For the second Friday in a row, 21-year-old Jordan MacPherson of Toronto, ON, was the big winner at the National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments taking place at the Nepean National Equestrian Park in Ottawa, ON.
MacPherson and Piccobello topped a 15-horse jump-off for victory in the $10,000 Ottawa Rental and Supply Ltd. Open Welcome, adding to their victory a week earlier in the $10,000 NationWide Open Welcome.
Two-time Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela set an inviting track on the grass grand prix field for the 32 horses entered in the $10,000 Ottawa Rental and Supply Ltd. Open Welcome. A total of 15 horses jumped clear to advance to the all-deciding jump-off round.
It took until the tenth horse in the jump-off before the crowd was treated to a clear round. Hugh Graham of Schomberg, ON, guided Distant Star 3E home in a time of 40.82 seconds to move to the top of the leader board. Lauren Hunkin of Kemptville, ON, followed and had the home crowd cheering when she jumped clear with Larry 0146, but her time of 41.38 seconds was not fast enough to catch Graham.
Angela Covert-Lawrence of St. Lazare, QC, also produced a clear round riding Utan, but a time of 42.71 seconds eventually left the pair in fifth place.
Graham had a second shot at the title with Executive Privilege 3E. The 62-year-old Canadian Equestrian Team veteran was clear yet again, this time in a fast 39.85 seconds, to put Executive Privilege 3E’s name at the top of the scoreboard for owner and breeder, KingRidge Stables.
There was still one rider left to challenge, and that was last week’s winner, Jordan MacPherson. Remaining calm and cool, the third year university student guided Piccobello around the shortened jump-off track, shaving more than a full second off the leading time to stop the clock in 38.42 seconds. As last week’s victory marked the biggest win of MacPherson’s young career, she now has two big wins to her credit.
“I think it is pretty exciting!” said MacPherson, who earned the winner’s share of $3,000.
MacPherson compared last week’s win, when she was the first rider back for the jump-off, to this week’s victory, where she was the final rider to challenge.
“It was definitely more nerve-racking than going first,” said MacPherson. “There is more to lose going last. Knowing Hugh was in first and second in the standings was a little intimidating. I wasn’t thinking about catching his time, I was just thinking, ‘clean round.’ She’s a fast horse.”
Praising the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare that she began riding in November, MacPherson said, “She was great, again. She’s amazing!”
MacPherson has trained with nine-time Canadian Olympian Ian Millar and his children, Jonathon and Amy, at Millar Brooke Farm in Perth, ON, for the past three years. MacPherson beat one of her coaches, Jonathon Millar, 36, for last week’s victory.
The National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments is in its second and final week at the Nepean National Equestrian Park. Running August 17 to 21, the second week of competition sees two-time Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela setting the tracks in the grand prix field. Competition highlights include the thrilling $10,000 ATCO Jumping Derby on Saturday, August 20, followed by the $5,000 Hunter Derby. The grand finale is Sunday’s $75,000 CSI** Brookstreet Grand Prix, sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). Both events begin at approximately 2 p.m.
More than 500 horses will compete over the two weeks of competition at the Nepean National Equestrian Park, conveniently located at the 417 Queensway and Moodie Drive.
For more information on the National Capital Show Jumping Tournament, please visit http://www.hayesco.ca/.
$10,000 Ottawa Rental and Supply Ltd. Open Welcome
Rider Hometown Horse Faults Time
1. Jordan MacPherson Toronto, ON Piccobello 0:0 38.42
2. Hugh Graham Schomberg, ON Executive Privilege 3E 0:0 39.85
3. Hugh Graham Schomberg, ON Distant Star 3E 0:0 40.82
4. Lauren Hunkin Kemptville, ON Larry 0146 0:0 41.38
5. Angela Covert-Lawrence St. Lazare, QC Utan 0:0 42.71
6. Amy Millar Perth, ON Top Gun 0:4 37.78
7. Ian Millar Perth, ON Dryden 0:4 37.96
8. Francois Lamontagne St. Eustache, QC Anton 0:4 38.45
9. Jonathon Millar Perth, ON Cantero Z 0:4 38.90
10. Roberto Teran Colombia Vortex 0:4 39.31
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