Canadian jumping athletes racked up multiple wins and impressive results during the CSI 3*-W Bratislava, held July 22-24 in Slovakia, and included on the Canadian Developing Rider Tour.
As the first stop on the tour, CSI 3*-W Bratislava provided up-and-coming jumping athletes with the chance to shine on the international stage. The athletes rose to the occasion, with performance highlights including multiple wins by Jaclyn Duff, 29, of Edmonton, AB.
Partnered with EH All or None (Abke x Grannus), a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Windermere Stables Limited, Duff bested a field of 30 starters in the FEI World Cup Qualifier on July 23, after being one of just two riders to achieve a clear first round. Returning to the jump-off, she added a single time fault to secure the win over Monika Noskovicova of Slovakia and Abanta van de Huiskens, who had a faster jump-off time, but incurred 12 faults.
“It has always been one of my goals to win a World Cup Qualifier, with the ultimate goal of one day going to the World Cup Finals – so to win my first qualifier over here in Europe felt fantastic,” explained Duff.
Duff returned to the winner’s circle on July 24, this time aboard Pater Noster (Parco x Heartbreaker), her 14-year-old Belgium Warmblood gelding. Together they topped the Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix after being the only horse-rider combination out of 24 entries to lay down a clear round in the jump-off, which saw a total of six riders return.
“I was incredibly happy with my horses and how they jumped this week,” said Duff. “They were in great form and rose to the occasion in every class. It has been an experience of a lifetime and there is an indescribable feeling of being able to represent your nation overseas. The support and camaraderie shared among the Canadian riders here has made me proud to be Canadian and I can’t thank them enough.”
Duff was in good company on the leaderboard for the Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix, with Ali Ramsay, 25, of Victoria, BC earning third place aboard Hermelien VD Hooghoeve (Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve x Thunder Van Du Zuuthoeve), her nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, after a fast four-fault performance in the jump-off. Chris Surbey, 29, of Calgary, AB also finished within the top 10, placing ninth after lowering just one rail in the first round with his recently acquired partner, Carnaval (Chacco-Blue x Landadel), an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Spruce Meadows.
Brian Morton, 30, of Langley, BC also enjoyed a victory gallop after an early win in the Big Tour 1.50m on July 22 aboard Atlantis T (Padinus x Guidam), an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Grafton Farms Ltd. Out of a field of 27, Morton was one of 14 combinations to return to the jump-off. A blistering time of 33.74 seconds inched him ahead of Kathrin Muller of Germany and Fiona, who finished on 34.08 seconds. Surbey and Carnaval took fifth place in a clear jump-off time of 34.56 seconds, while Duff and EH All of None rounded out the top 10 after stopping the clock at 35.74 seconds in the jump-off.
Canadians also saw success in the Middle Tour classes. Duff and her up-and-coming partner, Caesar Z (Chopin x Pilot), a nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding, had double-clear rounds at the 1.40m level on July 22 and 23, placing fourth and fifth, respectively. On July 23, she was joined in the top 10 by Ramsay and Hermelien VD Hooghoeve who took sixth place, followed by Surbey in 10th, this time aboard Artistic (Chin Chin x Cantus), an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Spruce Meadows.
In the Middle Tour Final 1.45m on July 24, Surbey had a clear jump-off in a time of 36.37 aboard Quetchup de la Roque (Quidam de Revel x Kannan), a 12-year-old Selle Francais mare owned by Linda Southern Heathcott, to finish in second place, just off the pace of winner, Alexis Deroubaix of France and Secret du Pays d’Auge, who clocked in at 35.83 seconds.
The next stop for the Canadian Developing Rider Tour will be the CSIO 3* Samorin in Slovakia, taking place July 28-31. In addition to competing individually, Morton, Ramsay and Surbey will join Vanessa Mannix, 27, of Calgary, AB in making their senior team debut during the Nations’ Cup competition.
The Canadian jumping athletes are being supported throughout the Canadian Developing Rider Tour by Canadian Olympian, Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, ON, who has taken on the role of Chef D’Équipe, as well as Stable Manager, Darren Roberts.
For more information and full results from the CSI 3*-W Bratislava, visit www.csio.sk/en. Further details on the CSIO 3* Samorin can be found at www.hippoarenasamorin.eu.
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