The very first edition of the Canadian Equestrian Championships got underway at the Bromont Olympic Horse Park with the show jumping test. 15 competitors showed up to the starting line. Quebec riders made a great showing, sweaping the first 4 places. Olivia D’Errico came in first, followed by Tamara Ducatel in second. Aboard Signature, Alexandre Gonzalez finished 3rd, with Emmanuelle Bolduc and Carriere rounding up the group in 4th place.
The course designed by FEI recognized Sven Lowe comprised of 10 obstacles and 13 efforts, with a double combination at the onset and a triple combination near the end, for a total distance of 490 m. The time allowed was 85 seconds.
First competitor on the course, Olivia D’Errico and her mare She’s the One set the tone with a faultless run. The jump-off being immediate in such circumstances, D’Errico tackles the course once again, and remains faultless in a time of 41.61. Aboard Qui Est-ce, a mare loaned by the Centre équestre de Bromont, Heather Brodsky garners four penalty points for lowering a bar, as does Quebec native Emmanuelle Bolduc. We would have to wait until the 9th participant, Quebec representative Tamara Ducatel, to witness another flawless run. Galvanized by her first showing, Ducatel goes all out in the jump-off, and signs off with one lowered rail and the best time on record. At this stage of the competition, she sits in 2nd place. Last ones to the challenge, Alexandre Gonzalez and Signature, for whom flawless runs is a matter of habit, mesmerize yet again their supporters. A faultless performance lands Gonzalez in the jump-off, but he lowers a rail. He takes 3rd place behind Tamara Ducatel, whose time was better. The fastest among riders with 4 penalty points, Emmanuelle Bolduc finishes fourth. For one, Olivia D’Errico was very pleased with this first victory. “Considering the difficult weather conditions, I deemed it safer to take my time. We didn’t know what to expect, and with as many sharp turns as great canters, the course was different from what we’d seen during the season. All the provinces are supporting one another, and the atmosphere here is incredible. Those are really memorable moments for me.”
The weather indeed played troublemaker, with bouts of pouring rain – and at times, hale – coming down at intervalls during the test. “I want to salute the riders from all provinces”, stated Marie-Claire Savard, Head Coach for Team Quebec. “Some of them have come from very far away. They’re not familiar with our particular conditions, and they ride on loaned horses. They deserve our applause and support.”
The second round in show jumping will take place on Saturday morning.
Results
1st Olivia D’Errico / She’s The One (Qc) 0-0, 41.61
2nd Tamara Ducatel / Aviva (Qc) 0-4, 40.04
3rd Alexandre Gonzalez / Signature (Qc) 0-4 43.13
4th Emmanuelle Bolduc / Carriere Z (Qc) 4 points
5th Heather Brodsky / Qui est-ce (SK) 4 points
6th Matthew Cormier / Genuine (NS) 4 points
7th Caity Bell / Ebon’s Freedance (SK) 8 points
8th Evan Phinney / Duke of Earl (NS) 8 points
9th Helen Isle / Sammy (SK) 16 points
10th Katelyb Murnaghan / Limestone Willow (PEI) 16 points
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