Lauren Patava Wins Talent Squad Eastern Division Final Standings

Lauren Patava of Toronto, ON, won the Eastern Division of the 2011 Jump Canada National Talent Squad Series.

In 2011, the Eastern Division was comprised of 12 competitions which began in May at the Caledon National and concluded with the eastern division final at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament at the end of September at the Caledon Equestrian Park in Caledon, ON. Registered riders are awarded points based on their results in each class they participate in. The rider with the best five scores at the end of the series is declared the division winner.

Patava, 21, had consistent results all season with her young horse Sly, Bonaventure Farms’ eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. At the Caledon Summer Classic, Patava and Sly kicked off their Talent Squad season with a fourth place finish for nine points in the $3,500 Talent Squad class. A second place finish the following week in the $3,500 Talent Squad class at the Cornerstone Horse Show Week 1 netted the pair an additional 10 points. At the International Bromont I, Patava and Sly were once again near the top with fourth place for 11 points. Another fourth place finish, for five points, at the Equestrian Festival in July kept the pair in the hunt for the overall series win, which they captured at the Eastern Division Talent Squad Final at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament with a sixth place finish for five more points. The pair won the Series with a total of 40 points.

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Series veteran, Margie Gayford, of Sharon, ON, finished as the reserve champion in the Eastern Division with a total of 36 points riding Calando Z, Paddy Ann Burns’ 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding.

“I couldn’t be happier with Sly this season,” Patava, who is currently enrolled at Guelph University. “Sly turned eight this year and it was his first time stepping up to the Talent Squad level, so my goal for the year was consistency.

“I’ve competed with Sly each year in the Jump Canada Young Horse Series for five, six and seven/eight-year-olds and the Talent Squad Series was the next step in his development,” Patava continued. “It’s great that Jump Canada recognizes Sly’s consistency with series standings, because while we never won an individual Talent Squad class, Sly jumped great rounds all the season long.”

As the top placed rider in the Eastern Division, Patava will be nominated to Sport Canada to receive an Athlete Developmental Funding Card. The winner of the Western Division, Tamie Phillips of Calgary, AB, will also be nominated to receive the same funding.

The top 10 riders from both the Eastern and Western Divisions will go head-to-head in the Jump Canada National Talent Squad Championships at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON, from November 4–13, 2011.

The Jump Canada Talent Squad Series is a means of recognizing up-and-coming riders who are preparing to enter the grand prix ranks and gives them a platform to demonstrate their ability to become future members of the Canadian Equestrian Team. For complete standings and criteria, please visit www.equinecanada.ca/jumpcanada.