Canadian League World Cup (Jumper) Standings Reach Halfway Point

The two World Cup Qualifiers (WCQ) recently held in Quebec have put an exciting twist on the 2005 Canadian League World Cup standings.

Since the first two WCQ’s were held at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, AB, it was not surprising that there were a large number of new names added to the leader board when the series moved east to Blainville, Quebec, on July 10.  The $65,000 purse in Blainville wasn’t the only thing up for grabs – full World Cup points were also on the line.

Ironically, the winner at this first WCQ held on the east coast was British Columbia native Karen Cudmore of Victoria, who managed to win the event and walk away with 20 World Cup qualifying points.  Keean White, 22, of Cambridge, ON explained that he is “focusing on the World Cup Qualifiers this year,” and in the Grand Prix Jumping du Québec WCQ in Blainville, White did just that, finishing in second place and received 17 World Cup points.  Meanwhile, Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON, received 15 qualifying points.

The next stop on the Canadian League circuit was the 1976 Olympic show grounds in beautiful Bromont, QC, for the $50,000 National Bank WCQ held on July 24.   This time, Jill Henselwood was back from Alberta and won the event aboard her reliable partner, Special Ed.  This powerful combo managed to make this very technical course designed by Olympic master Leopaldo Palacios look easy by being the only rider with a double clear round out of 42 entries.

Well in the lead after top placings at the first two qualifiers, Jill Henselwood regained the lead from Cudmore by scoring an additional 20 points in Bromont.  Although Quebec-born Eric Lamaze finished fourth in this standings behind Erynn Ballard riding Rio’s Rhapsody and Olympic veteran Jay Hayes riding Landor 17, Lamaze received another 15 qualifying points, placing him second overall in the World Cup standings.

Riders will spend the next few months in Ontario competing at the next four World Cup Qualifying events in an effort to qualify for the 2006 World Cup Final.  Following the final qualifying event at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair on November 9, 2005, the two top-placed Canadians in the World Cup standings will be selected to represent their country at the 2006 World Cup Final to be held April 26-30 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Jump Canada is a committee of Equine Canada responsible for all 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.