Toronto, Ontario -November 9, 2002- For the second year in a row, Ainsley Vince of Milton, ON, was crowned the Canadian Show Jumping Champion at Toronto’s Royal Horse Show, November 8-17.

The Canadian Show Jumping Championships were held over two rounds. Vince finished fourth in Friday evening’s $50,000 ‘The Royal Canadian Mint’ Canadian Championship, Round 1, while a win in Saturday’s $30,000 CIBC Canadian Championship, Round 2, clinched the national title for the 26-year-old rider.

“I didn’t think I would get it the first time,” said Vince, referring to her victory in 2001, the first time the Canadian Show Jumping Championships were held at the Royal Horse Show. “I certainly didn’t think I would get it twice in a row! I have to give my horse all of the credit.”

Vince, who is self-coached, was riding Catch 22, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Trinity Farm.

Placing second in Saturday’s $30,000 CIBC Canadian Championships, Round 2, was 22-year-old Erynn Ballard of Hornby, ON. Riding Alibi, a nine-year-old grey Hannoverian gelding owned by Caren Morassutti, Ballard, an individual gold medallist at the 1999 North American Young Riders’ Championship, was first to compete in the jump-off but her eight faults were beaten by Vince’s four.

Ian Millar of Perth, ON, came close to claiming his ninth Canadian Show Jumping Championship title, but four faults with the Canadian Warmblood gelding, Aftershock, put the seven-time Olympian out of the hunt.

Placing fourth was Toronto’s own Mark Samuel riding Darios V, an 11-year-old selle francais gelding. While Samuel only had one rail down, exceeding the predetermined time allowed brought Samuel’s final score to seven faults. Rounding out the top five was Sulu Rose, 29, a Canadian rider based in Virginia. While several riders had eight faults, Rose did it in the fastest time, clocking in at 79.47 seconds aboard her 10-year-old grey Canadian-bred gelding, Watch This.

For the first time, the Royal Horse Show will feature the Royal Invitational Professional Rodeo on Sunday, November 10, with 50 of Canada’ brightest rodeo stars. Show jumping action returns to the main Coliseum on Monday, featuring the $20,000 International Jumper Challenge.

Celebrate the 80th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, the world's largest indoor combined agricultural, horticultural, canine and equestrian event, from November 8 to 17, 2002, National Trade Centre, Exhibition Place. For more information, please visit www.royalfair.org.

$30,000 CIBC Canadian Show Jumping Championship, Round 2