Palgrave, Ontario – Hugh Graham of Schomberg, ON, won the $100,000 Caledon Cup Final held Sunday, September 27, to conclude the inaugural CSI2*-W Canadian Show Jumping Tournament at the Caledon Equestrian Park in Palgrave, ON. In addition to offering $30,000 in prize money to the winner, the $100,000 Caledon Cup Final acted as a qualifier for the 2010 World Cup Final to be held in April in Geneva, Switzerland.
A total of 28 horses attempted the first round track set by course designer Bernardo Cabral of Portugal, who drew rave reviews for his work throughout the week. Although two of the first three competitors on course jumped clear but incurred one time fault, the time allowed of 85 seconds was not changed. It proved to be the right decision as the fifth competitor, local favourite Erynn Ballard of Hillsburgh, ON, riding Robin van Roosendael, demonstrated that a clear round inside the time was possible. Andres Rodriguez of Venezuela then ensured a jump-off with Secret and two more local athletes, Yann Candele of Caledon, ON, and Hugh Graham of Schomberg, ON, added their names to the list.
The stage was set for an exciting jump-off. Ballard and her scopey Belgian Warmblood gelding opted for a conservative clear round which they executed in classic form, stopping the clock in 49.19 seconds. Rodriguez, 25, was the next challenger with Secret, his 10-year-old grey Dutch Warmblood gelding. The pair was moving at a quick pace, but a block came off the wall mid-way around the shortened course, followed immediately by another rail for eight faults. Candele was next up riding Mustique, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare for owner Susan Grange of Cheltenham, ON. Candele left all the rails in place in a time of 46.38 seconds to move into the lead.