Katie Laurie (AUS) had the odds in her favour in the $37,000 Artisan Farms Welcome CSI2* at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC — but she created her own luck. Advancing to Peter Holmes’ (CAN) jump-off aboard each of her three mounts, she saved her best for last, topping the first FEI class of 2020 at Thunderbird Show Park aboard her own Casebrooke Lomond, her final mount of the day at the 2020 Harvest Welcome.

The Harvest Welcome is the first FEI competition in Canada since the COVID-19 pandemic brought global competition to a temporary halt this spring. The event features more than $180,000 in prize money, including a $20,000 U25 division, and is highlighted by Saturday night’s $37,000 Volvo Canada CSI2* and the $73,000 ATCO Cup CSI2* Sunday afternoon.

With 15 of the 32 combinations qualifying to return for the shortened track, an exceptionally fast jump-off was all but guaranteed. The lead changed hands almost by the round, until Laurie set a standard that couldn’t be beat; her winning time was 42.71 seconds. Shauna Cook (CAN) rode to runner-up honors aboard Gallup (42.97 seconds), while Brian Morton (CAN) was third with Cadillac (42.99).

Advertisement