| Mill Spring, NC – June 19, 2021 – Thirteen horse and rider combinations rocked the Tryon Stadium in Mill Spring, NC, at the Perrigo Tryon Summer Dressage CPEDI3*/CPEDI1* and Final U.S. Observation Event for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. Para Dressage riders competed under the lights starting at 8:30 PM in front of FEI Ground Jury of Adrienne Pot (USA) 3*, John Robinson (GBR) 5*, and Sarah Leitch (GBR) 5*. The U.S. Team presented their individual championship tests under the watchful eye of Chef d’Equipe and USEF Head of Coach Development & Para Dressage Technical Advisor Michel Assouline. The U.S. team included Roxanne Trunnell and Dolton, owned by Flintwoode Farms LLC and Karin Flint (Grade I); Sydney Collier and All in One, owned by Going for Gold LLC and Katie Robicheaux (Grade I); Rebecca Hart and El Corona Texel, owned by Rowan O’Riley (Grade III); and Kate Shoemaker and Solitaer 40, owned by Kate, Craig, and Deena Shoemaker (Grade IV). This is the first of two tests for the U.S. Team with the Team Test on Saturday evening, June 19. Top scores were obtained in each grade including number one world ranked FEI Grade I rider Roxanne Trunnell and Dolton continuing to hit sky high results earning a 82.5%. Along with this observation event and CPEDI3*/1* the Tryon Summer National show is occurring. Young rider and grade V competitor Andie Sue Roth and Aniko, owned by Lisa Hellmer, competed in the Para Dressage Test of choice Friday in the national show. Athletes will continue to show this weekend continuing with the Team Test, and Freestyle on Sunday. USPEA President and Paralympian Hope Hand commented about the opening night of Para Dressage, “Little Toyko is what I call our Para Dressage Final Observation Event. Humid, hot, and steamy during the day with shade and humidity at night for the rides, under the electric stadium lights, and running 8:30 PM through 11:30 PM. The schedule is daunting, not only for the riders but also the horses. I am very proud of how our combinations are coping and meeting the many challenges. It’s Game On for the USA.” World ranked number one individual rider and Grade I WEG Bronze medalist and Paralympian Roxanne Trunnell and Dolton scored the top score of the night. She noted, “Karin Flint’s Dolton was so wonderful tonight, I couldn’t be any happier with that giant goofball. He was really wanting to walk forward and keep his head in that FEI headset while reaching for the bit. This was outstanding since my trainer Andrea Woodard and I have been working really hard to get all these pieces to work together at the same time. It was like tonight it clicked for us, we went out there and put in one of our best tests. Riding at night under the lights while it was cooler than during the day wasn’t a new experience. We’ve rode under the lights a couple of times at Global in Wellington, FL and he honestly could care less, Dolton is awesome that way. Nothing seems to faze him while I’m on his back.” U.S. team member and Paralympian Sydney Collier with All In One earned the second place position for Grade I with their 70.06% Friday. Deborah Stanitski and Skovlunds De Nice followed for third. Grade II rider Beatrice De Lavalette from the USA and her own Clarc scored the top Grade II ride with a 70.25. De Lavalette just returned from Germany with her new partner where they landed on the podium. De Lavalette commented, “I’m really happy to be back in Tryon, having missed the big show here last year due to Covid. The horse that I am showing this year is Clarc, a 14 year-old KWPN gelding by Dreamcatcher and Lord Sinclair. He and I have been working together a little over six months. The individual test Friday went well. I’m very happy with how Clarc and I synced together. Last month we flew to Germany for the CPEDI3* at Munich-Reim and we were on the podium every day with scores in the 70’s. Traveling that far for one show proved that we were really ready for serious international competition. We wanted to see what he was capable of under tough conditions. I think going to that show was probably the most important decision I have made so far in preparation for Tokyo.” She concluded, “This weekend is Clarc’s first time in Tryon and he isn’t fazed by the lights or the atmosphere in the huge international arena. He’s as focused as I am and I couldn’t be happier. Since Munich, Shayna and I have been working on refining details and I’m really looking forward to the Team test and the Freestyle, where he can really shine.” Beatrice De Lavalette also supported her international Para Dressage athlete allowing Ignacio Trevino Fuerte (Grade III) of Mexico to borrow her horse Delegada X the weekend’s competition. In Grade III WEG Silver and bronze medalist and Paralympian Rebecca Hart scored both first and second in her Grade with Fortune 500 in first with a 70.245 and her team horse El Corona Texel with a 70.245. Both horses of Hart’s are owned by Rowan O’Riley. Charlotte Merle-Smith and Guata followed for third with Ignacio Trevino Fuerte in fourth. Hart noted, “I’m really happy with both of my horses for coming out and happily doing their jobs late at night under the lights. We don’t get to experience that often and it’s been great to test them in this venue. I want to thank my amazing sponsor Rowan O’Riley for the ride on both horses. Without her incredible generosity, this would not be possible. Thank you to Jennifer Baumert and Kjersten Lance for all their hard work leading up this event. Also, a very big, huge thank you to all the volunteers, sponsors and organizers for putting in very long days, so that we can have an event that simulates the conditions in Tokyo.” Fellow USA Grade III rider Charlotte Merle-Smith is back on the scene aboard her new mount Guata to a 69.461. She noted, “I am very happy with how the first test of the show went. Gigi was really with me and the big atmosphere of the arena didn’t faze her. I am