Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, B.C. will go down in history as the host of the first-ever CDI3* level dressage competition to take place in British Columbia. The CDI3* Langley took place on 10 - 12 April 2015 and as a Toronto 2015 Pan American Games qualifier, gave west coast riders the opportunity to obtain qualifying scores in their own backyard.
Wendy Christoff from Delta, BC was Canada's top rider in the Big Tour, earning a score of 69.700% for second place in the CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle after an elegant performance aboard her 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Treffer (by Niagara x Haarlem). The class was won by American Jessica Wisdom on the 14-year old Welsh pony stallion North Forks Cardi (by Canterbrook Llwynog Du x Bayford True Patriot).
"It was our first time performing this freestyle and I am very happy with Treffer's performance," said Christoff, a long-time international competitor for Canada who fell in love with dressage after seeing a demonstration by Canadian Olympian Inez Propfe-Credo at the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver, B.C. in 1979. "The atmosphere was quite electric and he handled it without too much trouble. I love the music and choreography from Karen Robinson. It is a beautiful dance and very emotional."
Christoff was also successful in the Small Tour, along with fellow British Columbia natives Leslie Reid and Sandra Verda, both of Langley.
All three had a strong start in the CDI1* Prix St. Georges (PSG), with Reid capturing the win on a score of 71% aboard Fine and Smart (by Furst Piccolo x Worldman), Juliet Sears Ledorze's 11-year-old Westfalian gelding. Christoff followed in second place (68.789%), this time paired with Di Scansano (by De Niro x Rubinstein), her 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding. Verda and Wilhelm (by Nanning x Ferro), her 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood-cross gelding scored 68.526% for third place.
The top of the leaderboard in the CDI1* Intermediaire I mirrored the PSG, with Reid and Fine and Smart once again taking first place (71.921%), Christoff and Di Scansano earning 69.474% for second place, and Verda and Wilhelm picking up another third place on a score of 68.211%. Alysha Sauve of Port Coquitlam, B.C. also earned an impressive score, receiving 68.132% for fourth place aboard Reid's 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Special Effect (by Patjin x Wouter).
The CDI1* Intermediaire I Freestyle closed out the Small Tour, with Verda claiming her spot in the winner's circle after riding Wilhelm to a score of 71.750%. Sauve and Special Effect took second (69.675%), while Sydney Holme of North Saanich, B.C. broke into the top three, scoring 68.175% with her 13-year-old Rhinelander gelding, Day Dreamer (b yDream of Heidelberg x Gabor).
Canada's west coast riders were proud to participate in British Columbia's inaugural CDI3* event, which was managed by Dressage Canada's Volunteer of the Month for March, Ali Buchanan of Langley, B.C.
"The CDI3* Thunderbird was so well organized, and the Freestyle Gala evening was a huge success," commented Christoff.
Photos © Totem Photographics
Related Links
Scores 2015 CDI Langley
Wendy Christoff Takes Four at the 2014 CDI Calgary
Short and Long Listed Canadian Dressage Riders for 2015 Announced