Amy Millar, Shannon Clifford and Ryan Roy shine at Caledon Premier 2 CSI2*
Another exciting week of show jumping wrapped up Sunday (Aug. 13) at Caledon Equestrian Park, with Shannon Clifford and Illusionist 2 taking home top prize in the $15,000 Modified Grand Prix — Presented by Pommies Cider Co.
Nick, Lindsay and the Sutcliffe Family of Pommies Cider Co. Present the winning awards to Shannon Clifford and Illusionist 2. Photo Credit: Ben Radvanyi Photography
The final class of the Caledon Premier 2 CSI2* saw Clifford and Illusionist 2 best starting field 24 entries for their first big win at the park on the season.
Brazilian course designer Marina Azevedo designed a challenging course, which saw the first few entries struggle with the posted time allowed. After a few rounds however, the remainder of the field figured things out and nine competitors would eventually move on to the jump-off.
Clifford and Illusionist 2 — who hail from Paris, Texas — put up an impressive time in the second round beating out fellow American Andy Kocher and Warnike by more than a full second. Kocher had an impressive class with all four of his entries making it through to the jump-off. He would also finish fifth, sixth and ninth on the day.
Kelly Soleau-Millar and Centre Ice rounded out the top three. Soleau-Millar’s sister-in-law Amy Millar and her ride ERICSON would finish fourth in the class to close out an impressive week of her own.
Shannon Clifford and Illusionist 2 negotiating the course. Photo Credit: Ben Radvanyi Photography
Millar and Heros, owned by AMMO Investments, capped off another thrilling a jump-off on Saturday (Aug. 12) with a win in the $50,000 FEI Jumper Classic.
A starting field of 21 was whittled down to eight competitors for the jump-off. Clifford, this time riding Piesling de Milvrault, was the first to go clear in the second round after the first four competitors had rails.
Things got exciting after Clifford posted the first clear jump-off round with a time of 43.01. The following three competitors posted successively better runs, capped off by Millar and Heros thrilling first-place finale with a time of 38.05 for the pair’s second big win of the week.
“It was lovely that I drew last, and then got to go last in the jump-off because I knew how fast I had to go,” said Millar in a show release.
“On Thursday, there were 12 in the jump-off and there were a lot of double clears, going faster and faster, so I went all out. Today, going last, I knew I had an inch here and there. It’s a nice feeling to know exactly what you have to do, and my horse jumped so well,” she added.
Millar and Heros — a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood — were also victorious in the $35,000 FEI Open Welcome — Presented by RAM Equestrian on Thursday (Aug. 10).
RAM Equestrian Representatives presenting Amy Millar and Heros with awards for their Victory of the $35,000 FEI Open Welcome presented by RAM Equestrian Thursday Aug 10.
Photo Credit: Ben Radvanyi Photography
Thursday’s class saw 12 competitors move on to the jump-off out of a starting field of 24. As was the case in the Modified Grand Prix, the action came down to the wire with Tottenham’s Erynn Ballard and Thalys Z going last but coming up just 0.37 seconds short after Millar and Heros posted a class-winning time of 38.65 one spot earlier.
“Last year was such an amazing experience, the horse kept giving me more and giving me more right up until the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ in September. Then he was a little hit or miss, so it’s been a process. This year had not been nearly as exciting until this week. He’s right back on form and hasn’t touched a rail all week,” said Millar.
“He’s so talented, and when he’s game and with me like he is right now, he’s unbeatable,” she added.
The hunter ring also saw some great competition, featuring both the $5,000 Canadian Hunter Derby and $3,000 LongRun TB Hunter Challenge — Presented by Schonberg Farm and Sam-Son Farm.
Ryan Roy and Leopold, owned by Nicole Gobbi, claimed top prize in the $5,000 Canadian Hunter Derby on Sunday, besting an impressive field of 30 competitors. Aurora’s Quincy Hayes took second and third riding Crush and King Bee, respectively.
Chelsea McGee of CWD making the awards presentation to Ryan Roy and Nicole Gobbi’s Leopold.
Photo Credit: Ben Radvanyi Photography
That was Roy’s second win on the day after also winning the $3,000 LongRun Thoroughbred Hunter Challenge Finals — Presented by Schonberg Farm and Sam-Son Farm earlier in the day.
Riding Helen Curtin’s Wessex, this was Roy’s first win in the four-class series at Caledon Equestrian Park. The pair also finished second behind Deborah Weir and Red October in round three at the Summer Festival on Aug. 6. Emma Kestle and Soul Seeker, and
Marilyn Lee Hannah riding Prodigioso, claimed rounds one and two, respectively.
Helen Curtin’s Wessex piloted by Ryan Roy in the Victory Circle for the $3000 LongRun Thoroughbred Hunter Challenge Finals presented by Schonberg Farm and Sam-Son Farm.
Photo Credit: Ben Radvanyi Photography.
Up next at Caledon Equestrian Park will be the Trillium Zone Classic running Aug. 18-20, followed by the Dressage Summer Classic from Aug. 25-27 and the Trillium Championships from Aug 30 to Sept 3.
Visit caledonequestrianpark.com for a full schedule of upcoming events and a full list of last week’s results.
Results – Caledon Premiere 2 CSI2* (horse/owner/rider)
$15,000 Modified Grand Prix Presented by Pommies Cider Co. (Aug. 13)
1. Illusionst 2/Shannon Clifford/Shannon Clifford
2. Warnike/Lexi Mulkey/Andy Kocher
3. Centre Ice/Kelly Soleau-Millar/Kelly Soleau-Millar
4.ERICSON/Millar Brooke Farm/Amy Millar
5.Allure G/Los Establos Sporthorses Corp./Andy Kocher
$5000 Canadian Hunter Derby (Aug. 13)
1. Leopold/Nicole Gobbi/Ryan Roy
2. Crush/Cawthra Burns/Quincy Hayes
3. King Bee/Louise Brackett/Quincy Hayes
4. Alejandro/Greg Kuti/Greg Kuti
5. Eldino/Jenny Wisenberg/Miranda Travers-Cavill
$3,000 LongRun TB Hunter Challenge — Presented by Schonberg Farm and Sam-Son Farm (Aug. 13)
1. Wessex/Helen Curtin/Ryan Roy
2. Prodigioso/Marilyn Lee Hannah/Robin Hannah-Carlton
3. Red October/Deborah Weir/Deborah Weir
4. Southern Song/Robin Hannah-Carlton/Robin Hannah-Carlton
5. Northolt/Cindy Phillips-Wood/Cindy Phillips-Wood
$50,000 FEI Jumper Classic (Aug. 12)
1. Heros/AMMO Investments/Amy Millar
2. VALKYRIE DE TALMA/EVENTYRE FARMS LTD/Rachel Cornacchia
3. Thalys Z/The Thalys Group/Erynn Ballard
4. Riesling de Milvrault/Shannon Clifford/Shannon Clifford
5. Daveau/Millar Brooke Farm/Jonathon Millar
$35,000 FEI Open Welcome — Presented by RAM Equestrian (Aug. 10)
1. Heros/AMMO Investments/Amy Millar
2. Thalys Z/The Thalys Group/Erynn Ballard
3. VALKYRIE DE TALMA/EVENTYRE FARMS LTD/Rachel Cornacchia
4. Granturo/Hyde Moffatt/Hyde Moffatt
5. Cacharel/Donna Vanderwoude-Dyment/Kelly Soleau-Millar
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