Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC, showed spectators what horsepower was all about during their West Coast Classic June 27 to July 1, with Jaguar and Land Rover of Richmond sponsoring the $20,000 Canada Day Grand Prix.
International course designer Danny Foster put together a Grand Prix that included a bank, water jump, two combinations and plenty of room to get up a good gallop. Six horse-rider combinations advanced to the jump off with clear fast rounds.
Tracey Epp on Orleans led the jump off with a time of 49.54 and no jumping faults. Quick turns between the first few fences gave her an edge that almost won her the day.
Both Georgann Gregory on Adlaya and Laura Jane Tidball on Rocco had rails down at the rock wall. Stephanie Kelly on Hilda Rouge fell victim to the combination, with one rail down. Eliza Hunt and Novalis.
The final challenger in the ring was Kelly Hirsch on her 14-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred gelding Mundy Blues. With a long stride and some fast lines, the two jumped right into first with no rails and a time of 46.70 seconds.
Jaguar Land Rover of Richmond $20,000 Grand Prix Top 3:
1. Kelly Hirsch on Mundy Blues
2. Tracey Epp on Orleans
3. Stephanie Kelly on Hilda Rouge
For full results visit www.thunderbirdshowpark.com.
