2005 Sunshine Tour

Channon Masters the Grand Prix

With a field of 30 international riders in the Grand Prix, the pressure was definitely on. Canadian Christilot Boylen and French rider Constance Menard-Laboute were on Channon's heels, but their score got stuck at a 68% mark, while Channon soared up to 70.500% for a very clean ride in which the piaffe-passage and pirouettes were the usual highlights. In the first extended trot, Lorenzo broke into canter and without this little hiccup Channon's score could have achieved a virtual 72%.

O-judge and FEI Dressage Committee chairwoman Mariette Withages was very impressed with Lorenzo's improvements since last judging him this winter. "Lorenzo is a real outdoor show horse," said Withages, "he has really improved a lot, especially in his elasticity." O-judge Uwe Mechlem concurred, adding that "Lorenzo was very well presented and he showed an excellent piaffe-passage tour."

Christilot Boylen finished in runner-up position with the bay mare Lucky Lemon. The refined Hanoverian mare has a delightful passage and showed lovely extensions, but the piaffe is definitely a weak point. Boylen couldn't not maintain impulse in the piaffe and Lucky Lemon tensed up and blocked in one piaffe reprise. Their 68.500% placed them second.

"Lucky Lemon got many high marks, but there was tension and resistance at the beginning of the test," Withages stated. Mechlem praised Boylen's professional presentation. "This is a very experienced show horse, elegant and well presented."

Constance Menard-Laboute and her Gelderland bred mare Lianca showed a phenomenal piaffe-passage tour with the mare extremely attentive to the rider's aids. A score of 68.208% placed Laboute third. "Lianca is a super nice horse, but doesn't look like the dressage type," Mechlem said. "She was well ridden and is always very consistent in her performances."

Text and Photos copyrighted Astrid Appels/Eurodressage - No reproduction allowed without permission

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