Canadian show jumpers continued to achieve impressive results at the CSIO4* Coapexpan, which wrapped up on May 11 in Mexico.
After competing as a team to capture the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup on May 9, the Canadians went solo on the final day of the competition in the $150,000 Gran Premio Veracruz Grand Prix.
The Grand Prix was held in a unique format, taking place over two rounds, with scores from both rounds counting toward the final score. Out of a solid international starting field of 27 competitors, the top 15 after round one were invited forward to the second round.
Three Canadians moved forward to round two. Ian Millar of Perth, ON-who was coming off the high of having clinched Canada’s nations cup win after going head-to-head in a rare jump-off against American veteran, Beezie Madden-was the top-placed Canadian of the night aboard Star Power, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Team Works. Millar once again found himself facing Madden in the second round, however, this time it was Madden who came out on top after being the only competitor of the night to go double clear. Millar and Star Power lowered just one rail in the first round, but went clean in round two for a total cumulative score of four faults. They crossed the timers in 46.51 seconds in the second round for a sixth place finish.
Not far behind was Chris Sorensen of Caledon, ON and Bobby, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding he co-owns with Britland Hughes. After accumulating eight faults for two dropped rails in the first round, the duo returned to put in a clear, fast performance in round two, finishing on a time of 44.83 seconds for eighth place.
Kara Chad of Calgary, AB continued to prove that, despite being just 18 years old, she is quickly becoming one of Canada’s rising stars at the senior international level. Chad put herself on the map of show jumping when she laid down a double-clear performance in her first-ever nations cup competition. Once again riding Stone Ridge Farms’ 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Alberto II, she achieved another milestone, earning her spot in the second round of the grand prix. Chad had three rails down over the two rounds for a total of 12 faults, but her blistering fast time of 43.46 seconds in round two put her in 12th place.
Jonathon Millar of Perth, ON and Millar Brooke Farm’s 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding, Calvin Klein, just missed the cut-off for the second round. However, they earned a top 20 finish, placing 17th on a total score of eight faults.
Equine Canada would like to thank Sport Canada’s ‘Own the Podium’ program for making this Mexican show jumping tour possible.
For complete results of the CSIO4* Coapexpan, click here.
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