Canadian Equestrian Team Nominated For Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games
On Saturday, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Equine Canada (EC) announced the Canadian Equestrian Team (CET) athletes who have been nominated to represent Canada at the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games, taking place July 10-26, 2015 in Toronto, ON.
The excitement of equestrian sport at the Pan Am Games will kick off with dressage, which runs on July 11, 12 and 15. Eventing will follow July 17-19, with jumping closing out the equestrian portion of the Games on July 21, 23, and 25.
Dressage and jumping will be held exclusively at the OLG Caledon Pan Am Equestrian Park, a publicly-owned, world-class facility in Caledon, ON. The dressage and jumping phases of eventing will also take place in Caledon, while the highly-anticipated cross-country phase will be hosted by one of Canada's premier eventing facilities, Will O'Wind Farm in Mono, ON - which will be named the Pan Am Cross-Country Centre during the Games.
The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games will prove especially meaningful for the dressage and jumping teams by providing the opportunity to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. The Canadian eventing team has already secured Olympic qualification through their sixth place finish at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France.
Historically, the CET has had great success at the Pan Am Games, most recently bringing home three medals from Guadalajara 2011. Both the dressage and eventing teams earned team silver, while Jessica Phoenix of Cannington, ON won the individual gold medal in eventing.
In addition, legendary jumping athlete, Ian Millar of Perth, ON, (known as "Captain Canada") has had immense success, having won nine medals across nine Pan Am Games - more than any other jumping athlete. Millar is also a ten-time Olympian, giving him the record for the most Olympic appearances of any athlete in any sport.
The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games will also go down in the history books with a record, as Canada is expecting to field its largest-ever Pan Am Games team, comprised of over 700 athletes. This level of Canadian representation, along with the exciting experience of a "home games" is sure to offer an unforgettable experience for Team Canada athletes volunteers, spectators, and fans alike.
Canada will be fielding teams in all three equestrian disciplines featured at the Pan Am Games - dressage, eventing and jumping. The team members are as follows:
Dressage athletes:
First Last Hometown Horse Owner Brittany Fraser New Glasgow, N.S. All In Brittany Fraser & Marc-Andre Beaulieu Megan Lane Collingwood, ON Caravella Megan Lane & Cathy Lane Belinda Trussell Stouffville, ON Anton Robyn Eames Chris von Martels Ridgetown, ON Zilverstar Chris von Martels & Lisa von Martels Reserve: Diane Creech Caistor Centre, ON Robbie W Doug Leatherdale Reserve: Karen Pavicic Surrey, B.C. Don Daiquiri Karen Pavicic & Jayne Essig
Eventing athletes:
First Last Hometown Horse Owner Colleen Loach Dunham, QC Qorry Blue d'Argouges Peter Barry Jessica Phoenix Cannington, ON Pavarotti Don J. Good Waylon Roberts Port Perry, ON Bill Owen Waylon Roberts & Kelly Plitz Kathryn Robinson Kettering, United Kingdom Let It Bee Kathryn Robinson
Jumping athletes:
First Last Hometown Horse Owner Yann Candele Caledon, ON Showgirl First Choice 15 Watermark Group Watermark Group Tiffany Foster North Vancouver, BC Tripple X III Artisan Farms LLC Eric Lamaze Schomberg, ON Fine Lady 5 Coco Bongo Rosana du Park Artisan Farms LLC Artisan Farms LLC Artisan Farms LLC & Torrey Pines Stable Ian Millar Perth, ON Dixson Susan & Ariel Grange Reserve: Elizabeth Gingras Edmonton, AB Zilversprings B Gingras Equestrian Limited
Support Team:
Position First Last Hometown Chef d'Équipe - Eventing Clayton Fredericks Ocala, Fla., USA Chef d'Équipe - Jumping Mark Laskin Langley, B.C. Chef d'Équipe - Dressage Alison Martin North Vancouver, B.C. Technical Advisor - Dressage Dr. Volker Moritz Germany