Canadian Qualifiers for 2009 FEI Children’s Jumping Final

Ottawa, ON — Canada will host two qualifying competitions for the 2009 FEI Children’s International Jumping Final to be held December 6–13, 2009, in Singapore.

The eastern Canadian qualifier will be held at the Cornerstone Horse Show Week III, July 8–12, 2009, at the Bronte Equestrian Centre in Milton, ON. The western Canadian qualifier will take place at the Rocky Mountain Classic II, at Rocky Mountain Show Jumping in Calgary, AB, from August 26–30, 2009.

The FEI Children’s International Jumping Final, open to competitors aged 12 to 14, was created to promote and encourage talented young riders by giving them the opportunity to experience international competition with support from the Federation Equestre International (FEI).

The qualifiers require participants to ride their own horse or pony over four courses set at a maximum height of 1.20m and maximum width of 1.30m. The qualifier courses, which are pre-determined and published by the FEI, are built to the exact specifications of the course plan. The FEI tabulates results from all qualifying competitions held around the world and extends invitations accordingly. Each country is represented by a maximum of two riders with the exception of the host country, which is entitled to have the number of competitors equal to the number of foreign entries. At the Final, foreign riders compete on borrowed horses supplied by the host country.

Canadian riders have enjoyed great success at the FEI Children’s International Jumping Final in the past. At the 2002 FEI Children’s Final in Brazil, Waylon Roberts of Port Perry, ON, captured the Gold Medal in the team competition. In 2003 at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, AB, when Canada was the host nation, Femke van den Bosch of Red Deer, AB, was the top-placed Canadian rider, earning the silver medal. Spruce Meadows again hosted the Final in 2006, and Canadian riders Taylor Bland and Ben Asselin, both of Calgary, AB, and Jake Krembil of Schomberg, ON, made history by sweeping all three podium spots.

For more information about the two Canadian qualifiers for the 2009 FEI Children’s International Jumping Final, please visit the Jump Canada website at www.equinecanada.ca/jumpcanada under programs.