Following five days of selection trials, officials from Dressage Canada announced the three riders who will represent Canada on the dressage team at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in July.
The riders include: Andrea Bresee of Ontario aboard Raffles, owned by Gina Smith and Faith Berghuis; Diane Creech of Ontario on Wiona, owned by Doug and Louise Leatherdale; and Tom Dvorak of Ontario with Beaumarchais, owned by Susan Holden. Karen Pavicic, British Columbia, is the reserve rider with her own Lionheart.
ADVERTISEMENT
Eight competitors vied for a spot on the team during two final selection trials, held May 30-June 3 at Saddlewood Equestrian Centre and CornerStone Spring Into Dressage (Ont.).
The team will head to Miami, Fla., where they will meet up with Senior National Team Coach Norbert van Laak and then on to Brazil at the beginning of July. A team medal is especially important for the Canadians at these Games, as otherwise they will not qualify for the team competition at the 2008 Olympic Games.