Hawley Bennett-Awad and Jollybo at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
The Equestrian Canada Eventing Committee has just announced the 2019 High Performance Squads for the Eventing National Team Program (NTP). Rankings for the squads are based on results from CCI3*-L, CCI4-*L, CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L competitions from the 2018 season.
The National Squad is made up of combinations “committed to and capable of producing individual performance results” at CCI4*-S, CCI4*-L and CCI5* competitions, “and who show the ability to contribute to a top-six team result at major games.”
The following combinations have been named to the 2019 Canadian National Squad:
- Hawley Bennett-Awad with her own and The Jollybo Syndicate’s Jollybo
- Lisa Marie Fergusson and her own Honor Me
- Colleen Loach and Peter Barry’s Qorry Blue d’Argouges
- Selena O’Hanlon and John and Judy Rumble’s Foxwood High
- Jessica Phoenix and her own Pavarotti
The Development Squad consists of “combinations committed to and capable of progressing to National Squad. Horse-and-athlete combinations named to the Development Squad are those which have achieved targeted performance results at eligible international competitions in the previous 12 months.”
The following combinations have been named to the 2019 Canadian Development Squad:
- Waylon Roberts with Michelle and John Koppin’s Lancaster and Kelecyn Cognac, owned by Anthony Connolly and Skye Levely
- Shelby Brost with her own and Wayne Brost’s Crimson
- Dana Cooke and The FE Mississippi Syndicate’s FE Mississippi
- Sabrina Glaser and Patricia Yust’s Remembrant
- Holly Jacks-Smither with her own and Bruce Smither’s More Inspiration
- Brooke Massie and her own Serendipity
- Jessica Phoenix and Amanda Hoppner’s Bogue Sound
- Karl Slezak and his own and Kirk Hoppner’s Fernhill Wishes
- Mike Winter with Jessica Pidcock’s Shannondale Arlo and El Mundo, owned by Jonathan Nelson and Mike and Emma Winter
The Canadian Eventing National Team Program is led by Technical Advisor, David O’Connor, and supported by the EC Eventing High Performance Advisory Group and EC Eventing Manager, Fleur Tipton. The 2019 program consists of training camps and individual training sessions for targeted athletes and horses, as well as competition coaching support.
The focus of the 2019 program is to achieve team qualification at the 2019 Pan American Games, which will be held Aug. 1-4 in Lima, Peru, as well as individual qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games at eligible competitions.
“We have a skilled group of horses and riders that comprise our High Performance program,” Dr. Rob Stevenson, Chair of the EC Eventing High Performance Advisory Group, said. “Through our partnership with data analytics company, EquiRatings, I do think that we have a better understanding of our High Performance Squad and targeted athletes.”
“We are very pleased to continue under the technical leadership of David O’Connor,” Rob continued. “His experience, understanding of the athletes, and commitment to our team’s success will give us the best possible opportunity to attain our targeted results. Through this partnership, we plan to both strengthen and broaden the depth of our squads. This is a good time for eventing in Canada, and we are looking forward to a productive year in 2019.”
The National Training Program “provides a pathway that supports the progression of targeted Canadian athletes in the Train to Compete and Learn to Win stages of the Long-Term Equestrian Development (LTED) framework to achieve international podium performances.” The program also aligns with EC’s overall High Performance strategy and is supported by funding partners Sport Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee.
For more information on EC Eventing, visit www.equestrian.ca/sport/eventing.
[Equestrian Canada Announces 2019 Eventing National Team Program Athletes]
