Hayley Alfonso, Ben Asselin and the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada were the big winners during the CSI2* Rocky Mountain Classic II held August 25 to 29 at Anderson Ranch in Calgary, AB.

For the second week in a row, Asselin won Thursday’s featured event. Having won the $32,500 Laramide Oil and Gas Grand Prix the previous Thursday riding Magic Man, the 16-year-old returned to the grass grand prix field on Thursday, August 26, to capture the $32,500 Attaché Classic with Lolita. A total of nine clear rounds were produced from the 27-horse starting field but no one could catch Asselin and Lolita, hot of their double gold medals at the recent North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championship, who posted a clear jump-off round in a time of 46 seconds flat. Lindsay Wendt of High River, AB, and Chanel gave it their best shot, stopping the timers in 46.63 while Asselin’s own sister, Kelly Koss, clocked in at 47.01 seconds to take third place with Laokoon 12.

Saturday evening’s $50,000 Oilpatch Grand Prix saw 28 entries attempt the technical track set by Germany’s Werner Deeg, who challenged horses and riders throughout his two weeks as course designer at Anderson Ranch. A tricky line to the open water at fence 12 caused its fair share of casualties, but seven riders persevered to advance to the jump-off. Hayley Alfonso, 23, made easy work of the jump-off course riding Lennox 157, jumping clear in a time of 43.25 seconds. Runner-up Lisa Carlsen of Edmonton, AB, was more than four seconds off the pace, clocking in at 47.50 riding La Boom while Calgary’s Emily George stopped the timers in 48.83 seconds for third place with Quidam’s Ramiro.

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