After more than twenty years being hosted by the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario, the Canadian Show Jumping Championship returned to Calgary and local rider Vanessa Mannix and her horse Catinka 25 mastered the $25,000 Grant Production Testing speed class topping a field of 26 horse and rider combinations all vying to be crowned the next Canadian Show Jumping Champion.
Mannix, of Calgary, currently ranked 174th on the World Ranking list, is a mainstay on the Royal West list of competitors, having competed at the inaugural event hosted back in 2014. “I compete around the world with my horses on the tour, but always love being able to compete in my hometown with my family able to watch,” said Mannix. “My horse really loves this venue, and I was extremely pleased with her performance tonight,” she added. Regarding the Championship coming out West: “I’ve competed in the Championship a number of times in Toronto and think it’s a great stepping stone for riders wanting to enter the international ranks of the sport. I think it’s great that Equestrian Canada allowed the event to move to Calgary in these uncertain Covid times.”
The reigning Canadian Show Jumping Champion is Schomberg, Ontario’s Canadian Team member Beth Underhill, who won the prestigious Championship at the Royal Winter Fair in 2019. With the Covid-19 pandemic playing havoc to the sport of show jumping as well, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair was forced to cancel in 2020 and 2021. That’s when Calgary’s John Anderson stepped up to the plate and said we need to help. “The sport needs Championships and riders need to be recognized for their efforts. It’s what drives riders to be better, and how can they be better if there is no goalpost?” said Anderson. “We have hosted a number of indoor events at Calgary’s Stampede Park and knew we could pull it off,” added Anderson.