JANUARY 2012 THE RIDER /31


New Talent Continued from Page 29.


over and trained Winston all winter and started competing in May, and then I took him back and got my scores. That was always the plan, that I would take him if I could. I had had the baby after all, so it was kind of a trade-off!”


Although Jaimey had qualified for the Pan Am Games selection trials, he lived up to his part of the bargain and relin- quished Winston’s reins back to his wife. A total of 61 riders from across Canada had declared their intention to quali- fy for the Pan American Games, with the top 15 ranked riders in the country being invited to con- test the selection trials. Heading into the selection trials, Jaimey was ranked number one in the qualifying standings while Tina was ranked number four, which was in itself an incredible accomplishment.


As only one athlete can compete in the trials, Tina rode Winston while Jaimey resumed the role of coach. Tina and Winston excelled in the selec- tion trials, even winning one of the four, to earn a place on the four-member Canadian Dres- sage Team for the Pan Ameri- can Games. In addition, Jaimey had begun coaching Roberta Byng-Morris earlier in the year, and she also booked her ticket for Guadalajara with a top finish in the selection trials riding Reiki Tyme. At both the train- ing camp and at the Pan Ameri- can Games themselves, Jaimey worked alongside Canadian Dressage Team Technical Lead- er Markus Gribbe of Germany to coach one half of Canadian


Mark Todd Continued from Page 30.


each mount grew visibly and exponentially right before the eyes of an enthralled audience!


When Todd was asked about his whirlwind excursion to Toronto and surrounding area; he joked, “Thanks for a fun, fast and furious four days.” From the inside of the Royal Winter Fair to the inside of Ghostwood farm’s arena,


Team.


“I went to the training camp in New York to coach Tina and Roberta,” said Jaimey of the two-week training camp held in New York State. “Markus and I work very well together, which allowed us to get the horses to peak at the right time for the Games. There was an excellent team environ- ment in Guadalajara. Markus did an excellent job at the Tech- nical Leader for Canada, and is a definite asset to the Team.” In the team competition at the Pan American Games, Tina earned a score of 70.737% while Byng-Morris earned 65.158% from the panel of seven international judges. Combined with the scores post- ed by their teammates, Tom Dvorak and Crystal Kroetch, Canada claimed the Silver Medal.


Moving into the individual competition, Tina earned a score of 70.842% in the first phase, the Intermediaire I. Following a day of rest, Tina and Winston executed a flawless and expres- sive Intermediaire Freestyle per- formance, highlighted by strong canter work and high quality pirouettes, to a medley of popu- lar 80s songs produced by Lewis Manné and Wendy Wat- son of Zap Productions. The resulting score of 77.225% rep- resented a career best for Tina, and placed her fifth individually in her Pan American Games debut.


“It was a dream come true,” said Tina of the year that culminated in a Silver Medal. “It was an amazing journey with everything that happened over the past 12 months, from selling my Grand Prix horse to having a


Todd may not have experi- enced the great outdoors of Canada but he is keen to return for more of the friendly hospitality. Reports from the clinic audience were that of inspi- ration. Todd himself com- mented on the capable jockeys on the Canadian team and how well they adapted and improved to the techniques he was teaching.


The Canadian event- ing team was not the only beneficiary from Todd’s


baby to making the team. The Silver Medal was just the icing on the cake! And having Jaimey there as not only my husband and personal support system but also as my trainer was an unbelievable experi- ence.”


Jaimey’s other student, Bing-Morris, placed 16th indi- vidually out of the 47 entries representing 14 nations in dres- sage at this year’s Pan American Games.


“It was also Roberta’s first time representing Canada at a major games, and it was amaz- ing to see the improvement over just a few months,” said Jaimey. “She was a very good student, and very dedicated. It was very rewarding to have two of my students on the silver medal winning team. Everyone involved with the Canadian Team at the Pan American Games really worked well together to produce a fantastic result.”


