Laura Robertson Tops $5,000 Royal Pony Jumper Final at 2015 Royal Horse Show®
November 15, 2015 - Toronto, Ontario
Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography
Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography
Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography
Laura Robertson of Toronto, ON, topped the $5,000 Royal Pony Jumper Final, presented by William Tilford and Marion Cunningham of Marbill Hill Farm, on Sunday, November 15, at the Royal Horse Show®. The competition officially closed out The 93rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in downtown Toronto, ON.
In a fairy tale ending to the Royal Horse Show, Robertson and a chestnut pony called Royal took top call in the featured class for pony jumpers. Pony-size speed was showcased as Royal, owned by Charlotte Millar, carried Robertson to victory over 14 entries. They were the fastest of three double-clear efforts in the jump-off, breaking the timer beam in a blistering 27.36 seconds.
Finishing more than two seconds behind Robertson, second-place rider Raphaelle Ferreira of Prevost, QC, stopped the jump-off clock at 29.90 seconds riding her own Montreux. Ferreira’s top finish, combined with a sixth-place result in the $2,500 Royal Pony Jumper Welcome held Saturday, November 14, clinched the overall Royal Pony Jumper Championship title. Camille Huppe of St. Eustache, QC, riding Texas, owned by Susana Tezanos-Moreno, placed third on Sunday with a time of 31.03 seconds in the jump-off. Huppe and Texas had also placed second on Saturday to earn the Reserve Champion title.
Melinda Dupont of Mount Albert, ON, and her own Snapchat were clean over the original track to advance to the tie-breaker, but suffered elimination in the jump-off to settle in fourth. Jumping to the fastest four-fault effort in the opening round, Grace Munro of Wolfville, NS, rounded out the top five in the irons of her own Ever So Clever.
On Saturday, Kilby Brunner Deforest topped the $2,500 Royal Pony Jumper Welcome, the first class of the division. Her partner was Barkway Topaz, an English-bred Welsh pony owned by her mother, Kirsten Brunner. Barkway Topaz did double duty at the Royal Horse Show®, also showing in driving competition with his owner.
The Royal Pony Jumper Division celebrated its third year calling The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair home, and welcomed riders from four provinces – Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island – to the Ricoh Coliseum. The division’s two classes were generously presented by William Tilford and Marion Cunningham, who were in attendance on Sunday to congratulate the riders on their accomplishments.
“Pony jumpers are the first step in developing riders that can go forward, think on the fly, and handle a wide variety of obstacles, terrain and approaches,” said Cunningham, who operates Marbill Hill Farm in Bradford West Gwillimbury, ON. “We are proud to support this competition at the Royal Horse Show®, and proud to encourage the future of show jumping sport.”
After ten days of top competition, featuring pint-sized ponies and World Cup Champions alike, the Royal Horse Show wrapped its 2015 season with excitement already building for the event in 2016, which will return to downtown Toronto November 4-13, 2016.
For more information on the Royal Horse Show, the marquee event of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, please visit http://www.royalfair.org/horse-show.
Funding support for The Royal has been provided by the City of Toronto and the Government of Ontario.
$5,000 Royal Pony Jumper Final, presented by William Tilford and Marion Cunningham
Sunday, November 15
Rider Hometown Horse Faults Time
1. Laura Robertson Toronto, ON Royal 0:0 27.36
2. Raphaelle Ferreira Prevost, QC Montreux 0:0 29.90
3. Camille Huppe St Eustache, QC Texas 0:0 31.03
4. Melinda Dupont Mount Albert, ON Snapchat 0:elim.
5. Grace Munro Wolfville, NS Ever So Clever 4
6. Grace Gibb Tweed, ON Curly Shirley 4
7. Emilie Faubert Greenfield Park, QC Rosie 4
8. Nicole Donovan Coldwater, ON Hudson Bay 8
9. Kilby Brunner Deforest Hillsburgh, ON Barkway Topaz 8
10. Audrey Guyonnet Lyn, ON Gailic 8
About The Royal
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world’s largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian show. This year, the 93rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair runs November 6-15, 2015 at Exhibition Place, Toronto. For competition schedules, live webcasting, results and to purchase tickets, please visit www.royalfair.org.
