Page 6 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 13

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Local Endurance Riders Headed South for Team Canada

By Jentry van Baal her own horses, Miller will be bringing an event in the area, you have riders rider being of highest importance.
along her 10 year-old Arabian stallion come from all over,” she added. “It’s a great sport to get into,” Miller
he snowbirds won’t be the only Cognac Amberfyre, along with her With events few and far between, the stated. “Everyone is welcome and
Tones headed south this winter. nine year-old Arabian mare Amber SVAHA rides not only attract locals, we’re always looking for riders.”
Dessia Miller of Berwick, will Kiera, who will be ridden by fellow but international competitors as well
be hitting the road this month for Team Canada member, 17 year old to qualify their horses for the larger
Morriston, Florida, where she will Stephanie McLeod of Oka, Quebec. events.
be representing Team Canada East in Also joining Miller and McLeod as “It’s the only sport where novice
the North American Endurance Team part of Team Canada East are locals beginner riders, on the same day, at
Challenge (NAETC) on December Monica Grundmann of Bainsville, the same event and facility, compete
13th. Chesterville’s Lee Hutton and next to some of the best in the world,”
The 160km FEI (Federation Kim Woolley of Finch, along with Miller added. “Even though they’re
Equestre Internationale) 3* Bob Gielen, Emma Webb, Nancy all competing at different levels,
endurance race event will host riders Zukewich, Michelle Watling, Wendy everyone is treated equally, there’s
from all over the United States, Benns, Wendy MacCoubrey and no judgment, and we’re all very
Canada, and Mexico, including some Yvette Vinton, as well as nearly approachable and willing to share.” Berwick’s Dessia Miller and
of the top in the sport, and is often 45 crew members, whom Miller With no particular dress codes either, her Arabian stallion will be
Canada
representing
at
the
used as preparation and qualification described as “unsung heroes” to the riders are able to ride in whichever North American Endurance Team

for higher events such as the World sport. attire and tack they prefer, with Challenge in Florida, December
Equestrian Games. Despite often being forgotten comfort and fi t for both horse and 13th, pictured here at the Stormont
Although 15 Canadians will be among other sports, Endurance CEI2* on Sept 1st.
competing overall (12 representing Riding is the largest growing equine
Team Canada East, three representing sport worldwide, being only second Sports Energy presents Sports Panel
Team Canada West), they will be to Show Jumping, and is quickly
divided into four teams of three to gaining popularity locally as well. In this issue we asked our panelists about their Olympic
four riders, with the best three times Aside from competing and running interests, since the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia
combined for the final placings. Amberlea Equestrian Services, Miller are fast approaching.

Horse and rider combinations is also president of the Seaway Valley As Canadians, it goes almost without saying that one of the
will have 18 hours to complete the Arabian Horse Association (SVAHA) greatest attractions will be the men’s and women’s ice hockey.
cross-country trek, where they may which hosts two events each year
encounter various natural obstacles in the Finch/Berwick region, from Beyond those events, what will you be most interested in? Is
and technical footings, such as hills, novice entry level, up to the FEI there a sport or two that you have a genuine interest in, or
forest trails, fields, and roads. Included 3*level. is it more a case that since the Winter Olympics only come

in rider’s times are mandatory holding “We started with 20-30 competitors around every four years, you will find some time to keep
checkpoints, which range anywhere coming for a one day event, now it’s track of just about anything?
from 30 to 60 minutes, and include around 60-70 over the two days,”
veterinary exams and designated Miller explained. As she also noted, Terry Tinkess I will certainly be following both the men and women as they battle
for supremacy in ice hockey but beyond that I think my interest will
rest breaks, ensuring the horses are one of the biggest challenges to the primarily focused on the individual athletes and coaches rather than

physically fit for the remainder of the competitive endurance riding sport is on specific sports. There are so many stories that go far beyond the

event. the “endurance driving” and finding results and I think it is these personal struggles and the decision to do
what is right, that make the games captivating. I’ll never forget the
Having bred, trained and competed events to qualify at. “When there is 2008 Winter Olympics in Turin when Norwegian ski coach Bjornar
Haakensmoen handed Canadian Sara Renner a replacement for her
broken ski pole. This unselfish gesture helped Renner, along with

Canadian Press teammate Beckie Scott to win Olympic silver in the team sprint while
Correspondent
Sports Energy it ultimately cost his country a medal as Norway slipped to fourth
place.
In the true spirit of sport, everyone is a winner, and I’m forever a
fan.
Greater Cornwall & Area Community Sports Newspaper
Jim Riddell The Winter Olympics, with only about one third as many sports as the

summer games will be easier to follow. I will definitely be watching
Is a Publication of: hockey, and beyond that I will probably take my chances on whatever
event is being televised during the time that I have available. These
Editorial: Terry Tinkess, terrytinkess@mac.com
Olympics will be very well marketed and will have many different
Graphic Design: Lynn Dillabough, dillydesigns@xplornet.com ways to hold our interest. It will be a learning experience, with plenty
Business Development/Advertising: Mike Piquette, of information on everything pertaining to the games. I can see myself
mike@sportsenergynews.com or 613-662-3654 getting interested in and following a few sports at Sochi, that I had
very little previous knowledge of.
Sports Energy is a monthly publication covering the Greater Seaway Karate Club
Cornwall Area. Our goal is to offer a quality, informative and
enjoyable newspaper and website to our readership, focusing
on the accomplishments of the many gifted athletes and sports Robert Walker The sports that always interest me during the Olympics are bobsleigh,
organizations in our area. The opinions and statements of our writers luge, downhill skiing, speed skating and biatholon. For the last few
years, I have also developed an interest in the aerial and mogul
and columnists are not necessarily the opinion of Sports Energy.
skiing. I don’t follow these sports as closely in non-Olympic years,
Sports Energy is always on the lookout for positive sports stories. however, I do keep track of the results and watch them if they happen
If you have a story you feel is worthwhile sharing, please email to to be on. I think for some of these sports the Olympics is their true
info@sportsenergynews.com. All suggestions will be considered showcase, even if they have annual world championships, and what is
compelling to me is that for four years these athletes prepare and train
but not necessarily printed. for this one event and the human reaction to that success or failure on
Visit us on the web at: www.sportsenergynews.com Minor Hockey Coach that day is emotional and unscripted.