Daniel Coyle of Ireland claimed both first and second to dominate the $35,000 AECON Jumper Classic at the CSI3* Ottawa International Horse Show on Sunday, July 23, at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, ON.
In a dramatic conclusion to two weeks of world-class show jumping competition, 22 entries faced off over the Anthony D’Ambrosio-designed course with eight horse and rider combinations advancing to the jump-off.
Coyle was the first to return for the tie-breaking round, setting the time to beat at 38.78 seconds aboard Grafton, an 11-year-old chestnut selle francais stallion (Calvaro x Vondeen) owned by Susan and Ariel Grange. While six other riders would try, Coyle proved to be the only competitor capable of bettering his own performance. With his second jump-off mount, Tienna, also owned by Susan and Ariel Grange, Coyle again raced over the shortened jump-off track to trip the timers in 37.50 seconds and claim a one-two finish.
Proving just how fast the 22-year-old Irish phenom was, ten-time Canadian Olympian Ian Millar of Perth, ON, finished well off the winning pace with a jump-off time of 42.09 seconds riding Vittorio 8, owned by Future Adventures. Hyde Moffatt of Brantford, ON, also jumped double clear to place fourth with a time of 42.16 riding Granturo while 2016 Rio Olympian Amy Millar of Perth, ON, was fifth with a double clear performance in a time of 43.77 riding Truman for her family’s Millar Brooke Farm.
“I tried to be as fast as I could on Grafton,” said Coyle, who rides for Susan Grange’s Lothlorien Farm based in Cheltenham, ON. “He’s not as fast naturally as Tienna is, but he had a very good round which always makes a rider a little bit more confident going back in with the next horse.
“I planned to do the same kind of track when I came back with Tienna, but the class is never over until the last person goes in and I knew I still had a few people behind me so I didn’t want to leave the door open,” continued Coyle in speaking of his plan with the nine-year-old Canadian Sport Horse mare (For Pleasure x Polydox) bred by the Granges. “She jumped great, and it worked out well. I believe she’s an absolute superstar in the making.”
A first-time competitor at the CSI3* Ottawa International Horse Show, Coyle used the event as preparation for CSIO5* Hickstead, GBR, where he will ride Cita as a member of the Irish Nations’ Cup team, followed by the prestigious Dublin Horse Show in his homeland.
“We added this show to our calendar before Europe because it’s good for a rider to always keep riding,” said Coyle, who competed a total of nine horses for Lothlorien at the CSI3* Ottawa International Horse Show. “If you have a week or two off and you’re not in the ring, it doesn’t make you as ready. We’ve had lots of horses here and I’ve done lots of riding, so hopefully I’m still in the zone when I go over. It was good to come here. I loved it here, so I’ll be back!”
To learn more about the Ottawa National Horse Show and the CSI3* Ottawa International Horse Shows, visit www.wesleycloverparks.com or find Wesley Clover Parks on Facebook here. For results from the CSI3* Ottawa International Horse Show, visit ottawa.showmanagementsystem.com.
The Government of Ontario has generously provided funding support for the Ottawa National and CSI3* Ottawa International Horse Shows.
$35,000 CSI3* AECON Jumper Classic – Sunday, July 23
Rider/Hometown/Horse/Faults/Time
1. Daniel Coyle/Ireland/Tienna/0:0/37.50
2. Daniel Coyle/Ireland/Grafton/0:0/38.78
3. Ian Millar/Perth, ON/Vittorio 8/0:0/42.09
4. Hyde Moffatt/Brantford, ON/Granturo/0:0/42.16
5. Amy Millar/Perth, ON/Truman/0:0/43.77
6. Jonathan McCrea/United States/D Carolus/0:4/41.00
7. Kelly Soleau-Millar/United States/Itty Bitty/0:4/41.29
8. Nicole Walker/Aurora, ON/Excellent B/0:8/42.29
9. Kelley Robinson/Russell, ON/GQ/1
10. Carlos Hernando Ramirez/Colombia/Happy Wandor Van’t/4
11. Erynn Ballard/Tottenham, ON/Thalys Z/4
12. Kim Farlinger/Orangeville, ON/Emergo/4
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