Palgrave, ON – Out of a field of twenty five riders, including three of Canada’s 2008 silver medalists, 24 year old Kimberley Farlinger of Annan, Ontario emerged victorious in the $50,000 Grand Prix at Palgrave Phase I this past Sunday.
Four riders successfully completed world renowned course designer Conrad Homfeld’s first round course. Toronto’s Courtney Vince kicked off the jump-off with Pebble Creek Holdings’ Nalla with two unfortunate knock downs in 41.862, finishing in fourth place. Second to go was Farlinger, who jumped clean and set the time to beat at 41.219 aboard Cordoba, an eleven year old Dutch Warmblood Gelding by Polydox, owned by Kim’s father Peter Farlinger. Marie Hecart of France was the next to compete aboard Ashland Stable’s Tempete Van Het Lindehof, the pair held the fastest time of 40.711, but had two knock downs and finished in third place. Jill Henselwood, of Oxford Mills, aboard her Olympic mount Special Ed was the last effort to beat the leader’s time, and narrowly missed, finishing the jump-off with a faultless ride only 0.317 seconds behind Farlinger and Cordoba.
Silver medalist Mac Cone of King City, Ontario was the winner of Friday’s $20,000 Open Welcome riding Chadburn Holdings’ Wembley 234, and Olympic commentator Beth Underhill of Schomberg, Ontario won Saturday’s $10,000 Modified Grand Prix aboard her own gelding Tjengo.
It was an eventful, yet successful first show of the year at the Caledon Equestrian Park. Despite the gale force winds threatening to blow the show away for much of the week, over a thousand horses competed throughout the week in the six competition rings, to complete the season opener at the park.
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