TORONTO, Canada--Two-time Canadian Olympian Amy Millar won the $125,000 Canadian Show Jumping Championship over Mario Deslauriers and Tiffany Foster on Saturday evening, Nov. 2 at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
Boyd Martin on Catarina (Photo by Ben Radvanyl Photography)Boyd Martin of Cochranville, Pa., on Catarina finished second to Kendal Lehari on Audacious in the $10,000 Indoor Eventing Challenge.
After winning Friday’s opening round of the fan-favourite event at The Royal, Lehari on Audacious was last to return for Saturday’s final and was clean again for herr first win in the Indoor Eventing Challenge with a total time of 178.93 seconds.
“It's such a rush having that many people in there cheering you on, as well as my family and supporters,” said Lehari, 37. “Everyone's got your back and wants to see you do well.
“I think this is a really good showcase for our sport,” she said. “Not a lot of people know much about eventing, so to be able to do it inside is so much fun.”
Lehari has had Audacious since he was 3 years old, and he's now 11.
"If you Google the word audacious, that is him to a T,"said Lehari. "He jumps out of the paddocks, he loves beer and Krispy Kreme donuts, and he's a character. Everything is a bit too easy for him, so something like this is fun because it keeps him focused. He likes performing for a crowd, so he has been eating it all up [here at The Royal].”
Martinwas clean in the final, but he was off the pace in 182.63 seconds to finish second riding Catarina.
“I love this show, and what a huge honour and privilege it is to ride here,” said Martin, who last competed at The Royal in 2017. “It’s high energy, nerve-wracking and it happens fast. At a normal horse trial, we have a couple days to process how things are going to ride. I think Mark built a course that was horse friendly but still challenging enough, and these Canadian girls sure are quick!”
Jessica Phoenix on Watson GS was third.
THE JUMPING Championship was held over two phases on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Following Friday’s speed class, riders returned on Saturday in reverse order of standing for the two-round finale, where the top six from the opening round advanced to the jump-off over a course set by Oscar Soberon.
Millar finished second in Friday’s opening round and was clean in both rounds on Jelvinia MB to win her second Canadian Championship title when the Friday leader, Jacqueline Daly, had two fences down.
She last claimed the honor in 2017 riding her Rio Olympic mount Heros.
Also clean in both rounds Saturday, Deslauriers of New York, N.Y., was the Reserve Canadian Champion on Costa Quick PS, and three-time Canadian Olympian Tiffany Foster was also clean both rounds to finish third on Electrique.
“Jelvina is one of the nicest horses I’ve had the privilege of riding,” said Millar, 47. “I had been looking for a horse like her for a long time. When I tried her, I just knew. She is super careful and scopey and has great technique. She has all of it.”
The international division begins on Wednesday, Nov. 6, and ends with the World Cup Toronto on Saturday evening, Nov. 9.