Julie Watchorn, of Schomberg, Ontario, will be representing Canada at the inaugural FEI Young Rider World Cup being held December 16-18, 2005 in Frankfurt, Germany.
The quick organization of the 2005 competition is made possible due to the generosity of Germany’s Ann-Katrin Lisenhoff and Schenker Logistics. Riders have been invited from all over the world including Europe, South America, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United States making this a truly global competition.
FEI Young Rider World Cup was formerly known as the Euro Future Cup and follows the format of the World Cup finals, where the winner will be determined by the top finisher in the freestyle class.
Riders were selected by the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) based on their competitive success in the 2005 season. The field of 16 competitors will include the top eight riders from the European Young Riders Championships as well as the highest placed American rider from the North American Young Rider Championships (winner Catherine Malone) and the highest placed Canadian rider from the North American Young Rider Championships (Julie Watchorn – 6th ).
Watchorn will be leaving for Europe December 10th and is looking forward to the competition.
“I am overwhelmed with excitement for this competition,” said Watchorn. “This is a chance of a life time to be invited to such a high caliber competition and an honor to be able to represent Canada at such a prestigious event.”
Coach Gillian Sutherland will be accompanying Watchorn and her horse Quintesse, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (x Latano), in order to help the pair prepare. “Gillian is very good at keeping me calm and getting the best out of Quintesse.”
The FEI reports that plans are already underway to organize an FEI Young Rider World Cup Dressage series for 2006 with qualifiers in different parts of the world.
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