Ali Ramsay of Victoria, BC, emerged victorious in the $36,000 CSI2* Caledon Cup – Phase Two, presented by HEP, Aviva Insurance, and Edge Mutual Insurance on Friday night, September 23, at the CSI2* Canadian Show Jumping Tournament in Caledon, ON.
A total of 38 horse-rider combinations tackled the track set in the indoor arena by two-time Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela. Eight jumped clear to advance to the tie-breaking jump-off while another four riders left all the rails in place but were caught by the clock, picking up time faults for exceeding the time allowed of 71 seconds.
There had been no clear rounds posted yet when Ramsay returned fourth in the jump-off order. With Ian Millar and Mac Cone, silver medal teammates at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, still to follow, 24-year-old Ramsay riding Hermelien vd Hooghoeve laid down a quick and clear trip in a time of 28.28 seconds to challenge the veterans.
Both Millar, 69, of Perth, ON, and Cone, 64, of King City, ON, jumped clear, but neither was fast enough to take the win. Millar came the closest, stopping the clock in 28.75 seconds riding Baranus, a 13-year-old bay Oldenburg gelding (Balou du Rouet x Centauer Z) owned by the Baranus Group, while Cone was more than a full second off the pace, crossing the timers in 29.47 seconds to take third with Gasper van den Doorn, a ten-year-old grey Belgian Warmblood gelding (Calvaro Z x Larome) owned by Chadburn Holdings, Inc.
“I know that my mare has been super solid and quick, and I just tried to keep riding without interfering,” said Ramsay of the nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Thunder van de Zuuthoeve) she has been riding for two years. “I knew I had to be clear and had to go as fast as I could. She is incredible, and she was extra incredible in the jump-off. She made it easy.”
While Phases One and Three of the Caledon Cup are held outdoors, Phase Two is held in the indoor arena, constructed at the Caledon Equestrian Park for the 2015 Pan American Games. As host of the equestrian events for last year’s Games, the Caledon Equestrian Park underwent a huge transformation, building a legacy for all competitors to enjoy.
“It’s my second year doing the Caledon Cup,” said Ramsay, who trains with 2008 Olympic team silver medalist Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, ON. “My horse is a big girl, she has a big stride and can cover a lot of ground. I wouldn’t have necessarily expected her to be a good indoor horse, but she was super!
“This is one of my favourite places to show out east,” continued Ramsay, who made her Nations’ Cup debut in July riding for Canada at CSIO3* Samorin, SLK. “The FEI stabling and the indoor are both great. It’s fun to have the indoor class here.”
The Caledon Cup, awarded at the annual CSI2* Canadian Show Jumping Tournament, is comprised of three phases. Local competitor Kim Farlinger, 32, of Orangeville, ON, won the first phase, the $10,000 Caledon Cup – Phase One, presented by Equestrian Management Group, on Thursday afternoon. Riding Stanley Stone, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Karandasj x Ekstein) owned by the Chesler family’s Sher-Al Farm Inc., Farlinger turned in the fastest time, 69.76 seconds, to edge out Jonathon Millar, 41, of Perth, ON, who stopped the clock in 69.89 seconds riding Bonzay. Nicole Walker, 22, of Aurora, ON, placed third after guiding Deko de Landetta Z home in a time of 71.32 seconds.
The Canadian Show Jumping Tournament concludes on Sunday, September 25, with the $86,000 Caledon Cup – Phase 3, Presented HEP, Aviva Insurance, and Edge Mutual Insurance. For more information, including full results, please visit www.caledonequestrianpark.com.
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