Claire and Calimar Accept Invitation to Pan Am Selection Trials
By Elaine Hildreth
Lamplight CDI-1* 2011. Photo by Dr. Mike Tomlinson.
Claire Darnell of Georgetown, TX, & Calimar (Contucci/Vodka Gimlet), an American bred Oldenburg gelding, have had an excellent show season on the CDI-1* tour. They participated in the Region 9 CDI in Katy, TX this spring. She and Calimar earned the following scores, Prix St. Georges Reserve Champion (64.474%), Intermediaire I Champion (67.718%), Intermediaire Kur Champion (70.918%), which also enabled them to claim the title of Overall Small Tour Champion. She went to Lamplight in Wayne, IL, & earned PSG Reserve Champion (65.658%), Intermediaire I Champion (66.842%) and Intermediaire Kur Champion (71.917%). Darnell Dressage’s next stop was the Kentucky Horse Park. Claire and Calimar were among the top three pairs in the Prix St. Georges class (70.308%), earning a 71.666% at Intermediaire I, then turned around and claimed the Intermediaire Kur Champion title with a 73.458%. In addition to her and Calimar’s success, Claire also received the Best Dressed Female Athlete award.
Although there were other CDI-1*s held across the nation, the scores Claire and Calimar earned has secured them within the top fifteen athletes, being invited to attend the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions & USEF Dressage Selection Trail for the 2011 Pan American Games in Gladstone, NJ, September 8-11. If selected, Claire & Calimar will travel to Guadalajara, Mexico to represent the United States in the Pan Am Games.
Riding, and the sport of dressage, has always been a major part of Claire’s life. She began riding her first pony, Daisy, at age two. Claire’s show career began at age nine, and by 13 she earned her USDF Bronze Medal. Two years later, she earned the USDF Silver Medal. While working on her BBA in Marketing, and her Masters in Sports Management at Baylor University (Waco, TX), Claire managed to balance her studies with training/competing. Currently, Claire continues training under her mother, Joan Darnell (USEF “S” Judge), as well as gaining influence on her skills from various clinicians such as: Jan Brink, David Blake, Jeremy Steinberg, Lars Petersen, Jan Ebeling, Christoph Hess, Linda Zang and Stephen Clarke.
Lamplight CDI-1* 2011. Photo by Dr. Mike Tomlinson.
Calimar became part of Darnell Dressage as a yearling. As a grown up, some things have never changed, for example, he enjoys long naps, is always happy, and tries to be the social director during awards ceremonies. Through the years, Calimar has grown into himself, realizing his favorite movement is the extended canter.
Claire & Calimar prepare for Gladstone, and she realizes preparing for this competition has caused her to grow as a rider, focusing more on following the training pyramid during rides to achieve correct movements that come together to make those rides brilliant, as opposed to simply pretty. In encouraging all riders to reach for their dreams, whether one is learning how to post the trot, or schooling piaffe, Claire advises them to relax their brains, and allow their bodies to feel more.
To keep up with Claire and Calimar, follow their results on the Darnell Dressage website (www.dressage.us), which also contains a link to follow them on Twitter, Claire’s blog of her time at Gladstone, as well as information on how to support the duo.