Chris Kappler of the United States opened the CSI-W Blainville Jumping International with a win on Wednesday, July 5. The international show jumping competition runs from July 5-9 at the Blainville Equestrian Park in Blainville, Quebec.

Despite some wet footing in the grass grand prix field, 18 horse-and-rider combinations took advantage of the opportunity to jump the track set by one of the most revered course designers in the world, Conrad Homfeld. Both Kappler and Homfeld are Olympic Team Gold and Individual Silver medalists. Homfeld's were earned in 1984 in Los Angeles while Kappler's accomplishments came at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Six competitors were successful in turning in clear rounds to advance to the jump-off. As the second-last challenger, Kappler turned in a clear round in time of 41.63 seconds riding VDL Maseratie. The final competitor on course, Canadian Olympian John Pearce of Stouffville, Ontario, gave it his best shot, but 45.21 seconds was as quick as he could manage with Archie Bunker, his eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding.

With the only other double-clear round, Eric Flameng of Belgium took third place riding Roxanne, his 12-year-old Belgian-bred mare. In 2004, Flameng and Roxanne won the Grand Prix Jumping du Quebec World Cup Qualifier at Blainville, and the pair has been returning ever since.

Pearce also turned in the fastest four-fault effort to take fourth place with Urioso, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, while Michael Grinyer of Campbellville, Ontario, piloted his 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Alcatraz, to fifth place. Jonathon Millar of Perth, Ontario, rounded out the jump-off field, placing sixth with Noble I, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Bridge Brook Farms.

Show jumping action continues on Thursday, June 8, at the Blainville Equestrian Park. One of the longest-running international equestrian competitions in all of Canada, the 18th Blainville Jumping International is a major stop on the Canadian show jumping circuit and also serves as a World Cup Qualifying event, offering coveted World Cup points towards the 2007 World Cup Final in Las Vegas. Over 700 horses will compete over the five-day tournament for more than $170,000 in prize money.

Featured events include Thursday's Talent Squad competition featuring up-and-coming superstars while Friday's featured class is the $20,000 Open Welcome. The crowd-pleasing $3,500 Horse-Dog Relay, which sees horses pair up with loveable canines, each jumping their own appropriately-sized obstacles, will follow Saturday afternoon's $25,000 Challenge Desjardins Modified Grand Prix. The tournament culminates with Sunday's $70,000 Grand Prix Jumping du Quebec World Cup Qualifier.

Located just north of Montreal, the Blainville Equestrian Park features a variety of attractions for family members of all ages. For more information, visit www.classiqueblainville.com or call Blainville International at (450) 434-8202, ext. 108, or e-mail [email protected].


~~~