Erin Ballard and Appy Cara. Photo Credit Katy Whitt Photography.
October 28, 2015, Calgary, Alberta: The pulse has quickened at the Royal West in Week Two as the big names began gearing up for the weekend’s big prizes. On Wednesday Canada’s Erynn Ballard sharpened her game in the $45,000 GGT Footing/Whittling Structures Classic 1.45 m with a dramatic win in an all-Canadian 11-horse jump-off.
In what was an all-female winning podium, Ballard rode her chestnut 10-year-old gelding Appy Cara to a clear round that beat out Ali Ramsay on the bay 8-year-old mare Hermelien vd Hooghoeve by 1.82 seconds, also with a clear round. Third place in the tightly bunched field went to Vanessa Mannix on the bay 14-year-old gelding Nirvanan de Terlong) who rode clean as well.
Other riders making the jump-off were Laura Jane Tidball (Prim’ de Lairaud), John Anderson (Terrific), Jill Henselwood (Farfelu du Printemps), Keean White (For Freedom Z, Carrera van de het Westleven Z), Ben Asselin (Plume de la Roque), Chris Sorenson (Bobby), and Yann Candele (Granit S).
In the afternoon’s feature event, the $25,000 Salentein Wines Canadian Hunter Derby 3’6”, Brent Baliski riding Viogolo Z took home top honours with 106.00 points. Darcy Hayes aboard CrushIn captured second place second with 104.5 points. And in third was Ashton Belcher aboard Contifax.
In the afternoon’s $10,000 Hunter Derby 3’0”, Canada’s Rodney Tulloch took top spot aboard Glory Bound. In second was Shannon Haney on her mount Erek. Third place ribbon was won by on Michelle James Picasso.
For more information, contact Rhys Dowbiggin at Redbackpack PR redbackpackpr@gmail.com.
About Rocky Mountain Show Jumping:
RMSJ hosts its tournaments at Anderson Ranch in Calgary’s south end, a world-class facility featuring permanent stabling for 300 horses and a grass grand prix field complete with natural obstacles. For more information on Rocky Mountain Show Jumping, please visit www.rmsj.ca.
About Royal West:
Hosted by Rocky Mountain Show Jumping, Royal West is the heart for equestrian competition. Over ten days at the Agrium Western Events Center at Stampede Park, Royal West features both international and national events with over half of a million dollars in prize money handed out throughout the tournament. The tournament hosts the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Calgary, the Spirit of the West Cup, the Royal West International Championship, Western Canadian Hunter Derbies and when applicable the CET Medal National Finals.