July 2, 2004 – Blainville, Quebec – One day after being named to the Canadian Olympic Dressage Team, Belinda Trussell of Stouffville, ON, claimed the Grand Prix Speciale held Friday at the CDI***-W Blainville Dressage International in Blainville, QC.

Riding Royan II, her14-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Trussell earned a score of 69.28% to claim the Grand Prix Speciale. Trussell and Royan II have been partnered together for three years and have represented Canada at the 2002 World Equestrian Games, 2003 European Championships and 2004 World Cup Final. The pair will make their Olympic debut in Athens.

“The pressure was off, so I could just go in the ring and concentrate on perfecting my performance,” smiled Trussell, who will now travel to Germany to prepare for the Olympic Games with her long-time coach, seven-time Olympian Christilot Hanson-Boylen. “What I am most happy with is that Royan has become very consistent, and can be counted on for a strong Team performance in Athens.”

While the other Olympics candidates will ride in Saturday night’s signature ‘Casino de Montreal Musical Freestyle Extravaganza’, Trussell choose to contest the Grand Prix Speciale, the same test the top 25 individuals from the Team competition will move forward to in Athens.

Two-time World Equestrian Games competitor Nancy MacLachlan of Terra Cotta, ON, placed second riding a new mount, Ariston. The beautiful black horse showed great promise, earning a score of 63.00%.

In the Intermediaire I test, Ashley Holzer of Toronto, ON, topped a 15-horse field riding Gambol, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Dr. Diane Fellows. At the 2003 Pan American Games, Holzer and Gambol were members of the Silver Medal Team. The pair earned a score of 70.55% for the victory, and Holzer also placed third with a score of 67.85% riding Maximillian, a nine-year-old chestnut Dutch Warmblood gelding.

Tom Dvorak of Hillsburgh, ON, took second and fourth place. Riding the 10-year-old Hannoverian gelding Beaumarchais, Dvorak earned a score of 69.90% and rode Westside Lady, a nine-year-old black Hannoverian mare, to a fourth place finish with a final score of 67.50%.

Quebec’s own Marie-Josee Delisle of Ste-Marthe rounded out the top five, earning a score of 64.05% riding Washakie.

The CDI***-W Blainville Dressage International, held June 30 to July 3 at the Blainville Equestrian Park in Blainville, QC, is a World Cup Qualifying event that sees over 200 horses competing at various levels. The feature event, Saturday night’s signature ‘Casino de Montreal Musical Freestyle Extravaganza’, will enjoy national television coverage when it is broadcast in French on Sunday, July 25, at 1 p.m. on RDS, and in English on Saturday, July 31, at 2 p.m. on Global Television.

CDI***- W Blainville – Grand Prix Speciale Results

Athlete, Hometown, Horse, Score
1. Belinda Trussell, Stouffville, ON, Royan II, 69.28%
2. Nancy MacLachlan, Terra Cotta, ON, Ariston, 63.00%

CDI***- W Blainville – Intermediaire I Results

Athlete, Hometown, Horse, Score
1. Ashley Holzer, Toronto, ON, Gambol, 70.55%
2. Tom Dvorak, Hillsburgh, ON, Beaumarchais, 69.90%
3. Ashley Holzer, Toronto, ON, Maximillian, 67.85%
4. Tom Dvorak, Hillsburgh, ON, West Side Lady, 67.50%
5. Marie-Josee Delisle, ( St-Lazare, QC), Washakie, 64.05%