Tag Archives: Jill Henselwood

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Show Jumping

Who Are the Most Famous Dressage and Equestrian Competitors?

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If you are a fan of dressage and equestrian, there is certainly a few names that really catch your attention. Like all sports, dressage has its elite competitors that are the most sought-after in the sport. The world of dressage and equestrian stops when these elite names compete. Fans of dressage are gearing up for the 2020 Olympics in Japan, but before the excitement of the Summer Games begin, fans can play the PA lottery and enjoy the fun before the horses take to the arena.

So, who are the top performers in dressage and equestrian? If you are a fan of the sport, you surely know most of these famous names.

Charlotte Dujardin

Charlotte Dujardin started her career at an early age after first learning to ride horses at the age of two. Since those early years of riding, Dujardin has become the most successful dressage rider in the history of British equestrian. Due to starting at such a young age, Dujardin has been riding horses for 32 years. She is only 34! Dujardin won gold in team and individual dressage at the 2012 Olympics and individual dressage gold four years later in Rio. Fans of equestrian are gearing up for the end of the 2019 season and can use the latest racing codes to wager on the horses and riders they believe will win the next big event.

Anky van Grunsven

Anky van Grunsven has lifted the Dressage World Cup on nine different occasions during her illustrious career. Van Grunsven began riding at the age of 12 and in 1999, after years of success, Van Grunsven began a dressage and equestrian clothing line due to the lack of performance gear available to riders. Van Grunsven won individual dressage gold at the Olympics in 2000, 2004, and 2008.

Valentina Truppa

Italian rider Valentina Truppa suffered a devasting head injury while competing in 2015. She rebounded from the fall and has since continued her sparkling dressage career. Truppa hasn’t had the Olympic success of Dujardin nor van Grunsven, but could turn that all around in 2020 in Japan. Truppa competed at both the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games but failed to place.

Jill Henselwood

Jill Henselwood is one of Canada’s top show jumpers. Henselwood was a part of team Canada’s silver medal win in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics. Henselwood made her national showjumping team debut in 1991, a mere two years after making her debut at the Grand Prix. Voted the 1992 Rookie of the Year, Henselwood has appeared in a number of major events on the back of her horse, Special Ed.

Amy Tryon

Olympic eventer Amy Tryon passed away in 2012, but her memory as a top Olympic eventer is long-lasting. Tryon won bronze at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens in Team Eventing. She appeared at the World Equestrian Games, winning gold in 2002 in Team Eventing and bronze in 2006 in the individual category. Tryon was unable to continue her success in 2008 at the Summer Olympics; however, her reputation as a top performer was set before the Beijing games.

Championships, Jump Media, Show Jumping

Jill Henselwood Claims Greenhawk Canadian Show Jumping Championship

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Jill Henselwood and Farfelu du Printemps. Photos by Ben Radvanyi Photography.

Toronto, Ontario – Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, ON claimed the $100,000 Greenhawk Canadian Show Jumping Championship on Saturday night, November 7, at the Royal Horse Show®, held as part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in downtown Toronto, ON.

Riding Farfelu du Printemps, Henselwood entered the second and final phase of competition in the $100,000 Greenhawk Canadian Show Jumping Championship on Saturday evening with a perfect score of zero, having won Friday night’s opening round. The pair stayed consistent, jumping another clear round before facing off against the top six in a final jump-off. Despite having a rail down early on course, Henselwood held on the lead to win the 2015 Greenhawk Canadian Show Jumping Championship title.

“As soon as we started to jump and he could sense from me that it was serious he gave good efforts,” said Henselwood of the ten-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Action Breaker x Volume vd Gasthoeve) owned by John Madigan. “For this horse to get this title really means something in his resume, and starts to identify him as a top horse for Canada.”

Farfelu’s rail fell at the third fence in the final round, leaving on room for further error.

“I thought we were going to jump it, but made a mistake,” Henselwood said of her downed rail. “After that, I think Farfelu jumped everything else with a margin of another foot. I could feel the effort that he made; he didn’t want to make another mistake. He’s that kind of horse.”

