The 2013 CDI 3* Angelstone Spring Tournament held at the Angelstone International Show Jumping Tournaments was blessed with wonderful weather. A small group of competitors showed up for this inaugural CDI, only one of two CDI's held in Canada this year. Six FEI level dressage classes were held and they produced five different winners.
The riders highly praised the wonderful international class footing in all competition and warm-up rings. The Main Stadium presented challenges to some horses and riders with its truly International ambiance, including a concert quality sound system. Surrounded on low raised berms were three sides of tents (VIP, SPONSOR & Rider spaces) the arena is exactly what riders in North America need to introduce their horses to what to this time only Europe and Florida have offered.
Angelstone Farms near Rockwood, Ontario has created quite a stir amongst the equestrian community. Saturday evening a live band will play with an all evening party at the Cloud Nine Lounge on Angelstone! This week Angelstone presents the first of their 2013 large Hunter/Jumper competitions including a CSI. The transition from Dressage to Jumper competition was managed swiftly and effortlessly by the ground crew.
Gary Vander Ploeg on his Oldenburg gelding Degas (by Donnerhall), both recently home from a successful tour in Florida, were victors in the Grand Prix Freestyle, presenting a dynamic Freestyle Saturday night to a large crowd and showing his now famous salute. The pair received scores between 70s% to high 60s ending with an average scores of 68.75%.
Megan Lane on her KWPN mare Caravella (by Contango), presented an impressive ride to win the Grand Prix with a score of 65.979%. Megan unfortunately eliminated herself in the Grand Prix Special by riding the Olympic Grand Prix Special which is now no longer in existence!
The Small Tour was hotly contested, again by riders recently returned home from successful tours in Florida. Prix St Georges was won by Maya Markowski on her Lumiere, a Canadian Warmblood gelding (by Lynx), with 69.737% closely followed by Evi Strasser on Rigaudon Tyme an Oldenburg gelding (by Rosario), with 68.114%.
Winner of the Intermediate 1 was Diane Creech on Doug and Louise Leatherdale’s Chevri's Christo, a Danish gelding by Chevris Cavallo, with an impressive performance to score 72.456%. The Intermediate 1 Freestyle went to Andrea Bresee on Loretta Flynn’s Hannoverian gelding Pericles (by Pommery) with 69.225%.
Tanya Strasser-Shostack made a clean sweep of the Young Rider division on Action Tyme.
The CDI was officiated by Elisabeth McMullen CAN, President of the Ground Jury, Susanne Baarup (DEN), Irina Maknami (RUS), Marion Cunningham (PER), Sarah Geikie (USA) & Lorraine MacDonald (CAN).
Photos © Mary White
Related Link
Scores 2013 CDI Rockwood