Ottawa, Canada – August 25, 2024 – Canadian Olympian Tiffany Foster (CAN) was electrifying in front of a home crowd on Sunday afternoon as she won the $182,000 RBC Grand Prix of Ottawa CSI 5* riding Electrique. Leg three of Major League Show Jumping’s 2024 season concluded in the capital city at Ottawa Equestrian Tournament’s Wesley Clover Parks.
Olaf Petersen Jr.’s (GER) course proved a fitting test with only two athletes jumping double-clear from a seven-horse jump-off. First to post the eventual winning time was Foster after crossing the final timers in 41.34 seconds.
“Major League has brought the five-star shows here to North America and I think that is so important,” said Foster, who is currently ranked no. 21 in the world. “We have to keep going at this level and I think the future in Canada is bright.”
Foster, who recently returned from the Olympic games in Paris, already has her sights set on L.A. 2028 with high hopes for Electrique. “I love this horse. I think she’s an incredible competitor, she’s very intelligent and our success rate in jump-offs has been strong,” said Foster of the 10-year-old Zangersheide mare (Emerald x Voltaire). “If I do a good job in the first round, the minute I pick up that gallop to the first jump she’s right there and she jumps even better. When you have a horse like that, you feel so much confidence going into jump-offs. I think this horse could win a lot.”
U.S. rider Bliss Heers (USA)—who is proudly returning to the MLSJ tour this year—took second aboard Quality Star Z in 43.52 seconds.
“I really missed the five-star Major League series; I missed being with all these riders and I’m happy to be sitting here with these two amazing women,” said Heers, who is a former Helios rider, and now wears the colors of Team Eye Candy. “It’s good to be back. I love my horse, and he loves big grass rings. For me, the biggest factor is the time allowed and [Olaf] gave us some nice room so that we could move. It was a really nice course.”
Bookending the top three with Canadian pride, fellow Olympian Erynn Ballard (CAN) posted the fastest short-course time of the day in 39.24 seconds but had one rail to finish third with Gakhir on all-female podium.
“This is a show that I’ve been coming to my entire life and it’s nice to see the development in the facility,” said the world no. 22 rider, who also recently returned from representing Canada at the Paris Olympics. “I rode here when I was a kid on ponies, now I’m riding here in five-star grand prix where I used to watch Big Ben and Ian Miller.”
Ballard’s podium finish returned her to the top of the MLSJ individual season standings with a nine-point lead over USA’s Kent Farrington. Foster is currently tied for fourth in the standings with MLSJ Toronto grand prix winner Lillie Keenan (USA).
The next stop on the road to the MLSJ Finals in December returns to where The League started in Traverse City Michigan. Leg four features the iconic American Gold Cup at Traverse City Horse Shows from September 19-22. Re-watch all MLSJ Ottawa action on MLSJ TV.
Final Results – $182,000 RBC Grand Prix of Ottawa CSI 5*
1) Tiffany Foster (CAN) & Electrique – 0 / 0 – 41.34
2) Bliss Heers (USA) & Quality Star Z – 0 / 0 – 43.52
3) Erynn Ballard (CAN) & Gakhir – 0 / 4 – 39.24
Source: Press Release from MLSJ – Major League Show Jumping
Photos: © MLSJ / Mackenzie Clark
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Categories: CSI 5*, English, Jumper News Canada
