AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 THE RIDER /43 Children’s Jumping Team Golden At North American Youth Championships


Traverse City, MI, August 12, 2022 – The Children’s Jumping Team of Mathilde Candele, Livia Martin, Tay- lor Wood and Tristan Tobin captured the gold medal in an exciting two rounds and jump-off on August 11 at the North American Youth Championships (NAYC) in Traverse City, Michigan. After Canada went


double clear with three scores in the first two rounds, they entered a jump- off against United States Zone 2 to determine who would finish on top of the podium. The tightknit group of young athletes, who are all from Ontario, were suc- cessful in facing the pres- sures of a jump-off, jumping clear in three scores to win the gold medal over the Americans, who incurred one fault to earn the silver medal. Competing at her first


NAYC, Mathilde Candele of Orangeville, ON, has been enjoying her experi- ence at the event. “I love the


show,” she said. “It’s very pretty and organized, every- one is welcoming.” Riding her own Disco de Pleville (Contendro x Dollar Dela Pierre), a nine-year-old Selle Francais gelding, the twelve-year-old, who is the daughter of Canadian Olympic Equestrian Yann Candele, completed a speedy jump-off round of 28.82.


As luck would have it,


Candele has been specifi- cally working with her horse on jump-offs. “I got him in the beginning of January, and at first he couldn’t turn very well, but we’ve been working on turning, going forward and back.” When asked about her father, with a slight chuckle, “I think he’s a good trainer, we walked the course prior to the competition – he’s helped me with making Disco a better jump-off horse.” A close friend of Can-


dele’s, Livia Martin of Man- otick, ON, competed in her


second NAYC in as many years, competing with her own Coradi (sired by Ce Matin), a 10-year-old Mack- lenburg Warmblood geld- ing, the same horse as last year. Martin was the lead- off for the team and helped them reach the podium with a time of 30.03 in the jump- off round. Also on the last year’s


team, Taylor Wood of Man- otick, ON, was competing this time on a new horse, riding her own Joyride (Quidam Junior x Cavalier Royale), a nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding. “Last year, we had only three of us on the team, Dayton asked me to come back and I brought a differ- ent horse I’ve had for a year and half.” Wood, who is coached by 10-time Cana- dian Olympian Ian Millar, was thrilled with his per- formance, “Joyride was amazing today! I can’t de- scribe it, he was so good, it was a lot of pressure and I’m very happy,” she said.


The fourth member of


the team was Tristan Tobin of King City, ON, who was also competing in her first NAYC. Riding Dartagnan Z (Diamant de Semilly x Chellano Z), a 17-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Reese Tobin, the 14-year-old Canadian ath- lete has really enjoyed the camaraderie and atmos- phere at NAYC. “It’s been a blast getting to know my teammates and being here with my horse,” she said when asked about her expe- rience at the championship. The team was lead by


Chef d’Équipe Dayton Gorsline, who was ex- tremely happy with the re- sult but moreover proud of the team. “It’s nice to win, but also, it’s a nice group of kids. Not just the children but a good group across the board, I think there is a very good group feeling as the senior riders get along with the younger ones.” Gorsline added, “two


of the children’s riders were on the team last year, they were our lead off and anchor and they dealt with the pres- sure very well – it was our day today, sometimes you get some luck!” The team is looking to


continue in the young riders program, “they move up to the pre-juniors next year – which they are all excited about but they are also ex- cited to continue in the young riders program for a period of time – which is a nice thing,” the Chef d’Équipe explained.


Candele and Disco de Pleville competing at the NAYC in Traverse, City, MI Photo Credit: Ben Radvanyi Photography


Martin and Coradi clearing a jump in her second NAYC. Photo Credit: Ben Radvanyi Photography


Tobin and Dartagnan Z. Photo Credit: Ben Radvanyi Photography


Wood and Joyride Photo Credit: Ben Radvanyi Photography


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Canada atop of the podium at the North American Youth Championships Photo Credit: Ben Radvanyi


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