Canadian Grand Prix rider Chris von Martels and Canadian Grand Prix horses Anton and Caravella were honoured at the 2016 Equine Canada Annual Awards Gala held in Montreal, Quebec, on Friday 22 April 2016.
Held in conjunction with the EC Annual Convention, April 20-24, the Gala took place at the iconic Dalhousie Station, home of Cirque Éloize, and celebrated the national award recipients for 2015, and their impressive achievements within the equestrian community.
“We’re thrilled to recognize this outstanding group of individuals, organizations, and horses,” said 2015 EC President, Al Patterson, who presented National Awards during the Gala. “The 2015 recipients represent some of the most dedicated ambassadors of equestrian sport and industry. Congratulations to all the deserving winners.”
Von Martels - Equestrian of the Year / Dressage Canada Athlete of the Year
Chris von Martels became the recipient of the Dr. George Jacobson Trophy as Equestrian of the Year. He was also named Dressage Canada Athlete of the Year
Founded in 1995, the Equestrian of the Year Award honours Dr. George Jacobson, and is given to an equestrian athlete who has achieved extraordinary results in equestrian competition in the current award year while acting as an exceptional role model and demonstrating true sportsmanship and dedication to vision and mission of EC.
Chris von Martels of Ridgetown, ON, has been named both the 2015 Equestrian of the Year and the Dressage Canada Athlete of the Year. In his exceptional major games debut, Martels was the top Canadian dressage rider at the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games. Riding Zilverstar, he set both personal best and Canadian records, leading the team to a silver medal, and earning an individual bronze medal against a highly competitive field of international veterans.
Anton - 2015 Dressage Canada Horse of the Year
Anton, a 16-year-old German-bred gelding owned by Robyn Eames, was instrumental to the Canadian Dressage Team in 2015. A long-time partner of Belinda Trussell, Anton reached a whole new level in 2015, helping Belinda act as Team Anchor for the Canadian Dressage Team at the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games. Not only did Anton do his part to help Canada take the Team Silver Medal, he helped Belinda break the Canadian record for the highest score achieved at a major games after earning 75.078% in the Grand Prix Special. This score contributed to setting a new Canadian record for highest team average at a major games.
Caravella - Canadian Bred Horse of the Year
The Canadian Bred Horse of the Year Award is given to a horse bred within Canada who holds an outstanding national or international performance record that has helped to enhance the reputation and visibility of Canadian bred horses.
Bred by Canadian grand prix dressage rider, Jill Irving of Moncton, NB, Caravella, is a 15-year- old Dutch Warmblood mare sired by Contango, out of Riviera, by Riverman. At the age of eight, Caravella was bought by Megan Lane of Loretto, ON, and her mother, Cathy. Lane describes her relationship with Caravella as “love at first sight” and says that from the minute she sat on Caravella, she knew the mare was going to be a top dressage horse, despite the odds against her, being just 16hh and inexperienced in dressage competition at the age of eight.
Lane was absolutely right. Caravella has since taken her all the way from winning a total of six medals in two years at the FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships, to competing for the Canadian Dressage Team on the world stage. After making their major games debut at the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games in France, the pair helped capture the Team Silver Medal in front of a home crowd at the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games.
Photo © Cealy Tetley
Related Links
Chris von Martels Leases Vilhelmson's Divertimento for 2016 Olympic Show Season
Trussell Leads Unofficial Canadian Rio Olympic Ranking List
Megan Lane and Caravella, From Juniors to 2014 World Equestrian Games Grand Prix