Ottawa, Ontario—- Gary Brewster of West Vancouver, BC, emerged the winner in the Western Division of the Jump Canada National Talent Squad Series following the final event held August 25 at the Thunderbird Show Park Summer Festival in Langley, BC.
In the opening event of the Western division, the $10,000 Spring Welcome Grand Prix at the Thunderbird Show Park Spring Classic, Brewster piloted Watermark, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Gail Le Nobel, to a fifth place finish and followed up by earning 10 points in two different Grand Prix events at the Thunderbird Summer Horse Show in mid-August. In a close race for the lead coming into the final event, Brewster was the highest placed Talent Squad rider in the $25,000 Tommy Bahama Grand Prix, the final event in the Western Division. Finishing in 12th position aboard Watermark, Brewster won the Western Division with a total of 28 points, just one point ahead of the second place finisher.
“The final was a tough class, but Watermark jumped great and tried really hard,†said Brewster, 37, who, as the Western Division winner, will be awarded airfare to the 2008 World Cup Final in Goteborg, Sweden, as well as being nominated to receive athlete funding through Sport Canada Development Cards. “I’m very happy for Watermark, he’s been really consistent this season. This was a tough competition, and it really came down to the last class. It’s an honour to win the series.â€
Finishing just one point behind Brewster with a total of 27 points was Lindsay Hitchner of High River, AB, and her 10-year-old mare Billy Autumn. Hitchner earned six points in early May for a second place finish in the Bow Valley Classic I Grand Prix in Calgary, AB. The duo added five points to their total after placing seventh in the $20,000 ATCO Cup at the Edmonton Northlands Horse Show before contesting the final event in the Western Division, the $25,000 Tommy Bahama Grand Prix.
Brewster also took third place in the Western Division, this time paired with Suzanne Brewster’s 13-year-old Irish Draft-cross gelding Hurricane. The duo’s season was highlighted by a fourth place finish in the $10,000 Spring Welcome Grand Prix at Thunderbird in May, as well as 12 points gained in the $25,000 Thunderbird Show Park Grand Prix on August 17.
Andrea Strain of Langley, BC, finished in fourth place with a total of 22 points in the Western Division paired with Eddie Macken’s 11-year-old Hannoverian mare Zeline while Manitoba native Hayley Alfonso of St. Andrews rounded out the top five with 21 points aboard Patty Alfonso’s 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Laforza.
At the conclusion of the Jump Canada Talent Squad Eastern Division Final to be held September 22 at the CSI-W Tournament of Champions in Palgrave, ON, the top 10 riders from both the Eastern and Western Divisions will be invited to go head-to-head in the Jump Canada National Talent Squad Championships which will take place during the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON, from November 2-11, 2007.
The Jump Canada Talent Squad Series is a means of recognizing up-and-coming riders who are preparing to enter the grand prix ranks and gives them a platform to demonstrate their ability to become future members of the Canadian Equestrian Team. For complete standings, please visit www.jumpcanada.ca.
Jump Canada National Talent Squad – Western Division FINAL Standings
Rider Horse Points
1. Gary Brewster Watermark 28
2. Lindsay Hitchner Billy Autumn 27
3. Gary Brewster Hurricane 25
4. Andrea Strain Zeline 22
5. Hayley Alfonso Laforza 21
6. Molly Graham Powerscourt 18
7. Gary Brewster Royal Viali 12
8. Christina Marlin Raleigh 11
9. Jaclyn Duff Pan Tau 55 9
10. Larissa Ziebart Denver 6
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