Leah Wilkins & Fabian JS Win Grand Prix Speciale at Adequan Global Dressage Festival CDI-W

Canada's Leah Wilkins rode to victory in the Grand Prix Speciale, duplicating her achievement in the Grand Prix of posting another personal best on Maria Simpson's Fabian JS with 72.863%. 

The pair were last to ride up the centreline in a field of 15, and narrowly edged out multiple Olympian Lars Petersen from Denmark on his seasoned Mariett receiving their highest score of 75.294 from the Austrian judge.

Rounding out the top 5 was  2015 Pan Am Team Silver Medalist Megan Lane and Caravella with 69.000%. 

"The whole experience has been surreal." said Wilkins, "It has exceeded my expectations so going forward with the next show I can only hope to repeat my scores!" 

Wilkins, who is expecting a baby boy in April with her professional race car driver husband Mark Wilkins , is heading back home to snowy Canada for a few days where she'll be working with her students. As for her next outing with "Mouse":  "I have no plans after this next CDI. A lot will depend on how I feel riding, especially at the CDI Grand Prix level."

Here's a terrific photo Leah posted aboard "Mouse" and with their coaches David Marcus and Nicholas Fyffe. They look pretty happy!

What a week!! Thankful for every single person who has helped me along this road but especially to Mouse (Fabian) for being such a wonderful talent. Xoxo 🏆🏆thanks to phelps media group for this pic of my great team, Nicholas and David!

A photo posted by Leah (@leah.e.wilkins) on Jan 17, 2016 at 7:49am PST

 

The Grand Prix Freestyle saw double Olympian Jaqueline Brooks as the top Canadian in the group of 15 horse/rider combinations, posting 69.925% with her 2012 London Olympics partner D Niro.