Ottawa, Ontario — Jump Canada is pleased to announce that Canada will host two qualifying competitions for the 2007 FEI Children’s International Jumping Final to be held December 3-8 in Jalapa, Mexico.

 

The Eastern Canadian Qualifier will be held August 31 and September 1 at the Halton Place Canadian Country Classic in Halton Hills, ON.  The Western Canadian Qualifier will take place at the Rocky Mountain Show Jumping Classic I held August 22-26, in Calgary, AB.

 

The FEI Children’s Final is open to show jumping competitors aged 12 to 14.  The competition was created to promote and encourage talented young riders by giving them the opportunity to experience international competition with support from the FEI.

 

The Qualifiers require participants to ride their own horse or pony over four courses, at a maximum height of 1.20m and maximum width of 1.30m.  The courses, which are pre-determined and published by the FEI, are built to the exact specifications of the course plan.  The FEI tabulates results from all competitions and extends invitations accordingly.  Each country is represented by a maximum of two riders with the exception of the host country, who is entitled to have a number of competitors equal to the number of foreign entries.  Foreign riders compete on borrowed horses, supplied by the host country.

 

Canadian riders swept the medals at the 2006 FEI Children’s Final held at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, AB, marking the first time that one country claimed all three podium positions.  It also marked the first time that the event was won by a Canadian.  Calgary’s Taylor Bland rode Tango Las Marismas to the Gold Medal, Ben Asselin, also of Calgary, claimed the Silver Medal aboard Serrano, and Jake Krembil of Schomberg, ON, earned the Bronze Medal riding Caretino.

 

For more information on the Canadian qualifying competitions, please contact Megan Krueger of Halton Place at tel: (905) 873-2316 ext. 30, or John Anderson or Caroline Jones of the Rocky Mountain Show Jumping Classic at tel: (403) 668-7844.