Canadian
Eventing Names Team For The 2008 Olympic Games
Ottawa, ON, Canada
Following
a successful spring training and competition program, the Canadian Eventing High
Performance Committee have announced the names of the Canadian Eventing Team who
will compete in the 2008 Olympic Games August 9-12, 2008. Selected according to
the qualification thresholds and selection procedure, five rider/ horse combinations
are named to the Team and nominated to the Canadian Olympic Committee. The equestrian
events for the 2008 Olympic Games are being held in Hong Kong, China.
Canada
is one of only five nations in the world sending teams to compete in all three
Olympic and the one Paralympic equestrian disciplines. Named to the Team
(in alphabetical order) are:
Kyle Carter, Calgary, AB Madison Park,
1998 bay American Thoroughbred Rider & Nicole Shinton
Sandra Donnelly,
Calgary, AB Buenos Aires, 1997 bay Canadian Warmblood Rider
Selena O’Hanlon,
Elgin, ON Colombo, 1994 bay Swedish Warmblood Elaine & Michael Davies
Jessica Phoenix, Uxbridge ON Exploring, 1997 bay Canadian Thoroughbred
Rider
Michael Winter, Toronto, ON King Pin, 1996 chestnut Irish Sport
Horse King Pin Syndicate The Team entries will be nominated by Equine Canada
to the Canadian Olympic Committee by the deadline for final definite entries by
noon (ET) Monday July 14, 2008. In addition to selecting the Canadian Eventing
Team members, at the discretion of the selectors the committee announces an accompanying
list of horse/rider combinations to serve as alternate/substitutes for the Eventing
Team for the 2008 Olympic Games. If for any reason one of selected horse/rider
combinations is unable to travel to the Olympic Games, then it may be possible,
although subject to strict regulations to replace a named substitute to the team
Named as Alternates (in alphabetical order) are:
Hawley
Bennett, Langley, BC Livingstone, 1990 bay Canadian Thoroughbred Rider &
Gerry Bennett
Diana Burnett, Blackstock, ON Manny, 2000 bay Canadian
Thoroughbred cross Rider & John Lennox
Lesley Grant-Law, Mount
Albert, ON Timber Spirit, 1995 chestnut English Thoroughbred Rider & Anthony
Grant
Samantha Taylor, Richmond, BC Livewire, 1998 grey Canadian Thoroughbred
Rider
* Michael Winter, Toronto, ON Wonderful Will, 1997 bay American
Thoroughbred Rider & Elliott Schwartz
*Michael Winter and Wonderful
Will is the named alternate to Michael Winter and King Pin.
Following a
preparatory outing at the Florida Horse Park, in Ocala, Florida July 12-13, the
Team and alternates will participate in a Training Camp and Pre-Export Quarantine
in Ocala, Florida, USA, prior to the July 25th departure for Hong Kong. The
team trains under the leadership of David O'Connor, International Technical
Advisor. Eventing chef d'équipe, Graeme Thom; team manager, Janette
Leask; stable manager, Debbie Furnas; team veterinarian, Dr. Christiana
Ober; and team farrier, Christopher Volk, will accompany and provide
support to the team throughout the Games. At the 2008 Olympic Games, the
team competition consists of a minimum of three and a maximum of five competitors
with the best three scores to count for the team classification. Following the
first round of show jumping, which determines the team medal winners, the top
25 competitors will jump a second round to determine the individual medalists.
© EWB News Service
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