Source:  News Release

Dream Debut for Megan Lane at Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Rio de Janeiro, BRA – Megan Lane from Loretto, ON had a dream debut on Aug. 10 at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, BRA, putting her into 11th place provisionally after the first day of grand prix competition.

Day one saw 30 of 60 riders complete the Grand Prix, which acts as the first qualifier for both team and individual competition. Canada’s Belinda Trussell from Stouffville, ON will compete on day two of competition, Aug. 11. Dorothee Schneider and Showtime FRH from Germany are the current leaders on a score of 80.986%. Fellow German, Sonke Rothenberger is sitting in second place aboard Cosmo (77.329%), and Great Britain’s Fiona Bigwood is holding third (77.157%), partnered with Orthilia. In the team standings, Germany has the provisional lead with 79.157, followed by the Netherlands in second on 75.271, and Great Britain in third (74.921).

Lane’s 11th place position was achieved on a score of 71.286% aboard Caravella (Contango x Riverman), a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare she co-owns with her mother, Cathy Lane and sister, Kelsey Lane. The pair received impressive marks from the judges for various movements, including 7.4 for a pirouette, 7.5 for flying changes and 7.7 for their centre line.

“This was my personal best score (in the grand prix at a major games),” commented Lane, 25, who was part of Canada’s silver medalist team at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, ON. “We’ve done a lot of preparing and I’m really grateful for everyone who has helped me along the journey. I’m really excited to be here.”

Lane also spoke of her long-time partnership and unique connection with Caravella, who was bred by Jill Irving and named the Canadian Bred Horse of the Year by Equestrian Canada (EC) in 2015.

“It’s a horse that I brought up from the juniors, and then young riders, and then the young rider grand prix, then the world equestrian games and Pan American Games, and now the Olympics,” explained Lane who bought Caravella eight years ago and made her major games debut for the Canadian Dressage Team at the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games in France. “It’s been an absolutely incredible journey with this horse. We’ve grown up together. We know each other inside and out and it’s amazing to go through all of these new experiences with (a horse) you trust so much. You really don’t feel alone when you are in these big competitions and high stress situations. It’s a great partnership.”

Trussell, 44, will be the first competitor into the stadium on Aug. 11 to make her second Olympic experience, having previously competed at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, where the Canadian Dressage Team earned ninth place. Her partner will be Anton (Antaeus x Shirley), a 16-year-old Sachsen-Anhaltiner gelding owned by Robyn Eames and Mark Trussell.

Following the completion of the Grand Prix on Aug. 11, the top six teams and top eight individuals (not including those already qualified through their team) will move forward to the Grand Prix Special on Aug. 12, where the team medals will be decided. From there, the top 18 competitors will go on to the Grand Prix Freestyle for individual honours.

For more information on equestrian events at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, including the full schedule of equestrian competition and live results, please visit www.rio2016.com/en/equestrian. Further information on the Canadian Equestrian Team can be found at www.equestrian.ca.

PHOTO – Megan Lane of Loretto, ON and Caravella made their Olympic debut in dressage at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Aug. 10 and are provisionally standing 11th after 30 of 60 competitors in the Grand Prix.

PHOTO – Megan Lane, 25, from Loretto, ON celebrates her successful ride in the first individual qualifier of dressage with long-time partner, Caravella, at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Aug. 10.

ALL PHOTO CREDITS - © Cealy Tetley - www.tetleyphoto.com