Blainville, Quebec - Talented young horses were featured during Saturday’s competition at the CDI-W Blainville Summer Classic taking place at the Blainville Equestrian Park north of Montreal, QC, from June 20 to 22.

For the second day in a row, a Dutch-bred horse emerged victorious in the FEI Young Horse competition. Both the Preliminary test on Friday and Saturday’s Finale test of the FEI Five-Year-Old Division were won by Harma Germs riding Whiscalina, a Dutch Warmblood mare by Redford and out of Priscalina (by Gribaldi). Germs is from the Netherlands but has lived in Montague, PEI, for the past nine years. Having purchased Whiscalina as a two-year-old in Holland, Germs is unreservedly pleased with how the elegant young mare performed, as were the judges. A score of 7.58 in the Preliminary test on Friday was improved upon Saturday with 7.8.

“I bought her partly because of her bloodlines,” said Germs, who hopes to continue developing Whiscalina through the levels. “I’d like to continue coming here, doing well with her in the show ring, and keeping her happy.”

The Canadian-bred Oldenburg stallion Royal T gave his breeder and owner Guy Rivard good reason to be proud by winning the FEI Six Year Old Finale test. Royal T’s sire, Royal Senna, is also owned by Rivard, and both stallions are trained and shown by Francine Bell of Vercheres, QC. Bell says that the young stallion inherited both his sire’s canter and willing temperament.

“He’s a good boy, and easy to handle, like a pet,” she said. The three-member FEI judging panel complimented Royal T for his exceptional gaits and rewarded him with an overall score of 7.32.

The runner up in the Six-Year-Old Finale was the previous day’s winner, Da Vinci, a Hannoverian gelding by Di Capprio owned and ridden by Simone Williams of Navan, ON. Da Vinci scored 7.3 in Friday’s Preliminary test and 7.2 in the Finale.

Young talent continued to dominate in the FEI Intermediaire I division in the form of eight-year-old Devon L, owned by Doug and Louise Leatherdale and ridden by Diane Creech of Caistor Centre, ON. The Hannoverian gelding by De Niro demonstrated cadent trot work and a correct canter tour, with just one youthful moment of over-exuberance in the final extended trot. Friday’s winner in the Prix St. Georges, Ashley Holzer on Diana Rose’s 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding Daddy Cool, finished second to Creech with 65.75%. A third placed tie score of 65.667% between Belinda Trussell on Anton and Julie Watchorn on Quintesse was broken in Trussell’s favour due to her higher collective marks. Fifth and sixth places were earned by Bonny Bonnello on Pikardi with 65.167% and Gillian Sutherland on Great Tyme with 64.250%.

Creech continued to bring out the best in the Leatherdales’ young horses with Wiona in the Grand Prix Special. The CDI-W Blainville marked the 11-year-old mare’s first time competing in the Special. A bit of tension in the canter work was offset by expressive and powerful passage that put her in second place with 67.520%. A more seasoned horse won the class with 67.920%: the 14-year-old Proton, ridden by Neil Ishoy, earned high marks for his piaffe and canter work.

In Young Rider competition, Danielle McKinnon of Aurora, ON, was the winner in the FEI Young Rider Individual Test with Noma Tender, on a score of 63.667%. Alexandra Dvorak and Fling enjoyed a second day of victory in the FEI Junior division. The Hillsburgh, ON, resident took first place in the Individual test with 63.083%. Also winning for the second day in a row with 65% were Vivian Cornell of Kingston, ON, and Daylight in the FEI Pony Individual test.

Spectators will be treated to nearly 40 FEI freestyles on Sunday, June 22, during the Freestyle Gala Brunch beginning at 10 a.m. Equivents Inc. President Cara Whitham is the organizer of the CDI-W Blainville Summer Classic and the upcoming CDI-W Blainville International Classic taking place June 24 to 28. “I’m very happy with the entries,” she said, adding, “We had over 20 horses in each of the CDI and Equine Canada National Prix St. Georges classes this weekend.”

CDI-W Grand Prix Special – Final Results

Rider Hometown Horse Score
1. Neil Ishoy Lynden, ON Proton 67.920%
2. Diane Creech Caistor Centre, ON Wiona 67.520%
3. Armand Valkenborg Ste. Marthe, QC Seigneur 61.720%
4. Jessica Costello King City, ON Litmanen 59.920%
5. Alexandra Hosein Wellington, NS Lucky Star 54.320%

Scoring for the CDI-W Blainville and Equine Canada National Competitions is being provided by Devonwood Competition Services. Results are available at www.foxvillage.com. Information on the CDI-W Blainville can be found on www.equivents.com.

PHOTOGRAPH - Francine Bell and the Canadian-bred Royal T won the FEI Six-Year-Old Finale on Saturday, June 21, at the CDI-W Blainville Summer Classic. FEI Ground Jury member Trond Asmyr of Norway presenting. Photo credit – Linda Scott Harris