Dressage Canada and the Own the Podium Task Force confirmed that three Canadian dressage riders will be participating in the Dressage Canada 2009 European Fall Competition Tour.
The upcoming European Fall Competition Tour is a development tour aimed at providing valuable European competition experience for some of Canada's up and coming combinations.
The participating athletes are Cheryl Meisner of Blandford, NS, with Paganini; Belinda Trussell of Stouffville, ON, with Anton; and Diane Creech of Caistor Centre, ON, with Wiona. The Dressage Canada Own the Podium Task Force has been working with the identified athletes and their personal coaches to determine the most appropriate competitions for each of the combinations.
At this point it is anticipated that Trussell and Creech and their young Grand Prix horses will begin the competition tour at the Kaposvar CDI3*, Hungary, October 9–11, followed by the Weikersdorf CDI3*, Austria, on October 14–18. Trussell and Creech will then meet up with Meisner and her more experienced mount, Paganini, at larger CDI3* competitions in Germany. From there Meisner and Paganini will continue to compete in Germany throughout December.
One of the initiatives of the Dressage Canada Own the Podium Task Force is to provide Canadian athletes with opportunities for international competition exposure. Ashley Holzer and Pop Art were recipients of an Own the Podium grant earlier this year to compete at the Hickstead CDI5* where they finished in the top five against some of the highest ranked combinations in the world.
Photo copyrighted: Cealy Tetley - courtesy Dressage Canada
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