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Ashley Holzer Thrills Crowd at CDI-W Blainville Dressage International

July 5, 2007

Ottawa, Ontario --- Ashley Holzer of Toronto, ON thrilled a crowd of over 2,500 spectators with her winning Grand Prix Freestyle performance at the CDI-W/CDIY/J/P/YH Blainville Dressage International, held June 27-30 at the Blainville Equestrian Park in Quebec.

An Olympic Medalist and longtime Canadian Equestrian Team member, Holzer’s experience shined through during the Grand Prix Freestyle, where she executed a beautiful performance to a musical mix which included Disney’s Epcott Center Firework show, and tunes from the National Treasure movie soundtrack, to score 77.200% partnered with Pop Art, her 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding sired by Amsterdam.

“I am very happy with Pop Art. I was thrilled with his performances, especially in the Freestyle,” said Holzer, who also rode to a third place finish in the Grand Prix, scoring 66.375%.

“Pop Art was a bit nervous about his surroundings, but it was great exposure for him. Blainville is the only competition that really feels like a European event because it is at night under the lights, and there are a lot of spectators at close proximity,”said Holzer, explaining that she is campaigning Pop Art slowly but surely with the ultimate goal of the 2008 Olympics.

Coming off her immense success at the CDI-W 3* Ottawa Summer Classic last week, Jacqueline Brooks of Mount Albert, ON was the second place finisher in the Freestyle, scoring 75.300% for her performance to music from the ‘Alexander’ movie soundtrack Brooks’ partner was the 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding Gran Gesto, sired by Grannox and owned by Anne Welch and Brinc Ltd. The duo also won the Grand Prix on a score of 67.333%.

Rounding out the top three in the Freestyle was Cheryl Meisner of Blandford, NS. Her performance to music by the Croatian pianist Maksim earned her a score of 68.700% aboard John Risley’s 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion Paganini.

Cindy Ishoy of Binbrook, ON was the runner up in the Grand Prix, riding her long-time partner and 2006 World Equestrian Games mount Proton, a 13-year-old Baden-Wurttemberger gelding she co-owns with her husband Neil. The sole competitor in the Grand Prix Special was Victoria Winter of Toronto, ON, who rode her 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Gotcha.

Brooks’ success continued in the Advanced division, where she won the Intermediate I Freestyle with an even score of 76% after a brilliant performance to music from the hit movie Pirates of the Carribean, this time riding the eight-year-old Canadian-bred Hannoverian gelding Balmoral, sired by Belcanto, and owned by Anne & John Welch and Brinc Ltd. Second place went to Belinda Trussell of Stouffville, ON, who scored 71.350% with the 10-year-old Hannoverian gelding Grand Marnier, owned by Mark Trussell. Finishing third was Gary Vander Ploeg of King City, ON, who rode Jack Leitch and Jean Vander Ploeg’s nine-year-old Hannoverian gelding Cezanne to a score of 67.550%.

Neil Ishoy took the Intermediaire I after scoring 72.200% with his eight-year-old Hannoverian gelding Lonestar. Daphne Haagmans of Barrie, ON earned the blue ribbon with a score of 68.100% aboard her 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Nimos. Trussell and Grand Marnier scored 66.850% for third place.

Brooks and Balmoral earned another win in the Prix St. Georges on a score of 70.950%, while Neil Ishoy and Lone Star finished a close second, scoring 69.550%. Quebec native Linda Robert of Terrebonne rode Daniel Barolet’s 14-year-old Hannoverian gelding Wedding Surprise to a score of 68.050% for third place.

The CDI-W CDIY/J/P/YH Blainville Dressage International also featured classes for up and coming young talent, both human and equine. Lee Tubman of Dunnville, ON swept the Young Horse Six-Year-Old division with De La Rosa, a Hannoverian mare owned by Ducat Developments Ltd. The duo scored 79.000% in the Preliminary, before moving on to score 75.600% in the Finale. Earning double second place finishes was Claude Diotte of Sainte-Marthe, QC who scored 73% and 69.600% respectively, aboard her Hannoverian-cross gelding Wedekind.

