James Chawke Takes Command of the Steel-Craft Doors Grand Prix CSI 3*

By Jumper News on 2025-08-11

Langley, Canada – August 10, 2025 – James Chawke (IRL) set out to win the $75,000 Steel-Craft Doors Grand Prix CSI3* at the Summer Fort Welcome one way or another. He had the first and last say aboard his two mounts and ended up bookending the podium, capturing first with Daido Van’t Ruytershof Z and third with Nacara Van Berkenbroeck Z.

**James Chawke** (IRL) & **Daido van’t Ruytershof Z**

As lead off rider in the 14-horse jump-off, Chawke set the early standard with Nacara Van Berkenbroeck Z, owned by Alison Locke. Clocking in at 40.94 seconds, it looked as though he’d done enough, as the next five failed to catch the time.

But Charlie Jones (GBR) is always a threat in a jump-off, and Sunday was no exception as he sped around with Capitale 6, owned by Morning Star Sporthorses, LLC, in 40.46, taking the time to beat up a notch.

“I thought I was fairly fast with [Nacara],” Chawke reflected on his first round. “I probably did one too many [strides between fences] one, two, and three. I knew I was a little bit wider there on him, but he’s also quite quick across the ground because he doesn’t have an overly big stride. I hoped that would be enough to be first or second but Charlie changed that.”

Last to go with Daido Van’t Ruytershof Z, Chawke was determined to retake his lead. Blazing around the course with the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare (Dieu-Merci van T&L x Bamako de Muze), they shaved off nine-hundredths of a second to win the class in 40.37 seconds and move up the 1st FEI Money Earner ranking.

“I knew Charlie and Kara [Chad] were very fast so it was nice that I got to watch them to make a better plan for [Daido],” the Irishman continued. “She was actually slower in the rollback and the last jump; I did one more [stride] to each of those, but I was quicker one-two-three.”

When Chawke first acquired the mare, he underestimated her potential. “She’s just becoming a better and better horse,” he said of her progression. “She’s getting scopier and more rideable. Honestly, I think she can jump bigger. I wasn’t even sure she’d jump three-stars when I got her.”

Chawke has taken the West Coast by storm with his impressive string of horses, winning 10 classes at tbird in 2024—and he has no plans for that to change anytime soon.

“It’s brilliant,” he said of the level of competition at tbird. “My horses are based on the West Coast all the time so it’s really important to have shows like this.”

Chawke’s favourite things about tbird? “The grass field. The people.”

International jumping resumes Wednesday with the Summer Fort Classic, wrapping up competition for August before returning for two more weeks of national and international jumping in the fall.