excited about the partnership I am developing with my horse.” Grade IV WEG bronze medalist Kate Shoemaker and Solitaer 40, owned by Kate, Craig, and Deena Shoemaker once again showed how her Stallion is excelling in the ring. Shoemaker scored a 73.049. Shoemaker explained what they have been doing, “We’ve been working for quite some time to raise our level of everything in the arena. That started at home. We’ve been getting tastes at home, then getting it solid at home, then getting tastes in the arena and tonight we got it. I am so excited and happy about our partnership. It feels like we are really on the right track. Friday I really enjoyed our medium canter circles. They used to be our absolute weakest part and now we can get 9’s on it. That just goes to show how important dressage training is. It’s about making the horse a better athlete and doing it together as a partnership. If someone asked me six years ago if Soli could do this, I would have said no but here he is today doing it and it’s so cool.” Shoemaker continue, “With the evening format I was first worried about it being so late at night because at home we ride on the dot at 7 AM every morning. So here we are riding past bedtime, but it was awesome. The atmosphere in Tryon is amazing, the horses loved it, and it’s beautiful. I am so appreciative to everybody that made it possible to put this event on. Perrigo, Adequan, USEF and their staff, Tryon, and everyone’s team behind the scenes. It takes so many people to do this and with any missing link it wouldn’t happen.” In Grade V Cynthia Screnci and Sir Chipoli rode in their second international event together. The duo just got back from Germany where they became a partnership. Screnci exclaimed, “This horse is amazing. I have only had him for 4 weeks. Kate (Shoemaker) helped me find him, so I flew to Germany, spent 5 days riding him, went to Manneheim and ended up on the podium. We have some little things we need to fix but he’s just incredible. He loves the job, and he is such a showman. He’s going to be a super star. I have never felt like this in my life, and I have had horses for over 40 years. This bond has been amazing since the day I met him. I can’t wait to see what the future holds. In the CPEDI1* Emma Jameson and Cortesana La competed in the FEI Para Novice B Test Grade III. Young rider and pony clubber Andie Sue Roth rode in the Tryon Summer National Show FEI Para Novice A Test Grade III with Lisa Hellmer’s Aniko. The duo of Roth and Aniko scored a 68.437. This is their second time competing together. Roth said, “The rides have gone really well this weekend because we went in with a good connection and we are really listening to each other. I have things to work on but overall, it was a very good test. I have been working on keeping my hands higher up since I have a tendency of leaving them low. We have also been working on our canter transitions because I must do it all off of my seat. Lisa can wrap her legs around him and use her heels and I can’t do that, so we have been working on our seat aids. The work has paid off since we have been getting our walk to canter transitions beautifully.” Roth acknowledged, “It has been enjoyable showing at Tryon. I love seeing all the other Para Dressage riders and they are so supportive even coming to watch. On Friday Kate (Shoemaker) came to see my ride and was so excited that she was there to see us. I want to thank Lisa Hellmer for letting me ride her fantastic horse. She has been a great mentor and teacher. I want to express my gratitude to my family, my mom, and my grandparents for their support and of course my sponsors Ariat, Platinum Performance, Uvex, Devoucoux, ChubbyCov, and Equiderma.” Para Dressage athletes both internationally and nationally will compete Saturday and Sunday at the Tryon International Equestrian Center. Following this event four horse and rider combinations and two alternates will be selected by July 5, to travel to Germany for Training Camp. This will occur before the athletes head to the Tokyo Paralympic Games August 24-September 5, 2021. Three horse and rider combinations will be chosen for the Adequan® U.S. Para Dressage Team in Tokyo with one rider competing as an individual. For more information about the selection process or Tokyo Paralympic Equestrian Games please visit U.S. Equestrian at https://www.usef.org/compete/disciplines/para-equestrian/para-equestrian-dressage-programs-forms For more information about Tryon International Equestrian Center please visit https://tryon.coth.com Results Final Observation Event for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics; Perrigo Tryon Summer Dressage Tryon CPEDI3*; CPEDI1*; and Tryon Summer Dressage National show: June 18, 2021 FEI Para Dressage Individual Test Placing, Rider, Country, Horse Name, TotalGrade I FEI Para Dressage Individual Test1 Roxanne Trunnell USA Dolton 81.786 85.357 80.357 82.52 Sydney Collier USA All In One 69.464 67.857 72.857 70.063 Deborah Stanitski USA Skovlunds De Nice 68.393 65.893 67.143 67.143 Grade II FEI Para Dressage Individual Test 1 Beatrice De Lavalette USA Clarc 73.676 70.294 66.765 70.2452 Laurietta Oakleaf USA Comte Du Baccara C 67.059 63.824 66.176 65.686 Grade III FEI Para Dressage Individual Test 1 Rebecca Hart USA Fortune 500 72.059 73.088 72.353 72.52 Rebecca Hart USA El Corona Texel 70.441 69.853 70.441 70.2453 Charlotte Merle-Smith USA Guata 69.706 68.382 70.294 69.4614 Ignacio Trevino Fuerte MEX Delegada X 61.176 61.765 58.382 60.441 FEI Para Novice B Test Grade III – CPEDI1* Emma Jameson USA Cortesana La 59.786 61.214 62.214 61.071 Grade IV FEI Para Dressage Individual Test 1 Kate Shoemaker USA Solitaer 40 75.488 71.341 72.317 73.049 Grade V FEI Para Dressage Individual Test 1 Cynthia Screnci USA Sir Chipoli 71.786 65.476 68.452 68.5712 Cayla Van Der Walt RSA Daturo II 68.214 66.071 65 66.429 FEI Para Novice A Test Grade III 1 Andie Sue Roth USA Aniko 68.437 |
