Canadian Show Jumping riders recently travelled to Spain in order to compete at the CSIO5* Gijon, held from August 29 to September 3.
The prestigious competition (which was celebrating its 70th anniversary this year) was host to a Nations’ Cup on September 1. A total of 13 countries took part in this leg of the 2012 FEI Nations Cup European Promotional League, which featured two challenging rounds created by course designer Avelino Rodriguez Miravalles of Spain. Out of the 52 competitors, only six put in clear rounds, and no double-clears took place. Canada’s team experienced both highs and lows over the course of the competition to finish in seventh position. France, Italy, and Great Britain took the top three spots, respectively.
Canada’s Nations’ Cup team consisted of Jonathan Asselin of Calgary, AB and Showgirl, a 12-year-old Selle Francais mare owned by Attache Stables, Spruce Grove, AB’s Lisa Carlsen with La Boom, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by La Boom Syndicate, Tiffany Foster from Schomberg, ON riding Southwind VDL, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding she co-owns with Artisan Farms LLC, and Eric Lamaze, also of Schomberg, paired with Verdi, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding co-owned by Artisan Farms LLC and Torrey Pines Stable.
“It was a tough Nations’ Cup with 13 of the top teams in Europe competing,” commented Chef d’Equipe Mark Laskin. “We were happy to qualify for the second round, Lisa with four faults and Jonathan with one time fault, had exceptional first rounds over a very difficult course.”
Canadian riders found success individually in the 125,000 € Banco Herrero Grand Prix on September 3.
“Both Canadian horses jumped beautifully on the final day of competition. Lisa and La Boom unfortunately had to go first into the ring and were clean all the way to the last jump. Jonathan and Showgirl jumped a flawless first round, but lost a shoe in the jump off and ended up a very commendable ninth,” said Laskin.
Canada’s riders will continue to compete in Spain at the CSIO5* Barcelona, September 20-23, where they will once again go head to head against an international field of teams in a nations’ cup. The top two nations from the CSIO5* Barcelona will advance into the Top League of the FEI Nations’ Cup.
The Spanish Tour is made possible through Sport Canada’s ‘Own the Podium’ program, a national sport technical initiative designed to help Canada’s summer and winter athletes achieve podium success at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Spanish Tour is supported by Chef d’Equipe Mark Laskin and Stable Manager Darren Roberts; Off-site support is also provided by Jumping Coordinator, Jennifer Mahoney, Jumping Program Support, Ashley Raaymakers as well as Team Manager, Karen Hendry-Ouellette.
Complete results from CSIO5* Gijon can be found at www.gijon.es/chipico. For full information on CSIO5* Barcelona, go to http://www.csiobarcelona.com/.
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