Rio Paralympics 2016 - USA Team Riders Peavy and Collier Off to Strong Start in Rio

 

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Sunday began the Paralympic Equestrian Dressage competition at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Grade III classification were first to ride the Team Test, which included USA team member Angela "Annie" Peavy from Avon, CT riding Becky Reno and Heather Blitz's Lancelot Warrior. Peavy was last to go in the class and rode a very strong test finishing with a 68.974%. Peavy's score placed them 6th in the class and left them in a top position to contest an individual medal. Annie's coach Heather Blitz said "Our much anticipated start in the games has gone well. Annie rode with a clear, competitive and winning attitude and had one of her best tests ever. We hope to make the individual round on Wednesday just as good but with a touch more power. All of our horses are well and the facility has been quite nice!" Leading the Grade III's was Norway's Ann Catherin Lubbe on Donatello with a 72.237%, following her was the Netherland's Sanne Voets on Demantur with a 70.316%.

The afternoon session belonged to the Grade 1b riders. Sydney Collier, the youngest Paralympic Equestrian, made her debut with Wesley Dunham's Western Rose. The relatively new partnership put forth a consistent test earning a 66.440% to finish inside the group's top 10. Sydney's trainer, Wes Dunham commented, "I was pleased with the accuracy of her test, however looking forward to the individual test we will be showing more impulsion to allow this pair to really shine." Leading the Grade Ib's was Great Britain's individual rider Lee Pearson on Zion with the high score of the day of 75.280%. Following Pearson was his rival from the London Paralympics Pepo Puch riding Fontainenoir with a score of 74.000%.

Monday, September 12, the United States has two of its riders making their Paralympic debuts in the 1A division. Team member Margaret McIntosh will be riding her mare Rio Rio at 1:54 PM local time. Roxanne Trunnell, the individual for the United States, will be riding Rachel Zent and Julia Handt's Royal Dancer at 3:02 PM.

The 2016 Paralympic Equestrian Games run from September 11-16, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the Deodoro Olympic Equestrian Center.

Full results and live scoring can be found here: http://rio2016.live.fei.org/

Timeline of Events at the Paralympic Games:

September 11  
10:00 AM Grade III Team - Annie Peavy (12:33 PM)
2:00 PM  Grade Ib Team - Sydney Collier (2:09 PM)

September 12    
10:00 AM Grade IV Team
2:00 PM  Grade Ia Team - Margaret McIntosh (1:54 PM), Roxanne Trunnell (3:02 PM)

September 13  
10:00 AM Grade II Team - Rebecca Hart
2:00 PM  Grade III Individual - Annie Peavy
5:05 PM  Grade III - Victory Ceremony

September 14    
10:00 AM Grade IV Ind.
12:20 PM Grade IV Ind. - Victory Ceremony
2:00 PM  Grade Ib Ind. - Sydney Collier
5:05 PM  Grade Ib Ind.  - Victory Ceremony

September 15    
10:00 AM Grade II Ind. - Rebecca Hart
1:00 PM  Grade II Ind. - Victory Ceremony
2:00 PM  Grade Ia Ind. - Margaret McIntosh, Roxanne Trunnell
4:55 PM  Grade Ia Ind. - Victory Ceremony

September 16
9:00  AM Grade III FS - Annie Peavy
10:10 AM Grade IV FS
11:16 AM Grade III FS - Victory Ceremony
11:31 AM Grade IV FS - Victory Ceremony
1:00 PM  Grade Ib FS - Sydney Collier
2:10 PM  Grade Ia FS - Margaret McIntosh, Roxanne Trunnell
3:10 PM  Grade II FS - Rebecca Hart
4:16 PM  Grade Ia FS - Victory Ceremony
4:31 PM  Grade II FS - Victory Ceremony
4:46 PM  Grade Ib FS - Victory Ceremony
5:01 PM  Team - Victory Ceremony

For more information about the U.S. Paralympic Equestrian Team please visit United States Equestrian Federation at www.USEF.org, the United States Equestrian Team Foundation at www.USET.org, or Team USA at www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Sports/Equestrian.

For more information about the 2016 Paralympic Equestrian competition please visit www.rio2016.com/en/paralympics/equestrian