Henselwood’s victory marked her second Greenhawk Canadian Championship title at the Royal Horse Show®, having also won in 2005 aboard Black Ice.

Mac Cone aboard Gasper van den Doorn
Mac Cone aboard Gasper van den Doorn

British course designer Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth, Dorset set difficult tracks in all three rounds comprising the Canadian Championships, which saw Canadian Equestrian Team veterans rise to the challenge. With two beautifully executed rounds on Saturday night, Canadian Olympian Mac Cone, 63, of King City, ON, moved into the Reserve Champion position with a final score of 4.79 riding Gasper van den Doorn for owner Chadburn Holdings, Inc.

Another Canadian Olympian, Lisa Carlsen, 50, of Okotoks, AB, produced strong performances to finish third with 5.66 penalties aboard Worlds Judgement for owners WJ Partners. Susan Horn of Bolton, ON and Kingsland Farm’s Lillyfee placed fourth on 6.15 penalties, while Erynn Ballard of Tottenham, ON and Bart C posted 6.93 penalties to placed fifth for owner Jaybird Farm. Keean White of Rockwood, ON rounded out the top six aboard For Freedom Z, owned by Angelstone Partners, with 14.11 penalties.

Based on their results in the Canadian Championships, Henselwood and Cone secured the final two positions available in The Royal’s international show jumping division, which begins on Tuesday, November 10. They will join pre-qualified riders Carlsen, Ballard, Ian Millar of Perth, ON, Vanessa Mannix of Calgary, AB, Jonathon Millar of Perth, ON, and Chris Sorensen of Caledon East, ON, in representing the Canadian flag.

Also highlighting the action on Saturday, Isabelle Lapierre of Breakeyville, QC and Cescha M dominated the Jump Canada National Talent Squad Championships, presented by Uplands Charitable Foundation. Lapierre and the eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Diamant de Semilly x Hera XXIV) owned by Ecuries de la Chaudiere, topped both phases of competition to top a starting field of 16 contenders.

“She will try every time,” said Lapierre, 36, who has been riding Cescha M for the past three years. “Even when I make a mistake, she’s there, and if she makes a mistake, she knows I’ll be there. We’re a good team.”

Lapierre set a goal to pilot Cescha M in the National Talent Squad Championships following a successful summer, explaining, “She’s a young horse, and they need mileage in the ring before doing the big classes. This is a good class for young riders, and also for riders like me trying to produce young horses.”

Lapierre also won the Jump Canada National Talent Squad Championships riding Diaka de Semilly, the half-sister of Cescha M’s sire, Diamant de Semilly.

“I won this 15 years ago with Diaka de Semilly and I knew talent ran in the family,” she said. “Both horses have what it takes to win, and that’s all because of their breeding.”

Another Quebec athlete, Billie Derouet of Bromont, took home the Reserve Championship in the Jump Canada National Talent Squad Championships aboard her own Bonaparte VP Wisebecq. Derouet placed second to Lapierre in Friday’s opening round of competition before taking third place in Round Two on Saturday.

For more information on the Royal Horse Show, the marquee event of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, please visit http://www.royalfair.org/horse-show.

To purchase Royal Horse Show tickets, please visit Ticketmaster at http://www.ticketmaster.ca/venueartist/131553/986584.

Funding support for The Royal has been provided by the City of Toronto and the Government of Ontario.

About The Royal
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world’s largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian show. This year, the 93rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair runs November 6-15, 2015 at Exhibition Place, Toronto. For competition schedules, live webcasting, results and to purchase tickets, please visit www.royalfair.org.

Contact: Jennifer Ward
Jump Media
Cell: (613) 292-5439
jward@jumpmediallc.com

Championships, Competitions, Show Jumping

Jill Henselwood Leads Greenhawk Canadian Show Jumping Championship

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Jill Henselwood and Farfelu du Printemps. Photos by Ben Radvanyi Photography.

Toronto, Ontario – Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, ON scored a win on opening night of the 2015 Royal Horse Show® running through November 15 as part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in downtown Toronto, ON.

Riding Farfelu du Printemps, Henselwood won Round One of the $100,000 Greenhawk Canadian Show Jumping Championship on Friday evening, November 6. The new 2015 Canadian Champion will be crowned following Round Two on Saturday, November 7.

