Jacqueline Brooks and Gran Gesto won the Grand Prix at the CDI-W Ottawa Summer Dressage Classic. Photo by Linda Scott Harris, www.equisportphoto.com

June 22, 2007 – Ottawa, Ontario – Jacqueline Brooks of Mount Albert, ON, claimed two major victories at the CDI-W Ottawa Summer Dressage Classic held June 21-24 at the Nepean National Equestrian Park.

More than 250 of the country's top equestrian competitors have gathered in the Nation's Capital for the internationally sanctioned dressage show, which also acts as a qualifier for the 2008 World Cup Final. Brooks, who represented Canada at the 2007 World Cup Final held in Las Vegas, is en route to making her second consecutive appearance, having won Friday's Grand Prix with a score of 65.583% riding Gran Gesto, a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Brinc Ltd. and Anne Welch.

The competition was very close however as Evi Strasser of Ste-Adele, QC, earned a score of 65.292% riding her long-time partner, Quantum Tyme, her 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding. Neither rider was able to produce a mistake-free performance however, and the panel of five international judges did not agree on the winner. In the end, the scales tipped in favour of Brooks, whose energetic performance featured a solid passage, strong extended canter, and straight one-tempis.

Earlier in the afternoon, Brooks, 39, had won the Prix St. Georges competition, which is the same level of difficulty that the Pan American Games are contested at. Riding Balmoral, an eight-year-old Canadian-bred gelding, Brooks topped a 13-horse field to claim victory with a score of 68.900%.

"In the Prix St. Georges, Jacqueline showed a really good level of impulsion, very expressive, with boldly ridden movements," commented Stephen Clarke of Great Britain, President of the Ground Jury. "In the Grand Prix, the top two both made some uncharacteristic mistakes which brought them very close in the standings."

While Brooks easily won the Prix St. Georges, Ute Busse of Breslau, ON, finished as the runner-up. The first competitor in the ring, Busse earned a scored of 66.050% riding Lindor's Finest, a 10-year-old Canadian-bred gelding owned in partnership with Sylvia Carlton.

Local competitor Simone Williams of Ottawa, ON, placed third with a score of 66.000% riding Wunder Ein, her nine-year-old Hannoverian gelding. A member of the Canadian Equestrian Team at the 1999 Pan American Games, Williams owns and operates Queenswood Stables on the outskirts of the city and has several students competing at the Ottawa Summer Dressage Classic.

In the FEI Young Rider division featuring 11 entries, Leah Wilson of Caledon, ON, won the Team test with a score of 67.067% riding Susan Platz's black Hannoverian mare, Westside Lady, and also placed second scoring 65.689% riding Dostoevsky. Julie Watchorn of Schomberg, ON, took the next two placings in the standings, placing third with Quintesse and fourth with Dobble Tyme.

Local competitor Jade Deter of Kemptville, ON, won the FEI Junior Team test with a score of 65.30% riding Mastermind while Vivian Cornell of Kingston, ON, won the FEI Children Team test earned an impressive score of 66.129% riding Heidschnucke. Continuing the tradition of making frequent trips to the winner's circle, Tatianna Turcotte of Mount Royal, QC, won the FEI Pony Team riding Serenity's Dream On.

"I am thrilled for Canadian dressage to see such a high number of competitors, especially in all of the FEI divisions, and to see such a high level of competition," said Cara Whitham, President of Equivents, Inc., organizer of the Ottawa Summer Dressage Classic. "Our new main ring provided the competitors with a true international atmosphere."

The CDI-W Ottawa Summer Dressage Classic runs through Sunday, June 24. Sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the competition takes place on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Nepean National Equestrian Park, located at the 417 and the Moodie Drive Exit. Admission is free.

For more information on the Ottawa Summer Dressage Classic, organized by Equivents, Inc., please visit www.equivents.com. Complete results can also be found at www.foxvillage.com.

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Rider Hometown Horse Score
1. Jacqueline Brooks Mount Albert, ON Gran Gesto 65.583%
2. Evi Strasser Ste-Adele, QC Quantum Tyme 65.292%
3. Nancy MacLachlan Terra Cotta, ON Ariston 62.167%
4. Jessica Costello King City, ON Litmanen 59.125%
5. Tina Busse-Irwin Lakefield, ON Amicelli 58.917%
6. Cheryl Meisner Halifax, NS Hesperos 58.042%


Rider Hometown Horse Score
1. Jacqueline Brooks Mount Albert, ON Balmoral 68.900%
2. Ute Busse Breslau, ON Lindor's Finest 66.050%
3. Simone Williams Ottawa, ON Wunder Ein 66.000%
4. Linda Robert Terrebonne, QC Wedding Surprise 65.400%
5. Armand Valkenborg Hudson, QC Seigneur 64.950%
6. Ruth Crawford Brockville, ON Sambuka 64.650%
7. Chris Von Martels Ridgetown, ON Korenbloem Charmeur 64.350%
8. Liz Steacie Brockville, ON Mikayla 64.200%
8. Jaimey Irwin Lakefield, ON Primo Sony 64.200%
10. Ute Busse Breslau, ON Maximus 61.900%
11. Rebecca Schoenhardt Erin, ON Pele 60.850%
12. Francine Bell Vercheres, QC Royal Senna 57.850%
13. Lee Tubman Dunnville, ON Tygo B 57.500%