Dixon Mountain Road resident Darcey Woods has recently been named to Team BC after she won the championship in reining at the BC Heritage Finals on her horse Ima Class of My Own (pictured).
As a result, this North Thompson Valley equestrian will be competing at the inaugural Canadian Equestrian Championships in Bromont, Quebec, at Bromont Olympic Park, Sept. 15 -18.
Woods, a seasoned horsewoman, with a lifetime of successful horse show experience, says she is looking forward to the experience.
“I’m very honoured and excited to be a part of Team BC,” Woods told this reporter during an interview given at the BC Heritage Qualifier Show that Woods was managing, held in Barriere on Aug. 13.
The BC Heritage Qualifier Horse Shows are a qualifiers for the BC Heritage Finals – and that event is the selection point for the BC Team.
“Our team will be leasing horses to compete on in Bromont,” said Woods, “Direct costs to be covered by Horse Council BC; including entry fees, air travel, accommodations, transport, stabling, team coach, chef d’equipe, and clothing. We will be competing on the leased horses, and the cost for each competitor is $1500 for the horse. We meet the horses on the Wednesday and get to practice that day and Thursday, followed by three days of competition.”
Woods says she will travel to Abbotsford on Monday, Sept. 12, then the Team will fly to Montreal on Tuesday, and drive to Bromont that day. Once settled into their hotel a whirlwind week of getting to know their mounts, riding, and competitions will take place.
Horse Council BC are sending the BC Equestrian Team that was selected based on the results of the annual Selection Trial at the BC Heritage Circuit Finals for the disciplines of Dressage, Show Jumping, and Reining. The highest ranked Junior, and Senior Rider, were selected to comprise the Teams for each Discipline at the Canadian Equestrian Championships. All provinces and territories have been invited to participate. Expectations are that this will be an annual Canadian Championship hosted by alternating provinces each year. The Federation equestre du Quebec has assumed the role of Organizing Committee for the 2011 event in Bromont.
A Level 2 Team Coach and Chef D’equipe will accompany Team BC athletes to the Canadian Equestrian Championships as officials responsible for team technical support. Athletes are required to share a portion of the expense of leasing horses in order to compete.
Horse Council BC in partnership with the BC Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport, is committed to funding the remaining travel expenses and technical support while developing these athletes in the pathway of Long Term Athlete Development.
The BC Equestrian Team selected to compete;
Reining – Senior – Darcey Woods, Barriere; Junior - Veronica Blattler, Lone Butte, (2010 BC Summer Games Individual Gold Medalist); Dressage - Senior – Rachel Blackmon, Langley; Junior - Alex Fishman, Langley; Jumping – Junior – Kasi DeJong, Abbotsford (2010 BC Summer Games Team Gold Medalist); Team Coach – Monique Fraser, Aldergrove, (EC Level 2 Coach); Chef D’Equipe – Ali Buchanan, Fort Langley (Beijing Olympics 2008 – CET Chef D’equipe Dressage).