For the first time in over twenty-five years, Equestrian Canada’s National Dressage and Para Dressage Championships were held, divided between the East and West sides of the country across back-to-back weekends.
East and West Canada Championships
The National (West) Championships took place September 26 and 27 at Thunderbird Show Park (Langley, BC) with competitors from across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The National (East) Championships took place October 3-5, at the Complex Équestre de Bécancour, in Bécancour, Quebec, with competitors from Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.
Riders had to declare their intention to compete with the top eight from each test level and category (Junior, Amateur and Open) being invited to their respective region’s Championships based on their qualification scores and ranking. Nearly 200 athletes declared and worked at qualifying during the January through September qualification period. Athletes were able to qualify across divisions ranging from Training to Fourth level; as well as FEI Children, Junior, Young Rider, U25, Small, Medium and Big Tour.
East coast organizer, Carine Blaquière of Équico Quebec, was thrilled with the success of the event. “Overall it was an excellent weekend,” she remarked. “There was great turnout, and the athletes told us they really appreciated both the event itself and the venue here at Bécancour.”
Level Playing Field
To keep the playing field level between the East and West as much as possible, the judging panels were identical over the back-to-back weekends, right down to the judges keeping their same positions from which to observe the competition at each event. Equestrian Canada and each organizer will be tabulating and reviewing the scores at which point the overall Canadian National Champion and Reserve Champions will be announced.
“The resurgence of the National Championships both East and West have created a great opportunity for our national and international riders to engage in a Championship format,” said James Hood, Director of High Performance at Equestrian Canada. “The novel feature of using the same panel of judges for both weeks is a distinctive Canadian advancement for our programming based on the size of the Country. With a combined 150 entries between the two Championships, this will help create a nationwide platform for performance.
East Coast FEI Champions
FEI Children’s
CH Annabelle Gauthier, Northwind Marrakesh, Saint-Charles-Borromée
FEI Junior
CH Frederique Genest, Flaminia, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC
FEI Young Rider
CH Anna Swackhammer, Fabienna GV, Rockwood, ON
RES Marilou Deschenes, Baldacci, Laval, QC
FEI U25
CH Brooke Mancusi, Dejohn Ymas, Chambly, QC
FEI Small Tour Open
CH Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu, Furst Foundation, Saint-Bruno, QC
RES Camille Carier Bergeron, MSJ Furst Zonik, Laval, QC
FEI Small Tour Amateur
CH Darlene Mergl-Moore, Rubina KG, Port Colborne, ON
RES Vera Rubisova, Rockstar, Toronto, ON
FEI Medium Tour Open
CH James Irwin, Flirtfaktor S, Stouffville, ON
RES Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu, Harmonium, Saint-Bruno, QC
Results - Canada East National Dressage Championships - Bécancour
Children - Team Test
- 1. Annabelle Gauthier - Northwind Marrakesh - 73.525
Children - Individual Test
- 1. Annabelle Gauthier - Northwind Marrakesh - 68.657%
Junior Riders - Team Test
- 1. Frederique Genest - Flaminia - 64.293
Junior Riders - Individual Test
- 1. Frederique Genest - Flaminia - 64.363
Young Riders - Team Test
- 1. Anna Swackhammer - Fabienna GV - 68.824
- 2. Marilou Deschenes - Hexagon's Baldacci - 60.098
Young Riders - Individual Test
- 1. Anna Swackhammer - Fabienna Gv - 67.402
- 2. Marilou Deschenes - Hexagon's Baldacci - 57.647
Seniors Small Tour - Amateurs - Prix St Georges
- 1. Darlene Mergl-moore - Rubina Kg - 65.784
- 2. Vera Rubisova - Rockstar - 63.971
- 3. Mandy Spear - Dkh Star Prospect - 63.137
- 4. Juliette C Barolet - Freud - 62.892
- 5. Brigitte Lalonde - for Fun - 55.049
Seniors Small Tour - Amateurs - Intermediaire I
- 1. Vera Rubisova- Rockstar - 62.990
- 2. Darlene Mergl-moore - Rubina Kg - 62.500
- 3. Juliette C Barolet - Freud - 62.157
- 4. Mandy Spear - Dkh Star Prospect - 61.667
- 5. Brigitte Lalonde - for Fun - 53.971
Seniors Small Tour - Open - Prix St Georges
- 1. Brittany Fraser-beaulieu - Furst Foundation - 69.265
- 2. Tina Irwin - Espartacus - 67.745
- 3. Camille Carier Bergeron - Msj Fürst Zonik - 67.059
- 4. Vicky Chretien - Must B a Dream - 65.392
- 5. Emmanuelle Lord - Derby Day Mhf - 64.902
Seniors Small Tour - Open - Intermediaire I
- 1. Camille Carier Bergeron - Msj Fürst Zonik - 71.275
- 2. Brittany Fraser-beaulieu - Furst Foundation - 71.078
- 3. Tina Irwin - Espartacus - 66.569
- 4. Vicky Chretien - Must B a Dream - 64.314
- 5. Emmanuelle Lord - Derby Day Mhf - 61.422
Seniors Medium Tour - Intermediaire A
- 1. James Irwin - Flirtfaktor S - 69.363
- 2. Brittany Fraser-beaulieu - Harmonium - 67.843
- 3. Brooke Mancusi - Kalisto Sollenburg - 64.657
- 4. Nicole Babich-morin - Fiderflash - 61.176
Seniors Medium Tour - Intermediaire II
- 1. James Irwin - Flirtfaktor S - 71.029
- 2. Brittany Fraser-beaulieu - Harmonium - 69.853
- 3. Brooke Mancusi - Kalisto Sollenburg - 67.647
- 4. Nicole Babich-morin - Fiderflash - 55.196
Under 25 - Intermediaire II
- 1. Brooke Mancusi - Dejohn Ymas - 66.029
Under 25 - Short Grand Prix
- 1. Brooke Mancusi - Dejohn Ymas - 60.000
Related Link
First Champions Crowned in West Canada as Canadian Dressage Championships Return on the Calendar