Nina Fagerstrom of Finland riding Flower won the $35,000 Brookstreet Open Welcome on Friday, July 22, at the CSI2* Ottawa International Horse Show at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, ON.
A total of 23 horse and rider combinations attempted the track set by 2016 Rio Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge of Brazil. Nine passed the test, jumping clear to qualify to the all-deciding jump-off. Fagerstrom and Flower, owned by Finca Horses Inc., were again clear in the fastest time, 41.56 seconds, to claim victory.
Jonathon Millar of Perth, ON, tried twice to catch Fagerstrom’s time, stopping the clock in 42.65 seconds riding Bonzay, owned by Isotropic Networks, to take second while he and Daveau placed third with a time of 44.72 seconds.
Quincy Hayes of Aurora, ON, was double clear riding Calgary 56 to place fourth while Toronto’s Jordan Macpherson and Aldine took fifth place. As the final entry with her second horse, Quel Cadans Z, Fagerstrom knew she already had the win all sewn up, but still produced another clear round in a time of 50.03 to place sixth while Flower took the win.
“Today it really worked out well, and Flower was really fast,” said Fagerstrom, who represented her native Finland at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. “When everything works out, it feels easy.”
As for her jump-off strategy, where she was the third rider back with six challengers still to follow, Fagerstrom explained, “I knew it was going to be a tough jump-off. My plan was to get a good go to the first fence and keep her going fast enough to the second fence. Then I would collect her before the fence so I could get a nice jump up and be fast to do a tight turn back. There were a few places like that, so I really opened up her canter and then collected before the fences to be able to turn as quickly as possible after the fence.”
Flower started her competitive career at the age of seven, and Fagerstrom has been riding the mare since she was eight.
“I bought her when she was just turning eight, and I’ve just been developing her since then,” said Fagerstrom of her now 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Bon Ami x Randel Z). “I’ve had her for a good while, and I’ve brought her up to the 1.60m grand prix level. She can be a little bit challenging, but today was definitely her day. She just felt amazing!”
With a win in Friday’s $35,000 CSI2* Brooksteet Hotel Open Welcome, Fagerstrom and Flower will be among the favourites to win the highlight event of the week, the $100,000 CSI2* Classic on Sunday, July 24, at 2 p.m. She will have her work cut out for her with the likes of ten-time Canadian Olympian Ian Millar and Beth Underhill hungry for a win. On Saturday, the $10,000 Karson Modified Grand Prix takes center stage in the spacious grass grand prix field at Wesley Clover Parks, also beginning at 2 p.m.
Designated as a CSI2* event by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the Ottawa International Horse Show gives riders an opportunity to earn valuable World Rider Ranking points in the heart of the nation’s capital.
To learn more, visit www.ottawaequestriantournaments.com
$35,000 Brookstreet Open Welcome – Friday, July 22
Rider/Hometown/Horse/Faults/Time
1. Nina Fagerstrom/Finland/Flower/0:0/41.56
2. Jonathon Millar/Perth, ON/Bonzay/0:0/42.65
3. Jonathon Millar/Perth, ON/Daveau/0:0/44.72
4. Quincy Hayes/Aurora, ON/Calgary 56/0:0/45.43
5. Jordan Macpherson/Toronto, ON/Aldine/0:0/45.53
6. Nina Fagerstrom/Finland/Quel Cadans Z/0:0/50.03
7. Beth Underhill/Schomberg, ON/Count Me In/0:4/41.91
8. Ian Millar/Perth, ON/Teddy du Bosquetiau/0:4/43.53
More from Horse Sport:
