A minor upset in the overall team standings for Great Britain not making the podium, the international event ended with Germany on top with the gold medal, followed by the United States with silver and New Zealand with the bronze. Individually, Yasmin Ingham of Great Britain with partner Banzai du Loir took the gold, Julia Krajewski of Germany riding Amande de B’Neville with the silver and Tim Price of Australia on Falco for the bronze.
Taking the seven qualifying quotas from the Championships were the top ranked teams from Germany, United States, Australia, Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden and Switzerland who have all qualified to compete in the Eventing discipline at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, FRA.
With 68 athletes entering the show jumping ring on the last day of competition, Canada had four combinations competing with Dana Cooke as an individual and the three remaining team athletes of Hawley Awad, Holly Jacks and Mike Winter after Saturday’s cross-country.
The course for today’s jumping test, designed by Italian Uliano Vezzani had 13 obstacles set with 16 jumps to be completed in a 90 second time allowed and was referred to as one of the toughest tracks the eventers at this Worlds had ever seen. The Competition began early in the day with the last placed rider after cross-country contesting in the stadium.
Mike Winter and El Mundo
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
Canada’s Winter took to the ring on Sunday with his 13-year-old gelding El Mundo (H.G K M. Derks, Merselo x Calvaro F.C.) and had a very strong ride, nearly clear taking just one rail down at jump 11a. When the results were tallied for show jumping his scores from the previous days saw him move up in the standings five places with a total score to add to the team of 95.1.
“He felt amazing, but he’s a horse that loves all three phases,” said Winter about how his performance went. “And so, it was just making sure I made good pilot decisions to help him be as good as he could be and stay out of his way to be brilliant for me.”
When asked about the team experience at the Championships, he talked as many had throughout the week about the camaraderie. “I’ve really enjoyed it,” he said. “I’d say it’s one of my favourite team experiences that I’ve ever had. Everyone’s been very positive and supportive, and I feel like everybody involved just wants the best for us and our horses and the riders for each other.”
Holly Jacks and Candy King
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
With her first Team Canada experience now complete, Jacks ended with an agreeable round, but one she admitted wasn’t where she had hoped it would be. In the end she was in second position in points for the team with a total of 93 added to the overall team score.
“I always want to do better,” said Jacks. “But as my first team experience, and my young horse’s first team experience, we’re coming out with a completed score that I want to improve on for next time. I think we come out with a more confident horse and I’m definitely a more confident rider.”
Hawley Awad and Jollybo
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
The day was not to be for BC native Awad, who with her long-time partner 18-year-old mare Jollybo (Jumbo x Danzig Connection), was the top ranked Canadian pair going into the show jumping phase. When they were done, they finished the competition with a score of 88.8 for 56th place.
“Obviously I’m extremely disappointed. That was not the plan. I’ve been working really hard and Jolly’s been jumping great,” said Awad. “I think that course [yesterday] took a little bit of a toll with the terrain and the hills. She didn’t feel tired, she just wasn’t as sharp as she normally is. She tries her heart out and I’ll give her a 10 for that.”
When reflecting on the team environment and for what’s next, Awad is motivated to work through. “The high-performance committee has made some extremely big changes and we’re very, very grateful for that. Personally, Jolly and I have been working our butts off and we’ll go back to the drawing board because I don’t think she’s done. I’d love to do either Kentucky or Badminton in the spring.”
Dana Cooke and Mississippi
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
Cooke, Canada’s individual rider struggled throughout the test with her 12-year-old mare Mississippi (Cassini II x Legaat). “We finished, so that’s good,” Dana said when asked about their result. When I went to the Pan Ams, I didn’t get to show jump. It’s nice to finish a Championship. She did try her guts out.”
To sum up the event, Chef D’Equipe Rebecca Howard said, “We’ve seen some amazing up and down changes from the leaderboard and some surprising shocks with Great Britain not on the podium. It certainly was a championship track out there today that shook this up, which led to an exciting competition for sure.”
When reflecting on Pratoni for the Canadian contingent, she reiterated the learning and the build that has come from it. “It was a similar trend in all phases for us, we have glimmers of really great things,” said Howard. “And then there are aspects of the rides that riders will be disappointed with as well. So, for us, that’s where we are at. We just have to keep focusing on the things that they did well so we can continue to build on that and use that as a platform to further strengthen our program and the rider’s performances.”
Equestrian Canada (EC)’s Director, High Performance James Hood was also the Chef de Mission for the Canadian team in Pratoni. He offered his thoughts on the event and where Eventing high performance is at.
“It has been a long road this season with the revamping of the EC High Performance Advisory Group (HPAG) and the Selectors panel,” said Hood. “The sport and members of the HPAG have worked hard to both improve communications and raise funds. A great deal of credit needs to be given to the HPAG. But equally we need to thank the owners and supporters who have stepped up from across the country and around the world in funding and moral support.”
“A huge thank you must also be given to Shane and Kelly Maine for their support for the team,” continued Hood. “This week has proven that whether you are an athlete, owner, supporter, donor, family or friend; we are all part of Team Canada.”
“There is still lots of work to do, but we are moving in the right direction,” said Hood. “Congratulations to each of our athlete pairings. They can all be proud of the job they have done in representing Canada.”
Le Pin-au-Haras, FRA, Sept. 18, 2022 – During the final day of competition at the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Driving World Championships for singles held from Sept. 15 – 18 in Le Pin-au-Haras, FRA, Canadian Kelly Houtappels-Bruder brought home the bronze medal, finishing in an overall position of third place of 71 athlete and horse combinations.
In a competition sand arena that is 120m in length and 70m in width, Houtappels-Bruder, originally from Ariss, ON, residing in Steensel, NED, and her partner Flip (Fidertanz x Carprilli), a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding whom she co-owns with her husband Frank Houtappels, finished in 20th place with a score of 2.90.
Kelly Houtappels-Bruder, Meike Paridaans and Flip
Photo Credit: Melanie Guillamot
Kelly Houtappels-Bruder, Meike Paridaans and Flip
Photo Credit: Melanie Guillamot
The Canadian pair finished with a score of 139.64 for third place, behind Netherlands Saskia Siebers (135.16; first place) and France’s Marion Vignaud (136.46; second place). The duo of Houtappels-Bruder and Flip earned their second podium finish after winning silver at the 2020 FEI World Championships for single drivers in Pau, FRA.
“Flippy was such a good boy today!” said Houtappels-Bruder. “It was a difficult course with a tight time limit and lots of tight turns. We drove without any knockdowns and just a little over two points for time.”
The driver went on to express how she felt about their podium finish. “This was the best result we could have hoped for – we didn’t give anything away and weren’t in a position to move up in the standings. So proud of my team and so thankful for all of the support at home,” said Houtappels-Bruder.
When asked what was next for the team, she adoringly focused on her horse’s welfare. “We will head home tomorrow and Flip will have a very well-earned rest. We will work mainly under saddle this fall and compete in some dressage competitions over the winter.”
Kelly Houtappels-Bruder, Meike Paridaans and Flip
Photo Credit: Melanie Guillamot
Kelly Houtappels-Bruder, Meike Paridaans and Flip
Photo Credit: Melanie Guillamot
About Equestrian Canada
Equestrian Canada (EC) is the national governing body for equestrian sport and industry in Canada, with a mandate to represent, promote and advance all equine and equestrian interests. With over 15,000 sport licence holders, 11 provincial/territorial sport organization partners and 10+ national equine affiliate organizations, EC is a significant contributor to the social, physical, emotional and economic wellbeing of the equestrian industry across Canada. EC thanks the Government of Canada for their financial support.
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