Ocala, Florida, United States – February 06, 2025 – Canada’s Carly Campbell Cooper (CAN) and John Jamieson’s Qornet VD Bisschop (Cornet Obolensky x Kashmir Van Schuttershof) rose to the top in the $32,000 Buckeye Nutrition Grand Prix Qualifier CSI 2*, besting a competitive field of 34 horse-and-rider combinations representing 13 nations.
Ken Krome’s course challenged competitors with a tight time allowed, catching several riders off guard. Rails fell throughout the track, but eight combinations managed to leave all the fences up and stay within the time, advancing to the jump-off.
“I was surprised at first that Kenny didn’t adjust the time after the first few rounds,” Campbell Cooper admitted. “I said to my husband, ‘I wonder if he made a mistake because there aren’t going to be that many clears with this time allowed.’ But in the end, Kenny knew exactly what he was doing—it was spot on with eight clear.”
Heading into the jump-off mid-order, Campbell Cooper set her sights on Václav Staněk’s leading time of 37.67 seconds. “I watched Václav go, I know he’s fast, and he gets help from Daniel Coyle, who I think is a genius. My horse has a naturally longer stride and turns well to the right, so I thought if I matched the turns and left one out before the double, I’d have a chance. After getting seven and seven done, I knew my horse doesn’t back up well, so when in doubt, just kick and leave out. I just went for it to the last vertical and oxer, and it turned out to be just enough.”
Campbell Cooper and the nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion stopped the clock in 36.63 seconds, securing the win.
“This is the biggest class we’ve jumped together,” she added. “I got him when he was seven turning eight, but stallion quarantine took so long that by the time he was released, I rode him for two weeks and then stopped riding to have my daughter. I only started riding him again this summer at 1.15m, and we’ve built up from there.”
Kady Abrahamson (USA) piloted Martini VDL (Zapatero VDL x Harley), an eight-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Abrahamson Equestrian LLC, to a close second place. They crossed the timers just a tenth of a second behind in 36.70 seconds.
Maya Denis (MEX) and her own 10-year-old gelding, Postin LS La Silla, also posted an impressive time of 36.95 seconds to round out the podium in third.
Final Results – $32,000 Buckeye Nutrition Grand Prix Qualifier CSI2*
1) Carly Campbell Cooper (CAN) & Qornet VD Bisschop – 0 / 0 – 36.63
2) Kady Abrahamson (USA) & Martini VDL – 0 / 0 – 36.70
3) Maya Denis (MEX) & Postin LS La Silla – 0 / 0 – 36.95
Source: Press Release from World Equestrian Center
Photos: © WEC / Andrew Ryback Photography
Categories: CSI 2*, English, Jumper News Canada
