Canadian Athletes Turn Heads at Pacific Cup CVI

Equestrian Canada – Ottawa, ON, May 3, 2018 – Canada was well-represented by a strong vaulting contingent that earned many top-three placings at the CVI Pacific Cup in Hollister, CA, held on April 26-29, 2018.

Hot off a win at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) Vaulting Test Event, Dallyn Sheilds of Didsbury, AB and Jeanine Van Der Sluijs of Olds, AB won the 2* Senior Pas-de-Deux competition on Rebecca L. Marland’s 16-year-old Belgian/Paint/Thoroughbred gelding, Phoenix. Shields and Van Der Sluijs, lunged by Amber Callan, led the class after an excellent routine on April 28 earned a high score of 7.162. They returned for round two on April 29 to secure victory with a final score of 7.206.

Dallyn Shields of Didsbury, AB and Jeanine Van Der Sluijs of Olds, AB topped the 2* Senior Pas-de-Deux class at the CVI Pacific Cup in Hollister, CA, held April 26-29, 2018.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Joanne Littlejohn

“Jeanine and I have been working really hard training our Pas-de-Deux over the winter,” said Shields. “We were glad to show what we are capable of performing this past weekend. We are looking forward to competing in the 3* at the Canada Cup and hope to achieve our WEG qualifying score there.”

Shields saw continued success in the 2* Senior Female Individual class on April 29, besting 15 strong competitors over two days of competition. She ended on a final score of 6.916 with Angelique Van Der Sluijs’ Wagner PR (Justice x Flemmingh), a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding lunged by Angelique Vick.

“I was really happy with my wins at the Pacific Cup CVI,” commented Shields, “Winning my individual class was an added bonus, as my main focus this year has been training Pas-de-Deux and squad. This was Wagner PR’s second time in California, and he was a star!”

Shields and Van Der Sluijs were followed on the leaderboard by Charlotte Axani of Cochrane, AB and Todd Griffiths of Magrath, AB in second place. On Kimberly Wellman (USA)’s 10-year-old American Warmblood mare, Lunar Eclipse (sired by Company Commander), and lunged by Talesia Dobin, the pair finished on a score of 6.590.

In the squad competition, the West Coast Vaulters of Parksville, BC performed a beautifully executed freestyle in the Senior 3* division to secure a third-place finish on April 29. The squad is composed of:

• Alexandra Balance – Qualicum Beach, BC
• Alisa Schmidt – Chilliwack, BC
• Amanda Stevenson – Nanaimo, BC
• Jaydee Fluet – Sundre, AB
• Jessica Bentzen – Parksville, BC
• Korynn Weber – Nelson, BC

The West Coast Vaulters competed on 15-year-old Clydesdale gelding, Kingston, owned and lunged by Deborah Bentzen. Their score of 6.791 qualified the squad for selection to the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG).

The West Coast Vaulters of Parksville, BC took third place in the Senior 3* Squad, earning a score of 6.791to qualify for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Joanne Littlejohn

“Our squad is very happy with how the competition went for us,” said Bentzen. “Our horse was great, and though we had a rough first go, we are very pleased with our second round freestyle. We felt super connected as a team this weekend and are so excited to continue this season together. We still have lots of work to do to continue improving our skills, but can’t wait to get back in the arena and show what we are capable of.”

Talmage Conrad of Cardston, AB added to Canada’s winning record, clinching the 2* Senior Male Individual class on April 29, scoring 5.961 on Lunar Eclipse with Griffiths as lunger.

In the 2* Junior Female Individual class, Cassidy Johannesson of Rocky Mountain House, AB performed two excellent freestyle rounds to place second on Phoenix, lunged by Amber Callan, and end on an overall score of 6.969 on April 28.

Canadians continued to dominate the leaderboard in the 1* division, where Shaina Hammond of Magrath, AB won the Female Individual Senior class on Lunar Eclipse, lunged by Griffiths. On April 27, Hammond scored 6.674 and was the only 1* vaulter of the entire competition to achieve a qualifying score to move into the 2* class the following day, in which she placed seventh.

Kate Thomas of Lantzville, BC and Korynn Weber of Nelson, BC racked up another win for the maple leaf in the 1* Senior Pas-de-Deux class on April 27 with lunger, Jessica Bentzen and Azrael, Naomi Weber’s 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare.

Full results from the Pacific Cup CVI can be found here.

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Top 10 Canadian Results – Pacific Cup CVI

Female Individual – Senior 3*
Placing / Athlete / Horse / Owner / Final Score
5th / Jessica Bentzen / Hugo / Deborah Bentzen / 6.868

Pas-de-Deux – Senior 3*
Placing / Athlete / Horse / Owner / Final Score
4th / Alisa Schmidt, Cassie Sponchia / Vidar / Patti Skipton / 5.032

Squad – Senior 3*
Placing / Athlete / Horse / Owner / Final Score
3rd / West Coast Vaulters / Kingston / Deborah Bentzen / 6.791
4th / Meadow Creek Vaulting Club Senior Squad / She’s All That / Angelique Van Der Sluijs / 6.587

Female Individual – Senior 2*
Placing / Athlete / Horse / Owner / Final Score
1st / Dallyn Marie Shields / Wagner PR / Angelique Van Der Sluijs / 6.916
6th / Charlotte Axani / Lunar Eclipse / Kimberly Wellmann / 6.689
7th / Shaina Hammond / Lunar Eclipse / Kimberly Wellmann / 6.569
10th / Alexandra Ballance / Hugo / Deborah Bentzen / 6.101

Male Individual – Senior 2*
Placing / Athlete / Horse / Owner / Final Score
1st / Talmage Conrad / Lunar Eclipse / Kimberly Wellmann / 5.961

Pas-de-Deux – Senior 2*
Placing / Athlete / Horse / Owner / Final Score
1st / Dallyn Marie Shields, Jeanine Van Der Sluijs / Phoenix / Rebecca L. Marland / 7.206
2nd / Charlotte Axani, Todd Griffiths / Lunar Eclipse / Kimberly Wellmann / 6.590

Female Individual – Senior 1*
Placing / Athlete / Horse / Owner / Final Score
1st / Shaina Hammond / Lunar Eclipse / Kimberly Wellmann / 6.674
4th / Abigale Wynberg / Azrael / Naomi Weber / 6.153
5th / Kate Thomas / Hugo / Deborah Bentzen / 5.810
7th / Elizabeth Gregory / Hugo / Deborah Bentzen / 5.023

Pas-de-Deux – Senior 1*
Placing / Athlete / Horse / Owner / Final Score
1st / Kate Thomas, Korynn Weber / Azrael / Naomi Weber / 6.272

Female Individual – Junior 2*
Placing / Athlete / Horse / Owner / Final Score
2nd / Cassidy Johannesson / Phoenix / Rebecca L. Marland / 6.969
4th / Averill Saunders / Wagner PR / Angelique Van Der Sluijs / 6.770

Female Individual – Junior 1*
Placing / Athlete / Horse / Owner / Final Score
6th / Rielynn Conrad / Andante / Todd Griffiths / 6.133
8th / Maicee Williams / Andante / Todd Griffiths / 6.085
10th / Megan Leeper / Andante / Todd Griffiths / 5.936

Female Individual – Children 1*
Placing / Athlete / Horse / Owner / Final Score
5th / Samantha Kennedy / Vidar / Patti Skipton / 5.425