Para-Equestrian Canada is pleased to announce the team selection for The 2011 European Tour taking place in England in July 2011. Lauren Barwick, Eleonore Elstone, Ashley Gowanlock, and Jody Schloss were selected as the four athletes who will represent Canada as a team during the 2011 Tour. Additionally, Para-Equestrian Canada is pleased to announce that Robyn Andrews will be competing on the Tour as an individual rider for Canada.

Canada’s individual gold and silver medalist from the 2008 Paralympic Games, Barwick of Aldergrove, BC, will ride Equine Canada’s nine-year-old Oldenburg mare, Off to Paris, as well as her own nine-year-old Olderburg mare, Ferdonia 2 in competition in Grade II.

Gowanlock, of Surrey, BC, will be riding her 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG) mount Donnymaskell, Alexander (Sandy) Mitchell’s 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding. The pair, who was one of Canada’s top three Para-dressage riders at WEG, will be competing in Grade 1b.
Langley, BC, native Elstone was also one of Canada’s top three riders at WEG. She will ride Why Not G, an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Elstone and Kelleigh Kulscar in Grade IV. Finally, Schloss of Toronto, ON will be riding her new horse Inspector Rebus, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, in competition in Grade 1a.

“The purpose of the 2011 European Tour is ultimately to prepare athletes and horses for the 2012 Paralympic Games. The country’s most competitive Para-dressage athletes were selected to represent Canada and we are eager to gauge where we stand on the international stage,” said chef d’équipe Elizabeth Quigg-Robinson.

Para-Equestrian Canada is pleased to have the continued support of title sponsor Viterra, as well as Perry Transport in preparation for The 2011 European Tour.

“Viterra has been a proud supporter of Para-Equestrian Canada for the last two years, sharing the same commitment to high performance. We wish all of the athletes the best of luck in their pursuit of excellence,” said Bill Mooney, Viterra’s senior vice-president, Feed Products.

The organization would also like to thank Horsewear Ireland for its generous contribution of horse blankets to the 2011 Tour.

The following is the tentative schedule of events for the tour:
• July 9–11th: Training Camp (at Hartpury College),
• July 12–17th, 2011: Hartpury CPEDI3*,
• July 18–20th: Training Camp (at Hartpury College), and
• July 21–24th, 2011: Bishop Burton CPEDI2*.

About Viterra Inc.

Viterra provides premium quality ingredients to leading global food manufacturers. Headquartered in Canada, the global agri-business has extensive operations across Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Our growing international presence also extends to offices in Japan, Singapore, China, Switzerland, Italy, Ukraine, Germany and India. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, we operate in three distinct businesses: grain handling and marketing, agri-products, and processing. Viterra's expertise, close relationships with producers, and superior logistical assets allow the Company to consistently meet the needs of the most discerning end-use customers, helping to fulfill the nutritional needs of people around the world.

About Perry Transport Ltd.

Perry Transport Ltd. is a fully licensed and insured transport company specializing in Equine Transportation. We have safely and reliably served the Canadian and Canada/U.S. markets for over 30 years and are proud sponsors of the Canadian Para-Equestrian Team. For more information about Perry Transport Ltd., please visit www.perryt.com.

About Para-Equestrian Canada
Para-Equestrian Canada is the Equine Canada committee responsible for developing programs for athletes with a physical disability, and implementing the Para-Dressage high performance program. Para-Equestrian is one of Canada’s most successful international disciplines, achieving an individual gold medal and an individual silver medal at the 2008 Paralympic Games, as well as two individual bronze medals at the 2004 Paralympic Games.

About Para-Equestrian Sport
Para-Equestrian sport provides riders with a physical disability the opportunity to compete against other riders with similar abilities. Riders are given a “Grade” based on their functional ability, and are judged on their riding skill against other athletes of the same Grade. There are five grades of competitions in dressage, with Grade IA representing the more severely impaired riders, and Grade IV representing the least severely impaired riders. Many Para-Equestrian athletes also compete alongside able-bodied competitors in Equine Canada competitions. At the grass roots level, Para-Equestrian encompasses a number of different disciplines, while the international stream focuses only on Para-Dressage. For more information, please visit www.equinecanada.ca/para-equestrian.

About Equine Canada
Equine Canada is Canada’s national governing body for equestrianism. A member-driven, charitable institution, it is the executive branch of the Canadian Equestrian Team, and the national authority for equestrian competition; the national voice for recreational riders; and the national association for equine welfare, breeding, and industry. Equine Canada is recognized by the Government of Canada, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), and the Canadian Olympic Committee as the national organization representing equestrian sport and equine interests. For more information about Equine Canada, please visit www.equinecanada.ca.