Megan Champoux, 17, from Aldergrove, BC rode to the top of the 2016 Running Fox CET Medal National Final on Nov. 10, 2016 at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON.
After earning a third place finish in the 2016 Jump Canada Medal National Final earlier in the week on Nov. 8, Champoux returned to the Ricoh Coliseum for the CET Medal, which featured a total of 16 athletes invited from four regions across Canada.
Riding Brighton, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Denise Kinvig, Champoux earned the highest mark of the initial Flat/Gymnastic phase on Nov. 9, receiving a score of 87 from the judges after completing the challenging test – which included changes of lead, turn on the haunches and posting trot without stirrups, along with jumping from the trot, hand gallop and counter-canter.
“It was really challenging with all of the flatwork, so I just wanted to get it done and I’m really happy with how it worked out,” said Champoux, who is no stranger to challenging tests, having competed in the renowned ASPCA Maclay Medal Finals at the CP National Horse Show, held Nov. 1-6, 2016 in Lexington, KY.
Champoux and Brighton returned to the ring for the second and final Jumping phase on Nov. 10, tackling 14 jumping efforts, including bending lines, double and triple-combinations and a liverpool. Once again, the pair achieved the highest score of the class with 86.
“My horse was a little bit spooky, so I definitely knew I had to ride and get down the lines,” said Champoux, explaining that she has only been partnered full-time with Brighton for a month. “I rode him a little bit off and on throughout the summer, but I really took him on before the medal finals and got to know him a lot better.”
As the winner of both the Flat/Gymnastic Phase and the Jumping Phase, Champoux earned her spot into the final test to decide the overall championship. Four riders with the highest two-phase scores were invited back into the ring following the Jumping phase award ceremony. After receiving verbal instructions, they were required to perform a short course of six fences, with additional challenges including roll-back turns, a trot jump, and a jump from the counter-canter.
The last of the four riders to complete the test, Champoux nailed the challenges, executing smooth inside turns and a flawless trot jump and counter-canter.
“It feels amazing to have won and I’m so happy,” said Champoux, who began competing in the CET Medal at just 12 years of age and has attended the national finals for the past four consecutive years. “It’s been a goal of mine forever (to win) and it’s nice that I got it done.”
Champoux also had plenty of praise for her mother and coach, Sarah Champoux. “I’ve been riding with my mother basically my whole life. She has taught me a lot and I’m really grateful to have her. She’s my biggest supporter and my biggest fan, so it’s amazing to have her behind me to support me every step.”
As the Running Fox CET Medal National Final winner, Keith was presented with a brand new Luc Childeric saddle from Debra Smith, co-owner of title sponsor, Running Fox. The title sponsor of the CET Medal series and National Final for over 20 years, Running Fox also provided all 16 competitors with a Walsh leather halter, plus coolers to the top eight.
Assisting Smith with the presentation was two-time Canadian Olympian, Tiffany Foster from North Vancouver, BC. A CET alumna, Foster won the National Final in 2001, an accomplishment that proved to be a stepping stone to her highly successful international career as a Canadian Show Jumping Team member.
The 2016 Reserve Champion in the Running Fox CET Medal National Final was Taylor McManus from Langley, BC aboard Thiago, owned by Georgia McManus. Third place went to Allie Sullivan of Vancouver, BC and David Robinson’s Aphrodite M. Rounding out the top four was Jenna Lee Gottschlich from Edmonton, AB and her own Zidane B.
Designed to provide a skill-building foundation for the next generation of Canadian Equestrian Team riders, the CET Medal series was founded by Barbara Anderson, and is an equitation competition where riders are judged on their position and riding style. For more information on the CET Medal series, click here. A complete list of past National CET Medal winners can be found here.
Running Fox CET Medal National Final – Overall Results
Placing / Rider / Hometown / Horse / Owner
1st / Megan Champoux / Aldergrove, BC / Brighton / Denise Kinvig
2nd / Taylor McManus / Langley, BC / Thiago / Georgia McManus
3rd / Allie Sullivan / Vancouver, BC / Aphrodite M / David Robinson
4th / Jenna Lee Gottschlich / Edmonton, AB / Zidane B / Jenna Lee Gottschlich
5th / Dannie Murphy / Charlottetown, PEI / Jaquino / Harvey Equine Ventures LLC
6th / Ludovic Richer / Montreal, QC / Grand Slam 3E / Ludovic Richer
7th / Halle Gainey / Kelowna, BC / In Shock / Asta Torokvei
8th / Ariane Gosselin / Blainville, QC / Karma 3E / Ariane Gosselin
Running Fox CET National Medal Final – Jumping Phase
Placing / Rider / Hometown / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Megan Champoux / Aldergrove, BC / Brighton / Denise Kinvig / 86
2nd / Jenna Lee Gottschlich / Edmonton, AB / Zidane B / Jenna Lee Gottschlich / 84
3rd / Dannie Murphy / Charlottetown, PEI / Jaquino / Harvey Equine Ventures LLC / 82
4th / Taylor McManus / Langley, BC / Thiago / Georgia McManus / 79
5th / Mackenzie Wray / Loretto, ON / Contact / Makim Holdings Inc. / 76
6th / Anya Bereznicki / Calgary, AB / Rigoletto / Chantale Entz / 75
7th / Victoria Lombart / St-Lambert, QC / Beaulieu’s Ice Breaker / Anne Laplante / 74
8th / Ludovic Richer / Montreal, QC / Grand Slam 3E / Ludovic Richer / 73
Running Fox CET National Medal Final – Flat/Gymnastic Phase
Placing / Rider / Hometown / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Megan Champoux / Aldergrove, BC / Brighton / Denise Kinvig / 87
2nd / Taylor McManus / Langley, BC / Thiago / Georgia McManus / 86
3rd / Jenna Lee Gottschlich / Edmonton, AB / Zidane B / Jenna Lee Gottschlich / 85
4th / Allie Sullivan / Vancouver, BC / Aphrodite M / David Robinson / 77
5th / Emma Seger / Toronto, ON / Cohiba / Emma Seger / 73
6th / Ludovic Richer / Montreal, QC / Grand Slam 3E / Ludovic Richer / 68
7th / Sarah Shannon / Bedford, NS / Alejandro / Sarah Shannon / 66
8th / Halle Gainey / Kelowna, BC / In Shock / Asta Torokvei / 65
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