Canadian
Eventing Names Eventing Team for the 2008 Olympic Games
Ottawa, ON—Following a successful weekend outing at the Florida Horse
Park in Ocala, Florida, the Canadian Eventing High Performance Committee is pleased
to announce that Samantha Taylor and Livewire have been selected as the
fifth rider/horse combination to join the Canadian Eventing Team which will compete
in the Olympic Games Beijing, China, August 9–12, 2008. The equestrian events
for the 2008 Olympic Games will be held in Hong Kong, China. Samantha and
Livewire replace Jessica Phoenix and Exploring who were sadly were withdrawn
from the Team on July 3rd, 2008. The Eventing Team nominated to
the Canadian Olympic Committee to compete at the 2008 Olympic Games (in alphabetical
order) are: Kyle Carter, Calgary, AB Madison Park, 1998 bay
American TB Rider & Nicole Shinton Sandra Donnelly, Calgary,
AB Buenos Aires 1997 bay Canadian WB Rider Selena O’Hanlon, Elgin,
ON Colombo, 1994 bay Swedish WB Elaine & Michael Davies
Samantha
Taylor, Richmond, BC Livewire 1998 grey Canadian TB Rider Michael
Winter, Toronto, ON King Pin, 1996 chestnut Irish Sport Horse King Pin Syndicate
For rider biographies, visit web site www.equinecanada.ca.
The Team 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. The Canadian
Eventing Committee is grateful to Sport Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee
and all of its supporters, sponsors and friends for their continued support of
the Canadian Eventing Team in its quest for excellence at the 2008 Olympic Games.
The Olympic sport of eventing encompasses three separate tests:
dressage, cross-country, and show jumping held consecutively. Each test ridden
by the rider and horse in combination is scored individually but added together
for the final results. The rider/horse combination with the fewest number of penalty
points over the three days wins the competition. 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.
Provisional Schedule for the Olympic Games Eventing Competition
Saturday, August 9 Dressage Day 1 Sunday August 10 Dressage
Day 2 Monday August 11 Cross Country Tuesday August
12 Show Jumping Victory Ceremony –Team and Individual
For specific times and competition details and results consult the Organizing
Committee website www.equestrian2008.org, or the FEI web site www.horsesport.org.
Canadian Eventing is a committee of Equine Canada responsible for the sport
of eventing in Canada from the grassroots to the international level. The Canadian
Eventing Committee is comprised of 12 members, including two rider representatives
elected by the Elite Riders Association. Directed by the strategic plan for eventing,
all eventing activities are administered by this committee via six sub-committees
with the support of eventing manager based at the Equine Canada office in Ottawa.
The national team athletes and program, led by International Technical Advisor
David O’Connor, are monitored by the High Performance Committee. For more
information about Canadian Eventing, visit www.equinecanada.ca—Sport—Eventing.
| 