It was just about as close to a photo finish as dressage competition could get at the 2005 Canadian League World Cup Final in Toronto. A completely sold out Ricoh Coliseum was treated to a varied and exciting program of freestyles that saw horses dancing to everything from the Bee Gees to 50 Cent.
Following the results of the Grand Prix qualifying test the day before, the five competitors rode in reverse order of placing, though the score from the Grand Prix did not carry through to count in the final placings. Although the positions didn’t change from the previous day’s competition, the margin narrowed significantly. Cindy Ishoy and Proton have won the Canadian League title and the right to represent Canada at the 2006 World Cup Final by just half a percentage point over Evi Strasser and Quantum Tyme.
American judge Linda Zang presided over an international ground jury that included Maribel Alonso of Mexico, Evi Eisenhardt of Germany, Lynda Foy of the US, and Joan McCartney of Canada. “I think the riders all showed us more than they did last night,” said Zang. “Yesterday they were a bit restrained but tonight they didn’t hold back.”
Ishoy, who had a tense moment before even entering the ring, said that when her entry music came on someone in the audience flashed a camera bulb right in Proton’s face. “A year ago I wouldn’t have been able to get past that with him like I could tonight.” Ishoy, who currently lives in Jerseyville Ontario, didn’t look back from her initial halt and salute, and was particularly pleased with Proton’s passage and piaffe tour at the end. Her adventurous choice of contemporary hip hop music by 50 Cent was chosen for her by her daughter. “I liked it and Proton liked it and he was right on beat,” said a smiling Ishoy after the award presentation.
In a position that has become familiar to her, Ste. Adele Quebec’s Evi Strasser finished the bride’s maid once more, and by a score that was tantalizingly close to winning. “It’s a hard game in this aspect,” she says. “Cindy is a fantastic competitor and that makes me ride better.” Strasser will set her sights on qualifying for the Canadian team at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen next year. “It is a big job to get a horse to peak twice in one year; I don’t think I could do both the World Cup and WEG.”
Jacqueline Brooks showed her flare in the freestyle once again on Brinc Ltd. And Anne Welch’s Gran Gesto. When she completed her program set to powerful soundtrack music, the crowd showed their appreciation with cheers. Nancy MacLachlan rode to a dramatic score of music by Canadian guitarist Jesse Cook. Ariston, who was imported from the Ukraine a year and a half ago, is young and showed some show nerves, but he also demonstrated real ability, particularly in the passage. Twenty-two year old Whitney Harris, riding in the difficult position of first in the group, showed great composure as she rode Nektor through a disco-themed freestyle.
Cindy Ishoy and Proton will travel to the Netherlands next spring to compete for Canada at the World Cup Final. It is not the first time she has shown at the Dutch venue. In 1988, with her great horse Dynasty, she had the best ever Canadian finish at the World Cup, placing second.
By winning the Canadian League Final, Ishoy was also crowned the 2005 Dressage Canada Grand Prix Freestyle Champion.
Photo copyrighted: Phelpsphotos.com
Related Link
Scores of the 2005 CDI-W Toronto
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