The team was stacked with veteran athletes, all of whom have won silver team medals at Nations Cup competitions: Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu of Saint-Bruno, QC (2018, 2020); Lindsay Kellock of Wellington (2019, 2020); Naima Moreira Laliberté of Outremont, QC (2020); and Chris von Martels of Wellington (2014, 2015).
Von Martels was the highest placed Canadian in both March 17’s CDIO 3* Grand Prix and March 18’s CDIO 3* Grand Prix Special, the results of which determined the team standings. Partnered with Eclips (Apache x Olympic Ferro), a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding that he owns in partnership with Barbara Soederhuizen, von Martels placed third in the Grand Prix (72.870%) and fifth in the Grand Prix Special (72.319%).
Wellington’s Chris von Martels and Eclips returned to the Nations Cup ring for the first time since 2015 to lead the Canadian Dressage Team to a bronze medal finish at the CDIO 3* Nations Cup, held March 16-21, 2021, during the 10th week of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, FL.
Photo Credit: Susan J. Stickle
Canada’s leading dressage combination, Fraser-Beaulieu and All In (Tango x Damiro), whom she co-owns with her father, Craig Fraser, and husband, Marc-Andre Beaulieu, also posted high scores for the red and white. Fraser-Beaulieu and the 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding showed off their talents to the tune of 70.391% for sixth in the Grand Prix and 70.447% for seventh in the Grand Prix Special.
Kellock and Sebastien (Sandro Hit x Fidermark), a 15-year-old Rheinländer gelding that she co-owns with Enterprise Farm Equestrian, LLC, added a score of 70.087% in the Grand Prix to Canada’s tally, placing eighth. In the Grand Prix Special, Kellock placed 10th on a score of 67.787%.
Moreira Laliberté, who was Kellock’s gold medal teammate at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games, took on the centreline with Statesman (Sandro Hit x Brentano II), a 14-year-old Hanoverian stallion owned by KML Inc. The judges awarded their performances 69.718% for ninth in the Grand Prix and 71.957% for sixth in the Grand Prix Special.
As each member of the Canadian Dressage Team competed in the big tour, a bonus of 1.5% per athlete was added to total a final score of 437.07, earning the bronze. The gold medal was awarded to Germany, who finished on 448.568, while the United States was close behind in the silver medal position on 448.381.
The CDIO 3* team bronze medal was awarded to the Canadian Dressage Team.
L to R: Thomas Bauer, Denielle Gallagher-Legriffon, Lindsay Kellock, Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu, Naima Moreira Laliberté, Chris von Martels, Arlene Page, Christof Umbach
Photo Credit: Susan J. Stickle
“The senior Nations Cup team rode hard and tried their best,” said Chef d’Équipe, Denielle Gallagher-Legriffon. “It was one of the hottest weeks of the winter and all the horses were working well, our riders were true horseman and took everything in stride. They are definitely a team for the world stage and I’m so proud to call them friends and comrades.”
After the conclusion of the team competition, the athletes returned to the ring on March 19 to compete for individual honours in the CDIO 3* Grand Prix Freestyle. Fraser-Beaulieu and All In, who earned individual bronze in the 2020 Nations Cup, wowed the judges with their pattern’s high degree of difficulty and artistry. A score of 77.065% was enough to claim another bronze medal for the combination, who fell just behind Benjamin Ebeling and Illuster van de Kampert of the United States and their silver medal score of 77.555%. The gold medal was won by Americans, Adrienne Lyle and Harmony’s Duval, on a score of 80.020%.
Fraser-Beaulieu of Saint-Bruno, QC, and All In added another CDIO 3* individual bronze medal to their long list of achievements.
Photo Credit: Susan J. Stickle
“I am thrilled with how All In felt,” said Fraser-Beaulieu. “He had to have some time off due to allergies during the 5*, so I am so thankful he is back feeling great. Being back under the lights at AGDF is always such a thrill. We are so lucky to be able to be here and do what we love.”
Fifth place went to Moreira Laliberté and Statesman on a respectable score of 74.640%. Von Martels and Eclips weren’t far behind, scoring 73.535% for seventh.
EC wishes to thank Sport Canada for its support of athletes through the Athlete Assistance Program.
For full results from the AGDF CDIO 3*, click here. Visit the EC website for more information about dressage programs and services.
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