Crowds Cheer for Dogs, Cars & Horses at Tournament of Champions

Grand Prix Show Ring

The Grand Prix ring at the Tournament of Champions Saturday was filled with dogs and cars as well as the top show jumping riders from across Canada, the United States, France and South America.

The Superdogs paired up with riders for the crowd pleasing Horse & Superdog Relay. Both species jumped obstacle courses in an attempt to post the fastest combined times, as the enthusiastic crowd cheered them on.

Eat my dust!

Then the ring was filled with the sounds of horsepower of both the equine and motorized versions in the Audi Ride N Drive presented by Pfaff Motors. Celebrity drivers piloted an Audi through a challenging obstacle course and are paired with show jumping horses and riders who ran their own relay, combining the times to find the winner.

The fastest team today was the UBS Private Banking team headed by Jill Henselwood. In close second was Eric Lamaze.

Sunday the show jumping riders will be in highly competitive mode as they enter the second phase of the $75,000 Canada Cup Championship presented by LG Electronics. The current leader is reigning Canadian National Show Jumping Champion Ainsley Vince. The champion over the two phases will drive away in a 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK 320 convertible for the year. Competition will be especially keen with the addition of the Canadian World Equestrian Games Team who have just returned from Jerez, Spain. Mac Cone (King, ON) with Cocu, Mark Samuel (Toronto, ON) with Darios V and Karen Cudmore (Omaha, NE) with Conejo were part of the Canadian Team which finished tenth out of 21 participating countries.

Shannon Dueck

A dressage demonstration was also given today in the Grand Prix Jumper Ring. Shannon Dueck & Korona, fresh from their impressive 25th placing at the World Equestrian Games, wowed the crowd with displays of elegance, power and precision. Fellow WEG teammate Belinda Trussell provided commentary, describing to the audience the different movements being performed.

The emotional highpoint of Saturday evening was the granting of a wish to a local teen who has dreamed of owning her own horse. It was the fifth “horse wish” that has been granted at the Tournament of Champions at the Home Depot’s Children’s Wish Charity Challenge. Proceeds from the Silent and Live auction were earmarked for the Children’s Wish Foundation.

Eric Lamaze

Results from Horse and Superdog Relay:
1. Hanastasia/Frankie Chesler, Orangeville, ON; Lacey
2. Sandstone Dorina/Gabriella Salick, Orinda, CA; Raggedy
3. Leobalia/Alison Moore, Stittsville, ON; Turbo
4. Cimeron 3E/Hugh Graham, King City, ON; Earmuffs
5. Sylver 2/Frankie Chesler, Orangeville, ON; Slick

Local Rider Results
Horse and Superdog Relay:
4. Cimeron 3E/Hugh Graham

Jr/Am Sec I Welcome:
3. Liberty/Sabrinja Piltzmaker, King City
5. Northern Light/Emma Rejc-Wieland
8. Fairplay/Rebecca Sloan, Sharon
9. Corrado/Danielle Raucamp, Stouffville

OHJA Medal:
6. Hello Newman/Ashley McInnis, Aurora
8. Ryan/Kristen Hillier, Sharon

Welcome Hunter:
3. Privileged/Rob Carey, Stouffville
5. Big Shot/Virginia Gayford, Stouffville
7. As Good As It Gets/Martha Gayford, Stouffville

Handy Hunter:
3. Privileged/Rob Carey, Stouffville
4. Big Shot/Virginia Gayford, Stouffville
8. Double Platinum/Alana Burke, Markham