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Equestrian
August 6, 2003
Dressage Events Begin at Pan American Games With Canada in Early Lead
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - Equestrian events at the Pan
American Games are underway with Canada taking the early lead following
the first day of competition in dressage.
Held over two days to accommodate the large number of competitors, the
first phase of Team competition was held on Wednesday with two of four
team members competing for each country.
Tabulating the riders' scores, Canada is in the lead with a combined
score of 134.15. The lead-off rider for Canada, 1988 Olympic team
bronze medallist Ashley Holzer, a Toronto native now living in New York
City, posted a score of 67.65% riding Gambol, a nine-year-old Dutch
Warmblood stallion owned by Dr. Diane Fellows. Canada's second
competitor, 1996 Olympian Evi Strasser of Ste-Adele, QC, was awarded a
score of 66.50% for her performance aboard Quantum Tyme, her
eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Quattro.
"Our performance in the ring was a result of great team work leading up
to the Pan Ams," noted Holzer, of her partnership with Gambol whom she
only began riding early this year. "There is still a full day of
competition to go, we are only half-way there, but our biggest strength
is how great our team is, we are all great friends and we're having a
great time!"
Currently in second position are the Pan Am defending champions, the
United States, with a total score of 131.60. Cristina Harrison-Naness
of Burbank, CA, and Kantor, an 11-year-old black Dutch Warmblood gelding
by Olympic Ferro, received a score of 64.80% while 1992 Olympic team
bronze medallist Carol Lavell of Loxahatchee, FL, earned 66.80% aboard
Much Ado, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Quattro.
"My horse can do a whole lot more, but I was trying to get the job done,
trying to put in a solid team score," noted Lavell who took to the ring
just as a tropical downpour began.
Mexico is currently in third position with a first day score of 122.35,
just ahead of Brazil who has a score of 122.15.
Ten teams in total are contesting the Team medals, which will be awarded
following the completion of the Prix St. Georges competition on
Thursday. With a full day of competition still ahead, Argentina,
Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Guatemala, Dominican Republic,
Mexico, the United States and Venezuela will battle it while an
additional six nations will join the quest for an individual medal.
Individually, Holzer is in the lead with her score of 67.65% while
Lavell is in second with 66.80%. Strasser is third with 66.50% while
George Fernandez of the Dominican Republic made his hometown proud by
posting a score of 66.45% riding Joris Las Marismas, an 11-year-old
Dutch Warmblood owned by Las Marismas.
"I am very excited, I couldn't even believe it myself when I walked out
of the ring!" exclaimed Fernandez, 23, a student of veterinary
medicine. "The ride I had today is only possible because of the
wonderful team I have around me."
Dressage events take place at the Palmarejo Equestrian Center from
August 6 to 10. Prix St. Georges competition, used to determine the
Team medals, are held over two days, August 6 and 7. The top 25 riders
in the individual standings will advance to the Intermediaire I
competition will on August 8 while the Intermediaire Musical Freestyle,
used to determine the individual medals, will be held on August 10.
Officiating at the dressage events are Mariette Whitages of Belgium,
President of the Ground Jury, Lissette Purcell of the Dominican
Republic, Gotthilf Reixinger of Germany, Axel Steiner of the United
States and Cara Whitham of Canada.
For further information on the equestrian events at the Pan American
Games, please visit the Dominican Republic Equestrian Federation's
website at: www.ecuestrerd.com and the official 2003 Pan American Games
website at www.santodomingo2003.com.
Current Team Results - Following Day 1
Rider Country Horse Score
1. Evi Strasser Canada Quantum Tyme 66.50%
Ashley Holzer Canada Gambol 67.65%
2. Cristina Harrison United States Kantor 64.80%
Carol Lavell United States Much Ado 66.80%
3. Joaquin Orth Mexico Bellagio 60.25%
Omar Zayrik Mexico Hayko 62.10%
4. Isabela R. de Olivera Brazil Bordeaux 61.95%
Martina I. Brandes Brazil Toy Boy 60.20%
5. Costanza Jaramillo Colombia Rosen 60.30%
Eduardo Muñoz Colombia Saronno 60.05%
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Contact: Jennifer Ward
tel: (613) 569-2423
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