For the second year in a row, Adrienne Sternlicht of the United States won the $185,000 USD RBC Grand Prix, the featured event of the CSI4* Ottawa International show jumping tournament at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, ON.
Held Saturday, August 15, the RBC Grand Prix attracted an international field of starters with Canada, Israel, Ireland, Luxembourg, and the United States all represented. France’s Grégory Bodo, co-course designer at the 2014 Paris Olympic Games, set a track on the grass grand prix field that produced four clear rounds.
Mckayla Langmeier of the United States was the first to return for the jump-off riding Isidore de Chalusse for owner Rafferty Farm LLC. With two rails down in a time of 43.96 seconds, Langmeier would eventually finish in fourth place with the eight-year-old Selle Français gelding (Clarimo x Vigo d’Arsouilles STX) that she began riding at the international level earlier this year.
Next to challenge was Ireland’s Conor Swail riding Theo 160, a 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Christian 25 x Calando IV) owned by Mannon Farm. The veteran combination was quick, stopping the timers in 42.03 seconds, but a rail down at the final fence put their chances of a victory at risk.
The next rider on course was the defending champion. Sternlicht was hoping for a repeat victory in the RBC Grand Prix, this time partnered with Faquitol-S. She executed her plan faultlessly, moving into the lead with a time of 42.99 seconds.
Charlotte Bettendorf representing Luxembourg was the only challenger left to come. Riding Good Girl DK, John Kimmel’s 10-year-old Selle Français mare (By Ceira d’Ick x Kannan), Bettendorf looked to be within reach of the leading time, but when the scoreboard flashed 43.25 seconds, Bettendorf was forced to settle for second while Sternlicht once again claimed victory.
“Even though there weren’t so many in the class, there were a lot of good five-star combinations,” noted Sternlicht of the 19-horse starting field. “When Mckayla and Conor went before me in the jump-off and had rails, I thought it could be the right day for me. I knew if I stayed on my plan, my horse would try one hundred percent for me, as evidenced. He is not the fastest, but luck was on my side, and he gave me an enormous effort. I’m happy for him and especially happy for my team.”
While Origa vh Zuid-Pajottenland was her winning mount in 2025, this year she led the victory gallop with Faquitol-S, a 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Verdi TN x Carolus H) owned by Starlight Farms 1 LLC.
“I’ve had him for four years and, for a big horse, he’s unbelievably careful,” said Sternlicht, a 33-year-old professional athlete who is also working part-time on her MBA at New York University. “I’ve had to rely on him a lot of over the past four years. One of his super powers is how predictable he is. Today I decided to change the bridle and tried something new; I figured it would either work or I would learn something. He has the biggest heart of any animal I’ve ever ridden.”
Sternlicht, a member of the gold medal team at the 2018 World Championships, has competed at the Ottawa International for the past three out of four years, only missing the 2024 edition when she was competing in Europe.
“It’s a really refreshing change of pace; I exhale every time I land here,” said Sternlicht of competing at Wesley Clover Parks, which has one of the few remaining grass jumping fields in Canada. “My horses really enjoy the open spaces and fresh air. After jumping in sand boxes month after month, it’s so refreshing to jump on grass.”
Sternlicht also brought last year’s winner, Origa vh Zuid-Pajottenland, to Ottawa to contest the CSI2* division running concurrently with the CSI4* division. They will be one of 21 pairs hoping to win the $35,000 CSI2* Canada Gold Grand Prix scheduled to kick off at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning.
For more information on the RBC Ottawa Equestrian Tournaments, visit www.OttawaEquestrianTournaments.com.
$185,000 USD CSI4* RBC Grand Prix
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Rider / Hometown / Horse / Faults / Time
1. Adrienne Sternlicht / United States / Faquitol-S / 0:0 / 42.99
2. Charlotte Bettendorf / Luxenberg / Good Girl DK / 0:0 / 43.25
3. Conor Swail / Ireland / Theo 160 / 0:4 / 42.03
4. Mckayla Langmeier / United States / Isidore de Chalusse / 0:8 / 43.96
5. Sean Jobin / Canada / Arkuga / 4
6. Dylan Munro / Canada / Calippo 57 / 4
7. Charlise Casas / United States / Kanny-Fee / 4
8. Aaron Vale / United States / Helios du Moulin / 4
9. Carly Campbell Cooper / Canada / Baretino PS / 4
10. Daniel Coyle / Ireland / Urville Z / 4
Full results here.
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