Canadian Championship gold medalist Alicia Gadban-Lewis riding Benificial to victory in the $75,000 Truman Cup at the 2021 Royal West.
Calgary AB, Nov 7, 2021 – As the Calgary homebuilder slogan goes, “Live Better, Live Truman,” it was British Columbia’s Alicia Gadban-Lewis, living better after her victory topping a field of 22 horse rider combinations in the $75,000 Truman Homes Cup on the final evening of Royal West, featuring the Canadian Show Jumping Championships.
Gadban’s first round clear round helped secure her the gold medal and title of 2021 Canadian Show Jumping Champion, along with an additional $12,500 rider bonus. The title was last won by Canadian Team member Beth Underhill in 2019, there was no Championship awarded in 2020 due to the Covid 19 Pandemic.
“I was thrilled with how my horse jumped tonight and thought that she got better every day of the Championship,” said Alica when asked to comment about her win. “I was able to push her to the next level tonight in the Jump Off, which really helped with the competitive field of riders in the class. I’ve had her since she was 4 years old, and the last time she was here at Royal West, she won the 5 year old Championship,” added Alicia about her 9 year old mare. “It has been a childhood goal of mine to win the Canadian Championship, so I am extremely happy. I now hope to be able to represent Canada on a Nation’s Cup Team and consider that my 2022 goal.”
Royal West, which concluded Saturday, played host to the Canadian Show Jumping Championships in a variety of divisions for all levels of riders. This marked the first time in over twenty years that the Championships’ were hosted in Western Canada, largely in part to the cancellation of the 2021 Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario.
“It was truly an honor for my company, Rocky Mountain Show Jumping, to be given the right to host the Championships in Calgary, said John Anderson, host of the event. “Silver and Bronze Medalists in the Championships, Vanessa Mannix, and Jim Ifko, both from Calgary along with Alicia also expressed to me their pleasure in seeing the Championships hosted in the West after so many years back East,” added John. “I look forward to seeing this happen on a more regular basis in future years as well. The riders really want it, and I certainly enjoy hosting events that showcase the talents of our Canadian Athletes’. I can’t thank my friend George Trutina and Truman Homes enough for helping me make this possible for our great sport.”
Royal West is scheduled for October 19th – 29th, 2022 again at Calgary’s Stampede Park.
Photo Credits to RMSJ Photos by Amanda Ubell Photography.
2021 Canadian Champions
Gold - Alicia Gadban-Lewis riding Benificial
Silver - Vanessa Mannix riding Catinka 25
Bronze - Christopher Lowe riding Cunningham 4
Presentation by John Anderson of Rocky Mountain Show Jumping, Meg Krueger CEO of Equestrian Canada, Karen Hendry-Ouellette Equestrian Canada Manager of Sport - Jumping Department and Nancy Burton of Rocky Mountain Show Jumping.
1.30m Canadian Champions
Gold - Shaelyn Enders riding Voilastar
Silver - Jim Ifko riding Eloise
Bronze - Laura lopez riding Dali D’Eclipse
Presentation by John Anderson of Rocky Mountain Show Jumping, Meg Krueger CEO of Equestrian Canada, Karen Hendry-Ouellette Equestrian Canada Manager of Sport - Jumping Department and Nancy Burton of Rocky Mountain Show Jumping.
1.20m Canadian Champions
Gold - Claire Doty riding Balletina
Silver - Samara Heinrichs Prak riding Pennisula Ailbhe
Bronze - Madeline Riddle riding I-Candy.
Presentation by John Anderson of Rocky Mountain Show Jumping, Meg Krueger CEO of Equestrian Canada and Karen Hendry-Ouellette Equestrian Canada Manager of Sport - Jumping Department.
1.10m Canadian Champions
Gold - Paige Unruh riding Vincenzo
Silver - Catherine Harley riding Eltano
Bronze - Izzy Biron riding Three Cups Ivory Coast
Presentation by John Anderson of Rocky Mountain Show Jumping, Karen Hendry-Ouellette Equestrian Canada Manager of Sport - Jumping Department and Meg Krueger CEO of Equestrian Canada.
1.00m Canadian Champions
Gold - Mikayla Van Rooyen riding I-Edea
Silver - Rena Phillipson riding Quintefino
Bronze - Selina Watt riding Coulash Van De Broy Z
Presentation by John Anderson of Rocky Mountain Show Jumping, Meg Krueger CEO of Equestrian Canada and Karen Hendry-Ouellette Equestrian Canada Manager of Sport - Jumping Department.
