The Canadian Show Jumping Team will begin competition on Wednesday, August 10, at the ECCO FEI 2022 World Championships in Herning, Denmark.
All four members of the Canadian team, as well as travelling alternate Mario Deslauriers, presented their horses at the compulsory horse inspection on Monday, August 8, and were deemed fit to compete.
Beth Underhill of Mulmur, ON, and Nikka vd Bisschop, owned by Rein Family LLC and Torrey Pines Stable Inc. (Arnd Bronkhorst Photography)
Representing Canada are Erynn Ballard, 41, of Tottenham, ON, riding Gakhir, an 11-year-old chestnut Dutch Warmblood gelding (Spartacus TN x VDL Indorado) owned by Ilan Ferder and Esperanza Imports LLC; Tiffany Foster, 38, of Langley, BC, riding Figor, an 11-year-old bay Dutch Warmblood gelding (Querly-Elvis x Indoctro) owned by Foster and Artisan Farms LLC; Amy Millar, 45, of Perth, ON, riding Truman, a 13-year-old Selle Français gelding (Mylord Carthago x Kolibri) owned by Millar Brooke Farm Ltd. and Overlund; and Beth Underhill, 59, of Mulmur, ON, riding Nikka vd Bisschop, a nine-year-old bay Belgian Warmblood mare (Emerald x Nabab de Reve) owned by Rein Family LLC and Torrey Pines Stable Inc.
Deslauriers, 57, of New York, NY, is the Canadian team alternate with Bardolina 2, a 13-year-old bay Holsteiner mare (Clarimo x Landos) owned by Deslauriers and Wishing Well Farm LLC.
A total of 34 countries will be represented when competition begins at 11 a.m. local time on Wednesday over tracks set by Dutch course designer Louis Konickx. Held in a speed format, the first individual and team competition will see penalties converted into points which athletes will carry forward to the team competition.
Tiffany Foster of Langley, BC, and Figor, owned by Foster and Artisan Farms LLC. (Arnd Bronkhorst Photography)
On Thursday, August 11, the first round of team competition will begin at 1 p.m. local time. A total of 22 countries are expected to bring forward a maximum of four horse-rider combinations with the best three results to count towards each team’s total.
Friday, August 12, will see the top 10 countries return to contest the team medals under the lights in the Stutteri Ask Stadium beginning at 9 p.m. local time. Athletes placed in the top 60 who are not members of the top 10 teams will compete first to confirm their individual scores. The United States is the defending world champion, having claimed gold on home soil four years ago at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina.
Following a day of rest, individual medals will be decided on Sunday, August 14, beginning at 2 p.m. local time. The top 25 ranked athletes in the individual standings following Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday’s competitions will jump in the opening round with the top 12 returning for round two, plus a jump-off if necessary, to determine the individual medal winners. In 2018, Simone Blum of Germany riding DSP Alice became only the second woman to win the coveted title following in the footsteps of Canada’s own Gail Greenough who made history at the 1986 World Championships riding Mr. T. As Blum is not in Denmark to defend her title, a new World Champion will be crowned in 2022.
Erynn Ballard of Tottenham, ON, and Gakhir, owned by Ilan Ferder and Esperanza Imports LLC. (Jennifer Anstey for HorseSport.com)
Having made seven consecutive World Championship appearances from 1994 to 2018 inclusive, Eric Lamaze will act as chef d’equipe of the Canadian Show Jumping Team for the first time at a major games.
“We have fantastic team spirit; everyone is working together and rooting for each other including our team alternate Mario Deslauriers,” said Lamaze, who won individual bronze at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY, where his mount, Hickstead, was named ‘Best Horse’ after jumping clear with all four of his riders in the now defunct ‘Final Four.’ “Everybody on the team made huge efforts to do it right, whether it was leaving their business or leaving their clients with other trainers while they focused on preparing for these championships. Nobody came here half-way; they all made sacrifices to come and represent Canada.”
Lamaze continued, “We did a great job with the training camp in Belgium and flew in Michel Vaillancourt to build some World Championship-type courses for us to train over. That’s how seriously we took it. Not a stone was left unturned. Everyone knows the capability of their horse for the opening speed phase, and they know what to expect on the second day and the third day. These things don’t happen without luck, and we sure deserve to have some. If luck is on our side, great things can happen. And even if we don’t have luck, I think we will still have a strong performance. Our confidence is high, and now we have to leave the nerves at home and deliver.”
Travelling alternate Mario Deslauriers of New York, NY, and Bardolina 2, owned by Deslauriers and Wishing Well Farm LLC. (Arnd Bronkhorst Photography)
For more information on the ECCO FEI World Championships, visit https://herning2022.com/.
For full results for all disciplines, visit HERE.
Live streaming of all events is available with a subscription to FEI TV/ClipMyHorse.
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