Keean White of Cambridge, ON, won the 1.35m competition held Thursday, August 12, at the CSI2* National Capital Show Jumping Tournament taking place at the Nepean National Equestrian Park in Ottawa, ON.

Aboard Bethsabee, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare that he has only been riding for nine months, White was double clear and had the fastest time in the jump-off to claim victory over two Olympic team silver medalists, Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, ON, and Ian Millar of Perth, ON, who placed second and third respectively.

“This event is so important to me and I want to do everything I can to support the show and the Hayes family, so Angelstone Farms has seven horses competing this week and 11 horses next week”, said White, 27.

Wearing more than just one hat, or helmet in this case, White’s Angelstone Productions will produce the Blue Rodeo concert taking place Saturday, August 21, at the show grounds.

“We are so excited about Blue Rodeo,” said White. “We hope that the concert will draw crowds that would not normally come to see show jumping. This is one of the best equestrian venues in North America; it is a gem in Ottawa that many people do not even know about. The Hayes family has been so supportive; we have shared the same vision of bringing thousands of people out to see the sport since the very beginning. Plus, the grand prix ring is perfect for the concert; there is an elevated spectator area for those who don’t want to be crowded at the front. It’s such a unique venue, and we hope that it will be an event that the community will remember.”

Angelstone Productions will sponsor the $75,000 Angelstone Productions Grand Prix, held prior to the concert, on Saturday, August 21, beginning at 5:30 p.m. However, White was quick to add that his responsibilities as producer, promoter and sponsor will not distract him from competing.

“I am not letting all of my other responsibilities distract from my riding,” said White, who will depart from Ottawa for Spain, where he will compete as a member of the Canadian Equestrian Team in events in Gijon and Barcelona. The horses he will ride in Spain, including his top mount, Celena Z, are currently resting in preparation for the trip. “I may not have my top horses with me, but I am still here to compete and I will be hard to beat!”

And White did prove tough to beat in the 1.35m competition, relegating two of the biggest names in show jumping, Henselwood and Millar, to second and third. White also placed fourth riding Chanel, ahead of fifth place finisher, New Zealand Olympian Sharn Wordley.

Of competing against big names such as nine-time Olympian Millar, White said, “Ian is someone all of the younger riders look up to. He is a great figure in Canadian sports history, not just in show jumping. But when we’re head to head, it sure feels good to beat him!”

Angela Covert-Lawrence of St. Lazare, QC, also found herself in the winner’s circle after claiming first place with Candidate du Marquet in the 1.25m competition. Lawrence was double clear and had the fastest time in the jump-off by almost three seconds to claim victory for owner Emmanuelle Bolduc. Candidate du Marquet is an eight-year-old grey Belgian Warmblood mare that Covert-Lawrence began riding this past winter.

“I competed today as a warm-up for the Jump Canada Young Horse competition on Friday, so winning was such a great bonus,” said Lawrence. “She is so consistent, and she excels at everything I ask her to do. In fact, I could not ask for anything more from an eight-year-old.”

Of the National Capital Show Jumping Tournament venue and location, Covert-Lawrence said, “My horse loves the big grass ring at this venue. It’s a huge field here, and she just gets better the more she has to gallop. There are very few grass rings left to compete on in North America, and with all the natural obstacles, coming to Ottawa for this show is really special. The Hayes family has worked hard to create such a wonderful atmosphere. The location is super; you can zip downtown for dinner at night. It could not be more convenient.

“Plus, I love staying at the Brookstreet Hotel and Spa,” added Lawrence, referring the sponsor of the $75,000 Brookstreet Grand Prix on Sunday, August 15, beginning at 2 p.m.

Lawrence and Candidate du Marquet beat out Jonathon Millar, son of Ian Millar, who was also double clear but in a slightly slower time to finish second riding Euro Boy while Alejandro Karolyi of Venezuela took third riding Fanta.

Mario Deslauriers, who was recently named to the United States Equestrian Team for the upcoming 2010 World Equestrian Games, won the 1.40m competition, presented by Juniper Farms. Jill Henselwood rode her 2008 Olympic partner, Special Ed, to second position. Sarah Johnstone of Toronto, ON, finished third riding Starlet while international competitor Roberto Teran of Colombia was fourth riding Distant Star 3E. Henselwood also placed fifth on IV Ever.

Jeff Brandmaier of Guelph, ON, won the 1.20m Junior/Amateur competition, open only to non-professional athletes, with a double clear performance and the fastest jump-off time by almost three seconds. Runner-up Sarah Lottis was also double clear but in a slightly slower time while Jacklynn Carey placed third.

The two-week National Capital Show Jumping Tournament takes place from August 11-15 and 18-22 at the Nepean National Equestrian Park, conveniently located at the 417 Queensway and Moodie Drive. The first week of competition, running August 11-15, is highlighted by Sunday’s $75,000 Brookstreet Grand Prix beginning at 2 p.m. Other featured events include Friday’s $10,000 Open Welcome, the Saturday’s $10,000 Modified Grand Prix, and $5,000 Jump Canada Hunter Derby. FEI ‘O’ course designer Guilherme Jorge of Brazil is setting the tracks throughout the week on the grand prix field, widely considered to be one of the best grass jumping fields in North America.

The second week, August 18-22, will see Catsy Cruz of Mexico taking over course design duties. In addition to Saturday’s $75,000 Angelstone Productions Grand Prix and Blue Rodeo concert, highlights include the $10,000 CompetitiveJumpers.com Open Welcome on Thursday and Friday’s $15,000 ATCO Derby.

For more information on the National Capital Show Jumping Tournament, please visit http://www.hayesco.ca/.

National Capital Show Jumping Tournament – Results from Thursday, August 12

1.40m Jumper

Rider/Hometown/Horse/Faults/Time
1. Mario Deslauriers New York, NY Whistler 0:0 32.15
2. Jill Henselwood Oxford Mills, ON Special Ed 0:0 32.49
3. Sarah Johnstone Toronto, ON Starlet 0:0 34.28
4. Roberto Teran Colombia Distant Star 3E 0:0 36.65
5. Jill Henselwood Oxford Mills, ON IV Ever 0:0 33.94

1.35m Jumper

Rider/Hometown/Horse/Faults/Time
1. Keean White Cambridge, ON Bethsabee 0:0 34.88
2. Jill Henselwood Oxford Mills, ON Beau Soleil 0:0 35.09
3. Ian Millar Perth, ON Assini 0:0 37.16
4. Keean White Cambridge, ON Chanel 0:0 37.42
5. Sharn Wordley New Zealand Narcisse Riolettes 0:0 37.43

1.25m Jumper

Rider/Hometown/Horse/Faults/Time
1. Angela Covert-Lawrence St. Lazare, QC Candidate du Marquet 0:0 35.71
2. Jonathon Millar Perth, ON Euro Boy 0:0 38.37
3. Alejandro Karolyi Venezuela Fanta 0:1 40.84
4. Kevin Crosby Falmouth, NS Quannan de Bray 0:4 35.42
5. Ainsley Vince Milton, ON Coltish Z 0:5 40.33

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