Some of Canada’s most promising young dressage riders had the chance to show off their skills against a group of international peers during the 2016 Florida International Youth Dressage Festival, held in Wellington, Florida, on 18 - 20 March 2016 and highlighting international dressage riders under the age of 25.
The festival was open to riders under the age of 25 from all nationalities. This year saw competitors from a wide range of countries, including Austria, Columbia, Germany, Spain, the United States, and of course, Canada. Representing the maple leaf in the Junior division were Vanessa Creech-Terauds of Caistor Centre, ON, Ava MacCoubrey of Cobourg, ON, and Yanina Woywitka of Merrickville, ON. In the Young Rider division, the Canadian contingent was comprised of Camille Bergeron of Mascouche, QC, Alexandra Meghji of Toronto, ON, and Rakeya Moussa of Edmonton, AB.
Vanessa Creech-Terauds and Fleur de Lis L Leading the charge for the Juniors was 16-year-old Creech-Terauds, who was the top-placed Canadian in the FEI Junior Rider Team Test on March 18, and the FEI Junior Rider Individual Test the following day. Finishing second in both classes aboard Fleur de Lis L (First Dance x De Niro), a 7-year-old Hanoverian mare co-owned by her mother, well-known Grand Prix rider Diane Creech, and Louise Leatherdale of Leatherdale Farms, she earned scores of 67.072% and 68.158%, respectively.
Creech-Terauds is no stranger to international competition, having twice represented Canada at the FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC), earning Team Silver in 2014 and Team Gold in 2015.
Ava MacCoubrey and Pablo MacCoubrey, 14—who trains with another well-known Canadian dressage rider, Jacqueline Brooks—finished seventh in the FEI Junior Team Test with 60.721%, and third in the FEI Junior Individual Test, after improving her mark to 65.974%. Her partner was Pablo (Cordial Medoc x Voltaire), a 19-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Lori Bell.
“I’m honoured to ride in the festival,” said MacCoubrey, whose first international competition was earlier this year during Wellington. “I really love Wellington, and have met friends from all over Europe and the US.”
Yanina Woywitka and R’Myattack After a bit of a rocky start to the competition, fellow NAJYRC alum, Woywitka rallied, finishing sixth in the FEI Junior Individual Test with a score of 63.026% after being eliminated in the FEI Junior Team Test the day before. But it was on March 20 when she and partner, R’Myattack (Rheirattack x Wanderbursh II) really hit their stride. Woywitka, 16, piloted the nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding (owned and bred by her mother and coach, Susanne Dutt-Roth) to a win the FEI Junior Rider Freestyle, earning a final score of 65.417%.
Alexandra Meghji and Rigo Meghji, who was the Junior Individual Bronze Medalist at the 2014 NAJYRC and a member of the 2015 Junior Gold Medal winning team, earned Canada’s top score in the FEI Young Rider Prix St. Georges Team Test. She and Rigo (Rotspon x Weltmeyer), a 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by her mother, Diana Belevsky, brought home sixth place with a mark of 67.368%. Two days later, the 17-year-old, who trains with Tina Irwin, would finish second in the FEI Young Rider Freestyle, earning a score of 67.649%.
“I participated last year in the Juniors with Iliado, and I am grateful that Rigo and I are able to be here this year,” said Meghji, who has only been partnered with Rigo since October. “The Florida International Youth Dressage Festival is always a very exciting and special event.”
Rakeya Moussa and Topper Riding a newly leased mount, Topper (Welt Hit II x Aktion), a 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Diana Rose, Moussa finished eighth in the FEI Young Rider Prix St. Georges Team Test with 65.702%, and seventh in the FEI Young Rider Individual Test with 65.291%.
“I feel very lucky to be competing in the Florida International Youth Dressage Festival with Topper,” explained the University of Alberta kinesiology student. “It has been a great learning experience as I have been only been riding Topper for six weeks leading up to the festival.”
Camille Bergeron, who recently celebrated her 16th birthday, was delighted to be representing her home country. Coached by Albrecht Heidemann, she rode Delfiano, a 13-year-old gelding owned by her father Gilles Bergeron, in the FEI Young Rider Prix St. Georges Team Test and the FEI Young Rider Individual Test.
“It’s very exciting to be able to participate in the Youth Dressage Festival with so many talented young riders present,” said the 2014 NAJYRC Junior Individual Gold Medallist. “It’s a chance to be able to compare yourself to riders coming from countries all around the world. Many thanks to Lendon Gay and the promotors of this event for taking the time to promote the youth talent, and developing the next generation of dressage riders.”
Photos © Sue Stickle - Astrid Appels
Related Links
Scores 2016 CDI Wellington
Irons, Hendricks, Matute Guimon, Molina Win 2016 Florida International Youth Dressage Championships