scores counting for anyone else. I thought what a blast, what a fun atmosphere. Like Juan (Matute, Jr.) said, not just for our own country, but for other countries, to have the atmosphere and support of everyone there. It was a fun pressure of ‘Come on, let’s do this for each other!'” Lyle beamed.
Belinda Trussell earned the highest score for Team Canada-1, finishing third in the FEI Grand Prix Special with a 70.569%. She and teammate Chris Von Martels expressed great gratitude for their incredibly supportive Canadian squad as well as the sponsors and organizers of the AGDF.
“[Canada has] just a great group of people around us and it’s true, Canadians are really supportive of each other. With Desi [Dillingham, Special Advisor to Team Canada], and [Dr.] Volker [Moritz, Technical Advisor to High Performance], Liz [Steacie] as our Chef [D’Equipe], it’s just been a great experience and we all just stand by each other. I just want to thank everybody, the sponsors and the organizers, for putting this wonderful show on,” Trussell expressed.
Team Spain had only having one large tour horse on their team, but still fought their way to the podium for the bronze medal finish.
“Just being here next to these amazing riders is already a dream. To be sharing a podium and look to the left and see all of these people is just incredible. I remember when I was a little, I would look up to them and watch videos and say ‘I want to be like them.’ It’s just incredible. I have no words,” Paula Matute expressed.
Paula Matute’s brother, Juan Matute Jr., was the high scoring Spanish rider, placing second in the FEI Intermediaire-1 in with a score of 70.569%. After winning the FEI Prix St. Georges on Thursday, his scores were a significant contribution to Spain’s medal, but Matute Jr. isn’t one to let that get to his head.
“It feels great [to contribute such high scores]. I think we all did a great job on the team. We all played our part for the CDIO competition. My score is just one more score for the team, it’s no better or worse. It’s just one more score that adds up to the total,” Matute described.
Matute was finally edged out in the FEI Intermediaire-1, after being on an impressive run in the last several CDI competitions. Leida Collins-Strijk broke the teenage sensation’s winning streak earlier on Friday with West Side. The pair had the highest score of 72.158%.
“I think [the I-1 test] was better than yesterday on the small things. I looked a lot at the video yesterday and I think, ‘Okay, I like the ‘wow’ factor, but sometimes here I like more [the smoother ride].’ That’s why I try to make it a little bit more smooth and nice. The horse has been a little bit [unsettled by the International Arena], but now he’s relaxed and I can ride him now so we can put more little points in,” Collins-Strijk described.
“It all worked out. And I was like, ‘I really want to beat Juan!'” she laughed.
Lisa Wilcox and Galant Win FEI Prix St. Georges CDI 3* presented by Peacock Ridge
Following the Stillpoint Farm CDIO Nations Cup competition, the CDI 3* kicked off with the FEI Prix St. Georges presented by Peacock Ridge. Lisa Wilcox won the class with Galant, a seven-year-old Belgian Warmblood owned by Jacqueline Shear. The pair rode into first place with a score of 68.772%.
The FEI Prix St. Georges took place under the lights of The Stadium, and Wilcox couldn’t have asked for a better CDI debut for the gelding.
“He just broke through! I’m exceptionally proud. It couldn’t have gone any better, as far as I’m concerned, the first time out,” Wilcox grinned.
Wilcox knew she could ask for more from Galant after noticing how solid he felt in the ring. “I can ride more expression when I feel like he’s got the confidence to do it. I see a lot of future in this horse. I see a grand prix horse,” Wilcox expressed.
She continued, “He’s an absolute pleasure. To know you can count on him this early in his career [is wonderful]. The mistakes we had, it’s not because he wasn’t in it. That’s what makes a good show horse.”
Another strong indicator of Galant’s competition potential is his lack of concern for the increased atmosphere of showing under the lights. “It’s always an interesting atmosphere under the lights, but it didn’t bother him. I was just so impressed that he could go in that and not blink an eye and pay attention and do his job,” Wilcox remarked.
Florida International Youth Dressage Championships Award First Round Honors
The opening classes of the Florida International Youth Dressage Championships were hosted at The Stadium at PBIEC prior to Stillpoint Farm CDIO Nations Cup competition. First to hand out top honors was the FEI Pony Team class, won by Katrina Sadis (USA) and Poldy 10. The pair finished first with a score of 66.383%.
Fellow American Bebe Davis captured the blue ribbon prize in the FEI Junior Team class, riding Rotano to a 66.937%.
The final class to crown a winner was the FEI Young Rider Team Class, which Canadian Tanya Strasser-Shostak topped with Action Tyme. The pair finished on a score of 67.368%.
Competition for the Florida International Youth Dressage Championships will continue through Saturday with classes for the Under 25 Grand Prix as well as the Pony, Junior, and Young Rider Individual tests.
CDIO and CDI 3* competition continues on Friday, starting with the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI 3* at 8:00 a.m. Individual Stillpoint Farm CDIO Nations Cup medals will be awarded following Saturday evening’s FEI Intermediaire-1 and FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDIO classes. For full results and more information, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.
About the Adequan Global Dressage Festival:
The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage circuits featuring 8 FEI Dressage events, including a 5* and the only FEI Nations’ Cup Series CDIO in the Western Hemisphere. The AGDF offers more than $400,000 in prize money for the six international competitions, making it one of the richest circuits in the world. The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center facility includes the Van Kampen covered arena (made possible by Kimberly and Frederic Boyer and family) and four outdoor arenas with world-class footing, 200 permanent stalls, and a VIP seating area for the International Arena fully catered for relaxing and having an enjoyable experience.
Please visit
www.globaldressagefestival.com
www.equestriansport.com
or call 561-793-5867 for more information.
Adequan Global Dressage Festival is located at
13500 South Shore Blvd, Wellington, Florida 33414
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