Canadian Para-Dressage riders have earned top scores and continued their winning ways during the first two days of competition at the Bishop Burton CPEDI 2*, being held July 22–24, 2011, at Bishop Burton College, Beverley, GBR.

In the Grade 1A Novice Test, Jodie Schloss of Toronto, ON, riding Inspector Rebus, her own 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, earned a score of 64.64% which was good for second place. Close behind Schloss was Robyn Andrews of St Johns, NL, who rode Fancianna, her 10-year-old warmblood mare to third place with a score of 64.03%.

Ashley Gowanlock of Vancouver, BC, won the Grade IB Novice test riding Lauren Barwick’s horse Ferdonia 2, a 12-year-old Oldenburg mare, with a score of 72.14%. Riding Alexander (Sandy) Mitchell’s Donnymaskell, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Gowanlock received a score of 69.04% for second place.

In Grade II, Lauren Barwick of Aldergrove, BC, rode Off To Paris, Equine Canada’s 10-year-old Oldenburg mare, to victory earning a score of 72.06% for the win. With her second horse Ferdonia 2, her own 12-year-old Oldenburg mare, Barwick scored 71.11% for second overall.

Riding her 2010 World Equestrian Games mount Why Not G, an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding that she co-owns with Kelleigh Kulscar, Eleonore Elstone of Langley, BC received a score of 64.60% for another first place finish in the Grade IV Novice test.

In the Team tests, which occurred on July 22, Schloss earned 66.86% for second on Inspector Rebus, and Andrews was third with 65.78% Fancianna. Gowanlock earned another first place finish, scoring 74.32%, on Ferdonia 2 in Grade 1B. Riding Donnymaskell, Gowanlock earned 68.86% for second spot. In the Grade II Team test Barwick was first with Ferdonia 2, scoring 73.02%, and second with Off To Paris with 71.75%. Elstone also earned a first place finish with Why Not G, with a score of 67.24%, in Grade IV.

The competition continues with the Individual Freestyle Tests for all Grades on July 24th.

“Viterra would like to congratulate the entire team, including the riders, owners, coaches, chef d’équipe, managers, grooms and support staff, for their expertise in bringing Canada to the forefront of Para-Equestrian sport,” said Bill Mooney, Viterra’s senior vice-president, Feed Products.

Additional details about the Bishop Burton CPEDI 2*may be found at http://www.bishopburton.ac.uk/

The Bishop Burton CPEDI 2* is the second stop on the Canadian Para-Dressage European Tour. From July 13–15, the Team attended the CPEDI 3* Hartpury Festival of Dressage, also held in Great Britain. The purpose of the 2011 European Tour is ultimately to prepare athletes and horses for the 2012 Paralympic Games.

The 2011 European Tour is made possible through the Own the Podium program, a national sport technical initiative designed to help Canada’s summer and winter athletes achieve podium success at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.