Tiffany Foster of Langley, BC, led the Canadian charge with a faultless performance on the opening day of competition on Wednesday, August 10, at the ECCO FEI 2022 World Championships in Herning, Denmark.
Beth Underhill and Nikka vd Bisschop. (Arnd Bronkhorst Photography)
The first of four days of competition was held as a speed round where riders had four seconds added to their times for each rail down. As the final Canadian team member on course, Foster, 38. produced a world-class performance partnered with Figor, an 11-year-old bay Dutch Warmblood gelding (Querly-Elvis x Indoctro) owned by Foster and Andy and Carlene Ziegler’s Artisan Farms LLC. The pair were quick and tidy around the speed track to stop the clock in 80.97 seconds, placing Foster and Figor sixth overall among the 103 starters and making her the highest-placed female athlete in a sport where men and women compete as equals.
Julien Epaillard of France topped the leaderboard on opening day with a time of 79.08 seconds riding Caracole de la Roque followed by Scott Brash riding Hello Jefferson with a time of 79.54 seconds for Great Britain. Reigning World Cup champion Martin Fuchs of Switzerland rounded out the top three with a time of 79.79 seconds aboard Leone Jei.
“The best way to phrase it is euphoric relief that it’s over and it went well,” said Foster, who is making her second World Championship appearance having also competed in Normandy, France, in 2014. “I was thrilled with my horse today. The course really suited him. On this course, I could really use his big, huge stride to my advantage. I could hit one gear and stay there. I couldn’t ask for a better start.”
Amy Millar and Truman. (Arnd Bronkhorst Photography)
The other three members of the Canadian Show Jumping Team each incurred four penalty points after having one rail down. Amy Millar, 45, of Perth, ON, knocked the front rail out of the cups at the penultimate oxer riding Truman, a 13-year-old Selle Français gelding (Mylord Carthago x Kolibri) owned by Millar Brooke Farm Ltd. and Overlund, and currently sits in 54th position with a final time of 89.13 seconds. As the first Canadian on course, Beth Underhill, 59, of Mulmur, ON, had the exact same rail riding Nikka vd Bisschop, a nine-year-old bay Belgian Warmblood mare (Emerald x Nabab de Reve) owned by Rein Family LLC and Torrey Pines Stable Inc. Underhill currently sits 61st with a time of 90.24 seconds.
Erynn Ballard’s only rail came at the first of three double combinations on the course designed by Louis Konickx of the Netherlands. A light rub at the ‘b’ element of fence five added four faults to the time of 87.87 seconds for Ballard, 41, of Tottenham, ON, and Gakhir, an 11-year-old chestnut Dutch Warmblood gelding (Spartacus TN x VDL Indorado) owned by Ilan Ferder and Esperanza Imports LLC. The pair are currently in 66th position with a final time of 91.87 seconds.
“I always felt that on the first day we would be at our weakest with some slower horses,” said Canadian team chef d’equipe Eric Lamaze, who has competed at the last seven consecutive World Championships. “I picked Tiffany to go last as I thought she had the most experience to lay down the trip that she did.”
As for Canada’s chances in the team competition, Lamaze said, “We cannot have one more rail that falls down for the rest of the championship. It’s that simple. It all comes down to the riders needing to fight, and I’m sure they will fight.”
All athletes carry their scores forward to the team competition beginning on Thursday, August 11, at 1 p.m. local time. Of the 22 countries battling for team medals, Canada currently sits in 12th place following the opening speed round. Sweden, the current Olympic team champion, currently tops the leader board followed by France and Belgium.
Friday, August 12, will see the top 10 countries return to contest the team medals under the lights in the Stutteri Ask Stadium beginning at 9 p.m. local time. Athletes placed in the top 60 who are not members of the top 10 teams will compete first to confirm their individual scores.
Following a day of rest, individual medals will be decided on Sunday, August 14, beginning at 2 p.m. local time. The top 25 ranked athletes in the individual standings following Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday’s competitions will jump in the opening round with the top 12 returning for round two, plus a jump-off if necessary, to determine the individual medal winners.
For more information on the ECCO FEI World Championships, visit https://herning2022.com/.
For full results for all disciplines HERE.
Live streaming of all events is available with a subscription to FEI TV/ClipMyHorse
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