Eric Lamaze and Hickstead, winners of the $70,000 Grand Prix Jumping du Quebec World Cup Qualifier in 2006. Photo by Cealy Tetley

May 29, 2007 – Blainville, Quebec – This summer, Blainville Equestrian Park is the place to be with three consecutive weeks of international equestrian competition held just north of Montreal. The Blainville Dressage International will take place from June 27-30 while the Blainville Jumping International, expanded to two weeks by popular demand, will run from July 4-8 and July 11-15.

All three weeks of competition are sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and feature the best competitors in the world. The Classique Internationale de Blainville organizing committee, headed by President, Jean-Pierre Arvisais, and Event Manager, Louise Thibault, will once again produce the popular equestrian competitions.

Dressage Dances into Blainville
Canada's longest running World Cup Qualifying competition for dressage, the CDI3*-W Blainville Dressage International showcases the very best in dressage sport, and is a favourite venue among competitors. Valuable World Cup Qualifying points are on the line for those hoping to be one of North America's two representatives at the 2008 World Cup Final, and prize money totaling more than $20,000 also acts as a great incentive.

The grand finale of the four-day Blainville Dressage International is the spectacular 'Freestyle Extravaganza' on Saturday, June 30. A sold-out event since its debut nine years ago, the Freestyle Extravaganza sees the top Grand Prix and Intermediaire level competitors performing their musical freestyles - choreographed movements set to the music of their choice - under the lights in front of thousands of fans. The electric atmosphere makes for one of the most memorable and entertaining evenings in equestrian sport, anywhere in the world.

Quebec's own Evi Strasser of Ste-Adele is expected to be on-hand to defend her title in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle. A Canadian Olympian, Strasser has won the Freestyle, performed to music from Disney's 'The Lion King', for the past two years in a row and the partisan fans will be cheering her on as she looks to extend her winning streak.

Two Weeks of Show Jumping at Blainville Equestrian Park
Due to popular demand, the Blainville Show Jumping International has been expanded to a two-week tournament in 2007. Days after the dressage horses depart from Blainville Equestrian Park, the show jumping horses move in, ready to contest the CSI-W Blainville Show Jumping International from July 4-8. Now in its 19th year, the show jumping fixture offers more than $170,000 in prize money over five days of competition. The feature event is Sunday's $70,000 Grand Prix Jumping du Quebec World Cup Qualifier, which offers an opportunity for riders to earn points towards a trip to the 2008 World Cup Final in Goteborg, Sweden. Last year's winner, Montreal native Eric Lamaze, will be back to defend his title against the toughest show jumping competition the world has to offer.

Other features during the CSI-W Blainville Show Jumping International include Thursday's Talent Squad competition, featuring the up-and-coming superstars of the future, while Friday's featured class is the $20,000 Open Welcome Stake. The crowd-pleasing $3,500 Horse-Dog Relay, which sees horses pair up with loveable canines, each jumping their own set of obstacles, will follow Saturday afternoon's $25,000 Challenge Desjardins Modified Grand Prix. Linda Allen, who was the course designer at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, will be designing the challenging jumping tracks, which require obedience from the horses and careful planning from the riders.

The following week, July 11-15, has been rated as a CSI2* competition by the International Equestrian Federation and Luc Musette of Belgium will act as course designer on the grass Grand Prix field. Highlights include Friday's $20,000 Open Welcome Stake, Saturday's $25,000 Challenge Desjardins Modified Grand Prix, and, to cap off two weeks of international show jumping competition, the $50,000 Grand Prix Jumping de Blainville.

Last year's improvements, including upgrades to 104 semi-permanent stalls, met with approval from the competitors. In 2007, the organizing committee has continued to improve the standards of the Blainville Equestrian Park and is making long-term plans to invest further in the facility for the comfort and safety of the horses and competitors.

"We have a reputation for hosting world-class equestrian competition and this year we have expanded our show jumping schedule by one week in order to meet the requests from our exhibitors," noted Jean-Pierre Arvisais, President of the Classique Internationale de Blainville. "Our dressage competition has always been hugely popular, and we look forward to hosting another great competition in 2007. We take great pride in offering world-class sport to competitors and spectators alike."

Located just north of Montreal, Blainville Equestrian Park features a variety of attractions that ensure all family members enjoy their visit. For more information, including prize lists, please visit www.classiqueblainville.com or contact Blainville International at tel: (450) 434-8202 ext. 108, e-mail: classiqueblainville@videotron.ca.