Jay Hayes Comes From Behind to Capture the $100,000 Kubota Cup Final

Toronto, ON – Two-time Canadian Olympian Jay Hayes took four years to do it, but last night at The Royal Horse Show, Hayes won the National Final of the Kubota Cup Series. Spanning eight months and seven cities coast-to-coast, the Kubota Cup Series pits riders from the east against the best from the west. The top 21 riders compete in the Final at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair for $100,000 in cash and a $20,000 Kubota RTV 1100 Utility Vehicle.

 

Hayes, of Orangeville, Ontario, sat in second position in the Eastern conference coming into the Final, behind Yann Candele of Nobleton. The veteran of the Barcelona and Sydney Olympics has been chasing the title for the past four years, consistently placing in the middle of the pack. Last night Hayes rode in on his 11 year-old German-bred gelding Livarot, and drove out $10,000 richer and piloting a brand new Kubota.

 

Of the 21 to start the competition, just five were able to navigate the course without fault, forcing a jump-off to determine the Champion. Amy Millar (Perth, ON), daughter of show jumping legend Ian Millar, and Kelley Robinson (Kanata, ON) both knocked down two rails to finish fifth and fourth respectively, while Mark Samuel (Mississauga, ON) and Yann Candele had a rail each. Hayes was the only one to leave all the rails in the cups and in this sport, that’s all that matters.

 

“It was a fantastic evening of sport to cap off the season,” remarked John Gilliland, National Marketing Manager of Kubota Canada. “Over the past four years we have developed great relationships with riders and owners through the series, which is quite unusual for a sponsor in a sport. We feel it’s such an honour to be among this group of athletes including past, present and most certainly future Olympians.”

 

The $100,000 Kubota Cup National Final capped off a busy all-Canadian opening weekend of show jumping at the Royal Horse Show, part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair running at the Ricoh Coliseum until November 16th. The Royal Horse Show continues today with the Ontario Toyota Dealers Royal Rodeo before moving into a full week of equestrian competition which will include the return of Good Crop Services Indoor Eventing, the CN FEI World Cup QualifierTM for show jumpers and for the first time at The Royal an FEI World Cup QualifierTM in dressage.  Over $795,000 in total prize money will be awarded over the ten days of competition. For schedule, results and ticket information please visit www.royalfair.org.

 

$100,000 Kubota Cup National Final

Rider / Hometown / Horse / Prize Money

1. Jay Hayes / Orangeville, ON / Livarot / $10,000 + Kubota RTV

2. Yann Candele / Nobleton, ON / Mustique / $15,000

3. Mark Samuel / Mississauga, ON / Wembley 234 / $8,500

4. Kelley Robinson / Kanata, ON / Calibur / $6,000

5. Amy Millar / Perth, ON / Piccobello du Val de Geer / $6,000

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