Toronto, ON – Waylon Roberts of Port Perry, Ontario, made it a three-peat tonight, winning the second leg and overall title of the Good Crop Services Indoor Eventing Championship at The Royal Horse Show, part of the 86th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. The International division for the show jumpers also kicked off today, where 20 year-old Harvard junior Hillary Dobbs made a great first impression, winning the Welcome and finishing second behind veteran Michael Whitaker in the Jolera Power and Speed.

 

“What do I have to lose?” was what Waylon Roberts thought before entering the ring tonight, in his attempt to knock Jean Rablat out of the lead in the final round of the Good Crop Services Indoor Eventing Championship. His leave-nothing-on-the-table approach certainly paid off tonight, making Roberts the only Champion this unique series has ever seen. 

 

A mix of cross-country obstacles and stadium jumps, indoor eventing made its North American debut at The Royal three years ago and has grown in leaps ever since. This year Roberts beat a dozen competitors hailing from the USA, France, Great Britain and Canada, including last night’s winner Jean Rablat. Rablat was working on a blazing fast round until he tried to turn too sharply and nearly ran into an obstacle in the middle of the ring. Roberts made the same inside turn look easy, cutting Rablat’s combined two-night time by more than seven seconds.

 

“After round one, I knew my horse would jump everything. But I also knew everyone had upped their game from last night – nobody was going to bring anything but their best. At some point you just have to go out there and go for it,” said Roberts after his win.

 

Making her first appearance at The Royal, Hillary Dobbs of the Sussex, New Jersey, also went for it today, winning the International Jumpers Welcome this afternoon and finishing second in the Jolera Power and Speed with her 10 year-old German-bred gelding Marengo. Dobbs, the daughter of CNN’s Lou Dobbs, was edged out tonight in the Jolera Power and Speed by long-time British Team member Michael Whitaker, with his deceptively fast mare, Fairview’s Mirabelle D’Or.

 

In the two-phase power and speed class, the first eight jumps need to be completed without fault in order to progress to the second set of jumps which are run against the clock. Just eleven of the 23 competitors made it on to jump the second half of the course, including individual Olympic Champion, Canada’s Eric Lamaze.

 

Dobbs’ time of 31.13 seconds in the speed phase held up against some of the very best including Lamaze, Olympic team-mate Jill Henselwood and newly crowned Canadian Champion Keean White. Whitaker nailed inside turn after turn however, to stop the clock at 30.23 seconds.

 

Just the third show together for Whitaker and his mount this evening, the pair showed successfully at Birmingham, UK and Syracuse, New York before coming north to Toronto this week.

 

“I didn’t really know what to expect of her tonight,” said Whitaker of his new partner. “She jumped the first three fences great, and by the time we had to jump against the clock she was dead ready to go.”

 

Whitaker, a four-time Olympian for Great Britain, will compete in tomorrow night’s $100,000 CN FEI World Cup Qualifier before defending his 2007 win in the $75,000 Ricoh Big Ben Challenge later this week. Hot on his heels will be the three competing members of the Canadian Silver-medal Olympic Team, who finished second, third and fourth in the opening class today. For horse show schedule, results and ticket information, please visit www.royalfair.org.

Good Crop Services Indoor Eventing Championship

Rider / Hometown / Horse

1. Waylon Roberts (CAN) / Port Perry, ON / Myrddin’s Sebastian

2. Jean Rablat (FRA) / Cambridge, ON / Bellaney Rock

3. Penny Rowland (CAN) / Orangeville, ON / Roundabout

4. Karl Slezak (CAN) / Caledon, ON / Pavarotti

5. Leslie Law (GBR) / Bluemont, VA / Urban Legend 

 

$25,000 International Jumpers Welcome

Rider / Horse / Prize Money

1. Hillary Dobbs (USA) / Marengo / $8,000

2. Jill Henselwood (CAN) / Black Ice / $6,000

3. Eric Lamaze (CAN) / Take Off / $4,000

4. Ian Millar (CAN) / Redefin / $2,000

5. Amy Millar (CAN) / Piccobello du Val de Geer / $1,500

$25,000 Jolera Power & Speed

Rider / Horse / Prize Money

1. Michael Whitaker (GBR) / Fairview’s Mirabelle D’Or / $8,000

2. Hillary Dobbs (USA) / Marengo / $6,000

3. Yann Candele (CAN) / Pitareusa / $4,000

4. Eric Lamaze (CAN) / Narcotique de Muze II / $2,000

5. McLain Ward (USA) / Phillipa / $1,500

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