The 4th Annual Royal West in the Agrium Western Event Centre in Downtown Calgary was the most successful yet. The tournament was marked with large divisions, crowds and spectators for every division, great footing, and happy exhibitors.
The title class, the $130,000 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Calgary, Presented by Pure North, had an exciting three-horse jump-off. Canadians took the top two spots – Isabelle Lapierre and Cescha M took the win and Laura Jane Tidball and Concetto Son were 2nd. Lapierre drove 45 hours from Quebec, initially to do Hunter Derby competition, but decided to bring both her hunter and Cescha M on the trip, which paid off in a second win in a World Cup Qualifier toward World Cup Finals in Paris, France, in April 2018.
Laura Jane Tidball, who was 2nd in the class also last year, was thrilled with her repeat performance in an exciting and fast jump-off. USA’s Sarah Scheiring finished 3rd with Donetz and the top 6 were rounded out by Beth Underhill, Jennifer Gates, and Richard Spooner.
In the hunters, Letter Perfect and Susan Macintosh claimed the $5,000 Jr/Am Hunter Derby 3’0” National Finals, with Bella Vita and Chris Blanchard in 2nd and Lando and Anne Plasterer in 3rd. The $300 Pony Hunter Classic was won by Sadie Wishewan and Forte, with Avery Jenkinson and Curb Appeal in 2nd and Svea Hay and Riddle Master in 3rd. Wishewan and Jenkinson were also Pony Hunter Champion and Reserve, respectively.
The $1,000 Child/Adult Hunter Spectacular, presented by Dragon Media Group, was claimed by Johannie Legare and Carrera S, followed by Sonja Sward and Arctic Bay in 2nd, and Celine Smolensky and Valencia in 3rd.
Other Hunter Champions included: Valencia and Celine Smolensky (Adult Amateur Huner) and Olivia Stephenson and Holiday (Children’s Hunter).
In the 1.10 Open Jumpers, the Championship was awarded to Gerrit Holz and Broadway 26 and the Reserve to Cintaura and Celeste Huska. The Pony Jumper Champion was Sweet Heart with Serenity Enders in the irons. Emma Bligh and Unscripted took the Reserve.
In the $2,500 1.20m Jr/Am Jumper Sponsored by Signature Farms, Meagan Beunder and RRC Black Magic took the $750 top check, with Deminica Pedersen and Costello Sun in 2nd and Aidan Pettigrew and Corsa in 3rd.
Other Jumper Champions included: Emma Bligh and Unscripted (0.90m) and Alicia Gadban and Just Charlie (1.30m).
