Roberts Returns With Win From FEI World Children’s Jumper Final

Source :  Equine Canada

Waylon Roberts of Port Perry, ON, won the overall Team competition at the FEI World Children’s Jumper Final in Brasília, Brazil, December 3rd to 8th, 2002. He received an FEI medal along with his other team mates, Josemar C. Bezerra Leite of Brazil, Lucy Olphert of New Zealand, and Lucas Mesquita of Brazil.


In individual competition, Roberts had a clear and fast round in the Welcome class and placed 6th in the first qualifier with 2 clear rounds. However, after some refusal problems in the second qualifier, Roberts was unfortunately eliminated. He was still able to compete in the Farewell class, but the refusal problems persisted.


“The experience for me and the other competitors was so wonderful, and I made friends from all around the world,” noted Roberts. “In my case, the benefits from attending sure out weighed the disappointments. I would highly recommend the FEI Children’s Jumper competitions to all young jumper riders.”


Roberts finished the competition ranked 28th out of more than 300 riders who participated in the qualifying competitions held throughout the world in 2002. He was also ranked 4th in North America.


The fences were 4 feet or 1.20m in height in all classes, which was challenging for the young riders on strange horses. In warm-up, the riders were only allowed six jumps to get to know and prepare their horse and even a refusal was counted as a fence.


The Final competition winner, which was open to the top 16 riders after the two qualifying classes, was a very young Brazilian, Maira Macahado Frota Pinheiro aboard riding her own mare Astucia, with two fault free rounds and a jump off time of 38.12 seconds. The second place rider, Fabio Genes of Brazil, was close behind Pinheiro with a fault free time of 38.56. Third place went to Fernando Pasmanik Schilis, also from Brazil, in a time of 38.78 seconds.


Adam Prudent, the son of Katie Monahan and Henri Prudent of France, was ranked in first position heading into the final, but he incurred eight faults and finished in 14th place overall.


Roberts comes from a very accomplished riding family. His father Ian Roberts is presently a short listed event rider for the Canadian Eventing Team and his mother Kelly Plitz competed with her horse Dialadream at 1982 World Championships and the 1984 Olympic Games for the Canadian Eventing Team and finished as the top Canadians in both international events. The Roberts-Plitz family owns and operates Dreamcrest Farm.


For full results and the FEI Children’s World Jumper Finals, please visit www.horseworldbrasil.com.br/feichildrens2002resultados.htm.


Jump Canada is a committee of Equine Canada responsible for all hunter, hunter equitation and jumper activities in Canada from the grass roots to the international level. Jump Canada is governed by a board of directors, the majority of whom are elected by the stakeholders in the sport. For more information regarding Jump Canada programs and activities, visit www.jumpcanada.ca.