Athletes and horses from Chilliwack’s Cheam Vaulters competed at the BC Provincial Equestrian Vaulting Championships, held Sept. 27-29 at the Thunderbird Show Park in Langley.
Two Cheam horses were honored with championship trophies for outstanding performances. Rosie, a Percheron mare, was named the top canter horse in the A and AA divisions.
Tristan, a Percheron gelding, was named the best pairs/team horse.
Both are owned by Cheam head coach Alisa Schmidt-Anema, who competed herself and won the AA (advanced national) division.
Cheam’s Team Serenity — Bartly Dyck, Jessica Church, Darla Ricka, Taylor Eamor, Deseray Smith and Shianne Peters — won the canter team championship, dazzling during a four-minute freestyle routine.
Cheam’s Team Momentum — Chelsey Wierks, Jocey Vanderlende, Abigale Wynberg, Katie Pavicic, Hannah Campell and Mary Coates — placed third in the walk division.
In individual vaulting, athletes performed a series of compulsory exercises and a one-minute freestyle routine. The average of the two scores became their overall score in this competition.
At the division B (advanced provincial) canter level, three Cheam Vaulters — Wynberg, Sponchia and Eamor — achieved personal best scores. Sponchia and Eamor finished first in the trot pairs class.
Victoria Woodbridge was named zone five champion in division D (novice) canter, finishing third overall.
Smith was third in first round freestyle at this level.
Campbell and Pavicic achieved personal bests.
Coates was first in freestyle and second overall in the division D walk class.
Sage Bennedictson and Samantha Kennedy placed 1-2 in the U-10 competitive class.
Cheam’s youngest competitor, five year old Jake Campbell, performed in the FUNdamentals demonstration class.