François Lamontagne opened the two-week Ottawa Summer Tournaments with a win in the $20,000 Giant Tiger Open Welcome held Thursday, July 7, at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, ON.
A familiar face in the winner’s circle at Wesley Clover Parks, Lamontagne doubled his chances of winning the Open Welcome by qualifying two mounts, Chanel du Calvaire and Thunderbird vh Scheefkasteel Z, for the jump-off. He was joined by Hyde Moffatt of Brantford, ON, who went one better, qualifying three mounts for the tie-breaker. Luis Fernandez Saenz Morel of Guatemala was the only other rider from the 18-horse starting field to deliver a first-round clear and join the jump-off riding VDL Maverick.
The jump-off times got steadily faster with the lead changing hands several times. Lamontagne posted the first double clear with Thunderbird vh Scheefkasteel Z, an eight-year-old Zangersheide mare that he has been developing for four years, in a time of 45.73 seconds. Moffatt then took almost five seconds off the leading time, stopping the clock in 40.95 seconds with Amalia, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Ariel Grange.
Lamontagne meant business on his second attempt at the win, guiding his veteran campaigner Chanel du Calvaire to a clear round in a time of 39.88 seconds to take back the lead. As the final challengers, Moffatt and his mount, the eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Jeffrey Jarden, had the fastest time, 38.85 seconds, but when a rail fell at the final fence, the victory belonged to Lamontage.
“This is my third Welcome class that I’ve won with her,” said Lamontagne, 38, detailing his previous wins partnered with Chanel du Calvaire, his 14-year-old Belgian Sport Horse mare, at the Ottawa Summer Tournaments. “The course was competitive but fair and the time allowed was right on. At the end of the jump-off, I let her loose. She likes to do that; go long and loose and stretch. She also likes this ring; this ring shows her at her best. She is such a fighter and so competitive.”
He added, “Last year we won the Grand Prix and would like to do the same thing on Saturday!”
Lamontagne, as the defending champion, and Moffatt are both sure to feature prominently in the $50,000 Steel Craft Grand Prix scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 9.
Other competition highlights during week one include the $10,000 CHDS Pommies Open Hunter Derby immediately followed by the $1,000 CHDS Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby on Friday, July 8. The $10,000 Brookstreet Hotel Modified Grand Prix on Sunday, July 10, at 2 p.m. will close the first week of competition.
For Lamontagne, there is a lot to enjoy about competing at Wesley Clover Parks.
“It’s already such a good event but every time we come there are improvements – this year they have a new VIP tent, new stabling,” he said. “We have a really nice tent and stalls. It’s already very good but you get the feeling that they just want to get better and better every time. They also make you feel welcome. You come on the first day and they ask what you need, and to let them know if you need anything else. Not every horse show is like that.”
Spectators are invited to enjoy the competition at Wesley Clover Parks; tickets are not available at the gate and may only be purchased in advance online HERE.
Livestreaming coverage from the Grand Prix field will be available from Thursday through Sunday during both weeks of competition in partnership with Equestrian Digital here.
For more information on the Ottawa Equestrian Tournaments, visit www.OttawaEquestrianTournaments.com.
$20,000 Open Welcome, Presented by Giant Tiger
Rider / Hometown / Horse / Faults / Time
1. François Lamontagne / Saint-Eustache, QC / Chanel du Calvaire / 0:0 / 39.88
2. Hyde Moffatt / Brantford, ON / Amalia / 0:0 / 40.95
3. François Lamontagne / Saint-Eustache, QC / Thunderbird vh Scheefkasteel Z / 0:0 / 45.73
4. Hyde Moffatt / Brantford, ON / Jeffrey Jarden / 0:4 / 38.85
5. Hyde Moffatt / Brantford, ON / Donjo / 0:4 / 41.56
6. Luis Fernando Saenz Morel / Guatemala / VDL Maverick / 0:8 / 45.23
7. Marie Messier / Laval, QC / Chacco Mio Al Khair Z / 2
8. Jay Hayes / Mono, ON / Elton John / 4
9. (tie) Paul Halpern / Saint Anne des Plaines, QC / Esra / 4
9. (tie) Hyde Moffatt / Brantford, ON / Langley / 4
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