Ottawa, Ontario – Top international show jumping athletes remain in Ottawa for the second and final week of competition in the National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments. With the first week concluded, week two opened on Wednesday, August 19, and runs through Sunday, August 23 at the Nepean National Equestrian Park in Ottawa, ON.
Competitors representing not only Canada, but also Belgium, France, the United States, and Venezuela, have traveled to Ottawa to contest the international show jumping tournament. During the first week of competition, Marie Hecart of France won the $10,000 The Marshes Open Welcome held Friday, August 14, riding Ronaldo. On Saturday, the victory went south of the border when Leslie Howard, Team Gold Medalist at the 1984 Olympic Games and Team Silver Medalist at the 1996 Olympic Games for the United States, guided Lennox Lewis 2 to the win in the $15,000 ATCO Derby.
On Sunday, a showdown between 28-year-old Erynn Ballard of Hillsburgh, ON, and 62-year-old Ian Millar of Perth, ON, in the $25,000 National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments Grand Prix saw Ballard come out on top riding Simply Ahorn. Ballard was the only rider to produce two clear rounds over the testing track designed by Brazil’s Guilherme Jorge, while Millar, a nine-time Olympian and Team Silver Medalist at the 2008 Olympic Games, incurred one time fault riding Stedet’s Leroy.
For week two, two-time Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela has taken over designing duties on the grass grand prix field at the Nepean National Equestrian Park, widely considered to be the best in eastern Canada. Three-quarters of Canada’s 2008 Silver Medal Team – Millar, local athlete Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, ON, and Mac Cone of King City, ON – are in Ottawa and at the top of their game.
Ballard will be looking to make it two for two in Sunday’s $75,000 Brookstreet Grand Prix, but will face stiff opposition from current Canadian Show Jumping Champion, Keean White of Rockwood, ON, not to mention Amy and Jonathon Millar, who have both inherited their father’s talent for show jumping. Canadian Olympians Jay Hayes of Orangeville, ON, and Beth Underhill of Schomberg, ON, will also be competing.
Week two of the National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments is rated a CSI2* by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), which means that in addition to substantial prize money, world ranking points are also on the line. Featured events include the $10,000 CompetitiveJumpers.com Open Welcome on Friday, August 21, and the $15,000 Modified Grand Prix on Saturday, August 22. The National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments concludes with the $75,000 Brookstreet Grand Prix on Sunday, August 23, at 2 p.m.
Competition begins each morning at 8 a.m. and is open to the general public. Admission is $5 per person on Thursdays and Fridays, and $10 per person on Saturdays and Sundays, parking included. Children five and under are admitted free.
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