Toronto, Ontario, Canada – November 05, 2022 – Ali Ramsay (CAN) of Victoria, BC, claimed her first Canadian Show Jumping Championship title on Saturday night, in front of a packed house at the Royal Horse Show CSI 5*-W, held as part of the 100th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
The $125,000 Henry Equestrian Canadian Show Jumping Championship was held over two phases on Friday and Saturday nights. Having competed for $25,000 in prize money during the opening speed round on Friday, riders returned to the Coca-Cola Coliseum in reverse order of standing to tackle the $100,000 two-round finale. Ali Ramsay (CAN) won Friday’s opening speed round, earning the advantage of being the final competitor to contest Saturday’s course. She demonstrated the same composure that put her into the lead, delivering another clear performance with Bonita vh Keizershof Z.
“I thought the course rode pretty straightforward in the sense that there weren’t really questions on the striding in the lines,” explained Ramsay of the track designed by Canadian Olympic individual silver medalist Michel Vaillancourt (CAN). “Watching everyone else maybe just reassured me of my plan.”
Carrying their scores forward, the top six riders from round one advanced to an all-deciding second round. Ramsay was once again the last to return, knowing she could have two rails down and still claim victory. She used up one of those fences before crossing the timers triumphantly to thunderous applause.
“She felt even better tonight, if that’s possible,” said Ramsay of the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare (Bustique x For Pleasure) owned by Ramsay Equestrian Inc. “The whole game of this championship is consistency, and she was really good. She felt amazing.”
Tiffany Foster (CAN), of Langley, BC, riding Northern Light, an 11-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare (Plot Blue x Contender) owned by Artisan Farms LLC, was carrying 4.12 faults at the start of the evening. She put the pressure on with a clear round in the first phase, but a dropped a rail in the second phase brought her overall total to 8.12, forcing her to settle for the reserve championship.
Susan Horn (CAN), of Bolton, ON, came into Saturday’s competition sitting on one fault behind Ramsay. She had two rails down with Kirlo van den Bosrand, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Cardento 933 x Utrillo Z) owned by Kingsfield Farm, in Saturday’s first round to bring her total to nine faults. Despite the setback, Horn rallied for a clear in the all-deciding second round to finish in third place.
In the end, it was Ramsay who grabbed the lead and never let go to claim her first Canadian Show Jumping Championship title.
“I was just thinking about how 10 years ago I won the CET Medal Final and that was the last time I actually won a class at The Royal,” reflected Ramsay, 31. “I’ve jumped here probably six times in the last 10 years and had good placings but never won, so 10 years later here we are.”
While Foster, Mario Deslauriers, Amy Millar, and Sam Walker were pre-qualified for the Royal Horse Show’s international division based on their standings in the Longines World Rider Rankings, Ramsay and Horn will now join them with their top placings in the Canadian Show Jumping Championships. They will return to compete among a star-studded line-up when CSI5*-W international show jumping begins on Wednesday, November 9.
Final Results – $100,000 Canadian Show Jumping Championship
1) Ali Ramsay (CAN) & Bonita vh Keizershof Z – 0 / 4 = 4
2) Tiffany Foster (CAN) & Northern Light – 4.12 / 4 = 8.12
3) Susan Horn (CAN) & Kirlo van den Bosrand – 9 / 0 = 9
Source: Press Release from Jump Media for the Royal Horse Show
Photos: © RHS / Ben Radvanyi Photography
Categories: CSN, English, Jumper News Canada