In the opening round of competition, speed was the name of the game as riders negotiated the track set by British course designer Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth, Dorset. Henselwood and Farfelu du Printemps, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by John Madigan, posted one of only two fault-free trips, breaking the timers in 63.80 seconds to best a 24-horse starting field.

“He’s smart, clever, knows where the jumps are, and is naturally fast,” Henselwood said of the horse she found in Switzerland earlier this year for her student, Julia Madigan. While she focuses on her studies at Queen’s University, Julia Madigan has handed the reins to her coach.

“The qualities of a top show jumper are usually so high that if you put a less experienced rider on and they make a mistake it really tips the canoe, but this guy has an incredible mind,” said Henselwood, 53. “He’s a pleasure to have in my string.”

Keean White of Rockwood, ON and For Freedom Z, owned by Angelstone Partners, gave Henselwood a run for her money as the final challenger of the night. He posted a clear round, but his time of 66.02 seconds left him in the runner-up position.

Lisa Carlsen of Okotoks, AB, riding Worlds Judgement, owned by WJ Partners, were first into the Ricoh Coliseum and established the early time to beat, with a four second penalty added for one rail down giving her a time of 67.11 seconds. Her lead held for 20 trips until Henselwood and White bumped her into third. Fourth was presented to Beth Underhill of Schomberg, ON and her own Viggo in 67.39 seconds, while Neil Badcock of King City, ON and Corrido rounded out the top five in 67.64 seconds for owner Jessie Bonisteel.

Henselwood is no stranger to success in the Greenhawk Canadian Show Jumping Championship, having last won in 2005 aboard Black Ice. In addition to winning the national title, a top placing would also allow Henselwood to advance to the international division beginning November 10, highlighted by the coveted $125,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Toronto on Wednesday night.

Waylon Roberts
Waylon Roberts

Opening night of the Royal Horse Show also saw a win for Isabelle Lapierre of Breakeyville, QC aboard Cescha M in Round One of the Jump Canada National Talent Squad Championships, presented by Uplands Charitable Foundation. The evening came to a close with seven-time winner Waylon Roberts of Port Perry, ON topping the opening phase of the $20,000 Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge.

For more information on the Royal Horse Show, the marquee event of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, please visit http://www.royalfair.org/horse-show.

To purchase Royal Horse Show tickets, please visit Ticketmaster at http://www.ticketmaster.ca/venueartist/131553/986584.

Funding support for The Royal has been provided by the City of Toronto and the Government of Ontario.

About The Royal
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world’s largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian show. This year, the 93rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair runs November 6-15, 2015 at Exhibition Place, Toronto. For competition schedules, live webcasting, results and to purchase tickets, please visit www.royalfair.org.

Contact: Jennifer Ward
Jump Media
Cell: (613) 292-5439
jward@jumpmediallc.com

Competitions, Show Jumping

Olympian Jill Henselwood Shines in Bromont

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Jill Henselwood & Bolero HX. Credit : Tom Von Kap-Herr.

Bromont, Quebec – July 25, 2014 – Olympic rider Jill Henselwood won the first international show jumping event in Bromont on July 17 with her mount Bolero HX in an unbeaten time of 40.95 seconds.

Welcome to Bromont!

For this FEI (Fédération Équestre Internationale) event, FEI4* Brazilian course designer Guilherme Jorge prepared a course with 12 obstacles for 15 efforts, with six rider/horses duos acceding to the jump-off including, Canadian Jill Henselwood and Kelley Robinson, American Derek Braun and Denise Wilson, Russian Liubov Kochetova as well as 2013 International Bromont World Cup Qualifier winner, Ireland’s Andrew Bourns.

Jill Henselwood is the first out on for the jump-off with Bolero HX, an 8-year-old Dutch half-blood. The pair establishes the time to beat with a clear round in 40.95 seconds. None of the following five teams will be able to take her out of first place. Andrew Bourns on Bart C came close to second place, but a bar down left them in fourth. American rider Denise Wilson, competing in Bromont for the first time, took second place with Quidam’s Hero, while Canadian rider Kelley Robinson and her mount Enzo, rounded up the Top 3.

