The Canadian Show Jumping Team members have been selected for the Longines FEI Nations Cup™ taking place during the CSIO 5* Coapexpan in Xalapa, MEX, from May 2-5, 2019.
The team competing for Canada in the $5,440,000 MXN CSIO 5* Longines FEI Nations Cup on May 5 will consist of the following athletes:
Rounding out the Canadian contingent will be Rachel Cornacchia of Foothills, AB, with two mares that she owns through Eventyre Farms Ltd: nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood, Koko Katinka (Nabab de Reve x Tinka’s Boy) and 10-year-old Selle Français, Valkyrie de Talma (Diamant de Semilly x Cento).
The Canadian athletes will be led on the ground in Xalapa by Equestrian Canada Manager of Jumping, Karen Hendry-Ouellette and Chef d’Équipe, Mark Laskin.
The CSIO 5* Coapexpan represents Ifko’s first selection to the Canadian Show Jumping Team. After a five-year break from FEI level competition, he returned to the international ring in 2017 stronger than ever. Primarily partnered with Un Diamant des Forets (Diamant de Semilly x Grace des Forets), Eventyre Farm’s 11-year-old Selle Français stallion, Ifko has accumulated a number of top placings across North America. Recent highlights for the pair include wins at the 2018 Caledon Premier 2 CSI 2* and the Royal West CSI 3*.
The $5,440,000 MXN CSIO 5* FEI Nations Cup will act as the second qualifier in the North America, Central America and Caribbean League of the 2019 FEI Nations Cup Jumping Series. The United States currently leads the league with 100 points, followed by Mexico with 80 points. Canada is sitting in third place with 60 points.
“Xalapa is a very important competition for our team,” said Laskin. “I’m very appreciative of the group that’s made themselves available to represent Canada in Mexico, and am confident that if they all perform to their capabilities on the day that we will have a positive result. Of note, Jim will be making his Canadian team debut, and I’m optimistic that he can carry forward his positive momentum from last year and be a big contributor to our team’s success in Xalapa.”
The third and final FEI Nations Cup qualifier for the North America, Central America and Caribbean League will take place on June 2 during the CSIO 5* Odlum Brown BC Open at the Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC. From there, the top two teams in the league will be invited to contest the Longines FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final in Barcelona, ESP, set for Oct. 3-6, 2019.
For more information on the FEI Nations Cup Jumping series, click here.
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