Leah Wilson and Westside Lady won the Young Rider Freestyle at the CDI-W Ottawa Summer Dressage Classic. Photo by Linda Scott Harris, www.equisportphoto.com

June 24, 2007 – Ottawa, Ontario – There was no beating Jacqueline Brooks of Mount Albert, ON, at the CDI-W Ottawa Summer Dressage Classic held June 21-24 at the Nepean National Equestrian Park.

Having made frequent trips to the winner's circle on Friday and Saturday, Brooks continued the tradition on Sunday by winning both the Grand Prix Freestyle and the Intermediaire Freestyle.

The Grand Prix Freestyle took place mid-day on Sunday as spectators packed the bleachers and a catered brunch was served in the VIP tent. Brooks was the first rider into the ring riding Gran Gesto, her 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Anne Welch and Brinc Ltd. Riding to dramatic and powerful music from the feature film "Alexander", Brooks impressed the panel of five international judges with her high degree of technical difficulty, which included one-tempi flying changes on a 20-meter circle before going directly into a flowing canter half-pass. She was rewarded with a score of 71.15% that would prove to be unbeatable.

Tina Irwin-Busse, 26, of Lakefield, ON, and her leggy chestnut gelding, Amicelli, produced a harmonious test performing to instrumental versions of Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do With It" and "Simply the Best". Their score of 68.200% was good enough for second position.

A few hours later, Brooks again led the victory gallop after claiming the Intermediaire Freestyle. With an impressive performance to music from "The Pirates of the Caribbean", Brooks earned 73.400% to take top spot riding Balmoral, her partner of the past three years. Balmoral is an eight-year-old Canadian-bred gelding owned by Anne and John Welch, Nick and Jean Vimos, and Brinc Ltd.

"I am so thrilled with the horses, they were so much fun to ride in all five classes," smiled Brooks, 39, who noted it was the first time in her career that she had made a clean sweep of both the Grand Prix and Intermediaire divisions. "Riding Balmoral in the Freestyle especially was so much fun. He was right on, waiting for his music, ready to do what came next. He was really happy in that ring. The crowd was so supportive, and he felt very comfortable in there. He is pretty pleased with himself!"

Giving Brooks a run for her money was local competitor, Simone Williams, riding Wunder Ein, her nine-year-old Hannoverian gelding. The Ottawa resident performed her Brazilian-themed freestyle programme, compiled by Vancouver's Karen Robinson of Applause Dressage, to earn a score of 70.800%.

"I was really pleased with my horse," said Williams who operates Queenswood Stables in Navan, ON, and was coaching several other competitors during the weekend. "It really seemed as though we were interpreting the music through our ride."

Finishing third was Ute Busse of Breslau, ON, with a score of 67.950%. Busse, whose daughter Tina Busse-Irwin was second in the Grand Prix Freestyle, was riding Lindor's Finest, a 10-year-old Canadian-bred gelding owned in partnership with Sylvia Carlton.

Leah Wilson of Caledon, ON, won the FEI Young Rider Freestyle riding Westside Lady. Wilson and the 12-year-old black Hannoverian mare owned by Susan Platz earned a score of 68.700% performing to lively Broadway show tunes. The pair hopes to represent Canada at the upcoming North American Young Riders' Championship in Lexington, Virginia. Cecile von Martels of Ridgetown, ON, took second place with a score of 66.65% riding Downtown, her 11-year-old chestnut Westphalian gelding.

Local rider Jade Deter of Kemptville, ON, made a clean sweep of the FEI Junior division by winning the Freestyle with a score of 69.800%. Deter's partner is Mastermind, a 10-year-old chestnut Westphalian gelding. Jamie Holland of Caledon, ON, took second place with a score of 65.400% riding Fleurina, her nine-year-old Westphalian mare.

Like Deter, Tatianna Turcotte dominated the FEI Pony division by winning three days in a row. With Serenity's Dream On, her bay Connemara gelding, Turcotte of Mount Royal, QC, won the Freestyle with 68.400%.

More than 250 of the best dressage horses in the country gathered in the Nation's Capital for the CDI-W Ottawa Summer Dressage Classic, which was sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and acted as a qualifier for the 2008 World Cup Final. 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 71.150%
2. Tina Busse-Irwin Lakefield, ON Amicelli 68.200%


Rider Hometown Horse Score
1. Jacqueline Brooks Mount Albert, ON Balmoral 73.400%
2. Simone Williams Ottawa, ON Wunder Ein 70.800%
3. Ute Busse Breslau, ON Lindor's Finest 67.950%
4. Armand Valkenborg Hudson, QC Seigneur 66.350%
5. Chris Von Martels Ridgetown, ON Korenbloem Charmeur 65.350%
6. Rebecca Schoenhardt Erin, ON Pele 64.000%
7. Ruth Crawford Brockville, ON Sambuka 63.300%
8. Liz Steacie Brockville, ON Mikayla 62.400%
9. Francine Bell Vercheres, QC Royal Senna 58.500%
10. Jaimey Irwin Lakefield, ON Primo Sony 57.500%
11. Lee Tubman Dunnville, ON Tygo B 53.300%