Press Releases - August 2011
Press Release - 12th August
T&T Rides Away with Blue Ribbon in Boston Dressage Show
Ambriel Weatherly excelled in the Children of the Americas Dressage Invitational (CADI) FEI Dressage Test in Concord, Massachusetts, U.S.A with a top score of 69.130%, bringing home the blue ribbon in her division. The 14 year old beat 10 other competitors in the event held at the Bear Spot Farm for riders 12 to 14 years old. CADI, the highlight of the year at Bear Spot staged from 2nd to 6th August, 2011, brought together grand prix riders and trainers considered to be the future of dressage in their respective countries. Part of its mission is to introduce the discipline and beauty dressage to new generations of riders from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean. The event held annually, comprises two sections; Section A for riders on borrowed horses, and Section B for the American riders on their own mounts.
On competition days (5th and 6th August), challenged by only 2 practice days with her assigned horse “Wallina”, the St. Joseph’s Convent student beat competitors in her division from the Cayman Islands, Barbados, the USA, Ecuador, Peru, England and Puerto Rico securing the top score in the Preliminary Test in Section A. In the second event, the Kur, Ambriel was the only competitor to not use classical music, opting instead for Shakira’s “Waka Waka” and “Wotless” by Kes the Band. Her combined score took her overall to first place in her division.
Every year the Trinidad and Tobago Equestrian Association works towards sending the best riders to regional and international events, and this year, with the sponsorship assistance from the Ministry of Sport another of T&T’s gifted riders was given the chance to showcase her talents at this international event. Ambriel qualified to attend CADI based on her score in the FEI World Dressage Challenge. She was coached and accompanied by local coaches, Margaret Auerbach and Sara McCartney of Goodwin Heights Stables.
Of her success, Ambriel explained that she was very comfortable with the horse assigned to her. She said, “while ‘Wallina’, the sweetest Hanoverian Prix St. George Mare was a great partner, I could not have done it without the dedication of my mother, Martena Alves-Weatherly and coach. They ensured that I was well prepared and organized. All in all it was a fantastic experience.” Ambriel’s mother was unable to attend the event, but her brothers, Dean and Julien attended, driving from British Columbia to Boston to support and encourage her.
Coach Margaret Auerbach explained,”Ambriel will not meet the CADI age requirement next year, so given her talent and in building on this success, I am looking at sending her to another competition – probably in South America. I am extremely proud of her!”
Ambriel Weatherly excelled in the Children of the Americas Dressage Invitational (CADI) FEI Dressage Test in Concord, Massachusetts, U.S.A with a top score of 69.130%, bringing home the blue ribbon in her division. The 14 year old beat 10 other competitors in the event held at the Bear Spot Farm for riders 12 to 14 years old. CADI, the highlight of the year at Bear Spot staged from 2nd to 6th August, 2011, brought together grand prix riders and trainers considered to be the future of dressage in their respective countries. Part of its mission is to introduce the discipline and beauty dressage to new generations of riders from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean. The event held annually, comprises two sections; Section A for riders on borrowed horses, and Section B for the American riders on their own mounts.
On competition days (5th and 6th August), challenged by only 2 practice days with her assigned horse “Wallina”, the St. Joseph’s Convent student beat competitors in her division from the Cayman Islands, Barbados, the USA, Ecuador, Peru, England and Puerto Rico securing the top score in the Preliminary Test in Section A. In the second event, the Kur, Ambriel was the only competitor to not use classical music, opting instead for Shakira’s “Waka Waka” and “Wotless” by Kes the Band. Her combined score took her overall to first place in her division.
Every year the Trinidad and Tobago Equestrian Association works towards sending the best riders to regional and international events, and this year, with the sponsorship assistance from the Ministry of Sport another of T&T’s gifted riders was given the chance to showcase her talents at this international event. Ambriel qualified to attend CADI based on her score in the FEI World Dressage Challenge. She was coached and accompanied by local coaches, Margaret Auerbach and Sara McCartney of Goodwin Heights Stables.
Of her success, Ambriel explained that she was very comfortable with the horse assigned to her. She said, “while ‘Wallina’, the sweetest Hanoverian Prix St. George Mare was a great partner, I could not have done it without the dedication of my mother, Martena Alves-Weatherly and coach. They ensured that I was well prepared and organized. All in all it was a fantastic experience.” Ambriel’s mother was unable to attend the event, but her brothers, Dean and Julien attended, driving from British Columbia to Boston to support and encourage her.
Coach Margaret Auerbach explained,”Ambriel will not meet the CADI age requirement next year, so given her talent and in building on this success, I am looking at sending her to another competition – probably in South America. I am extremely proud of her!”
