Katelyn Cooper of Calgary, AB and Casino Royale posted a clear round in a time of 75.92 seconds, which put the pair in 24th place.
The Canadian Junior Rider Team, Adrien Vilcini of Selwyn, ON; Katelyn Cooper of Calgary, AB and Meagan Beunder of Calgary, AB, is all ready for tomorrow's
Nations' Cup competition following the first Individual Phase One Qualifier today. Jumping a course designed by American Steve Stephens, an FEI 4* course designer, Cooper and her nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Casino Royale (Cassini II x Coriander), posted a clear round in a time of 75.92 seconds, which put the pair in 24th place in stiff competition. Scored like all FEI Championship competitions, the final time is converted into a score using a multiplier of 0.50, so Cooper's score today was 4.98 going forward for individual competition. In 33rd place was Beunder riding RRC Black Magic (King's Master x Ricardo Z), a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by 9447000 Alberta Ltd. The pair added 12 seconds for their 12 faults to their time of 71.90 to finish with 83.90 and a converted score of 8.97. In the Young Riders Individual Phase One Qualifier, Carlie Fairty of Markham, ON and Ladyplane (Levisto x Lad), her 10-year-old Brandenburger mare, added only four seconds, for the one rail down and a final time of 79.93, which gave the pair converted score of 5.30 for 15th place. In 20th spot, also with one rail for four seconds added to their time, was Muhammad Itani of Essex, ON who rode his 12-year-old Cheval de Selle Luxembourgeois gelding, Tax Free (Toulon x Pilot) to a final time of 83.74 and converted score of 7.20.
"We had great rounds today from Rachel Cooper, Meagan Beunder. They were both very, very good in our Junior division," said chef d'équipe Hyde Moffat. "Carlie Fairty and Muhammad Itani were also quite good, so I am very happy."
"This competition is a real crucial step in rider development," added Moffat. "This is the only opportunity that riders get to compete with the pressures of a team format."
The faults incurred during the Nations' Cup tomorrow will be added to the scores for the individual final results.
