Campbell-Cooper Captures BFL Caledon Cup Grand Prix

The feature class of the BFL Caledon Cup, Sept. 18-22, hosted by Angelstone Tournaments at Caledon Equestrian Park in Palgrave, ON, attracted a field of 26 starters who tackled course designer Peter Grant’s challenging track. Just four came back for the 1.40m Grand Prix’s jumpoff ‒ Carly Campbell- Cooper riding Qornet VD Bisschop, Rachel Schnurr with Copain De Picobello Z and David Samuel Pegg aboard two horses, Gin Tonic 158 and Formidable Diamant. Pegg had unfortunate rails with both of his mounts, but Campbell-Cooper had a careful clear round to edge Schnurr by the narrowest of margins ‒ just .38 of a second ‒ for the win. (Campbell-Cooper also rode Baretino PS to 7th place in this class.)

The win is that much more impressive when you factor in that Campbell-Cooper is a new mom to her four-and-a-half-month old daughter, Eloise, with husband John Jamieson.

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“It’s really neat to feel the camaraderie in the showing community who have all been incredibly supportive. We sort of joke that she has to fit in with our life, but we know we are lucky because she’s always been a good sleeper and was never colicky,” said Campbell-Cooper. “It helps that we have a small number of clients and focus on the sales which allows me extra flexibility. John is typically with her from around nine a.m. to one p.m., which is when I ride and then I spend the afternoons with her. I don’t have a set group of clients that I have to run to and teach after school.”

The couple run Jamieson Sales out of Peterborough, Ontario and just started working with Qornet VD Bisschop last winter. Qornet is an eight-year-old black BWP stallion by top jumping sire Cornet Obolensky, owned by her husband John Jamieson and Lysa Borland.

“I got him in Florida and showed him twice before I stopped riding for my pregnancy. As a stallion he spent a long time in quarantine, so when I came back after having our baby it was nice to work on both our fitness levels together! I wasn’t ready to jump right away, so all of my horses spent a lot of time trotting around the hay field. I really believe in cross-training horses.”

Campbell-Cooper has been getting dressage help from Jacquie Brooks and has recently switched to a hackamore, both of which she credits with having helped contribute to this success. It also helps that Qornet’s personality is ideal.

“His character is top-notch. He is completely brave and willing and also very clear-minded and always with you. We got him in the Woodlands Auction from Belgium with Lysa who has been a family friend of the Jamiesons and has been involved with a few horses with us. The plan is to keep him and to let him develop. For some fun we bred him to a mare we got from Beth Underhill, so we’re expecting a foal next summer.”

It was a happy coincidence that the BFL sponsored this comeback glory.

“Our horses are sponsored by BFL, so it’s great that they were involved and part of a special day. Our farm and customer horses are insured through BFL, and they always look after us.”

You can watch their winning round in the BFL Caledon Cup Grand Prix here: