All four qualified athletes live in Alberta within 500km of each other: Averill Saunders lives in Sundre; Dallyn Shields resides in neighbouring Didsbury; Cassidy Johannesson is close by in Rocky Mountain House; and Talmage Conrad is from Lethbridge.

In addition to being the oldest at 18 years of age, Cassidy can be considered the de-facto leader of the group as she was the first-ever Canadian to enter the ring at an FEI Vaulting World Championship for Juniors back in 2017. Although she didn’t make it to the second round, the experience provided Cassidy with invaluable lessons moving forward.

“I learned that the experience is the biggest part of the trip,” commented Cassidy. “I really recognized that winning is not something that should be prioritized over the love of the sport. My experience being the first Canadian was surreal for me. Representing Canada is an amazing feeling overall and I am ecstatic to be able to do that once again.”

Stronger Together: Canadian Vaulting Team Heads to 2019 FEI Vaulting World Championships for Juniors

Cassidy Johannesson (middle) of Rocky Mountain House, AB, and Dallyn Shields (right) of Didsbury, AB, represent half of the Canadian Vaulting Team traveling to Ermelo, NED, for the FEI Vaulting World Championships for Juniors on July 24-28, 2019. They are pictured with fellow vaulter, Charlotte Axani of Cochrane, AB.

Dallyn, 17, also competed at the 2017 Junior Championships alongside Cassidy, as well as in the Pas-de-Deux at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in North Carolina.

“Participating in WEG helped me gain more experience with competing in front of large crowds with the added pressure of a world championship,” said Dallyn. “I have more practice handling nerves, and preparing and focusing on my job – representing Canada to the best of my ability!”

For the 2019 Junior Championships, Dallyn and Cassidy will both be competing on horses borrowed from Rebecca Hewitt of Scotland’s Reivers Vaulting Group. The two will travel to Scotland and train there together prior to competition to get acquainted with their new mounts.

Averill has also had an impressive amount of high performance experience at just 15 years old. She competed as the youngest squad member at the FEI World Championships for Seniors in 2016 and also went to WEG 2018 as a squad reserve. The 2019 Junior Championships, however, will be Averill’s first championships competing in the Individual division. She will be supported by lunger, Jessica Bentzen of West Coast Vaulters in Parksville, BC, and paired with a borrowed horse from Germany.

Stronger Together: Canadian Vaulting Team Heads to 2019 FEI Vaulting World Championships for Juniors

Also representing the maple leaf at the 2019 Junior Championships will be Averill Saunders (far right) of Sundre, AB, who vaults alongside Dallyn Shields (second from the right) with the Meadow Creek Vaulting Club, pictured at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games Test Event.
L to R: Karin Schmidt, Emily Stevenson, Jeanine van der Sluijs, Ryan Bracken, Avery Malone, Angelique Vick, Dallyn Shields, Averill Saunders
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Joanne Littlejohn

“I have been preparing and training for this moment for a very long time, and to finally be here and qualified is a beyond amazing feeling,” said Averill. “I feel great honour and thrill to finally have the chance to represent my country as an individual. With all of the amazing support and guidance from my coach, lunger, and family, I feel great responsibility to do my absolute best job for Canada. I am extremely driven to be a part of the growth and journey of vaulting in Canada.”

Averill continued, “It’s an incredible atmosphere to be competing alongside some of the best in the world, and the championships will be a wonderful experience to watch and learn from all of them. Vaulting has given me so many great experiences and friendships, and I’m looking forward to seeing all of my friends and making new ones. But the part I’m most excited about is being inspired and to come home with new goals to build on for the future.”

Rounding out the Canadian contingent is 17-year-old Talmage, who will compete in the Individual Male 2* division with the 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Don Zeno (Dressage Royal x Nurzeus), owned and lunged by Klaus Haidacher of Austria.

“My goal for this championship is to vault cleanly and calmly, and make a name for the very few male vaulters in Canada,” said Talmage. “Along with representing my country, I will be the first male from Canada to attend a junior world championships, which adds a little stress, but I am confident that I have put in the hours and will be able to make Canada proud. It has been amazing to see the sport of vaulting grow as it has in the past few years, and I am super excited to be a part of it along with this group of vaulters. I’m excited to see how we will grow together as Canadians throughout this experience.”

Stronger Together: Canadian Vaulting Team Heads to 2019 FEI Vaulting World Championships for Juniors

Talmage Conrad (left) of Lethbridge, AB, will be the first male in history to represent Canada the FEI Vaulting World Championships for Juniors.
Photo Credit: Westwind Vaulters

Speaking to the Canadian Vaulting Team that will be traveling to Ermelo, Dallyn concluded, “Even in the past two years, Canadian vaulting has leapt forward in ability, it’s insane! We have also become much more of a community where everyone supports each other and has their backs. I am good friends with the other Canadians who have qualified and am looking forward to representing Canada with them; I think we have a strong, experienced team. Vaulting in Alberta has a close community, so it allows us to get to know each other and build friendships with everyone.”

To support the Canadian Vaulting Team on their way to the 2019 FEI World Championships for Juniors, visit www.equestrian.ca/donate and select “Vaulting”.