Canada’s up-and-coming jumping riders had the chance to experience competing in a team format on June 3, 2017 during the CSIO 4* Odlum Brown BC Open, and rose to the occasion, dominating the CSICh-A and CSIJ-A Team Events, held at the Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC.
The Children and Junior Team Events saw Canada and the United States go head-to-head in ‘Maple Leafs’ versus ‘Stars and Stripes’ over a two-round competition where the team with the least number of combined faults emerged the winner.
Representing the Maple Leafs in the CSIJ-A Team Event was Megan Champoux of Aldergrove, BC, Cassie Gorsline of Okotoks, AB, Jenna Lee Gottschlich of Edmonton, AB and Mary Jones of Vancouver, BC.
Gorsline, 15, took on the role of pathfinder for the Maple Leafs. Partnered with Siempre Salsa (Stolzenberg x Sacramento Son), a 13-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by Lisa Carlsen, she had one rail and came just over the time allowed for five faults over the 1.40m course set by FEI 3* Course Designer, Peter Holmes of Cowichan Bay, BC. Returning for round two, Gorsline came under the time allowed, but had two rails for eight faults.
Next up for the Maple Leafs was Gottschlich, 14, aboard her 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Casper (Wizzerd WV x Karlstad). The duo left all the rails up but incurred one time fault in round one. However, they returned in round two to put a perfect score of zero on the board for Canada.
Champoux, 17, rode Arctic Outflow, an eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Cobblestone Farm. Together they had the drop score of eight faults in round one, but returned in round two to lay down another clear for Canada.
Riding in the anchor position for the Maple Leafs was Jones, 15, and Cartoon, her 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding sired by Carinjo. Jones put in a clear performance in the first round, and thanks to Champoux and Gottslich’s foot-perfect performances in round two, Canada was guaranteed the win, allowing her to opt out of the second round.
The Maples Leafs claimed victory on a total score of 14 faults, giving them a decisive win over the Stars and Stripes Team who finished on 28 faults.
Canada’s Children Maple Leafs team, comprised of Anya Bereznicki of Calgary, AB, Hannah Rajotte of Calgary, AB, Megan Schlosser of Okotoks, AB and Carly Stevens of Foothills, AB, had a hard-fought victory in the CSICh-A Team Event over the Stars and Stripes.
With the application of the drop score, the Maple Leafs finished round one on a perfect score of zero, with the Stars and Stripes just one rail off at four faults. However, the tables turned in round two, when the Americans put a zero on the board and Canada finished on four faults to force a jump-off.
Bereznicki, 13, was the first to contest the shortened jump-off course, where fast and fault-free was the name of the game. Riding her nine-year-old Holsteiner mare, Diazella (Diamant de Semilly x Candillo), Bereznicki proved to have the fastest jump-off time of the day, but lowered two rails for eight faults.
Schlosser, 14, was next in for the Leafs aboard Cassina St. Kriru Z (Cassini II x Poor Boy), her 10-year-old Zangersheide mare. Together they put in Canada’s first clear in the jump-off, finishing in a time of 33.88 seconds.
Third into the jump-off for Canada was 14-year-old Stevens. Riding her nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare, LLC Hello Kate (Luidam x Courage), she added another clear to Canada’s scoreboard and stopped the clock at 32.78 seconds.
Team anchor, Rajotte, 14, ensured Canada had three clear jump-offs in a row, after leaving all the rails up and coming in at 33.90 seconds aboard Aurora, her 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare.
After applying the drop score, the Maple Leafs finished the jump-off with zero faults for the win, leaving the Stars and Stripes to settle for second on a total jump-off score of four faults.
“I am very proud of our Children’s and Junior Team riders,” said Beth Underhill, Jumping Talent ID Program Advisor, who took on the role of Chef d’ Équipe for both teams in Langley.
“They were very motivated to do their best, showed a steady improvement in their performances throughout the week, and really delivered when the chips were down. The Children’s Team winning in a very exciting jump-off was a tremendous result, and to follow up with a win for the Junior team showed a lot of class and really capped off our week.”
