Ashley Holzer and Belinda Trussell Lead Canadians CDIO 5* Aachen

July 16, 2010

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Ottawa, ON --- Canadian Olympians Ashley Holzer and Belinda Trussell are the top Canadian riders at CDIO 5* Aachen, in Aachen GER, being held this week July 13 – 18, 2010.

On the fourth and final stop of the Dressage Canada European Tour, Holzer of Toronto, ON and her 2008 Olympic partner Pop Art (Amsterdam x Cabochon), earned a score of 69.027% in the Grand Prix test to finish in 13th place out of 37 entries. The 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding is owned by Rusty Holzer and Moreen Nicoll.

Trussell of Newmarket, ON and Anton (Antaeus x Melit), a 10-year-old German-bred gelding owned by Robyn Eames, scored 68.024% to finish in 15th place in the Grand Prix test.

Canadian Olympian Bonny Bonnello of Calgary, AB, is also part of the team effort with Pikardi (Point Maker x Daimont), the 13-year-old Canadian Warmblood gelding she co-owns with Jean Bell. Canada is currently sitting in sixth place in the Nations’ Cup Team competition following the Grand Prix, and will compete in Saturday’s Grand Prix Special. Wendy Christoff of Delta, BC and her 16-year-old Hanoverian gelding Pfalstaff, sired by Palladium competed in the Grand Prix as individuals.

“The Grand Prix went very well. The weather cooled off considerably and the wind was really blowing so the atmosphere was very busy for the Grand Prix test,” said Chef d’équipe Gina Smith. “Our team is currently in sixth by .001 points behind Spain, so we are able to compete again in the Grand Prix Special for the final team results.”

The international judging panel for the CDIO 5* Grand Prix test included 5* judges Leif Toernblad (DEN), Jean-Michel Roudier (FRA), Dr. Dieter Schuele (GER), Wim Ernes (NED) and Gary Rockwell (USA), and 4* judges Andrew Gardner (GBR) and Gustav Svalling (SWE).

The European Tour has been made possible through the Own the Podium program, a national sport technical initiative designed to help Canada’s summer and winter athletes achieve podium success at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. About Dressage Canada Dressage Canada, as a committee of Equine Canada, is the National governing body for Dressage in Canada. Dressage Canada's objective is to foster the growth of Dressage and the pursuit of excellence in the sport at the local, national and international levels. Dressage Canada provides support and guidance to both amateur and professional through the following programs: coaching education and programs, officials’ education and programs, rules & qualifying criteria, sport development, publications & awards. For more information about Dressage Canada, please visit the Dressage section of the Equine Canada site or connect with us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/dressagecanada or Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/lp8cnd. About Equine Canada Equine Canada is Canada’s national governing body for equestrianism. A member-driven, charitable institution, it is the executive branch of the Canadian Equestrian Team, and the national authority for equestrian competition; the national voice for recreational riders; and the national association for equine welfare, breeding, and industry. Equine Canada is recognised by the Government of Canada, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), and the Canadian Olympic Committee as the national organisation representing equestrian sport and equine interests. For more information about Equine Canada, please visit www.equinecanada.ca.

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