Despite their relatively young ages, both Tina, 30, and Jaimey, 33, have enjoyed tremendous success as coaches. Former competitors at the North American Young Riders’ Cham- pionships themselves, Jaimey and Tina have coached Maura O’Sullivan to Junior Team Gold and Young Riders’ Team Silver medals while Megan Lane won Junior Team Gold and Junior Individual Silver medals under their tutelage. Jaimey also coaches Tina’s sister, Sarah Turner, and her mother, Ute Busse, at the Grand Prix level. In the competition arena, Jaimey competed with both Dover and Lindor’s Finest at the Grand Prix level throughout the 2011 season. Tina and Jaimey


extended stay. Part of the proceeds for the clinic and Mr. Todd’s $500 prize (from his indoor eventing evening at the Royal) were both directed toward the Youthdale Treatment Cen- tre’s unique riding program for at-risk children between 12 -18. Youthdale’s home base is Toronto with the riding programs being run out of Ellen Downey’s Jewel View farm near Alliston, ON. For many of the kids entering the unique equine program, the feeling of success has eluded them. The confidence building that occurs at Jewel View farm helps these youth focus and overcome self- esteem issues. Program Director, Ellen Downey explains, “These kids are the most sensitive, and they naturally understand the equally sensitive horse.” After the 10-week pro- gram, amazing results can be achieved with the unconditional love of the horses. Todd described the amazing connection experi- enced when working with such noble animals while attending the cocktail party benefiting Youthdale, “I have a relationship with horses - “It is always about the horse.”


Canadian Eventing team - 3 times lucky!


1.


The Royal - This years indoor event was twice as sweet for Canadi-


Jaimey Irwin holds Gavin, the couple’s six-month-old son, as he wears his mother’s Team Silver medal at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Photo Credits – Dieter Busse


also have several quality young horses that they are developing up to the international level with the ultimate goal of representing Canada at the Olympic Games. Jaimey and Tina operate their training business, Stoney Lake Equestrian, out of Strath- field Farm in Stouffville, ON. The well-designed, world-class facility is extremely horse friendly with new state-of-the- art footing. Spectators have also been kept in mind, and are able to watch the horses training in the 25 x 65 meter indoor arena from the comfort of a large viewing lounge, which features contemporary design and furnishings.


an, Waylon Roberts. Not only did he win the event for the 5th time but also was able to compete along side eventing legend Mark Todd. Todd amazed the crowd by demonstrating an overnight transformation of his borrowed mount in the 2-day unique event. 2.


“We have been based here since the spring of 2009, and we feel very proud to operate our business at such a fantastic facility,” said Tina of Strathfield Farm, which is owned by Sheryl Kerr. “We are very grateful for Sheryl’s support and appreciate the efforts she makes to main- tain the facility at the highest standards.”


Between their own horses and those belonging to clients, the couple has approximately 20 horses in training at any given time. Tina and Jaimey spent time training in Germany in the early days of their careers and while Tina once trained with Klaus Martin Rath, they both


found an ideal match in Holger Munstermann. The renowned German coach now travels to Canada to help the couple, as well as their students, with their training.


For Tina and Jaimey Irwin, success in the dressage arena is truly a family affair. Tina sums it up simply by say- ing, “We are a dynamic couple and we work together really well professionally. We click very well.”


For more information on Tina and Jaimey Irwin and Stoney Lake Equestrian, please call (905) 888-0099 or visit www.stoneylakeequestrian.ca.


16 Event team mem- bers and team candidates were privy to a riding tune up as the legendary Mark Todd shared his wisdom during a 2-day clinic in Mono, Ontario 3.


Youthdale Treatment Centre’s riding program will benefit from part of the proceeds of this wonderful clinic and Mark Todd’s winnings from the Royal.


Story by: Jackie Bellamy


Above and at left: Mark Todd with Students at the clinic in Momo, Ontario. Photos by Usha Knabe


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