Megan Lane & Caravella Post Best Canadian Grand Prix, Special Score This Year to Win Ontario CDI3* Special
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June 21, 2014
By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
In the last competition ride before heading to Europe, Megan Lane and Caravella turned in the best performance of their Big Tour career in winning the Equivents CDI3* Grand Prix Special at Cedar Valley, Ontario Saturday.
The 23-year-old and the horse that she bought as a hunter reject, were awarded 72.980 per cent from the panel of five judges, four of whom will be on the seven-member ground jury at the World Equestrian Games in two months, the quadrennial global championships that Canada has not yet decided whether to send a team.
Olympic and World Games veteran Belinda Trussell on Anton, whom she rode at the 2010 WEG in Kentucky, were second on 71.235 per cent with the 2012 Olympic combination of Jacqueline Brooks and D Niro third on 68.059 per cent.
“I am far beyond words,” Megan told dressage-news.com. “I feel like I accomplished what I came for and more.
“The best part of this journey is that Capri keeps giving me more and more every time we go down the center line and I could not be more proud to own and ride such an incredible horse.
“I am so grateful to have such support behind me from my family, friends and the entire Canadian equestrian community.”
Canadian judge Elizabeth McMullen scored the ride by Megan and the 13-year-old KWPN mare (Contango x Riverman) at 75.000 per cent with fellow WEG judges Lilo Fore of the United States scoring it 73.529 per cent, Stephen Clarke of Great Britain 73.137 per cent and Francis Verbeek of the Netherlands 71.569 per cent.
This was the fifth win for the pair this year–two at the Global Dressage Festival in Florida, one a month ago at the Kentucky CDI3*, and both the Grand Prix and the Special at this event.
The score Saturday beat all other results at Grand Prix, Special or Freestyle since the pair began their Grand Prix career just over two years ago after success in young rider championships.
It was also the highest CDI score this year for any Canadian combination at Grand Prix and the Special and was surpassed only by two Freestyle scores by Diane Creech and Devon L and one by Belinda Trussell and Anton, according to a review by dressage-news.com of International Equestrian Federation results.
She plans to leave with Caravella on July 3 to be based with top German trainer Jan Bemelmans near Dusseldorf and hopes to compete at the World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany in mid-July and Verden, German in early August. Fellow Canadian David Marcus and Chrevi’s Capital will also be based with Jan and compete in the same shows.
Both pairs as well as Belinda and Anton and Karen Pavicic and Don Daiquiri who are already in Europe and are entered to compete at the WEG CDI3* test event in Caen, France next Monday and Tuesday, have been selected for a prospective four-member team for the World Games.
However, Equine Canada has not yet decided whether to send the team or to enter only individuals. That decision will reportedly be made after the end of the qualifying period on June 29.
The Grand Prix Freestyle was won by Diane Creech and Devon L on 72.050 per cent, with Britanny Fraser and Countess second on 69.725 per cent with P.J. Rizvi of the United States on Breaking Dawn third on 68.325 per cent.
Results:
