Wellington, Florida — Canadian show jumping athlete Frankie Chesler-Ortiz of Orangeville, ON, placed second in the €300,000 ($400,000 US) CN WorldWide Florida Open Grand Prix, the richest Grand Prix event held in the United States, on March 17 in Wellington, Florida.
Following a qualifying event held two days earlier, 50 riders were eligible to compete in the €300,000 CN WorldWide Florida Open Grand Prix. Positioned 18th in the starting order, Chesler posted a clear round riding Picolien Zeldenrust, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, to ensure her spot among the top 15 riders that returned for round two. Having had the fastest time in the opening round, Chesler had the advantage of competing last in the second round. There, she again jumped clear to advance to a sudden-death jump-off with three of the biggest names in show jumping sport – Danielle Torano of Fort Lauderdale, FL, Olympic Team Gold Medalist McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, and fellow Canadian Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON.
Torano was clear in a time of 37.48 seconds riding Vancouver D’Auvrey, a result that Lamaze was unable to better when he knocked down a rail for four faults with Hickstead. Ward took over the lead with a clear round in a time of 35.25 seconds riding his Athens Olympic partner, Sapphire. As the final challenger, Chesler managed to jump her third clear round of the day and crossed the timers in 37.32 seconds to finish in second position.
“My horse felt fantastic, and I felt that I rode really well,” said Chesler, 26, who was battling a flu virus. “I didn’t see McLain go, but I know he is fast on that horse. My horse is fast across the ground, but I took an extra step to the third fence, the FTI oxer. I was hoping to win, but second is good enough!”
For her efforts, Chesler picked up a prize cheque of €65,000 while Ward walked away with €100,000 as the winner. The €300,000 CN WorldWide Florida Open Grand Prix was the first leg of the Global Champions Tour, an international show jumping series linking eight of the premiere show jumping competitions held around the world, and was broadcast live on Eurosport.
Chesler’s second place finish in the €300,000 CN WorldWide Florida Open Grand Prix marked the conclusion of a successful winter circuit showing at the eight-week Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. With Picolien Zeldenrust and Ranville, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Chesler has enjoyed numerous top placings at the grand prix level. Both horses are owned by Sher-Al Farms of Orangeville, ON.
“I’ve had good placings throughout the circuit, and I thought that Picolien Zeldenrust would be ready for this week,” said Chesler of the mare she purchased from Alan Waldman four years ago in Holland. “She is a very careful, scopey mare and she’s gotten more competitive. She also gives me confidence when I am going around the course, which is a big plus. It is a good feeling to know that I can make up my own horses. I started her when she was only jumping a meter, and I’ve taught her how to jump and be competitive at the grand prix level. I really feel that my horse loves me, and I love her.”
Chesler will now compete in Tampa, Florida, before returning to Canada in preparation for the 2007 Pan American Games Selection Trials to be held in May and June in Palgrave, ON, and Calgary, AB.
A member of the Canadian Nations’ Cup Team at the age of 17 in New York City, Chesler remains the youngest rider to have ever represented Canada in Nations’ Cup competition.
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