The CSI2* Canadian Show Jumping Tournament (CSJT) opened on Wednesday September 21 at the Caledon Equestrian Park in Palgrave, ON. The five-day international show jumping competition runs daily through Sunday, September 25.
Erynn Ballard of Tottenham, ON, dominated the competition in the Grand Prix ring, winning both the 1.35m and 1.40m Welcome classes. In the 1.35m Welcome, Ballard guided the 10-year-old mare Snappy to victory for owner Katherine Arliss of Red Bank, New Jersey, while her winning horse in the 1.40m Welcome was Buttercup, owned by Ash Lee Corp of Kitchener, ON.
“I had planned for this to be a good week with the jumpers,” said Ballard. “Usually I have a lot of hunters, but this week I am focusing on the jumpers. I had it in Snappy’s plan to be the winner today. I have been gearing her up, and I said to the woman who looks after her, “Snappy is going to be the 1.35m champion this week.” We are off to a good start.”
While Snappy is for sale, Buttercup is normally ridden by Ballard’s student, Ashley Charpentier. Currently attending school in Florida, Charpentier will arrive in Toronto in time to take over the reins for the rest of the week, competing in the 1.40m Junior/Amateur division.
Despite handing over Buttercup’s reins, Ballard will have no shortage of mounts. She will continue to compete with Snappy in the 1.35m division, and has three horses entered in the Seven and Eight-Year-Old National Young Horse Finals. She also has two horses, Fun 2 Fly and the 17-year-old Canadian Show Jumping Team veteran, Robin van Roosendael, ready to contest the $100,000 Caledon Cup, presented by Aviva Elite, Peel Maryborough, and RAM Equestrian.
“It’s a finale for our outdoor season, and I want to be champion and to win a class here,” said Ballard of competing at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament. “It is our outdoor finale, and it is the place where you want to win.”
Karen Sparks of Ottawa, ON, also started her week with a win, taking victory in the highly competitive 1.40m Junior/Amateur competition. Of the 15 horses that competed, none could beat the double clear performance of Sparks and Victoria, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Brookstreet Stables. Coming closest was Amanda Harris and Livarot, a 14-year-old Canadian-bred gelding owned by Summerhill Farm.
“I was pleased as punch with Victoria,” said Sparks, who trains with the legendary Millar family in Perth, ON. “She was double clean and very fast. I couldn’t be happier with her. It was a little muddy, but luckily the rain held off. It was all worth it because we had a wonderful day!”
Nicole Walker of Aurora, ON, took the win in the 1.30m Junior/Amateur competition riding Virtual Dancer.
Over 700 horses are competing at the CSI2* Canadian Show Jumping Tournament, which is sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). At this special event, competition and charity come together. Over the past two years, the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament has raised more than $70,000 for the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada and has granted the wish for a horse to two lucky recipients. In keeping with this tradition, the Children’s Wish Foundation will once again be the beneficiary of this year’s Canadian Show Jumping Tournament.
Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON, has made a very generous offer for this year’s popular ‘Ribbon Campaign’ which sees competitors contributing their corresponding prize money to the Children’s Wish Foundation by donating the ribbons they win. As Lamaze is competing as a member of the Canadian Team in a Nations’ Cup event in Barcelona, Spain, he is unable to attend this year’s Canadian Show Jumping Tournament. Instead, he has pledged to match, dollar for dollar, every donation made through the Ribbon Campaign in Hickstead’s name.
“The Canadian Show Jumping Tournament has always been one of my favourite shows in Canada, and the Children’s Wish is a charity that is close to my heart,” said Lamaze, who is currently ranked the number one rider in the world. “This is something special that I want to do, as a gift from Hickstead, and I hope that everyone will be generous in donating the prize money they win to this very special cause.”
A Children’s Wish Celebration will be held on Saturday, September 24, and will feature a luncheon with live and silent auctions, followed in the evening by the Children’s Wish BBQ and Dance.
Spectators also have the opportunity to become members of the Champions Club, offering enhanced viewing pleasure in a relaxed club-like atmosphere. Membership to the Champions Club includes access to the Children’s Wish Celebration, as well as a VIP brunch on Sunday, September 25.
The Family Village, open Saturday, September 24 and Sunday, September 25, will feature entertaining and educational interactive displays and attractions. Children will also have the chance to participate in the Foxbury Farm Horseless Horse Show, where they can jump kid-sized obstacles on foot. New this year is a public tombola, where people can buy tickets and win great prizes on the spot.
Gate proceeds from the 2011 Canadian Show Jumping Tournament will go to support the Palgrave Rotary and other local charities.
For more information on the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament, please visit www.equiman.com.
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