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Results / How Many List / Orders of Go |
| Canadian Ladies come out on top in the $100,000 CN FEI World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix at The Royal |
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For the second year in a row, the Canadian national anthem played for the biggest class of the week and this time it was playing for first and second.Toronto, Ontario – One year ago tonight the anthem played for Individual Gold medalist Eric Lamaze, and this year it played for his Olympic Silver medal team-mate Jill Henselwood. She was a hair too fast opening night, and a hair too slow the second night, but managed to get it just right tonight to win the $100,000 CN FEI World CupTM Qualifier Grand Prix at The Royal Horse Show. Fellow Canadian and past Olympian Beth Underhill picked up second and Ireland’s Dermott Lennon held on for third.Twenty-four horses started the class tonight, over the extremely challenging course designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, New York. Just five were able to master the first round to qualify for the jump-off, over a shorter but more challenging course. D’Ambrosio most notably designed this year’s Rolex FEI World CupTM Final, in Las Vegas, USA. “It was a real riders course,” said Beth Underhill following the class. “It was very visual for the horses with lots of colour and you really needed scope to get through the combinations. You had to be spot on – the distances, angles and widths were tough.” Both riders agreed you had to know your horse and know going into the ring what your strategy was going to be, if you were to elude trouble. “You have to have enough experience to know what your horse does well, and what he finds hard,” explained Henselwood. “I’ve known Bottom Line for a long time, I’ve trained the owner Jenn Serek and the horse for years. I know she’s naturally a little ‘hot’, and I know she needs a mental re-group at spots on course. So I had to go inside to the second jump or I was going to have another time fault!” she laughed, referring to her opening weekend in the Canadian Championships. “I decided against going inside to the second jump,” said Underhill, outlining why her strategy was opposite to that of Henselwood’s. “I thought it was a bad decision for my horse because he tends to jump a little high at times and not cover the width. I think going around to the second fence just found me a better rhythm and better course overall.” Earlier in the evening, Greg Aziz and family, the owners of Underhill’s mount Top Gun, were honoured in a special presentation naming them the Jump Canada Owners of the Year. Aziz bought his first show jumper in 1999 and has been an avid supporter of Canadian equestrianism ever since. His Iron Horse Farm has also supported youth agriculture at The Royal for many years. This afternoon also saw the Grand Prix phase of the CDI 3* Dressage presented by Dominion Regalia with 2008 winners Ashley Holzer and Pop Art were once again at the top of the pack with a final score of 71.830, more than five points better than their closest rivals. When asked about her short and long-term plans, Holzer responded: "My total focus is on the FEI World Equestrian Games that will be held in Lexington, Kentucky next year, nothing else." Her partner, Pop Art is an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding that she imported when he was six. "It is a very special partnership," Holzer enthused. "He’s a terrific horse. In just over a year he has travelled to Hong Kong, Florida, Las Vegas, New York, Hickstead and now Toronto." The hugely popular Freestyle to music headlines the Royal Horse Show Thursday evening, following the inaugural $50,000 Royal Team Challenge for International Jumpers. This year’s Royal Horse Show continues all week with a full slate of International jumper classes including the $50,000 Weston Canadian Open Friday evening. The event runs through November 15th. By the time the competition ends, nearly $750,000 will have been awarded in prize money, making The Royal the most prestigious and hotly contested event of the season. For more information, media accreditation, live webcasting, complete schedule, results and to purchase tickets, please visit www.royalfair.org. $100,000 CN FEI World CupTM Qualifier Grand Prix Rider / Hometown / Horse / Faults:Time 1. Jill Henselwood / Oxford Mills, ON / Bottom Line / 0.00 : 36.35 2. Beth Underhill / Schomberg, ON / Top Gun / 0.00 : 37.86 3. Dermott Lennon / Ireland / Hallmark Elite / 0.00 : 39.36 4. Ljubov Kochetova / Russia / Aslan / 0.00 : 39.36 5. Charlie Jayne / Elgin, IL / 8.00 : 37.27 |
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