55+ BC Games Wrap-Up

(September 13-17, 2022) • Written by Equestrian Sport Chair, Sheila Skene

The 55+ Games are an almost completely volunteer run event usually held annually in a different city within BC. The choice of sports held is generally geared to those that the local community can support.

Horse Council BC has put a great deal of effort into ensuring that Equestrian is held in as many communities as possible. Equestrian is though quite separate in many ways due to the need to accommodate our equine partners.

Although the Games were largely funded by the Government of BC which did include Covid recovery funding, together with major sponsors, our PSO Horse Council of BC funded a great deal of the Equestrian needs.

Our team of excellent Equestrian Chairs were: Dressage and Western Dressage: Claire Vessey Arena Driving: Tina Knott Working Equitation: Stella French Working Hunter: Megan Soellner Also keeping us on track for all Games Rules and Registrations: Zone 1 Representative: Carol Ann Rolls, along with all other Zone Reps within BC

When we started planning for the Games, Covid restrictions were in effect which were quite limiting for everyone, meaning that registrations were initially lower than expected. Once the restrictions were lifted and registrations were extended for an additional 2 weeks to July 15th, the numbers increased greatly. At the other end though, it meant we all had to work very hard to make the deadlines, but make them we did, and are so thrilled that the whole equestrian event was such a positive experience for the participants and volunteers.

The show office, as expected, was really busy for check-in and accreditation on the first day, ending with a really good Welcome BBQ hosted by Wits End Catering and sponsored by our local clubs, Lower Island Equestrian Club; Victoria Saanich Cadora; Vancouver Island Chapter of the BC Carriage Driving Society; Vancouver Island Working Equitation; an anonymous donor, and Horse Council of BC.

We’d anticipated about 50-60 and ended with an astounding 101 in attendance! Those attending included Sandy Underwood, HCBC Competition Manager and Craig Cherritt, HCBC Executive Director. As the 55+ Games are held to support ‘sport for life,’ a toast was made to our late Majesty the Queen, Elizabeth II as the ‘lifelong equestrian’ we all aspire to be.

As to the Games themselves, Wednesday being the first day of competition brought Dressage and Driving, then Working Equitation added on the second day continuing on in to the third day with Working Hunter extending into the last and fourth morning. Once the competition started, we could feel the camaraderie building amongst the participants as they mingled together, all so supportive with each other and a large percentage participating in more than one discipline. The biggest crossover seemed to be between Dressage/Western Dressage and Working Equitation. Sheila, Cara, Claire

The Medal ceremonies were held once each discipline finished their own competitions meaning that presentations made were on Thursday/ Friday/Saturday. These were well orchestrated with music, flags and a small podium all ceremoniously managed by Marilyn McCrimmon and husband Rob. The final ceremony which was for Working Hunter, was made extra special with the surprise appearance of Pedro Cebulka, ringmaster supreme at many international events, wearing his striking, signature top hat and leading the winners in a lively trot to the music. For the very last presentation, the CEO of the 55+ Games Michael O’Connor arrived and he too, trotted along with the medal winners!

Now the final report has been done and all budget requests submitted, we are very relieved that the Equestrian part of the 55+ Games was successful due mainly to all our wonderful volunteers, that they ran on time, that we had no accidents or injuries and sometime very soon we will reminisce about this unique experience and say to each other - ‘thanks for having my back every step of the way!’

Sheila Skene for both of us……. Sheila Skene & Claire Vessey, Equestrian Sport Co-Chairs, Greater Victoria 55+ BC Games 2022

Horse Council BC would like to extend our utmost thanks and gratitude to all of the volunteers and participants of this year’s 55+ Games Equestrian competition. Like the saying goes, “it takes a village” and the village of Vancouver Island Equestrians were the reason the 2022 55+ Games Equestrian competition was a very successful and enjoyable event.

Now onto Abbotsford 2023!

FINAL RESULTS DRIVING TRIALS: Judge - Cat Armitage Training

Driver Horse

Placing Score Pip Breckon Lombards Silentlee Canadian Gold 220.69 Catherine Royle Jet Silver 272.53 Ron Poirier Sami Bronze 297.28 High Score Training Driver: Pip Breckon

Preliminary

Martha Younger Mummy's Mercedes Gold Vicki Schulz Lizzy B Painted Lady Silver Pip Breckon THR Bring It On Bronze High Score Preliminary Driver: Martha Younger

DRESSAGE: Judge - Cara Whitham Training

Rider Horse Andrei Wozniewski Indy Teg Harper Fuego Del Mar

Christal Quin Forrestor

First Level

Heather Wade Black Fin Placing Score Gold 75.918 Silver 74.175 Bronze 73.602

Gold 67.194 Diane Floyd Presentandaccountedfor Silver 64.898 Lee Hart Delany Reno Bronze 61.797

Second Level

Melanie Houston VA Manoletes Ysabella Gold 66.672 Leslie Park Donner Glory Silver 63.565 Ruth Lick Don Devine Bronze 62.525

Dressage Overall Top Three High Scores

Andrei Wozniewski Indy Gold 75.918 Teg Harper Fuego Del Mar Silver 74.175 Christal Quin Forrestor Bronze 73.602

WESTERN DRESSAGE: Judge - Cara Whitham Walk Jog

Rider Horse Placing Suzanne Armour Dez Sacred Sensation Gold Stacey Langille Purple Reign Silver Gerald Peterson Jasper Bronze

Training Level

Laura Foxgord Skipps San Star Gold Sheila Watt Captain Morgan Silver Nancy Barbour SG Sierras Rag Tag Bronze

First Level

Nancy Garner

Extreme Whiz Dun

Western Dressage Overall Top Three High Scores

Laura Foxgord Skipps San Star Nancy Garner Sheila Watt Extreme Whiz Dun Captain Morgan Gold

Gold Silver Bronze

WORKING EQUITATION: Judge - Kim Vos Intro: Dressage; Ease of Handling

Rider Horse Diana Jamison Harlequinn

Placing Gold Heather Wade Black Fin Silver Suzanne Armour Dez Sacred Sensation Bronze

Novice A: Dressage; Ease of Handling; Speed

Melanie Houston VA Manoletes Ysabella Gold Teg Harper Fuego Del Mar Silver Jane Stone Bob Cajun Bronze

Novice B: Ease of Handling; Speed

Denise Kinvig Emerald EE Gold Leslie Park Donnerglory Silver

Overall Top Three - All Divisions

Heather Wade Black Fin Melanie Houston VA Manoletes Ysabella Diana Jamison Harlequinn

WORKING HUNTER: Judge - Phyllis Attrill / Course Designer - Peter Holmes Low Working Hunter

Rider Horse Placing Barb Bishop MJ Beckham Gold Tammy Leslie Woodmont Premier Silver Helen Chapman Oliver Bronze

Hunter Derby

Tammy Leslie Woodmont Premier Gold Jeannie Calloway Maximus Silver Glynis O'Shea Scotch On The Rocks Bronze

Handy Hunter

Barb Bishop MJ Beckham Gold Jeannie Calloway Maximus Silver Glynis O'Shea Scotch On The Rocks Bronze

Overall Working Hunter High Point

Barb Bishop MJ Beckham Gold Tammy Leslie Woodmont Premier Silver Jeannie Calloway Maximus Bronze