Thunderbird Show Park started their 40th season with a breathtaking grand prix, thanks to a field of 38 riders and an inspired course designed by Germany’s, Stefan Wirth. Sunday afternoon’s $25,000 Canadian Premiere Grand Prix offered a thrilling jump off, as Kyle King and Onyx galloped into the top spot.
The first clear ride of the round came from the pair that always deliver, 2012 Rolex FEI World Cup winners and USA Olympic team members, Rich Fellers and Flexible. Kyle King was quick to follow on Quigley, along with the returning champion, Jenn Serek on Eleonora.
Mexico’s, Enrique Gonzalez tipped a rail with his first mount, Quilebo D’Tillard, but was flawless with his 12 year-old Holsteiner gelding, Criptonite. At the halfway mark in the round, Alexander Grayton had to look over his shoulder following a good bump on the final fence with Wilanka, but the rail stayed up. Both Fellers on Colgan Cruise and King on Onyx left all the sticks up to go two for two and Laura-Jane Tidball completed the order with double clears on Prim’ De Lairaud and Armus GS.
As the field prepared for the jump off round, Wirth’s course promised to give spectators a thrill with a long gallop to the final fence of the day.
Fellers led the jump off on Flexible, but the pair had an uncharacteristic rail late in the round to finish with 4 faults and a time of 38.10. Later in the order, he went on to deliver almost an identical ride on Colgan Cruise, tipping the same rail for 4 faults at 38.17 and putting him out of contention.
King and Quigley were the first to go double clear and capture the early lead. For Serek, last year’s winner, top spot was within reach. As Eleonora approached the penultimate fence, a voice rang out from the tents – ‘clear’ – likely to urge her to go for the win. The pair galloped through, but finished just off the pace at 42.01.
Fernadez and Criptonite got in deep to the final fence, drawing a few gasps from the crowd, but didn’t put a toe wrong and delivered a strong round at 39.23. Of Tidball’s two rounds, she was clear with Prim at 48.10 to move into fourth, but had a few rails on Armus GS.
Calgary’s, Grayton, had the crowd on their feet as he sped to the finish, but his time of 40.03 wasn’t enough, leaving the door open for King to bring it home.
Aboard Onyx, King proved unbeatable – and fast. With lots of encouragement from the crowd and a great deal of gallop, the pair took the day with a time of 37.70. Onyx, an 8 year-old gelding owned by Joelle Froese, is a sentimental ride for King. His sire, Laramie, was the Mobile, Alabama rider’s first international horse.
In addition to prize money, King received the SSG ‘Ride Clean for the Green’ $1000 bonus for wearing the brand’s digital gloves.
$25,000 Canadian Premiere Grand Prix – Top 8
Place/Rider/Horse/Owner/Time/Faults
1. Kyle King/Onyx/Joelle Froese/37.70/0
2. Enrique Gonzalez/Criptonite/Enrique Gonzalez/39.23/0
3. Kyle King/Quigley/Paul Politeski/39.47/0
4. Alexander Grayton/Wilanka/Grayton Farms/40.03/0
5. Jenn Serek/Eleonora/Shin Group/42.01/0
6. Laura-Jane Tidball/Prim’ De Lairaud/Thunderbird Show Stables/48.10/0
7. Rich Fellers/Flexible/Harry & Mollie Chapman/38.10/4
8. Rich Fellers/Colgan Cruise/Harry & Mollie Chapman/38.17/0
This year, Thunderbird Show Park is celebrating 40 years. What began a few kilometers from their current location, a 22 acre property that featured a Keg Steakhouse & Bar restaurant overlooked the indoor arena, has grown into one of North America’s top facilities. The move in 2000 allowed Thunderbird to begin a new chapter. Equestrian landscape architect, Robert Jolicoeur, the designer behind the equestrian venue for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, worked with the Tidball’s to build a premiere facility that would grow and develop. Today, Tbird has two top three ratings from the North American Rider’s Group and endless plans for the future.
Competition at the Park resumes Wednesday, May 28, 2013 with the BC Open. Visit tbird.ca for the directions and a full schedule. The $55,000 Purica Recovery EQ World Cup goes Saturday at 2pm. For those who can’t be on the grounds, Thunderbird launched a new Livestream feed this season that puts the Grand Prix field on air all day, every day. Watch it live during an event or tune in and watch it taped at http://new.livestream.com/livefmg/canadianpremier2013 .
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