Several competitors from the district will be taking part in the upcoming Alberta Equestrian Vaulting Association (AEVA) Canadian Nationals meet in Ponoka on July 13-15.
Qualifying for the World Equestrian Games (WEG) takes place at the same time.
More than a dozen clubs from Alberta, Saskatchewan and B.C. will be competing, with 119 participants and 29 horses scheduled to take part.
The clubs from the district that will be attending include Meadow Creek Vaulting Club from Olds, Diamond Willow Vaulting Club from Eagle Hill, Razzle Dazzle Vaulting Club from Sundre, Spruce Valley from Rocky Mountain House, Chinook Vaulting Club from Red Deer County, and High Kick Vaulting Club from Cochrane.
The Meadow Creek Beauty and the Beast team includes Jeanine van der Sluijs from Olds, Angelique van der Sluijs from Olds, Dallyn Shields from Didsbury, Averill Saunders from Sundre, Avery Malone from Innisfail, Ryan Bracken from Caroline, and Emily Stevenson from Carstairs.
“This competition is for all levels of vaulting from beginners vaulting on a stationary barrel and competing in walk classes, to more advanced vaulters vaulting at canter in individual, pairs and team,” said Diane Boyd, AEVA show chair.
Vaulters can compete at the three different gaits -- walk, trot and canter; and in individual classes; pas de deux, which is two vaulters on the horse at once; and a squad, which is a team with six vaulters on the team and one to three vaulters on the horse at a time.
“Some of the vaulters will be trying to qualify to attend the World Equestrian Games in North Carolina in September of 2018,” she said.
“Canada is able to send one Canadian squad, two sets of pairs and three individual males and three individual female vaulters. WEG is only held every four years with the last one being in Normandy, France.”
There are three Canadian teams in contention for a spot to represent Canada at the games:
The Beauty and the Beast team from Meadow Creek Vaulting Club; the AB Elite team which is made up of Todd Griffiths from Magrath, Gracie Griffiths from Magrath, Talmage Conrad from Cardston, Shaina Hammond from Cardston, Charlotte Axani from Cochrane, Cassidy Johannesson from Rocky Mountain House, and Megan Leeper from Strathmore; and the West Coast Manusya team made up of Jaydee Fluet from Sundre, as well as competitors from B.C.
“Jaydee Fluet is a member of the Diamond Willow Vaulting Club that trains out of the Back at the Ranch Arena in the Eagle Hill area,” said Boyd.
“She has been vaulting for four years and is 11 years old and resides in Sundre. She is the flyer (the person who is lifted by other vaulters) for the B.C. team and travels to Parksville, B.C. to train with the team. Their team has been to various competitions already this year in the US and in Canada.”
Two sets of pairs are able to go to the WEG. There are three sets of pairs in contention: Jeanine van der Sluijs and Dallyn Shields; Cassie Sponchi and Alisa Schmidt from British Columbia; Todd Griffiths (Magrath) and Charlotte Axani (Cochrane).
Three male and three female individuals can qualify. Todd Griffiths is one of the male contenders, and Jeanine van der Sluijs is one of the female contenders.
