Karen Cudmore Leads 2007 Jump Canada Series

Ottawa, Ontario — Karen Cudmore originally of Victoria, BC, and now living in Omaha, NE, is holding down the top two spots in the 2007 Jump Canada Series following the first eight of 23 events in the national show jumping series.

Paired with Southern Pride, Cudmore is the current leader with 157.50 points. Having competed in the first five consecutive Jump Canada series classes with the nine-year-old Holsteiner stallion owned by her husband, Blair Cudmore, Cudmore’s top performances include a third place finish in the $25,000 Telus Grand Prix at the Spruce Meadows â€˜Winter Farewellâ€™ Tournament followed by another third place finish in the $25,000 TD Canada Trust Grand Prix at the same venue during the â€˜Spring Welcomeâ€™ Tournament.

Cudmore is also in second position with152.50 points earned aboard Ocelot, a 12-year-old Holsteiner stallion also owned by Blair Cudmore. After placing fifth at the Spruce Meadows â€˜Spring Welcomeâ€™ Tournament, Cudmore and Ocelot took third place in the $75,000 ATCO Kubota Cup Centennial Grand Prix at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair in Brandon, MB.

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â€œBoth horses have had good results and I am happy they are performing so well,â€ said Cudmore who, riding Southern Pride, was recently named to the Canadian Show Jumping Team that will represent Canada at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. â€œIâ€™m lucky to have such consistent horses.â€

Third position is occupied by Gary Brewster of West Vancouver, BC, riding Suzanne Brewsterâ€™s 13-year-old Irish Draft-cross gelding, Hurricane. The duo have accumulated 145 points, helped most recently by their first place finish in the $40,000 Kubota Cup Grand Prix held June 2 at the Edmonton Northlands Horse Show. Earlier in the season, they placed second at the Spruce Meadows â€˜Spring Welcomeâ€™ Tournament as well as at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair.

Other top pairs sitting high in the Jump Canada Series standings include Molly Graham of Aldergrove, BC, and Powerscourt who are in fourth position with 98.20 points. Holding fifth place overall at 95 points is Ian Millar of Perth, ON, and his 2007 Pan American Games Team mount, In Style. Complete standings are available at http://www.jumpcanada.ca/programs/JC_standings.html.

The Jump Canada Series has proven successful in providing a national jumper circuit with high standards of competition across the country. At the end of the Jump Canada Series, overall standings are calculated using the best six results, plus the final event in the Jump Canada Series, the CN World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix to be held November 7 at the CSI-W Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON. The winner of the 2007 Jump Canada Series will be presented with the prestigious Jump Canada trophy, generously donated by Barbara Anderson of Alberta, at the Royal Horse Show. New for 2007, the Jump Canada Series winner will also receive a $20,000 cash award, sponsored by Jump Canada, to be invested by the rider into a development program intended to support future elite performance.

Since its inception, the Jump Canada Series has recognized the achievements of such great horse-rider combinations as Beth Underhill and Altair (1999), Frankie Chesler and Ravenna Z (2000), Jill Henselwood and Toyzrus (2001), three-time champions, Ainsley Vince and Catch 22 (2002, 2003, and 2004), Ian Millar and In Style (2005) and current champions Margie Gayford and Stuntman.