Ottawa, Ontario — Jump Canada is pleased to announce the dates and criteria for the 2007 Talent Squad Series.

Open to Canadian riders who have not ridden on Nations’ Cup Teams within the past five years and who have never competed at the Olympic Games, World Championships or World Cup Finals, the Jump Canada Talent Squad Series is a means of recognizing up-and-coming riders who are preparing to enter the grand prix ranks, giving them a platform to demonstrate their ability to become future members of the Canadian Show Jumping Team.

Featuring Eastern and Western Canadian Divisions, riders earn points based on their class placings with the best five scored to count.  At the completion of both the Eastern and the Western Division Final, the top 10 riders from each division are invited to compete at the Jump Canada National Talent Squad Championships taking place at the CSI5*-W Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON, from November 2-11, 2007.

In addition, the top placed rider in each division will be awarded airfare to the 2008 World Cup Final in Goteborg, SWE.  Division winners will also be nominated to receive a Sport Canada Development card from the Sport Canada Athlete Assistance Program.

To be eligible to compete in the Talent Squad Series, competitors must sign and complete the declaration form and return it to Equine Canada, along with the $50 Registration Fee, by May 1, 2007.  In order to have points count after the deadline, riders must return the completed declaration form, $50 registration fee, plus a $25 late fee.  Collected points will count only from the date the registration fee and late fee are received by the EC office, there will be no retroactive points under any circumstances.

For more information, registration forms and complete criteria, please visit http://www.jumpcanada.ca/programs/TS_criteria.html.

The 2007 Talent Squad Series will include:

EASTERN DIVISION

Province     Horse Show                                                                                        Class & Date

ON               Caledon National, (May 16-20)                                                       Rising Star/Talent Squad Qualifier, May 20

ON               St. Lazare Spring Show, (May 23-27)                                             Class #120, Talent Squad Qualifier, May 25

QC                Les Concours Hippique du Parc, (May 31-June 3)                      Class #76, Talent Squad Qualifier, June 1

ON               Caledon Summer Classic, (June 13-17)                                           Class #176, Rising Star/Talent Squad Qualifier, June 17

ON               Cornerstone at Barrie, (June 20-24)                                                Rising Star Class, check prize list

QC                Beaulieu Summer Classic II, (June 27-July 1)                                $3,000 Talent Squad Qualifier, June 30

QC                Jumping International Blainville, (July 4-8)                                   Relève Canada 2006 Talent Squad Qualifier, July 6

QC                International Bromont, (July 18-22)                                                Rising Star/Talent Squad/Young Rider Class, July 20

ON               Caledon Summer Festival, (August 1-5)                                        Rising Star/Talent Squad Qualifier, Aug 5

QC                Le Concours Hippique de Breakeyville, (August 9-12)               Class #59, Talent Squad Qualifier, Aug 10

ON               Kubota Collingwood Classic, (August 15-19)                              Class #130, Rising Star Class, Aug 18

QC                Les Concours Hippique du Parc (Ete), (August 16-19)               Class #76, Talent Squad Qualifier, Aug 18

ON               Canadian Country Classic Week 2, (Aug 29-Sept 2)                   Rising Star Class, check prize list

 

Eastern Division Jump Canada National Talent Squad Final

 

ON               Tournament of Champions, ON, Sept. 19-23                                 Rising Star/Talent Squad Final, Sept 22

 

WESTERN DIVISION

 

Province     Horse Show                                                                                        Class & Date

AB               Bowvalley Classic I, (May 16-20)                                                   Grand Prix, May 19

BC                Thunderbird Show Park “Spring Classic”, (May 23-27)              $10,000 Spring Welcome Grand Prix, May 25

AB               Bowvalley Classic II, (May 23-27)                                                  Grand Prix, May 26

BC                Thunderbird Show Park “Spring Classic”, (May 23-27)              $50,000 Spring Classic Grand Prix, May 27

AB               Edmonton Northlands Horse Show, (May 30- June 3)                $20,000 ATCO Cup, June 3

BC                Thunderbird Show Park “Western Family”, (July 4-8)                $20,000 Langley Chrysler Grand Prix, July 8

MB               Westgate/ Horse & Co Derby Show, (Aug 2-5)                           Class #81, The Canad Inn Talent Squad Class, Aug 5

BC                Twin Oaks Derby, Richmond, (August 8-12)                                $40,000 Kubota Cup Series Grand Prix, Aug 12

BC                Thunderbird Summer Horse Show, (August 15-19)                     $25,000 Show Park Grand Prix, Aug 17

BC                Thunderbird Summer Horse Show, (August 15-19)                     $50,000 Sea to Sky Grand Prix, Aug 19

 

Western Division Jump Canada National Talent Squad Final

 

BC                Thunderbird Show Park Horse Show, (August 22-26)                Class #431, Tommy Bahama Grand Prix, Aug 25

 

Jump Canada National Talent Squad Championships

 

ON               Royal Horse Show, (November 2-11)                                             Dates to be Announced

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