Canadian Paralympian Karen Brain now living and training in London, Ontario, formerly from Victoria, BC, accomplished a significant victory for Canada by winning her second bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games in the Grade IV Freestyle dressage test on September 24, 2004.
Aboard Dasskara, a loaned 12-year old German bred mare, Karen skillfully performed a complex Freestyle dressage test, earning a score of 77.227%.
“Karen rode a phenomenal Freestyle test,” said Chef d’Equipe, Jane James. “It was just lovely to watch. She executed flawless flying changes and perfect trot and canter half-passes.”
Karen felt very honoured and fortunate to have her highly regarded Dressage Coach, Conrad Schumacher from Germany, in Athens to Coach her.
The Grade IV Freestyle gold medal went to Norway’s Ann Cathrin Lubbe on Zanko with a score of 80.045%, with the silver medal going to Philippa Johnson of the Republic of South Africa on Burgmans Benedict, with a score of 78.273%.
In the Grade II Freestyle, Canadian rider Lauren Barwick of Aldergrove, BC, riding Dior, placed 6th with a score of 73.056%. Dax Adam of Scarborough, Ontario and Copper Rose, finished in 16th place in Grade II Freestyle with a score of 64.556%.
Unfortunately, Judi Island of Cheltenham, Ontario was unable to compete in the Grade I Freestyle.
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1
GBR Pearson, Lee Blue Circle
Boy
77.263
2 AUS Pike,
Jan Dr.
Doolittle
71.895
3 GBR Christiansen, Sophie Hotstuff 70.000
11 * CAN Island, Judi
Whirlwind
65.158 *
1
SWE Slaettengren, Irene Larino
72.636
2 NED Stokkel, Joop
Pegasus
70.545
3 GBR Tustain, Nic
Prinz
Heinrich
68.727
3 NED Bolmer, Gert
Lodewijk
68.727
7 * CAN Barwick, Lauren
Dior
82 68.000
*
14 * CAN Adam, Dax Copper
Rose 60.727
*
1
GBR Criddle, Deborah Figaro
IX
74.400
2 GER Vogel, Bianca
Roquefort
16
72.240
3 GER Eistel,
Bettina
Aaron
71.120
1
NOR Lubbe, Ann Cathrin Zanko
70.839
2 RSA Johnson, Philippa Burgmans
Benedict 69.871
3 * CAN Brain, Karen
Dasskara
69.677 *
FINAL RESULTS FOR MEDAL WINNERS AND CANADIAN TEAM MEMBERS IN FREESTYLE TO MUSIC:
INDIVIDUAL
DRESSAGE – GRADE I
FREESTYLE
1
GBR Pearson, Lee Blue Circle
Boy
87.000
2 USA Seidemann,
Lynn Phoenix
B
76.063
3 AUS Pike,
Jan Dr.
Doolittle
74.375
* CAN Island,
Judi Whirlwind
NS *
INDIVIDUAL
DRESSAGE – GRADE II
FREESTYLE
1
SWE Slaettengren, Irene Larino
78.944
2 GER Brenner, Hannelore
Roquefort
16
76.056
3 GBR Tustain, Nic
Prinz
Heinrich 75.000
6 * CAN Barwick, Lauren
Dior
82
73.056 *
16 * CAN Adam, Dax Copper
Rose 64.556 *
1
GBR Criddle, Deborah Figaro
IX 81.722
2 GER Eistel,
Bettina
Aaron
77.778
3 BEL Vermeir,
Bert Den Eik Heino
74.722
1
NOR Lubbe, Ann Cathrin Zanko
80.045
2 RSA Johnson, Phillippa
Burgmans Benedict
78.273
3 * CAN Brain,
Karen Dasskara
77.227 *
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Canadian Paralympian Karen Brain of Victoria, BC, now living in London, Ontario, scored a major victory for Canada by winning the bronze medal in the Grade IV Championship dressage test at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games on September 22, 2004. Karen was riding Dasskara, a German bred mare that Conrad Schumacher found for her to ride in Germany, when she was training with him. Karen was a member of the able-bodied Canadian Equestrian Team, representing Canada at the World Equestrian Games in Rome in 1998 on her horse Double Take in the sport of Three-day Eventing before a riding accident in 2001 forced her to set new goals towards the Paralympics.
Karen and Dasskara missed the warm-up competition on Monday due to a mild colic attack, but performed a brilliant dressage test in the Championship test on Wednesday in spite of missing the warm-up competition. Her score was 69.677% for the Bronze Medal. The Silver Medal went to South Africa’s Philippa Johnson on Burgmans Benedict with a score of 69.871%, and the Gold Medal went to Norway’s Ann Cathrin Lubbe on Zanko with a score of 70.839%.
Canadian Team members Judi Island from Cheltenham, Ontario and Whirlwind, placed 11th in the Grade I Championship test with a score of 65.158%, Lauren Barwick from Aldergrove, BC placed 7th in the Grade II Championship test on Dior with a score of 68.000%, and Dax Adam from Scarborough, Ontario placed 14th on Copper Rose with a score of 60.727% in the Grade II Championship test.
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EQUESTRIAN SCHEDULE FOR PARALYMPIC GAMES
Friday,
September 17th
20:30-23:00 Opening Ceremonies
Competition:
Monday,
September 20th
Derby Test – All Grades (optional)
Tuesday, September 21st
Championship Test – Grade 1 and 3
Wednesday, September 22nd
Championship Test – Grade 2 and 4
Thursday, September 23rd
Freestyle to Music – Grade 1 and 3
Friday, September 24th
Freestyle to Music – Grade 2 and 4
Sunday, September 26th
Team Tests (all
grades)
Tuesday, September 28th Closing Ceremonies
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PARALYMPICS
On September 17th, 2004, Athens will welcome thousands of elite athletes from countries from around the world to compete in the 2004 Paralympic Games. As with the Olympics, the Paralympics brings together the top athletes in their sports to compete on a global stage. In September of 2004 almost 5000 athletes from over 125 countries will compete in Athens in 19 sports and a variety of events.
The Athens 2004 Organizing Committee is committed to creating an environment of excellence where these elite athletes can achieve their personal best performance. The Organizing Committee has already been successful in creating a more inclusive atmosphere by organizing both the Olympics and the Paralympics under a single committee, thereby further strengthening the link between the Games.
“To enable Paralympic Athletes to achieve Sporting Excellence and Inspire and Excite the World”.
The Paralympic Games is the top sports event in the life of every Paralympic athlete. In Athens, about 4000 athletes will engage in noble competition to achieve ever higher results, performances and goals. The challenge to break records and the striving for distinction and victory mark the athletes’ presence at the Paralympic Games of Athens, in 2004.
In the Paralympic Games, athletes engage in competition to achieve the highest sports distinction. Their efforts are guided and shaped by a unique strength and determination. Their strength and ability to overcome hardship becomes a shining flame, a pole of attraction for everyone who values sports as the highest expression of humanity.
The 2004 Paralympic Games will be an inspiration for all athletes to go to the limit, outdo themselves and achieve the highest distinction in Athens. At the same time, the athletes’ effort to overcome all obstacles and their hard training for the competition inspires all of us. Paralympic athletes will display their rare and unique spirit, offer exciting and thrilling moments and become a source of inspiration for each and every spectator.
In September 2004, the Paralympic Games will follow the great celebration opened by the Olympic Games. The Paralympic Games will bring together athletes, spectators, and volunteers from all around the world. For the first time, the country that gave birth to sports will welcome and host the Paralympic Games, offering the world one more unique celebration of the spirit and the sports.
Thank you For:
Website Design: donated by: Jason Washington
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Website Copyright: Karen Brain 2004