PHOTO – Canada’s gold medal 1970 World Show Jumping Championship team. From left to right: Moffat Dunlap, Tom Gayford, Jim Day, and Jim Elder.
Photo Credit – Courtesy of Equestrian Canada
At the 1970 World Championships held in La Baule, France, the Canadian Show Jumping Team proved its prowess on the international stage by winning the team gold medal.
Jim Day, Moffatt Dunlap, Jim Elder, and Tom Gayford defied the odds, claiming the World Championship title two years after Canada had enjoyed a stunning victory at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. If naysayers thought that winning a team gold medal in its Olympic debut was a fluke, Canada proved them wrong.
The 1970 World Championships were held in July in the French seaside resort town of La Baule. It marked the seventh edition of the World Championships and attracted a record starting field of 27 riders representing 14 nations. Canada was making its World Championship debut and attracted considerable media interest as the reigning Olympic Champions.
Day, Elder, and Gayford had formed Canada’s three-man team for the Olympics and, with the addition of Dunlap, once again rose to the occasion in La Baule. Day and Gayford rode their Olympic mounts, Canadian Club and Big Dee, respectively, while Elder saddled up Shoeman and Dunlap’s horse was Argyle.
Led by coach Lou Mikucki, formerly of the Polish Calvary, the Canadian Team competed on a European tour that included Vichy, France, Hickstead and Wembley in England, and Dublin, Ireland, as well as the World Championships. The tour was a resounding success, starting from the first class in Vichy where Day and Canadian Club won the Prix des France while Gayford and Big Dee placed third.
Up against strong competition at the World Championship in La Baule, Canada came out on top following a jump-off with the home side of France for the gold medal. Show jumping powerhouse nations Great Britain and the United States tied for bronze. Elder would finish as the top Canadian individually, placing fifth.
Incredibly, the Canadian Team went on to win the gold medal at the 1971 Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia, making Canada the Olympic Champion, World Champion, and Pan Am Champion, all in the same major games cycle. It is a feat that has yet to be repeated by any nation in show jumping sport.
The Jump Canada Hall of Fame celebrates the induction of Day, Dunlap, Elder, and Gayford collectively as the World Championship gold medal team members that made show jumping history.
At the 1970 World Championships held in La Baule, France, the Canadian Show Jumping Team proved its prowess on the international stage by winning the team gold medal.
Jim Day, Moffatt Dunlap, Jim Elder, and Tom Gayford defied the odds, claiming the World Championship title two years after Canada had enjoyed a stunning victory at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. If naysayers thought that winning a team gold medal in its Olympic debut was a fluke, Canada proved them wrong.
The 1970 World Championships were held in July in the French seaside resort town of La Baule. It marked the seventh edition of the World Championships and attracted a record starting field of 27 riders representing 14 nations. Canada was making its World Championship debut and attracted considerable media interest as the reigning Olympic Champions.
Day, Elder, and Gayford had formed Canada’s three-man team for the Olympics and, with the addition of Dunlap, once again rose to the occasion in La Baule. Day and Gayford rode their Olympic mounts, Canadian Club and Big Dee, respectively, while Elder saddled up Shoeman and Dunlap’s horse was Argyle.
Led by coach Lou Mikucki, formerly of the Polish Calvary, the Canadian Team competed on a European tour that included Vichy, France, Hickstead and Wembley in England, and Dublin, Ireland, as well as the World Championships. The tour was a resounding success, starting from the first class in Vichy where Day and Canadian Club won the Prix des France while Gayford and Big Dee placed third.
Up against strong competition at the World Championship in La Baule, Canada came out on top following a jump-off with the home side of France for the gold medal. Show jumping powerhouse nations Great Britain and the United States tied for bronze. Elder would finish as the top Canadian individually, placing fifth.
Incredibly, the Canadian Team went on to win the gold medal at the 1971 Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia, making Canada the Olympic Champion, World Champion, and Pan Am Champion, all in the same major games cycle. It is a feat that has yet to be repeated by any nation in show jumping sport.
The Jump Canada Hall of Fame celebrates the induction of Day, Dunlap, Elder, and Gayford collectively as the World Championship gold medal team members that made show jumping history.
PHOTO – Michel Vaillancourt (left) presents the Hall of Fame trophy to 1970 World Championship gold medal team members Moffatt Dunlap, Jim Elder, and Tom Gayford. Absent is Jim Day.
Photo Credit – Michelle C. Dunn
Presented by Equestrian Management Group
To watch the tribute video highlighting the Canadian Team’s accomplishments at the 1970 World Championships, click here.