Tuesday March 18, 2003

Canadians Score a 1 - 2 Victory at the Prestigious CDI Palm Beach Dressage Derby

Shannon Dueck and Korona

Canadian dressage riders are enjoying much success south of the border this winter. At the recent Palm Beach Dressage Derby, CDI***/Y, held in Loxahatchee Florida February 28 - March 3, Shannon Dueck & Korona won the CDI*** FEI Grand Prix Freestyle with a remarkable score of 73.600%. Country mate Ashley Holzer & Imperioso were close behind in second place with a score of 69.725%.

Dueck & Korona's win is especially encouraging as the pair gear up to represent Canada for the first time at the 2003 World Cup being held later this month in Goteborg, Sweden. This will be their third major international appearance riding for Canada. Dueck & Korona broke onto the international scene by storm taking the silver medal at the 1999 Pan American Games with a career record score of 75% in the freestyle. Amazingly, this was only the first year for Korona showing at the Prix St. George level in the competition ring. The Dutch Warmblood gelding continued to improve over the years as they moved up to the Grand Prix level.

Last year the pair earned a spot on Canada's World Equestrian Games team and travelled to Spain where they put in country's top score in the Grand Prix and was the only Canadian horse/riding combination to advance to the Grand Prix Special. This helped Canada earn their best international team performance in recent years. Upon returning to Canada, they then proceeded to the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto where a winning Grand Prix test and Freestyle earned them top honours in the Swarovski Canadian League World Cup Finals. The win now sends the team to Sweden as Canada's representative at the World Cup Final being held March 27-30 in Goteborg, Sweden.