Erynn Ballard Emerges Victorious on Opening Night at The Royal Horse Show

Toronto, ON – 28 year-old Erynn Ballard of Tottenham, Ontario, took top honours in round one of the $100,000 Canadian Show Jumping Championships presented by Greenhawk, on opening night of competition at the Royal Horse Show. The show is part of the 86th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair running until November 16th, at the Direct Energy Centre.
 
The evening’s marquee event featured $25,000 in prize money and ran in the format of a speed competition, with rails down being converted into penalty seconds. Ballard and her mount Rio’s Rhapsody bested a field of 23 including Olympic Silver medalists Ian Millar and Jill Henselwood, both of whom are previous Canadian Champions. Ballard’s overall time of 77.20 seconds included four seconds added for a rail that came down – a common trend for the evening.
 
“I thought she was fantastic,” said Ballard following the victory gallop. “I didn’t think I would win the whole class, especially with a rail down. I stuck to my plan and she gave me an amazing effort. I chose her over Robin for this weekend because she is a little faster. I knew she was my shot to be on top.”
 
Crowd favourite, Olympian Ian Millar of Perth, Ontario, also made an entrance, but not in the way he expected. His partner Redefin appeared to misjudge the takeoff to the first fence on course, an imposing triple-bar, and didn’t get off the ground, resulting in a fall of both horse and rider.  Fortunately both were unharmed and Millar expects to continue in tomorrow’s final phase of the Championships.
 
“If you’re going to go out there and jump, these things are going to happen,” remarked Millar good-naturedly after the class. “The important thing is that both horse and rider come out of the ring ok. We examined him carefully and jumped him a little, and he responded well. He looks fine to go the rest of the week.”
 
Second place went to Alberta native Jenn Serek with Bottom Line, finishing just behind Ballard with an overall time of 77.50 seconds having also had one rail down. Third went to Millar’s son Jonathon with Romanov, on a time of 78.360 seconds after they knocked down fence eight: a tall, narrow upright which took its toll on the field coming down a half-dozen times over the course of the evening.
 
Scores from this first phase carry forward to Saturday afternoon’s second phase, a two-round matinee competition beginning at 12:45pm. The matinee also includes a performance of the renowned RCMP Musical Ride, the second of their four appearances over opening weekend. Round two of the $100,000 Canadian Show Jumping Championships presented by Greenhawk will be broadcast that afternoon on CBC from 4:00pm to 6:00pm Eastern time.
 
Show jumping continues Saturday evening with the $100,000 Kubota Cup National Final, before Sunday gives way to the best from the west in the Ontario Toyota Dealers Royal Rodeo. In total, more than $795,000 in prize money is offered over the ten-day competition, making it one of the richest equestrian events in the world.
 
For more information on The Royal Horse Show and The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, please visit www.royalfair.org.  

$100,000 Canadian Show Jumping Championships presented by Greenhawk – Round 1

Rider / Hometown / Horse / Time

1. Erynn Ballard / Tottenham, ON / Rio’s Rhapsody / 77.20
2. Jenn Serek / Dewinton, AB / Bottom Line / 77.52
3. Jonathon Millar / Perth, ON / Romanov / 78.36
4. Keean White / Acton, ON / Celena Z / 78.61
5. Frankie Chesler-Ortiz / Orangeville, ON / Ranville / 80.72