The Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) Roadrunners expanded their lead in the Major League Show Jumping (MLSJ) overall team standings from five points to eight after victory in Monterrey, Mexico, on Saturday. Team riders Kaitlin Campbell (USA), Erynn Ballard (CAN) and Richard Howley (IRL) took to the stunning grass field at Concurso de Salto La Silla and retained their season lead as all eyes are now on The Final in La Quinta, CA — their home ground.
Team veteran from the start of MLSJ, Campbell signed, sealed and delivered the victory for the Roadrunners with a blistering fast gold medal matchup round against Maccabi United’s Gabriel Machado (BRA). The Roadrunners are now the only team to win two team competitions during the 2024 season.
Campbell and Armentos, a 13- year-old Oldenburg gelding (Armitage 2 x Levantos I) owned by SWS Training & Sales, were sent to the gold medal round thanks to two clear second-round performances from Ballard and Howley. They piloted Fave d’Authuit, a 9-year-old Selle Français gelding (Windows vh Costersveld) owned by Ilan Ferder, and Zodiac du Buisson Z, another 9-year-old Zangersheide gelding (VDL Zirocco Blue x Dutch Capitol Z) owned by HK Horses, respectively. But for a single time fault in the opening round, all three riders were picture perfect throughout the three-round day.
“I’ve been doing this for four seasons now and that’s the first time I’ve ever jumped off four gold, so I wanted to make sure I tried as hard as I possibly could,” said Campbell after the win. “My horse is originally from Mexico; I bought him here, so he’s shown here quite a bit and loves the big open grass field.”
Returning first, Campbell stopped the clock at 48.53 seconds, putting the pressure on Machado. A rail fell for the Maccabi United anchor, settling he and Legaland Sandro with silver, alongside Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam on Irandole du Flot and Mark Bluman (COL) riding Concare PS.
Howley is a newcomer to The League after the mid-season trade winner, and picked up his first team win early. “It’s been fantastic to join such a strong team and obviously to come and win on our first day out is fantastic,” he said. “The standard is high; the courses are tough and the time is tight, so everybody has to move. In the second round, I tried to get ahead to make sure we get back for the top two positions.”
Ballard is a familiar face on MLSJ teams but joined the Roadrunners this year from 2023 season title holders Helios. She understands the pressure that comes with defending a top spot in the standings.
“There’s always pressure going into the final,” she said. “We have good momentum, but I think we also have good horses and riders, and that’s what it comes down to. We’re starting to understand the strategy to win; if you watch the evolution of the class, the first year everybody would go in and run. It’s about jumping clear rounds. I think the second round is the one that is the most pressure because that secures your gold or silver placing.
“It’s not a class for second horses anymore,” continued Ballard. “It’s a class for specific horses because the reward is big.”
Rounding out the podium for bronze was Team KPF after Sameh El Dahan (GBR) on WKD Toronto won their medal match against Eye Candy’s Gabriela Reutter (CHI) riding Castle OJ.
“We are trying to hang on to number one; that’s the main goal is to have no major mistakes and try to ride it out to the end and win the whole thing,” concluded Campbell of the Roadrunners’ victory. “I’s a lot closer this year than it has been in previous season, so it’s really going to come down to that final class, which is going to be exciting.”
Results here.
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