Nicole Shinton of Uxbridge, ON, and GB Marko won the FEI Adult Amateur Championship title at the CDI-W Beaulieu International Dressage Classic in St-Justin-de-Newton, QC. Photo by Pro-Action Photo

August 13, 2009 – St-Justin-de-Newton, Quebec – Nicole Shinton of Uxbridge, ON, concluded her first appearance in FEI sanctioned dressage competition with a fourth placed finish in the Intermediaire I Freestyle aboard GB Classic at the CDI-W Beaulieu International Dressage Classic held August 6-9 in St-Justin-de-Newton, QC.

Receiving a score of 65% from the panel of five international judges, Shinton was thrilled with the way GB Classic performed to the musical program she had ridden only once before in competition.

“GB Classic had a busy week at this show but for the freestyle, he was very relaxed and seemed to enjoy the music,” said Shinton about her 15-year-old Rheinlander gelding. “Overall, he handled his first CDI competition like a pro.”

The day before, Shinton and GB Classic finished tenth in the Intermediaire I CDI class on a score of 63.509%.

“Each day, GB Classic got better and I was proud to be competitive in such a large, professional field,” said Shinton, who enjoyed the additional challenge of riding in front of a panel of three or five judges, depending on the class, as opposed to just one which is the norm in national competition. “There is nowhere in the ring to hide, so you have to be very correct. All of your mistakes are visible. I did have some mistakes this week, which were all mine, but I tried to forgive myself and improve in the next test.”

Earlier in the week, Shinton and GB Classic won the Prix St. Georges test in the Equine Canada Gold level show with 62.368%. Shinton was also third in the same class with GB Marko, who went on to win both the Adult Amateur division of the Prix St. Georges with 63.298%, and the Intermediaire I test on a score of 63.421%. As a result, Shinton and GB Marko were awarded the overall FEI Adult Amateur Championship.

An amateur rider who recently turned her focus to dressage following a career as a top level three day event rider, Shinton is one of very few amateurs competing at this level in Canada.

“It was my first CDI, but having done CCI competitions in eventing, the horse inspection and jog wasn’t a big deal,” she said. “The competition in a CDI is obviously very tough. There were a lot of good horses and the best riders in Canada.”

Shinton, 36, and her husband, Alan, own Greenbrier Farms, a 160 acre eventing facility in Uxbridge, ON.