The Young Horse Five-Year-Old Division also saw identical results in both classes, with the double winner, Neil McIntosh of Sainte-Adele, QC scoring 79.800% in the Preliminary, and 82.200% in the Finale, riding Canadian dressage veteran Evi Strasser’s Oldenburg stallion Argo Conti Tyme. Second place finishes went to Lindsey Stroh Camrose, AB who rode Archie Stroh’s Oldenburg mare Fadora to score of 75.600% in both classes. Francine Bell of Vercheres, QC rode Guy Rivard’s Oldenburg stallion Royal T to third place finishes, scoring 69.000% and 66.400%.

With Blainville being the final opportunity for riders to qualify for the 2007 North American Junior/Young Riders' Championship (NAJYRC) to be held in Lexington, Virginia this August, the Young Rider division saw some stiff competition. Leah Wilson of Orangeville, ON, who has qualified for NAYRC the past two years, put in stellar performances, taking both the first and second positions in the Team class. Her winning performance on a score of 66.741% came aboard her 13-year-old Russian Warmblood gelding Dostoevsky, affectionately called ‘Ivan’, while she finished second on a score of 66.519% with Westside Lady, a 12-year-old Hannoverian mare owned by Susan Platz. Wilson and Dostoevsky also topped the Individual class on a score of 66.583%.

Cecile von Martels of Ridgetown, ON, rode her 11-year-old Westphalian gelding Downtown to a score of 65.630% for third place in the Team class, and also scored 66.583% in the Freestyle, receiving second place. Other successful competitors included Brittany Fraser of New Glasgow, NS who took top honours in the Freestyle, scoring 66.917%, and received second place in the Individual class, paired with her nine-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding Furio. Julie Watchorn of Schomberg, ON received double third place finishes, receiving her highest score of the competition, 66.333%, in the Freestyle riding her 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare Quintesse.

In the FEI Junior Division, Jade Deter made a clean sweep, winning all three classes aboard her 10-year-old Westphalian gelding Mastermind. After scoring 67.583% in the Team class, and 65.333% in the Individual, Deter received a score of 71.000% for her freestyle performance. Annie-Pier Venne of L’Assomption, QC scored 68.333% in the Freestyle for second place, which was a nice addition to her second place finish in the Individual class, and third place in the Team, all of which were achieved aboard her 11-year-old Westphalian stallion Step Up. Jaimie Holland of Caledon, ON also earned good results, placing second in the Team class, and following up with two third place finishes in the Individual and Freestyle (66.417%), riding her nine-year-old Westphalian mare Fleurina.

Just two entries contested the FEI Children division, which saw Kerry Houlahan of Smith Falls, ON win both the Individual and Team classes partnered with Maple Lane Equestrian Trailers’ eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding Fresco. Kaitlin Bourgon if Elgin, ON was the runner up in both classes, riding Nathalie Theriault’s seven-year-old Paint gelding Finding Nemo.

The results were identical for all three classes in the FEI Pony division. Tatianna Turcotte of Mont-Royal, QC was on fire in the FEI Pony division, winning all three classes aboard her 11-year-old Connemara gelding Serenity’s Dream On. The duo’s best score came in the Freestyle, where their performance earned 69.083%. Taking the second place positions was Mathilde Blais-Tetreault of Montreal, paired with her 11-year-old Morgan mare Miss Honeychurch, while Anais Hebert-Pinard of Boucherville, QC earned third place finishes aboard Paul Beya’s eight-year-old Quarter Horse mare Samba SLD.

As a qualifier for the 2008 World Cup Final, the CDI-W Blainville Dressage International drew a huge field of competitors from across Canada, where a full schedule of competition was played out before crowds of spectators. The international judging panel included Stephen Clarke (FEI ‘O’ – GBR), Anne Gribbons (FEI ‘O’ – USA), Elizabeth McMullen (FEI ‘O’ – Canada), Jayne Ayers (FEI ‘I’ – USA), and Peter Holler (FEI ‘I’ – GER).

“I love the Blainville competition; they do such a good job, and really put in the effort to make it great. It is a very sponsor, owner and fan-friendly competition, with evening dinners and fundraisers, so you can bring people and they feel included and have a lot of fun,” commented Holzer. “The show secretaries and organizers are also very competitor-friendly; they are so helpful and accommodating.”

For more information and full results, please visit www.classiqueblainville.com.

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