Elizabeth Robinson Wins Toni Thompson ‘Spirit of Dressage’ Award

Para-Equestrian Canada (PEC) is pleased to announce that Elizabeth Robinson was the 2010 recipient of the Toni Thompson ‘Spirit of Dressage’ Award at the Toronto CADORA Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet, held November 20, 2010 in Richmond Hill, ON.

Robinson of Gormley, ON, was recognized for her long-term volunteer efforts above and beyond the call of duty for Toronto CADORA and as Chef d’équipe of Canada’s Paralympic Para-Dressage Team.

Robinson’s journey as a volunteer has taken her all over the world, and it all began in 1986 when she first met Toni Thompson, who was at that time recruiting for the 1986 Dressage World Championships taking place at International Equestrian Sport Services, commonly called IESS, in Cedar Valley, ON.

In 1996 she was appointed Chef d’équipe of the Canadian Dressage Team for the Atlanta Olympics, and from 1997–2002, she was the Chef d’équipe of the Ontario Young Riders Dressage Team at the North American Young Riders Championships. In 2003, Robinson was the organizer for the dressage portion of the competition at the North American Young Riders Championship, in Bromont QC.

In 2005, she became Chef d’équipe for the Canadian Para-Dressage Team and chair of the PEC High Performance Committee. Some of the highlights Robinson has had with the Canadian Para-Dressage Team include the 2007 World Championships in England, 2008 Paralympic Games in Hong Kong and the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY.

“Whether in her capacity as a CADORA member or as Chef d’équipe of the Canadian Paralympic dressage team, Elizabeth has spent countless volunteer hours working on behalf of our sport,” said Dorothy McDonall, Toronto CADORA president. “Elizabeth’s drive and tenacity to get every para-dressage team planning challenge met, as well as her willingness to scribe at local dressage shows and help at the club and provincial level for CADORA, are only a few of the reasons Elizabeth deserves this award. We are very pleased to recognize Elizabeth’s efforts with the Toni Thompson ‘Spirit of Dressage’ Award, named after a past president of Toronto CADORA and one of the sport’s most dedicated and long-serving volunteers.”