June 28, 2006 – Blainville, Quebec – Competition opened at the CDI3* Blainville Dressage International, an internationally-sanctioned equestrian competition running June 28-July 1 at Blainville Equestrian Park.

Competition was fierce as 25 of the country's top horse-rider combinations contested the Prix St. Georges, which offered a purse of $2,000 in prize money.  When the panel of five international judges posted their final scores, the top five riders were separated by less than one percentage point.  Gillian Sutherland, who hails from Unionville, ON, came out on top with a score of 66.10% for her beautifully executed performance riding Great Tyme, a nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding.  Now in their third year together, the pair are making quite a name for themselves and hope to represent Canada for the first time in international competition at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Diane Creech, who will depart for Germany in only a few days time to train and compete at the 2006 World Young Horse Breeding Championships, took second place with a score of 65.70% riding Wiona, a chestnut Hannoverian mare owned by Doug and Louise Leatherdale.

Quebec was well represented by Lyne Joly of Fleurimont, QC.  Joly had one of strongest Prix St. Georges performances to claim third place with a score of 65.60%.  A crowd favourite, Joly was riding her handsome 13-year-old Oldenburg stallion, Flower King.  The only other Quebec athlete to break into the top ten was Evi Strasser of Ste-Adele who placed tenth with a score of 63.80% riding Foto Tyme.  Strasser is favoured to win Friday's Grand Prix with another mount, Quantum Tyme.

Chris von Martels of Ridgetown, ON, took fourth place riding the elastic Korenbloem Charmeur, a 14-year-old Westphalian gelding, while Tom Dvorak of Hillsburgh, ON, rounded out the top five with Fortissimo, a 10-year-old Canadian-bred gelding owned by Alyson Carpenter.

Cecile von Martels, the younger sister of Chris, who is also her trainer, topped the FEI Young Riders' Team test by earning a score of 64.815%.  Partnered with Downtown, a 10-year-old Westphalian gelding, for the past two years, von Martels, 20, hopes to represent Canada at the upcoming North American Young Riders' Championship being held at the beginning of August in Lexington, VA.  Tara Dougans of Delta, BC, has the same goal, and came one step closer to achieving it by placing second riding Nashau and third riding the stallion, Jacardo.  This is the first time Dougans, 20, has shown at the Blainville event, and she is quite impressed, commenting, "I am very excited because everyone speaks very highly of this show."

In the FEI Junior Team test, there was no beating Newfoundland's Jessica Rhinelander.  Riding Dostoevksy, a Russian Warmblood gelding, Rhinelander posted the winning score of 65.917% and also took second with a score of 65.417% riding Allende, an 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding.

Tatiana Turcotte of Mount Royal, QC, and her 10-year-old Connemara pony, Serenity's Dream On, won the FEI Pony Team test while Jade Deter of Kemptville, ON, finished second with Columbo 25.

The highlight of the CDI3* Blainville Dressage International is Saturday evening's 'Freestyle Extravaganza'.  Quebec's own Evi Strasser, hailing from Ste-Adele, and her horse, Quantum Tyme, will attempt to defend their title by riding their signature 'Lion King - Circle of Life' Freestyle.  A limited number of general admission tickets are still available for $15 each, please call 450 434-8202 to reserve.

Located just north of Montreal, Blainville Equestrian Park features a variety of attractions that ensure all family members enjoy their visit.  For more information, please visit www.classiqueblainville.com or contact Blainville International at tel: (450) 434-8202, or e-mail: classiqueblainville@videotron.ca.

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Rider, Hometown, Horse, Score
1. Gillian Sutherland, Unionville, ON Great Tyme, 66.10%
2. Diane Creech Caistor Centre, ON, Wiona, 65.70%
3. Lyne Joly, Fleurimont, QC, Flower King, 65.60%
4. Chris von Martels, Ridgetown, ON, Korenbloem Charmeur, 65.45%
5. Tom Dvorak, Hillsburgh, ON, Fortissimo, 65.35%
6. Andrea Bresee, Brockville, ON Raffles, 65.00%
7. Gary Vander Ploeg, King City, ON, Cezanne, 64.90%
8. Cheryl Meisner, Halifax, N, Lucky Strike, 64.70%
9. Jacqueline Brooks, Mount Albert, ON, Balmoral, 63.85%
10. Evi Strasser, St. Adele, QC, Foto Tyme, 63.80%