Posted: June 29, 2006

Quebec's Evi Strasser Wins Grand Prix at Blainville Dressage International
Jennifer Ward, startinggate.ca - Photo: cealytetley.com

Blainville, Quebec --- Evi Strasser of Ste-Adele, QC, successfully defended her title to win the Grand Prix on Thursday at the CDI3* Blainville Dressage International, an internationally-sanctioned equestrian competition running June 28-July 1 at Blainville Equestrian Park.

Strasser topped a 10-horse field to take the victory with a score of 67.333% riding Quantum Tyme, an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding. Strasser and Quantum Tyme are members of the Canadian Dressage Team that will compete at the upcoming World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, and are using the Blainville Dressage International as their final Canadian competition before departing for Europe.

In second place was Ontario's Jon Costin who earned a score of 66.167% for his performance aboard Wholio, his 10-year-old Hannoverian gelding. A former World Championship competitor, Nancy MacLachlan of Terra Cotta, ON, took third place with Ariston, her 10-year-old Ukrainian Warmblood gelding.

Jessica Costello and Litmanen, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Judy Elliott, earned 62.75% for fourth position while Tom Dvorak of Hillsburgh, ON, rounded out the top five for his performance aboard the elegant black Hannoverian mare, Westside Lady, owned by Susan Platz.

In the Intermediaire I, a total of 22 competitors battled it out amid windy conditions. Diane Creech of Caistor Centre, ON, earned an impressive score of 68.25% to take spot riding Wiona, a chestnut Hannoverian mare owned by Doug and Louise Leatherdale. Andrea Bresee of Brockville, ON, was the runner-up with Raffles, a 12-year-old Canadian-bred mare owned by Gina Smith and Faith Berghuis. The pair earned a score of 67.35% from the panel of five international judges.

Third place went to Jacqueline Brooks who will join Strasser on the World Equestrian Games team. Riding Balmoral, a seven-year-old Canadian-bred Hannoverian gelding, Brooks earned a score of 66.90%. Tom Dvorak and Fortissimo, also a Canadian-bred Hannoverian gelding, took fourth with 66.30%. Halifax was represented by Cheryl Meisner who was fifth with a score of 65.15% riding Lucky Strike, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Lobster Point Farms.

For the second day in a row, Cecile von Martels was the winner in the FEI Young Riders' Division. In the Individual test, von Martels of Ridgetown, ON, earned a score of 63.333% with Downtown, her 10-year-old Westphalian gelding. Also for the second day in a row, Tara Dougans of Delta, BC, placed second and third, but this time the order was reversed - she was second riding Jacardo and third riding her own Nashau.

In the FEI Junior Individual test, Ontario's Amy Jager took the win with 65.417% riding Jive. Wednesday's winner, Jessica Rhinelander of St. John's, NF, took second with Dostoevksy, a Russian Warmblood gelding.

History repeated itself in the FEI Pony division when Tatiana Turcotte of Mount Royal, QC, and her 10-year-old Connemara pony, Serenity's Dream On, won the Individual test and Jade Deter of Kemptville, ON, finished second with Columbo 25.

$2,500 Grand Prix CDI - Final Results

Rider Hometown Horse Score
1. Evi Strasser St. Adele, QC Quantum Tyme 67.333%
2. Jon Costin Freelton, ON Wholio 66.167%
3. Nancy MacLachlan Terra Cotta, ON Ariston 62.833%
4. Jessica Costello King City, ON Litmanen 62.750%
5. Tom Dvorak Hillsburgh, ON Westside Lady 61.958%
6. Cheryl Meisner Halifax, NS Hesperos 61.833%
7. Julia Vysniauskas Cochrane, AB Syntax 61.667%
8. Julia Vysniauskas Cochrane, AB Papillion 60.875%
9. Tami Crawford United States Markan 57.208%
10. Cheryl Meisner Halifax, NS Hesperos 55.792%

$2,000 Intermediaire CDI - Final Results

Rider Hometown Horse Score
1. Diane Creech Caistor Centre, ON Wiona 68.25%
2. Andrea Bresee Brockville, ON Raffles 67.35%
3. Jacqueline Brooks Mount Albert, ON Balmoral 66.90%
4. Tom Dvorak Hillsburgh, ON Fortissimo 66.30%
5. Cheryl Meisner Halifax, NS Lucky Strike 65.15%
6. Chris von Martels Ridgetown, ON Korenbloem Charmeur 64.85%
7. Evi Strasser St. Adele, QC Foto Tyme 64.55%
8. Gary Vander Ploeg King City, ON Cezanne 64.20%
9. Lyne Joly Fleurimont, QC Flower King 63.70%
10. Ute Busse Breslau, ON Lindor's Finest 63.60%
11. Erin Josey Dartmouth, NS Handsome Iz 62.35%
12. Ute Busse Breslau, ON Tanzerin 62.15%