2/ DECEMBER 2017 THE RIDER


Hardin Towell Continued from Page 1.


$35,000 Jolera International Jumper event on Tuesday, November 7, aboard another mount, New York. “It is nice to win here because the classes are so special. The at-


mosphere is amazing, and the crowd was great tonight. “I have believed in Lucifer since I


first started riding him and we really came along together,” continued Towell of the 11-year-old Westphalian gelding (Lord Dezi x Grandeur) owned by Evergate Sta- bles that he has been paired with for four years. “I went to my first World Cup Final with him, jumped my first five-star grand prix with him, and he has helped me get to the next level.” Lamontagne had the Canadian


crowd behind him as he gave his best effort on closing night. For his impressive performances on home soil throughout the Royal Horse Show, Lamontagne earned the Mof- fat Dunlap Leading Canadian Rider Award while his mount, Chanel du Calvaire, was presented with The All-Canadian Cup as the leading Canadian-owned horse. The All- Canadian Cup was established by the late Susan Grange and presented by the Grange family representing Lothlorien Farm of Cheltenham, ON.


“To do the international division


at The Royal is a dream that I have had since I was a child,” said an ec- static Lamontagne, 33, who is no stranger to success at the Royal Horse Show, having competed in other divisions in the past. He


Hardin Towell and Beezie Madden, both of the United States, tied for the Leading International Rider title at the conclusion of the CSI4*-W Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography


topped the Jump Canada Talent Squad Final in 2011 riding Barron, a horse that Lamontagne developed and went on to win a team silver medal for the United States at the


2016 Rio Olympic Games paired with Lucy Davis. “It was really special


to show here this week,” continued Lamontagne, who also claimed the title of Re- serve Canadian Show Jump- ing Champion on opening weekend. “It doesn’t happen often that there are so many people that come to watch show jumping, and the at- mosphere was amazing tonight!” New


Zealand


Olympian Sharn Wordley rounded out the top three with a double-clear per- formance in the Big Ben Challenge, crossing the timers in 43.61 seconds rid- ing Barnetta, owned by Sky Group. The defending champion of the Big Ben Challenge, Kent Farrington, settled for fourth after post- ing the fastest jump-off time, 36.92 seconds, but at the expense of one rail for four faults riding Creedance for owner RCG Farm. A crowd favourite at the Royal Horse Show, three-time U.S. Olympic medalist McLain Ward took fifth place with four faults in 37.58 seconds riding his 2016 Rio Olympic partner, Double H Farm’s HH Azur, the same mount that carried him to the coveted Longines


Nicole Walker of Aurora, ON, won the Alfred Rogers Uplands Under 25 National Championship riding Excellent B after first and second-place finishes in the two-phase event at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography


FEI World Cup™ Final title in April. Following five days of


top-calibre international show jumping competition, Towell shared the Leading International Rider title with four-time U.S. Olympic medalist Beezie Madden, who enjoyed wins in the $35,000 Brickenden Trophy on Thursday riding Coach and the $50,000 Weston


Canadian Open aboard Bre- itling LS on Friday. “I just took the week


class by class, and it is amazing to be tied with someone like Beezie Mad- den at the end,” said Towell of his Leading International Rider title. “She is one of the best in the world, and the title is icing on the cake after two wins.” The future stars of


show jumping sport were highlighted on Saturday af- ternoon in the Alfred Rogers Uplands Under 25 National Championship. Nicole Walker, 24, of Aurora, ON, earned the coveted champi- onship title after winning the opening phase of com- petition on Thursday and taking second in phase two on Saturday riding Excellent B. Reserve Champion hon- ours were presented to 19- year-old Alexanne Thibault of Boucherville, QC, who won Saturday’s final phase riding Chacco Prime. Horse and dog lovers


François Lamontagne of St. Eustache, QC, was presented with the Moffat Dunlap Leading Canadian Rider Award while his mount, Chanel du Calvaire, claimed the All- Canadian Cup as the leading Canadian-owned horse during the CSI4*-W Royal Horse Show. The All-Canadian Cup was presented by the Grange Family representing Lothlorien Farm of Cheltenham, ON. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography


Canada’s own François Lamontagne of St. Eustache, QC, took second in the $87,000 GroupBy Big Ben Challenge on home soil riding Chanel du Calvaire in the final inter- national show jumping event of the CSI4*-W Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography


alike had something to cheer for on Saturday afternoon when the $20,000 Canine- Equine Challenge, pre- sented by the Toronto Star, paired top international rid- ers with a ‘Superdog’. After riders navigated a show jumping speed track, their canine partner raced around a dog agility course that in- cluded ramps, tunnels, and a final puissance jump. Al- ways popular with the crowd, the relay-style event saw Ireland’s Richie Moloney take the win riding Alsvid with a time of 34.76 seconds partnered with Party, a Bearded Collie. Canada’s own Erynn Bal- lard of Tottenham, ON, fin- ished as the runner-up in 36.35 seconds aboard Bella Donna, owned by Sagamore Farms. Her canine partner was Shrek, a deceivingly- fast Rottweiler. Funding support for


The Royal was provided by the City of Toronto and the Government of Ontario.


About The Royal The Royal Agricul-


tural Winter Fair is the world’s largest combined in- door agricultural and eques- trian event. The 95th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair runs November 3-12, 2017, at Exhibition Place, Toronto, Canada. For com- petition schedules, live we- bcasting, results and to purchase tickets, please visit www.royalfair.org.


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