Carly Campbell Cooper Claims 2004 National Talent Squad Championship Title

Carly Campbell Cooper and Croft Temptation win the 2004 National Talent Squad Championship title for the second consecutive year at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON. Photo credit – Al Cook

For the second year in a row, Carly Campbell Cooper and Croft Temptation claimed the National Talent Squad Championship at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON.

Held November 5 and 6, Campbell Cooper of Elora, ON, won both phases of the competition to claim the National Talent Squad Championship, a program designed to identify riders with the potential to become future members of the Canadian Show Jumping Team.

In Phase I of the Championship, Campbell Cooper and Laurie Bucci of Mont St-Hiliare, QC, were the only two riders to post clear rounds over the challenging track set by Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela. First back for the jump-off, Campbell Cooper and Croft Temptation turned in another clear round in time of 35.89 seconds while Bucci and Catesko stopped the clock at 37.10 seconds to finish second.

In Phase II of the National Talent Squad Series Championship, riders competed in reverse order of standing, giving Campbell Cooper the advantage of riding last. Again, she advanced to the jump-off with one other challenger, Amanda Hay of Ottawa, ON. Riding Nero, Hay incurred four faults in a time of 38.54 seconds while Campbell Cooper was again clear in a time of 34.52 seconds, winning the Championship title without ever incurring a fault. In recognition of her wins, Campbell Cooper was awarded a commemorative plate as well as $5,600 in prize money.

“Croft Temptation couldn’t have been more perfect, there is nothing better than being double clean two days in a row,” noted Campbell Cooper of the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding she purchased six years ago. “My coach, Beth Underhill, did a great job of preparing us, every aspect was covered.”

In September, Campbell Cooper and Croft Temptation also won the Eastern Final of the National Talent Squad program when it was held at the Fox Run Horse Show in Troy, ON. The win earned her a second consecutive trip to the World Cup Final, to be held this year in Las Vegas, and she will again be nominated for a Development Card through the Sport Canada Athlete Assistance program.

In addition to winning the National Talent Squad Championship, Campbell Cooper also topped the Gary Cooper Chev Olds Rising Star Series for the second year in a row. At 22 years of age, Campbell Cooper is a fourth year Honours student at McMaster University in Hamilton, ON.