Belinda Trussell & Anton Post Personal Best to Win Ottawa CDI3* Grand Prix, Chris von Martels & Divertimento 2nd

Belinda Trussell and Anton. File photo. © 2016 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

OTTAWA, Ontario, May 20, 2016–Belinda Trussell and Anton logged a personal best score to win the Ottawa Dressage Festival CDI3* Grand Prix Friday to increase their lead for a start at the summer Olympics Games while Chris von Martels on Divertimento broke 70 per cent for the first time in a Grand Prix to strengthen the pair chances of filling Canada's second slot.

Belinda and Anton, a 16-year-old Sachs gelding, posted a winning score of 73.780 per cent, that upped the total that has the pair atop Canada's Olympic standings based on best Grand Prix and Special results.

Belinda and Anton, partnered at Grand Chris for seven years, rode on Canada's teams at the 2010 and 2014 World Games and at last year's Pan American Games earned an individual start for her country at Rio de Janeiro in August.

Chris von Martels and the 14-year-old Westfalen gelding that he began competing just four months ago scored 70.120 per cent for second place while Megan Lane on Caravella, also on Canada;s 2014 World Games, team were third on 69.920 per cent.

Chris von Martels, Canadian Equestrian Athlete of 2015, came to an arrangement with Swedish owner Lövsta Stuteri to campaign Divertimento that had been trained and competed by six-time Olympian Tinne Vilhelmson–Silfvén.

With just over five weeks to go to the July 4 deadline to qualify for one of the two individual Olympic spots available to Canada, the race is tight for the second start with Chris and Divertimento, Karen Pavicic and Don Daiquiri and Megan and Caravella bunched on 69-plus.

Results:

CDI3* Grand Prix

E: Whitham – CAN

H: Tubman – CAN

C: Clarke – UK

M: Nivelle – GER

B: Ebert – GER

		RIDER	Nat.	HORSE				E	.	H	.	C	.	M	.	B	.	T	Pl.
		Trussell, Belinda	CAN	Anton				75.200		72.100		74.200		73.800		73.600		73.780	1
		Von Martels, Chris	CAN	Divertimento				71.400		72.700		69.800		68.700		68.000		70.120	2
		Lane, Megan	CAN	Caravella				69.900		68.700		70.100		70.000		70.900		69.920	3
		Holzer, Ashley	CAN	Arthur				69.800		68.600		69.600		66.600		67.100		68.340	4
		Fraser, Brittany	CAN	All In				69.900		67.200		67.500		68.500		68.500		68.320	5
		Lane, Megan	CAN	San D'Or				70.000		68.700		68.600		66.200		65.700		67.840	6
		Irving, J.	CAN	Degas 12				64.900		67.500		66.600		69.700		67.900		67.320
		Brooks, Jacqueline	CAN	D Niro				65.700		68.700		66.500		65.800		65.100		66.360
		Mortimer, Esther	GUA	Diamond Geezer				66.000		63.500		65.500		64.400		64.200		64.720
		Steacie, Elizabeth	CAN	Callahan				60.300		59.500		61.700		60.700		60.800		60.600
		Peirce, Julia	CAN	Zimbro				58.900		57.400		59.600		58.400		59.900		58.840