February 2, 2009
Team Matrix Rises to the Top in World Dressage Masters Competition
Wellington, Florida - Two members of Team Matrix were among the small group of 18 leading international riders to receive an invitation to compete for more than $130,000 in prize money in the Exquis World Dressage Masters, a five-star CDI - the highest level of dressage competition. And Team Matrix rose to the top taking a win in the opening day of competition.
Team Matrix members Steffen Peters, riding the 10-year-old stallion Ravel, and Jane Hannigan, riding the 14-year-old gelding Maksymilian, were among the elite group of riders. Peters and the Matrix-eating Ravel kicked off the first day of competition by nabbing the win in Friday's Grand Prix with a score of 75.58 percent. Fellow Team Matrix members Jane Hannigan and Maksymilian finished sixth in the opening day competition with a score of 68.55 percent.
On hand to support Team Matrix members was Mushroom Matrix Vice President Keith Manfred. "We're absolutely thrilled that this very select group of the world's best riders included two Team Matrix members riding two Matrix-eating horses. We're very proud to have Steffen and Ravel and Jane and Mak as part of our team," Manfred said.
The prestigious World Dressage Masters competition was held at the Wellington Equestrian Center Jan. 30-31 and it drew hundreds of spectators, many of whom had traveled from abroad to catch the competition. Clearly, the most popular competition was the Grand Prix Freestyle. Only the top 12 riders from the opening day Grand Prix earned the right to move on to the Freestyle and both Team Matrix members made the final cut. Both also earned freestyle scores over 70 percent.
Hannigan and Maksymilian scored 71.65 percent in the Grand Prix Freestyle. Peters and Ravel scored a 76.60. That score made them the highest-scoring American pair in the Freestyle competition and earned them a third-place finish and $11,038 in prize money. Peters said there were "wonderful moments in the test," particularly the piaffe and the canter work. In between competitions, Peters found time to zip around the corner to The Players Club to collect a special honor from the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation - the Whitney Stone Cup.
The Whitney Stone Cup is awarded each year to an equestrian competitor who displays consistent excellence in international competition and high standards of sportsmanlike conduct. Peters was thrilled saying that "it certainly means a lot to receive this award."
Matrix Vice President Keith Manfred was just as excited. "Wow. That is quite an honor and we're certainly proud that this year's Whitney Stone Cup recipient is a Team Matrix member," he said.
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