Dec. 2015 Issue_ August 2013a 2015-11-23 4:45 PM Page 2 2/ DECEMBER 2015 THE RIDER
The Royal Continued from Page 1
laid a track that saw eight horse-rider combinations advance to the all-deciding jump-off. When Ward entered the Ricoh Coliseum, Belgium’s Olivier
Philippaerts held the jump-off lead with a clear round in a time of 42.03 seconds riding H&M Legend of Love. Wasting no time around the short course, Ward guided HH Azur home in a time of 40.42 seconds to move to the top of the leaderboard. Fellow American Reed Kessler challenged Ward’s time with Cylana, but the clock told the final tale, with a time of 41.44 seconds placing her second between Ward and Philippaerts. “Honestly, as a rider doing this my whole life, you never
think a horse like this exists,” said Ward of HH Azur, who made a huge effort at the final fence to take the win. “Most horses would have fallen down at that last fence. The take-off was 15 feet away, I bet. It’s not that I was surprised she jumped it; I was just sur- prised how easy it was. The jump-off was exciting, which is great for the crowd.” Ward enjoyed an exceptional week of competition at the Royal Horse Show®, winning a total of four international classes -
two riding HH Azur and two with his newest mount, Carneyhaugh Manx - and was awarded the title of Leading International Rider. He and HH Azur, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Thunder Van De Zuuthoeve x Sir Lui) owned by Double H Farm, also won Wednesday night’s $132,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Toronto. “The World Cup was the most difficult one we’ve seen all
season, which I was excited about with this horse,” said Ward, 40, of Brewster, NY. “I really wanted to challenge her, and what a great way to end the year!” Runner-up Kessler was thrilled with her 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare’s performance. “She was fantastic,” said Kessler, 21, who is based in Ger-
many. “I’m really lucky; I have a super experienced horse and she’s really brave and really honest. She always wants to do her best, so in that respect I have it easy. They’ve been difficult cours- es all week by Richard; you need a horse that looks for the fence and is really brave. “I love The Royal,” continued Kessler, who is competing at
the Royal Horse Show® for the second time in her young career. “It’s a super show and has great atmosphere. They do their best for the horses and the riders here, and it’s always great to come to a show that is like that.” With Kessler second and Philippaerts taking third, New
York’s Georgina Bloomberg took fourth place. The first rider on course, Bloomberg posted a clear round in a time of 45.66 seconds riding Caleno 3. Nicola Philippaerts, twin brother to Olivier, had four faults in the jump-off to place fifth riding H&M Harley vd Bisschop. Jonathon Millar was the top Canadian, taking sixth place with a rail down and two time faults riding his father’s 2012 London Olympic Games mount, Star Power. Two-time Olympic team gold medalist Beezie Madden of the United States had eight faults in the jump-off, as did New Zealand’s Sharn Wordley riding Barnetta, to finish seventh and eighth respectively. The Leading Canadian Rider Award, presented by AMJ, went
to Jonathon Millar. In an interesting twist, Martha Louise and Ari- ana, both owned by the Grange family, tied for the All-Canadian Cup, presented to the leading Canadian-owned horse. The award is presented by Susan Grange’s Lothlorien Farm of Cheltenham, ON. Grange and her rider, Conor Swail of Ireland, accepted the All- Canadian Cup. To the delight of horse and dog lovers alike, the $15,000
21-year-old Reed Kessler of the United States placed second rid- ing Cylana in the $75,000 Big Ben Challenge, presented by Hud- son’s Bay Company. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography
Mclain Ward topped Saturday’s matinee competition by winning the $15,000 Canine-Equine Challenge, presented by the Toronto Star, riding his new mount, Carneyhaugh Manx. Photo by Mackenzie Clark for Ben Radvanyi Photography
Canine-Equine Challenge, presented by the Toronto Star, took center stage in Ricoh Coliseum on Saturday afternoon. Riders were paired with a ‘Superdog’, navigating the show jumping track and crossing the timers before their canine partner took off around a dog agility course. The crowd cheered for their favourites, as dogs of all breeds, shapes and sizes raced up, over and through the obstacles. In the end, it was Ward and Carneyhaugh Manx, his new 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, that crossed the timers with the fastest clear round for the win. Also during Saturday’s matinee performance, Liam Dumont Walker of Oakville, ON, won the $5,000 MP Equine Junior/Ama-
teur Jumper Stake. Riding Lilius, Dumont Walker topped a four horse jump-off to claim victory over Ashley MacDougall of Brampton, ON, aboard Alaska K by more than four full seconds. Dumont Walker finished the week tied for Champion in the Junior/Amateur division with Miranda Travers-Cavill of Clare- mont, ON, who won the other two classes in the division riding Capriato. While international show jumping competitors are heading
back to their respective corners of the world, the next generation will take center stage in the Ricoh Coliseum on Sunday, Novem- ber 15. Highlights include the Children’s Hunter and Junior Jumper divisions, as well as the $5,000 Royal Pony Jumper Final, presented by William Tilford and Marion Cunningham of Marbill Hill Farm in Bradford West Gwillimbury, ON.
Funding support for The Royal has been provided by the City of Toronto and the Government of Ontario.
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