International Field to Challenge Canada's Best at the Royal West

 

Calgary, AB — The stirring action of this year’s Royal West— featuring the prestigious $126,000 LONGINES FEI World Cup™ Jumping Calgary — kicks off this Thursday night at the Agrium Western Event Centre on the Stampede grounds. An international field of World Cup and Olympic calibre riders from will highlight nine days of heart-stopping action from Oct. 22-31.

Week one will star Canadian star and Olympic silver medalist Jill Henselwood along with a strong contingent of Canadians including Ontarians Keenan White and Erynn Ballard and Albertan Elizabeth Gingras. International stars feature Samuel Parot of Chile — who won the second leg of the LONGINES in a recent event in Sacramento, California — and James Chawke of Ireland.

For the pivotal second week of Royal West the stars come out. From California come experience competitors Quentin Judge and Vinton Karrash, Canadian challengers include Calgary’s Ben Asselin, Tamie Phillips, Chris Sorreson and local up-and-comer Jenn Serek.

This roster of stellar readers will be competing for, among the top events, the $50,000 Western Canadian Hunter Derbies and the $126,000 in prize money in the LONGINES FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League, as Calgary joins the top jumping cities in the world as one of the 14 qualifiers in North America for LONGINES FEI World Cup™ Jumping Finals.

Added to the drama of world-class jumping will be the debut of Jousting, the fun of the wild ponies and falconry plus fun and games for kids through to Halloween evening Saturday, Oct. 31.

For more information visit www.royalwest.org