by Julie Smith
For its 25th year, the Edmonton Northlands Horse Show kicked off in the infield of the racetrack at Northlands Park. From May 29 to June 3 harness racing came second at the track as over 330 hunter/jumper competitors vied for over $160,000 in prize money.
With the $40,000 Kubota Cup Grand Prix, $25,000 ATCO Cup and $20,000 National Bank Financial/Paramount Energy Trust Grand Prix, the show attracted several of Canada’s top riders including Jonathan Asselin, Tamie Phillips, and Lisa Carlsen.
Gary Brewster of West Vancouver, riding Hurricane, edged out this esteemed field and placed first in the Kubota Cup, taking the lead in the Western Conference of the prestigious Canadian show jumping series while he was at it.
The 1986 World Champion Gail Greenough, out of major competition for the past 10 years, was on the comeback trail with her new horse Lexus, placing fourth in the Kubota Cup. “I think he has the talent to go all the way, but we still need more time,” Greenough enthused.
The majority of the riders at the Northlands Horse Show are not Grand Prix competitors, however, but Junior and Amateur riders. For many, the show is a great opportunity to compete against international calibre riders without breaking the bank. Since the show is “committed to creating value for the competitors by returning 100 per cent of the sponsorship monies directly to the riders,” even those competing in lower level hunter classes can win prize money.
Megan Kelly, a junior rider from Edmonton, was pleased with her third-place ribbon and $100 prize money in the Low Junior/Amateur Hunter 3’0” class. Her horse, Quick Beer, was bought for $2,000 out of a field he had been sitting in for five years.
“I’m so happy that my geriatric Thoroughbred is placing top three with horses that have been imported from Germany and Ireland,” Kelly said. Kelly also placed seventh in the $1,000 Children’s/ Adult Hunter Classic.
One of the show’s big highlights was Sunday’s “Bringing Home the Dream” cancer fundraiser, a 1.20m Junior/ Amateur Speed class offering a whopping $20,000 purse, making it the most money ever offered at a Junior/Amateur event in Western Canada.
Brie Etcheverry riding Pilgrim Van De Paddepoel edged out the field of 26 entries with a fast, clear round.
Long-time competitor Kate Watt established the fundraiser in 2005, after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. “I just felt that I had to do something,” Watt said.
Two years later, Watt’s mother is in remission and the fundraiser has made a three-year commitment to Dr. Michael Sawyer at the Alberta Cross Cancer Institute to raise $300,000. They are already well on their way by raising $125,000 this year alone, which is $25,000 more than anticipated.
“It’s really exciting,” Watt said. “I didn’t expect to go over our forecasted amount this year so I was definitely proud to announce that we had raised this much this year. It’s an honour.”
Attracting spectators from around the city, the show offered face painting, pony rides, and a dog agility performance. The central location right near downtown Edmonton, free admission, and sunny weather were also a draw.
Non-rider Kristen Morley, who lives near the venue, brought her two young sons to the show for an afternoon outing. “I wouldn’t normally go to a horse competition,” Morley explained. “But it’s so convenient to come here, and it’s something different to do, and the boys enjoy watching the horses. It’s been a good afternoon.”
Show manager Caroline Jones is pleased with the show’s success thus far, and optimistic for the future. “Our bleachers were full this weekend,” she noted. “And we had a lot of really great competitors this year. We attracted entries from the States, and even one from Mexico.”
“The riders have the show on their schedules and the sponsors are happy – we have a great future.”
Late on a Friday afternoon, the sun falling behind the tall downtown towers that provide the backdrop to the three jumping rings, sponsors and riders laugh and talk together during the course walk of the ATCO Cup, the horses paw the ground and glisten in the late afternoon sun, and another 25 years of horse showing at Northlands Park seems highly likely. The show has a great future indeed.
