November 9, 2005 – Toronto, Ontario – Cindy Ishoy opened the Canadian League World Cup Dressage Final with a win in the Grand Prix test on Wednesday, held as part of the 83rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair running November 4-13, 2005, at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, ON.

Five riders are vying for the honour of being Canada’s sole representative at the 2006 World Cup Final next April in Amsterdam, NED.

Ishoy of Jerseyville, ON, produced Canada’s best finish ever at a World Cup Final, finished second back in 1988 with her legendary Seoul Olympic Bronze Medal partner, Dynasty. Now riding Proton, an 11-year-old German-bred gelding, Ishoy outperformed the competition to earn a score of 69.00% from the panel of five international judges.

“Proton was injured in the spring, but it was a good bonding time for us and he has come back stronger than ever,” said Ishoy, who rode Proton as part of the Canadian Team last summer at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. “I am really looking forward to performing my new freestyle tomorrow night, it features contemporary music that my daughter found for me.”

Another Canadian Olympian, Evi Strasser of Ste-Adele, QC, placed second with a score of 67.38% riding Quantum Tyme, her 10-year-old chestnut Oldenburg gelding. Strasser, who represented Canada earlier this year at the 2005 World Cup Final in Las Vegas, doesn’t mind being second coming into Thursday evening’s ‘winner-take-all’ Freestyle competition.

“I would rather be second than first,” stated Strasser. “I would rather come from behind than to be first and have the pressure of staying on top.”

Jacqueline Brooks of Mount Albert, ON, placed third with a score of 64.21% riding Gran Gesto, a 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Brinc Ltd. and Anne Welch. Fourth place went to 2001 World Cup Finalist Nancy MacLachlan of Terra Cotta, ON, and Ariston, a nine-year-old Ukrainian Warmblood gelding. Grand Prix newcomer, 22-year-old Whitney Harris of Burlington, ON, made her debut in the Canadian League World Cup Final by finishing fifth riding Nektor, her 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding.

Tickets are always sold-out for Thursday evening’s Grand Prix Freestyle performance where the riders choreograph required movements to the music of their choice, similar to figure skating. The end result is a horse and rider who seemingly dance to the music, entertaining the crowd with their various musical selections and interpretations. The winner of the Thursday night’s Freestyle will be crowned the Canadian League World Cup Final Champion, and be invited to contest the 2006 World Cup Final.

Tickets for all Royal Horse Show performances, held as part of the 83rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, can be purchased through Ticketmaster at tel: 416 872-7777 or www.ticketmaster.ca. For more information on the Royal Horse Show, including complete schedules, please visit www.royalfair.org.

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