Langley riders did well at the final events of the 2023 season at Thunderbird Show Park (tbird) over the weekend.
On Friday, Sept. 22, Langley-based rider Kyle King and Cerolino were first in the CSI3* Winning Round 1.45m, crossing the timers of Joey Rycroft’s course in 40.41 seconds. Bretton Chad and Grandeur WP finished second (41.18s), with Stephanie Valdes and Cyber Lady Z third (43.19s).
Winning Round: Kyle King & Cerolino from Chris Pack on Vimeo.
“Cerolino has tremendous scope. I did him in a five-star about a month ago,” King said. “He’s a slower jumper and scopier type, but I really have high hopes for him this season in the three and four stars continuing on.”
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Both King and Odysseus, and Langley’s Tiffany Foster and Jetouelle-S, posted faster times, but a knockdown apiece pushed them back on the leaderboard in the uniquely formatted competition, in which the top 10 performers from the first round, regardless of score, return for a jump-off on a clean slate.
Foster finished fifth overall.
Langley’s Laura Jane Tidball and Jericho were fourth.
On Saturday, Sept. 23, Aldergrove’s Kassidy Keith and Havana posted a podium-worthy performance, capturing third at the tbird Grand Prix 1.50m, while Foster and Kadans were fourth after a rail fell, and King and SIG Chiari were ninth. New Zealand’s Uma O’Neill and Clockwise took first with a time of 41.11, despite a moment when Clockwise’s bridle came loose and slipped over his ear, but managed to finish.
“It was very wet from the rain, and as I kept going around the [first round] course, I noticed that there was more and more bonnet sticking up above his ears,” O’Neill shared.
“I landed off the next jump, and the bridle went over his ears,” she continued. “He started to back off, but I kept my leg on, and he felt confident, so I decided to keep going. There was only one jump left, and he felt great.”
Jaehee Jeon (KOR) finished just behind the winning pair in second with Kadans van de Mispelaere (41.78s), followed by Keith and Havana, who had a quicker time but also a single knockdown on their scorecard (40.57s).
Sunday, Sept. 24, several Langley riders finished in the top ranks of the 18 horse and rider combinations to compete in the Hillcrest Show Jumping “Seize the Day” Grand Prix 1.30m, including fourth for Kaylie Martinoff and Caponerhall, seventh by Andrea Strain and Lucky Strike, and eighth by Aldergrove Keith, riding Fenelon.
Ireland’s James Chawke was the winner, riding Nacara van Berkenbroeck Z, crossing the timers nearly three seconds in front (27.94s). Catherine Brentzel (USA) and Quintago VA finished second (30.39s), with Georgia Knight (CAN) and Ecolano vs Romano third (30.97s).
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