Wellington, Fla. – March 24, 2017 – Team Canada walked away with their first Nations Cup gold medal during the two-day CDIO3* team competition, presented by Stillpoint Farm, on Thursday evening, March 23, in Wellington, Florida. Their mixed large and small tour team won with a combined score of 434.528, while the United States team, which faced unexpected challenges on Wednesday, earned a total combined score of 432.661. The team representing Spain earned the bronze medal with a score of 397.690.
The United States Nations Cup team consisted of four large tour competitors: Olivia LaGoy-Weltz on Lonoir, Tuny Page on Woodstock, Shelly Francis on Doktor and Lisa Wilcox on Galant. The United States did not have luck on their side on the first day with Page being eliminated because of blood found in the foam of Woodstock’s mouth when he bit his tongue, and Francis had an error when she went off course. They performed well in Thursday’s Grand Prix Special, but without a drop score, they could not catch up to the Canadian lead.
American rider LaGoy-Weltz earned the highest score on both days of team competition with a 72.940 percent in the Grand Prix and a 71.804 percent in the Grand Prix Special. LaGoy-Weltz rode Lonoir, a 13-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding.
“For all of us, everyone that participates, a good, friendly competition pushes us all to be better and provides an opportunity to develop and move on,” LaGoy-Weltz explained. “It’s such a great group of people that we have here in Wellington, so it’s fun in general getting to come together with your country-mates and be in that pressure situation. If you don’t get to practice those things, then you’re only getting to do them when you go to a WEG or an Olympics or a Pan Ams, and we could all use the mileage.”
2017 Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup Results:
1. Team Canada
Large Tour:
Jill Irving/Degas 12/69.588
Megan Lane/Caravella/70.176
Small Tour:
Jaimey Irwin/Donegal V/69.263
Tina Irwin/Laurencio/73.237
Total Score after drop score: 434.528
2. Team USA
Large Tour:
Shelly Francis/Doktor/70.451
Olivia LaGoy-Weltz/Lonoir/71.804
Lisa Wilcox/Galant/69.686
Total Score after drop score: 432.661
3. Team Spain
Large Tour:
Juan Matute Guimon/Quantico Ymas/70.069
Small Tour:
Paula Matute Guimon/Legacy’s Alminar/58.263
Pablo Gomez Molina/Furst Fiorano Ymas/63.789
Marta Renilla/Rhuster/64.921
Total Score after drop score: 397.690
