Christine Wiggins of Ottawa, ON, emerged as the Eastern Division winner while Sarah Wallace of Calgary, AB, topped the standings in the Western Division of the 2011 Jump Canada Emerging Rider Series, Presented by Bayer Legend.
In the $3,000 Eastern Division Emerging Rider competition held at the Summer Classic in Palgrave, ON, Wiggins guided Zanzibar, Horse Dreemz Inc’s seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, to a second place finish. The duo also finished third in the Emerging Rider class at the Jumping Internationale de Blainville Week 1 in Blainville, QC, to secure their Eastern Division title. They finished the season with a total of 20 points.
“I am so excited to win the Eastern Division of the Emerging Rider Series,” said Wiggins, 26, who has been working with Zanzibar for over a year. “Over the winter I worked on my flat work, and my coach Becky Nuth really helped me with my transition to the jumper ring. One of my goals is to move into the Talent Squad and the Emerging Rider Series is helping me achieve my plans for the future.”
In the Western Division, Wallace piloted Lynne Teasell’s eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Wostella to victory in the Emerging Rider class at the Rocky Mountain Classic in Calgary, AB, for a total of 15 points to win the series.
“I was given the opportunity to ride Wostella, who was able to do the class,” said Wallace, 18, who is completing her first year of criminology studies at Mont Royal University. “It was amazing to win the series. I used the occasion of competing in the series to get exposed to more technical courses.”
The Jump Canada Emerging Rider Series, Presented by Bayer Legend, is open to riders of all ages who have never competed in the Jump Canada Talent Squad Series or the North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships. Each division winner is invited to attend the first weekend of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair as a spectator and will have the opportunity to walk the courses with the Chair of Jump Canada’s High Performance Committee or a Canadian Equestrian Team member and attend the Talent Squad Seminar.
“It will be unbelievable to go to the Royal,” said Wallace. “I wanted to qualify in the CET medal, but I did not make it. This is a phenomenal experience.”
For complete Jump Canada Emerging Rider Series—Presented by Bayer Legend standings and criteria, please visit www.equinecanada.ca/jumpcanada.
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