Calgary, Alberta – Anderson Ranch in Calgary, AB, played host to three weeks of top level show jumping competition with the Rocky Mountain Classic tournaments. Calgary’s own John Anderson won the first of two featured events, the $50,000 Oilpatch Grand Prix on Saturday, August 22, while Marshall Whyte of Cochrane, AB, won the $50,000 Friends of Rocky Mountain Grand Prix on Saturday, August 29.
The $50,000 Olipatch Grand Prix was the marquee event during the first week of competition, the Rocky Mountain Classic I, held August 19-23. A total of 22 entries lined out for their chance to take the first place pay cheque. A total of 11horses were clear in the first round over the course set by popular German course designer, Werner Deeg, to set the stage for an exciting jump-off.
Hayley Alfonso of St. Andrews, MB, set a blistering pace of 40.68 seconds to take the early lead in the jump-off riding Laforza for owner Tyndall Wood Farms. Several horses later, Anderson steered Terrific home in a time of 40.16 seconds to move to the top of the leader board. Only two riders remained – Lisa Carlsen of Spruce Grove, AB, who was fast but not fast enough with a time of 41.47 seconds riding La Boom, and Edmonton’s Jaclyn Duff who had the time with 39.58 seconds, but dropped a rail at the second to last obstacle riding Pan Tau 55.
It was a home victory for Anderson, who organizes the Rocky Mountain Classic tournaments at his family’s Anderson Ranch in Calgary’s south end. The win marked yet another accomplishment in the young career of his mount, Terrific, who carried Anderson to the 2009 Canadian Championship title awarded at the CSI5* Spruce Meadows “National” Tournament, also in Calgary. A nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Terrific was purchased as a five-year-old for Anderson by Craig and Janet Maxwell of Foxdale Farm in Cochrane, AB.
“Hayley went crazy fast and the only way I was going to beat her was to cut inside our new log jump,” said Anderson, who represented Canada at the 1986 World Championships and the 1988 Olympic Games. “I had to really shave the turns tight. I didn’t run as fast as she did, but I did shave the turns. With Terrific’s experience, especially with all he’s done this year, he was able to pull it off.”
Anderson continued, “I am happy to win a Grand Prix at my own place, but I am even happier that people are coming out to join us and support our events. There is vibrancy in the community, and up and coming riders are able to make their mark.”
One such rider is Marshall Whyte of Cochrane, AB. The 20-year-old’s win in the $50,000 Friends of Rocky Mountain Grand Prix marked the first grand prix victory of his young career.
From a starting field of 22 entries, eight were clear this time around over Deeg’s course, which made good use of the large grass field at Anderson Ranch. Whyte was the first rider to produce a clear jump-off effort in a time of 49.60 seconds with Quinlan, his nine-year-old Hannoverian gelding sired by Quidam de Revel. Samantha Aird of South Delta, BC, was the only other rider to manage a double clear riding Lord Concerto, but her significantly slower time of 53.64 seconds left her in second place.
For Anderson, seeing a young rider like Whyte break through with a grand prix victory is proof positive that the Rocky Mountain Classic tournaments are serving their purpose.
“We have Spruce Meadows in our back yard, so we are trying to provide a venue that is a stepping stone to that caliber of international competition,” explained Anderson, a member of the Canadian Team for the BMO Nations’ Cup at the Spruce Meadows “Masters” Tournament on September 12. “Over the course of three weeks in the Rocky Mountain Classic tournaments, we offered $250,000 in prize money. $100,000 of that was earmarked for our two $50,000 Grand Prix events, but the rest was dispersed throughout the other divisions. The younger and developing riders need to be rewarded.”
Anderson also contributed the growth of the Rocky Mountain Show Jumping tournaments to the various improvements that have been made to the facility including permanent stabling for 300 horses, increased prize money in all divisions, quality course designers, interesting jump materials, and improved footing.
For more information on Rocky Mountain Show Jumping, please visit www.rmshowjumping.com.
$50,000 Oilpatch Grand Prix – Saturday, August 22
Rider Hometown Horse Faults Time
1. John Anderson Calgary, AB Terrific 0:0 40.16
2. Hayley Alfonso St. Andrews, MB Laforza 0:0 40.68
3. Carla Diewert Calgary, AB Va Quero 0:0 40.77
4. Lisa Carlsen Spruce Grove, AB La Boom 0:0 41.47
5. Lisa Carlsen Spruce Grove, AB Cuba Libra 0:0 44.29
6. Jaclyn Duff Edmonton, AB Pan Tau 55 0:4 39.58
7. Tamie Phillips Strathmore, AB Lucas 0:4 40.35
8. Liz Ashton Victoria, BC Vibrance 0:4 43.81
9. Beda Wachter Innisfail, AB WH Carthago Sun III 0:4 43.94
10. Jenifer Whyte Cochrane, AB Peninsula Apollo 0:12 41.80
$50,000 Friends of Rocky Mountain Grand Prix – Saturday, August 29
Rider Hometown Horse Faults Time
1. Marshall Whyte Cochrane, AB Quinlan 0:0 49.60
2. Samantha Aird South Delta, BC Lord Concerto 0:0 53.64
3. Emily George Calgary, AB Ramila 0:4 53.80
4. Jaclyn Duff Edmonton, AB Sebastian 0:8 46.52
5. Bretton Chad Calgary, AB Oxford 0:8 51.18
6. Lisa Carlsen Spruce Grove, AB La Boom 0:8 58.97
7. JJ Atkinson Calgary, AB Rambo 0:12 48.39
8. Lisa Carlsen Spruce Grove, AB Cuba Libra 0:retired
9. Ellicia Edgar Edmonton, AB NEC Plus Ultra MGC Leuze 1
10. Tamie Phillips Strathmore, AB Lucas 4
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