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Diane Creech and Belinda Trussell Named Dressage Canada Red Scarf Equestrian Athletes of the Month for November

December 29, 2009

Ottawa, ON --- Diane Creech of Caistor Centre, ON, and Belinda Trussell of Stouffville, ON, have been named the Dressage Canada Red Scarf Equestrian Athletes of the Month for November.

Both riders participated in the Dressage Canada 2009 European Fall Competition Tour. The Tour was a development tour aimed at providing valuable European competition experience for some of Canada's up and coming combinations, and Creech and Trussell had outstanding results on both stops—Kaposvar CDI3*, Hungary, October 9–11, followed by the Weikersdorf CDI3*, Austria, on October 14–18.

At Kaposvar CDI3*, Trussell rode her up-and-coming Grand Prix mount Anton (Antaeus x Melit), a nine-year-old German-bred gelding owned by Robyn Eames. The pair earned a score of 67.579% to win the Intermediaire II test. They went on to score 65.830% in the Grand Prix test for sixth place, and finished fifth in the Grand Prix Special with 64.917%

Creech rode Devon L (De Niro x Wolkenstein II), Douglas Leatherdale’s nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding, earned a sixth place score of 64.368% in the Intermediaire II test. The pair went on to finish fourth in the Grand Prix test with 66.255% and second in the Grand Prix Special with 66.583%.

Creech also competed in the Grand Prix test with Wiona (Weltmeyer x Fruhlingsball), Douglas and Louise Leatherdale’s 12-year-old Hanoverian mare, and finished fourth in the Grand Prix Freestyle with a very solid score of 68.650%.

Both riders continued their winning ways at the Weikersdorf CDI3*. In the Grand Prix, they both scored 67.064% for a second place tie. Creech and Devon L then earned 69.208% for second place in the Grand Prix Special. Trussell and Anton finished close behind in third place in the Special with a score of 68.417%.

Creech was also fourth in the Grand Prix test, scoring 64.851%, with Wiona. The pair also finished ninth in the Grand Prix Freestyle with a very solid score of 68.450%.

Because of their results at these competitions, Trussell jumped forward 105 placings in the FEI World Rider Rankings, from 181to 76, and Creech leaped ahead 235 spots, from 313 to 78.

“The owners of Wiona and Devon L, Mr. and Mrs. Leatherdale, and I are very proud to win the title of Dressage Canada Athlete of the Month for November. It is a great honour to receive this award. It was such a great initiative from Dressage Canada Own the Podium committee to provide international exposure with the 2009 European Fall Competition Tour. I am so grateful to Dressage Canada and Mr. and Mrs. Leatherdale to be given this opportunity to benchmark in Europe and learn and grow again,” said Creech. “Being able to represent Canada at such international level and to achieve those great scores was such a wonderful experience.”

“I am thrilled to be named as the Dressage Canada Athlete of the Month for November. I would like to thank the Dressage Canada Own the Podium committee for putting together the Tour. It was such a phenomenal trip and a great developmental tour for the horses that will hopefully be the future of our sport,” said Trussell. “I would also like to thank my mom, Robyn Eames, for helping me go to Europe and finish the Tour.”

Dressage Canada gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance of Own the Podium (OTP), a national sport technical initiative designed to help Canada’s summer and winter athletes achieve podium success at the Olympic Games, which funded the 2009 European Fall Competition Tour.

Dressage Canada Red Scarf Equestrian Athlete of the Month is a recognition program that celebrates the achievements of Canadian dressage riders who represent Canada in national and international competition at the FEI Pony, Children, Junior, Young Rider, Advanced, Grand Prix and Young Horses classes.

Red Scarf Equestrian is the generous sponsor of Dressage Canada Athlete of the Month. Red Scarf Equestrian will be providing both Creech and Trussell with a generous gift certificate that can be used towards the purchase of elegant equestrian luggage, travel bags and accessories that are all made in Canada. For more information about Red Scarf Equestrian, please visit www.RedScarfEquestrian.ca.

About Dressage Canada

Dressage Canada, as a committee of Equine Canada, is the national governing body for dressage in Canada. Dressage Canada's objective is to foster the growth of dressage and the pursuit of excellence in the sport at the local, national and international levels. Dressage Canada provides support and guidance to both amateur and professional through the following programs: coaching education and programs, officials’ education and programs, rules and qualifying criteria, sport development, and publications and awards. For more information about Dressage Canada, please visit the Dressage section of the Equine Canada site or connect with us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/dressagecanada or Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/lp8cnd.

About Red Scarf Equestrian

Red Scarf Equestrian is proud to offer a line of equestrian luggage and travel bags that deliver exceptional quality and extraordinary value. This line is a refreshing change as it speaks of elegance and simplicity. It works to protect your expensive and valuable apparel, boots and accessories. In a world of clutter, you can't afford not to buy quality. Red Scarf Equestrian is proudly made in Canada. For more information about Red Scarf Equestrian, please visit www.RedScarfEquestrian.ca.

About Equine Canada

Equine Canada is Canada’s national governing body for equestrianism. A member-driven, charitable institution, it is the executive branch of the Canadian Equestrian Team, and the national authority for equestrian competition; the national voice for recreational riders; and the national association for equine welfare, breeding, and industry. Equine Canada is recognised by the Government of Canada, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), and the Canadian Olympic Committee as the national organisation representing equestrian sport and equine interests. For more information about Equine Canada, please visit www.equinecanada.ca.

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