Ottawa, Ontario — Margie Gayford of Sharon, ON, leads the Jump Canada Series standings heading into the final event, the CN World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix on Wednesday, November 8, at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON.
Riding Stuntman, a 10-year-old Hannoverian gelding owned by Shawn Littler and Wingberry Farm, Gayford has accumulated an impressive total of 246.60 points. The pair started the season out strong, finishing second in the $50,000 Caledon National Grand Prix on May 21 in Palgrave, ON, before posting a third place finish in the $100,000 Alliance Homes World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix at the CSI-W Caledon Summer Festival in Palgrave, ON, on August 6. Two weeks later, the duo took top honours in the $60,000 Kubota Cup Grand Prix held August 20 at the ‘Kubota’ Collingwood Classic.
“Stuntman felt great this year, and we just took it one show at a time,” commented Gayford. “He was very confident and really wanted to jump. I was very pleased with his consistency.
Currently holding second position is Tamie Phillips of Strathmore, AB. Paired with Lucas, a 10-year-old homebred Canadian Warmblood gelding owned by her mother, Merle Gardner, Phillips has earned a total of 233.40 points in the 2006 Jump Canada Series. An alternate to Canada’s 2006 World Equestrian Games Team, Phillips contested the $35,000 Kubota Cup Grand Prix on June 3 at the Edmonton Northlands competition, finishing in second place after being just 1/100th of a second off the lead. On August 13, they won the $35,000 Kubota Cup Grand Prix at the Twin Oaks Derby.
In third position overall with 213.10 points is Mike Grinyer of Campbellville, ON, and his 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Alcatraz 34. The pair has enjoyed consistent placings throughout the Jump Canada Series, including a fourth place finish in the $25,000 TD Canada Trust Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, AB, and a sixth place finish in the $50,000 Grand Prix at the Caledon National in Palgrave, ON. Their most recent points were earned following a second place finish in the $75,000 World Cup Qualifier on September 3 at the CSI-W Halton Place Canadian Country Classic.
Other top pairs within striking distance in the Jump Canada Series standings include John Pearce of Stouffville, ON, and Archie Bunker, members of the victorious Nations’ Cup Team at the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament, who are holding fourth position with 197.60 points, and newly crowned Chrysler Leading Canadian Rider, Jonathan Asselin of Calgary, ON, who is in fifth place with a total of 183.60 points riding Lolita.
The Jump Canada Series has proven successful in providing a national jumper circuit with high standards of competition across the country. At the end of the Jump Canada Series, overall standings are calculated using the best six results, plus the final event in the Jump Canada Series, the CN World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix to be held on November 8 at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON. The winner of the 2006 Jump Canada Series will be presented with the prestigious Jump Canada trophy, generously donated by Barbara Anderson of Alberta, in a special ceremony at the Royal Horse Show.
Since its inception, the Jump Canada Series has recognized the achievements of such great Canadian horse-rider combinations as Beth Underhill and Altair (1999), Frankie Chesler and Ravenna Z (2000), Jill Henselwood and Toyzrus (2001), three-time champions, Ainsley Vince and Catch 22 (2002, 2003, and 2004) and current champions, Ian Millar and In Style.
Jump Canada is a committee of Equine Canada responsible for all hunter, hunter equitation and jumper activities in Canada from the grass roots to the international level. Jump Canada is governed by a board of directors, the majority of whom are elected by the stakeholders in the sport. For more information regarding Jump Canada programs and activities, visit www.jumpcanada.ca.
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