Jaclyn Duff Honored

International Bromont wishes to acknowledge Jaclyn Duff’s presence on the Olympic Park’s site on Thursday July 17. Jaclyn will join Elizabeth Gingras, Jordan MacPherson and Jill Henselwood in Europe to complete the Canadian show jumping team. The four riders will participate in the CSI3* show in Ascona, Switzerland next week, from July 24 to 27, before heading for Nations’ Cup competition at CSIO 3* – W Bratislavia, Slovakia August 7 to 10, 2014.

About International Bromont

The International Bromont promises an unforgettable 2014 edition with six new FEI events, the return of the Royal Canin Challenge on Sundays July 20 and 27 (in collaboration with the Club d’agilité de la Montérégie), its two Speed Derbies and its Hunter Derby. For more details on the programme, visit our Internet site at www.internationalbromont.org.

Held in Quebec, in the picturesque setting of the Eastern Townships region, near Vermont’s border, the International Bromont, a hunter and show jumping competition, presents its thirty-ninth edition at the Bromont Equestrian Olympic Park from July 10 to 13, 16 to 20 and 23 to 27, 2014. International Bromont would like to thank the Ministère de l’Éducation du Loisir et du Sport as well as the Ministère du Tourisme du Québec for their support. General admission seats: $10 per person and free for children under 12 years old. Privilege seating: $25 a ticket.

Information:
Alexandra Hill, communications – International Bromont, T. 450-534-0787 | F. 450-525-2716
communications@internationalbromont.org

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Jill Henselwood and George Kick Off HITS Culpeper with a Triple Threat

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©ESI Photography. Capping a successful week, Jill Henselwood and George on their way to winning the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix.

CULPEPER, VA (April 24, 2012) – Canadian Olympian Jill Henselwood aboard Juniper Farm’s George continued her journey towards the Pfizer Million and the 2012 Olympics with a big win at Commonwealth Park in Sunday’s $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. As she prepares for the Nations Cup Series in Belgium and Austria, Henselwood spent last week in Culpeper, Virginia where she also picked up wins in Friday’s $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix and Thursday’s $2,000 Level 7 Jumper.

“I came to Virginia to make sure [George] is on his game and I knew we would be guaranteed good weather since there is snow at home,” said Henselwood. “The venue and the competition were super. These Virginia riders are always quick, so it was great preparation.”

Fellow Canadian Danny Foster of Milton, Ontario designed the course and presented riders an immediate jump-off option. Foster crafted a 14-obstacle track, which included three double combinations. Faults were scattered as his course proved to be challenging, but attainable. Ten were clear over the first round course, but only two managed to produce double clear efforts – Henselwood and Laura Linback of Mundelin, Illinois in the irons of Woodrun’s HH Dauphin.

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Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Jill Henselwood Sets Her Sights on London 2012 with Another Grand Prix Victory at HITS Thermal

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©Flying Horse Photography. Jill Henselwood is hoping to jumper her way into the 2012 Olympics and is off to good start at HITS Thermal, adding another win in Thursday’s $32,000 HITS Desert Classic to her resume.

THERMAL, CA (February 10, 2012) – Canadian Olympic Silver Medalist Jill Henselwood came to the HITS Desert Circuit laser focused on punching her ticket to the London 2012 Olympic Games and it showed. In Thursday’s $32,000 HITS Desert Classic, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, Henselwood teamed up with Brian Gingras’ IV Ever and beat all other starters to take the top prize, a check for $10,560.

Thursday’s 16-obstacle course was set by Florencio Hernandez of Mexico and was thought to be one of the more challenging courses riders have faced so far this season at the HITS Desert Circuit. Six starters found trouble at a vertical mid-way through the course, while several others had their fate decided by the trickery of Hernandez’ 10ab combination. But like she often does, Henselwood found a way.

“This was the most technical course that we have had yet,” explained Henselwood after the class. “It was really big and the triple combination heading towards the in-gate was tough. To be successful on this course you had to have a horse with great scope.”

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