Jump Canada National Talent Squad Championships Set for Royal Horse Show

Source :  Jump Canada

The 2002 National Talent Squad Series, presented by Jump Canada, is coming to an end with only the Championships remaining at Toronto’s Royal Horse Show on November 16 and 17, 2002.

With over 60 horse-rider combinations registering to compete and 38 of those participants collecting points, this year’s National Talent Squad Series was a huge success. There were 20 Talent Squad events held throughout Canada in the 2002 season with riders counting only their top five scores. Twenty qualified riders were invited to the Talent Squad Championships at the Royal Horse Show. Fifteen riders have accepted the invitation to participate, including Elliott Stone of Midland, ON, who topped the 2002 standings with 52 points aboard Freestyle 1, an eight-year-old Belgium-bred mare, owned by Michael Stone.

Three additional riders have been invited to compete in the class from the Ontario Rising star program. These riders are not eligible for the Championships but can earn points for the Rising Star program.

In the National Talent Squad Championships, all riders start on equal footing. The 15 riders competing at the Royal Horse Show are, in alphabetical order:

Rider Hometown Horse
Erynn Ballard Hornby, ON Alibi
Angela Covert Knowlton, PQ Akito Z
Muffie Guthrie Guelph, ON Kasjmien
Karen Hendry-Ouellette Kemptville, ON Sweet Dreams
Rebecca Irvine Brockville, ON Quincy
John Kersley Hudson, PQ Moritze
Francois Lamontagne St-Georges, PQ Cashi
Isabelle Lapierre Breakyville, PQ Diaka de Semilly
Melissa Marcotte St-Nicolas, PQ Dancing Queen
Vanessa Paschini Boisbriand, PQ Safari
Lindsey Ross Oakville, ON Artemesia
Myra Simard Outremont, PQ Dutch Treat
Elliott Stone Midland, ON Freestyle 1
Courtney Vince Milton, ON Jasper
Keean White Cambridge, ON Arriscraft Rocca

The National Talent Squad Championships will consist of the $5,000 Alfred Rogers National Talent Squad Championship, Phase I, on Saturday, Nov. 16 and the $8,000 Alfred Rogers National Talent Squad Championship, Phase II, on Sunday, Nov. 17. Riders will accumulate points in both phases with the champion being awarded, by the Jump Canada Board, airfare to the 2003 World Cup Final held next year from April 16-20, 2003, in Las Vegas, NV.


In addition to the Championships, riders from the Talent Squad Series will be able to use these two classes at the Royal in their overall standings as a part of their best five scores throughout the year. The winner of the standings also gets to attend the 2003 World Cup Final in Las Vegas, NV. The top two riders in the overall standings will be nominated to Sport Canada in the Athlete Assistance program for a development Card and a monthly allowance of $500.

Acknowledging the need to support up-and-coming riders across Canada, Greenhawk Harness and Equestrian Supplies is a sponsor of the 2002 National Talent Squad Program. Greenhawk has donated a saddle pad to all registered horse/rider combinations in the Jump Canada National Talent Squad Series. Thus far, 63 saddle pads have been distributed. Also, Greenhawk is donating a luxurious Shedrow fitted polar fleece cooler to the top eight overall at the 2002 National Talent Squad Championships at the Royal Winter Fair and a similar cooler to the overall Champion of the 2002 National Talent Squad Series.

The National Talent Squad Series is a means of recognizing up-and-coming riders who are preparing to enter the grand prix ranks and demonstrate the ability to become future members of the Canadian Equestrian Team.