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Toronto, Ontario – A ‘Red and White’ send-off party was held on Sunday, August 1, at the former York Equestrian Center in Newmarket, ON, for the Canadian Eventing Team heading to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

With over 150 supporters in attendance, Canadian Eventing Team members Hawley Bennett, of Langley, BC; Bruce Mandeville, of Summerland, BC; Ian Roberts of Port Perry, ON; Mike Winter, of Toronto, ON; and first alternate Garry Roque, of Caledon East, ON; were the guests of honour at the ‘Red and White’ send-off party hosted by Canadian Eventing. Unfortunately, Stuart Black, of Orangeville, ON; was suffering from migraine headaches and could not be in attendance.

As part of the celebrations, Team members performed the Olympic dressage test and a show jumping round in a friendly competition won by Mandeville, who will make his second consecutive Olympic appearance with Larissa, a 15-year-old Canadian-bred Trakehner mare owned by Franz and Elke Hollenbach.

“Larissa feels great, stronger and better than ever,” noted Mandeville, 44, who helped Canada capture the Silver Medal at the 2003 Pan American Championships and earn its qualification for the Olympic Games. “It is fantastic to have an opportunity to get the horses into the ring in front of a crowd, and to be surrounded by fans and supporters.”

“It really hits home, we are really going to the Olympics,” added Bennett, 27, the only female athlete on the Team. Equestrian is the only Olympic sport where men and women compete together.

Bennett, who will ride Livingstone, her 14-year-old Canadian thoroughbred gelding, and Winter, 29, whose mount is Emeline Loughlin’s 14-year-old thoroughbred gelding, Balista, were also members of the Silver Medal Team at the 2003 Pan American Championships. Roberts and Mata-riki, an 11-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding owned by Kelly Plitz, (Roberts' wife) placed 15th at the CCI**** Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event in 2003, while Roque, 44, and Waikura, a 13-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding owned by Gustav Quast, enjoyed finishes at both the CCI*** Fox Hall Cup Thee Day Event in Georgia and the CCI*** Fair Hill International Three Day Event in Maryland in 2003. Having represented Canada at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games, Black, 45, will ride Fleeceworks Blackout, a 10-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding owned by Elkins Wetherill.

Under the guidance of International Technical Advisor Jimmy Wofford, Dressage Coach Jane Savoie, and Team Manager Greg Paull, the Canadian Eventing Team participated in a training camp held July 28 to August 4 at Oakcrest Farm in Stouffville, ON, generously made available to the Team by Tony and Robyn Eames.

On Thursday, August 5, the Team horses were shipped to Athens with all Team members also arriving in Athens by Saturday, August 7. The horse inspection will take place on Saturday, August 14, with dressage, the opening phase of competition, being held over two days, Sunday, August 15, and Monday, August 16. The second phase of competition, cross-country, will be held Tuesday, August 17, and the third and final phase of show jumping will take place on Wednesday, August 18. For the first time, a second show jumping round will be used to determine the Individual medals. Both Team and Individual medals will be presented following the show jumping competition.

“The 2004 Canadian Olympic Eventing Team, left to right, of Garry Roque, Mike Winter, Hawley Bennett, Bruce Mandeville and Ian Roberts. Absent, Stuart Black.”
Photo credit – Anthony Trollope, EWB News Service

For more information, please contact Fleur Tipton, Manager of Eventing, at: ftipton@equestrian.ca

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