Canadians were also successful as individuals in the CSICh-A and CSIJ-A divisions, earning multiple top-three results. Jones and Cartoon made their mark in the CSIJ-A division, starting off with a third place finish in the CSIJ-A Junior Welcome 1.40m on June 1 after having the fastest four-fault performance, stopping the clock in 69.90 seconds. They also took second in the CSIJ-A Junior Rider Grand Prix on the final day of competition on June 4, putting in a clear round in the three-way jump-off in a time of 39.19 seconds to finish less than two seconds behind the winner, American Giavanni Rinaldi.
In the CSICh-A division, Rajotte and Aurora opened with the week with a second place finish in the CSICh-A Children Welcome 1.20m after stopping the clock in a clear time of 31.54 seconds in the jump-off to finish behind Maggie Kehring of the US who won on a time of 30.85 seconds. Stevens and LLC Hello Kate rounded out the top three after a clear performance in 32.18 seconds. The CSICh-A Children Grand Prix 1.20m on June 4 saw Bereznicki take second place with Diazella after completing the two-way jump-off in a clear time of 39.85 seconds – just behind Emma Callanan of the USA who won after stopping the timers at 37.88 seconds.
“Both teams, and our individuals, demonstrated an exceptional team spirit and great pride in their country. I was very proud of their accomplishments and they were a pleasure to work with,” stated Underhill.
Underhill also spoke to the full experience Canada’s up-and-coming athletes were treated to throughout the week at the CSIO 4* Odlum Brown BC Open in order to help foster their growth.
“We had the opportunity to work together, improving the athletes’ FEI jog techniques and course-walking skills, as well as some team meetings to prepare them mentally for the unique pressures of team competition,” she explained. “Plus, they had the opportunity to walk the CSIO 4* Nations’ Cup, and then watch our senior team take second place – which was very inspirational, and the athletes were certainly determined to do their best when it was their turn.
“Thank you to Thunderbird for hosting such a fabulous event that enabled our riders to gain much needed experience in a team environment,” said Underhill.
For more information and full results from the CSIO 4* Odlum Brown BC Open, visit www.tbird.ca.
CSIJ-A Junior Welcome 1.40m
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner
3rd / Mary Jones / Cartoon / Mary Jones
4th / Megan Champoux / Arctic Outflow / Cobblestone Farm
5th / Cassie Gorsline / Siempre Salsa / Lisa Carlsen
7th / Jenna Lee Gottschlich / Casper / Jenna Lee Gottschlich
8th / Samantha Starratt / Akolito / Tonia Anderson
CSIJ-A Junior Team Competition 1.40m
1st – Canadian Junior Team
Rider / Horse / Owner
Cassie Gorsline / Siempre Salsa / Lisa Carlsen
Jenna Lee Gottschlich / Casper / Jenna Lee Gottschlich
Megan Champoux / Arctic Outflow / Cobblestone Farm
Mary Jones / Cartoon / Mary Jones
CSIJ-A Junior Grand Prix 1.40m
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner
2nd / Mary Jones / Cartoon / Mary Jones
5th / Megan Champoux / Arctic Outflow / Cobblestone Farm
6th / Jenna Lee Gottschlich / Casper / Jenna Lee Gottschlich
7th / Samantha Starratt / Akolito Akolito / Tonia Anderson
8th / Cassie Gorsline / Siempre Salsa / Lisa Carlsen
CSICh-A Children Welcome 1.20m
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner
2nd / Hannah Rajotte / Aurora / Hannah Rajotte
3rd / Carly Stevens / LCC Hello Kate / Carly Stevens
5th / Anya Bereznicki / Diazella / Anya Bereznicki
7th / Megan Schlosser / Cassina St. Kriru Z / Megan Schlosser
CSICh-A Children Team Event 1.20m
1st – Canadian Children Team
Rider / Horse / Owner
Anya Bereznkicki / Diazella / Anya Bereznicki
Megan Schlosser / Cassina St. Kriru Z / Megan Schlosser
Carly Stevens / LLC Hello Kate / Carly Stevens
Hanah Rajotte / Aurora / Hannah Rajotte
CSICh-A Children Grand Prix 1.20m
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner
2nd / Anya Bereznicki / Diazella
5th / Carly Stevens / LLC Hello Kate / Carly Stevens
7th / Kyara Semrau / Wings Sublieme / Stone Ridge Farms LLC
8th / Megan Schlosser / Cassina St. Kriru Z / Megan Schlosser
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