Vanessa Mannix and Catinka 25 winners of the first phase of the Canadian Championship with John Anderson, Grant Stevens, Carly Stevens and Nancy Burton at the 2021 Royal West.
Calgary AB, Nov 4, 2021 – After more than twenty years being hosted by the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario, the Canadian Show Jumping Championship returned to Calgary and local rider Vanessa Mannix and her horse Catinka 25 mastered the $25,000 Grant Production Testing speed class topping a field of 26 horse and rider combinations all vying to be crowned the next Canadian Show Jumping Champion.
Mannix, of Calgary, currently ranked 174th on the World Ranking list is a mainstay on the Royal West list of competitors having competed at the inaugural event hosted back in 2014. “I compete around the world with my horses on the tour, but always love being able to compete in my hometown with my family able to watch,” said Mannix. My horse really loves this venue, and I was extremely pleased with her performance tonight,” she added. She added a comment about the Championship coming out West. “I’ve competed in the Championship a number of times in Toronto and think it’s a great steppingstone for riders wanting to enter the International ranks of the sport. I think its great the Equestrian Canada allowed the event to move to Calgary in these uncertain Covid times.”
The reigning Canadian Show Jumping Champion is Schomberg, Ontario’s Canadian Team member Beth Underhill who won the prestigious Championship at the Royal Winter Fair in 2019. With the Covid 19 Pandemic playing havoc to the sport of Show Jumping as well, the Royal Winter Fair was forced to cancel in 2020 and 2021. That’s when Calgary’s John Anderson stepped up to the plate and said we need to help. “The sport needs Championships and riders need to be recognized for their efforts. It’s what drives riders to be better, and how can they be better if there is no goalpost?” said Anderson. “We have hosted a number of indoor events at Calgary’s Stampede Park and knew we could pull it off.” Added Anderson.
And pull it off he did. A record $175,000 in prize money is being awarded to competitors in the three phase competition that began with the speed event. Riders will jump in phase 2, a Jump of event featuring $50,000 in prize money, and finish up on Saturday Night with the $75,000 Truman Homes Cup after which the top rider will be crowned as Canada’s new National Champion.
Admission is free, and spectators are welcome down to Stampede Park in the Nutrien Western Event Centre. The $75,000 Truman Homes Cup is scheduled for Saturday November 6th at 7:00pm.
Photo Credits to RMSJ Photos by Amanda Ubell Photography.
Vanessa Mannix riding Catinka 25 in the first phase of the Canadian Championship at the 2021 Royal West.
Vanessa Mannix and Catinka 25 victorious in the first phase of the Canadian Championship at the 2021 Royal West.
Canadian Championship Phase 1
FEI Article 239 Table C
# Horse Rider Total Time
1st 155 – CATINKA 25 VANESSA MANNIX 60.38
2nd 403 – BENEFICIAL ALICIA GADBAN-LEWIS 63.6
3rd 375 – CAYA SHAUNA COOK 64.05
4th 260 – HAIDO PIET VAN GENUGTEN 64.3
5th 223 – EBLESSE JACLYN DUFF 64.51
6th 3 – DJANGO II KATIE LAURIE 65.70
7th 229 – ILANA HALLE DUKE 66.47
8th 169 – CUNNINGHAM 4 CHRISTOPHER LOWE 68.26
9th 256 – UN DIAMANT DES FORETS JIM IFKO 68.55
10th 318 – CERA CARUSO KATIE LAURIE 69.77
11th 259 – PENINSULA SWANKY SAMARA HEINRICHS PRAK 70.45
12th 340 – HOOZ DA KAT LORRIE JAMIESON 70.75