James Chawke of Ireland won the $100,000 CSI3* Grand Prix, presented by RAM Equestrian, to close out the CSI3* Classic at Palgrave Phase 2 show jumping tournament held May 22 to 26 at the Caledon Equestrian Park in Caledon, ON.
The $100,000 CSI3* Grand Prix was held on Sunday, May 26, in a two-round format that saw the top 13 horse-rider combinations return for a second round. At the end of the second round, three had maintained a clear score sheet over the tracks set by American course designer Ken Krome to force a jump-off. Chawke had left all the rails in place with two mounts, Grasshopper and Skara Glen’s Presence, while Jonathon Millar of Perth, ON, qualified Daveau for the tie-breaker.
Chawke, who hails from County Laois, was the first to return for the jump-off and concentrated on jumping a third clear round with Grasshopper, an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Phin Phin x Cartano) owned by Stonepine Stables Ltd. of Calgary, AB. His clear round in a time of 48.94 seconds put the pressure on Millar, 44, who rose to the challenge by guiding Daveau, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Zento x Glennridge) owned by Millar Brooke Farm of Perth, ON, home fault-free in a time of 45.96 seconds to move into the lead.