Monica Burssens Rides Elfentanz to Victory in Mexico City CDI3* St. Georges To Virtually Assure Selection for Central American Games Team
6 years ago StraightArrow Comments Off on Monica Burssens Rides Elfentanz to Victory in Mexico City CDI3* St. Georges To Virtually Assure Selection for Central American Games Team
MEXICO CITY, May 25, 2018–Monica Burssens rode Elfentanz to victory in the CDI3* Prix St. Georges Friday move closer to assuring selection for Mexico’s team for the Central American and Caribbean Games in July.
Monica, based in Wellington, Florida for most of her life, was awarded 68.17 per cent for the win over Mexico’s 2016 Olympic combination of Bernadette Pujals and Heslegaards Rolex on 68.05 per cent. Martha Fernanda del Vall on Dynamic placed third on 67.17 per cent with Carlos Maldonado on Massimo fourth on 66.35 per cent.
This is the last of three selection trials for the team of four horses and riders to be selected for the Games in Bogotá, Colombia in July. The Intermediate 1 scheduled for Saturday is the final selection event. The lowest Prix St. Georges and Int. 1 score can be dropped.
Monica, 31 years old, and married to Mexican jumper rider Manuel Lecuona, rode the 10-year-old Oldenburg to sweep both competitions in the second event earlier this month. If all goes well, she will compete in her first senior international championships that is a qualifier for the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru next year. Mexico won team and individual gold at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games.
Monica, whose parents are prominent figures in the Florida equestrian community, rode in the North American Young Rider Championships in 2007.
Before this weekend’s event, Monica and Elfentanz had moved up to second place in the Games rankings.
She was short-listed for the Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2011 but her horse, Dance of Joy, foundered. Monica spent two summers in Germany working with, Klaus Balkenhol, Olympic team gold medal rider and former United States team coach.
