Canadian Championships gold medalist Alicia Gadban-Lewis riding Beneficial to victory in the $75,000 Spirit of the West Cup sponsored by Truman Homes at the 2021 Royal West
Photo Credit: Amanda Ubell Photography
Riding her own Beneficial, sired by Banderas, the nine-year-old Oldenburg mare and Gadban-Lewis’ first clear round helped the duo secure her gold medal and the title of 2021 Canadian Show Jumping Champion, along with the $12,500 athlete bonus. The title was last won by Canadian team member Beth Underhill in 2019.
“I was thrilled with how my horse jumped tonight and thought that she got better every day of the championship,” said Gadban-Lewis. “I was able to push her to the next level tonight in the jump-off round, which really helped with the competitive field of riders in the class.”
Alicia Gadban-Lewis on the podium with silver and bronze medalist Vanessa Mannix, Christopher Lowe on the podium. L to R: John Anderson, Meg Krueger, Karen Hendry-Ouellette and Nancy Burton.
Photo Credit: Amanda Ubell Photography
When asked about the comradery between Beneficial and her, Gadban-Lewis said “I’ve had her since she was four years old, and the last time she was here at Royal West, she won the five-year-old championship.”
The red ribbon winner always has dreamed about being a Canadian champion in Show Jumping, “it has been a childhood goal of mine to win the Canadian Championship, so I am extremely happy. When asked what’s next for the duo, “I hope to be able to represent Canada on a Nation’s Cup Team and consider that my 2022 goal.”
Royal West concluded on Nov. 10 after playing host to the Canadian Show Jumping Championships in a variety of divisions for all levels of athletes. This marked the first time in over twenty years that the championship’ was hosted in western Canada. “It was truly an honor for my company, Rocky Mountain Show Jumping (RMSJ), to be given the right to host the Championships in Calgary,” said John Anderson, host of the event. “Vanessa Mannix, and Jim Ifko, both from Calgary along with Gadban-Lewis expressed to me their pleasure in seeing the Championships hosted in the West after so many years back East,” added Anderson. Royal West is scheduled for October 19th – 29th, 2022 again at Calgary’s Stampede Park.
For a complete list of results from the $75,000 Equestrian Canada (EC) Show Jumping National Championships, as well as the full Royal West show, visit http://rmsj.ca/events/royal-west/
For high resolution photos, please contact communications@equestrian.ca
$75,000 Spirit of the West Cup sponsored by Truman Home
Placing / Athlete / Hometown / Horse / Owner / Final Total
1st Alicia Gadban-Lewis / Delta, BC / Beneficial / Alicia Gadban-Lewis / 1.61
2nd Vanessa Mannix / Calgary, AB / Catinka 45 / Vanessa Mannix / 4.00
3rd Christopher Lowe / Vancouver, BC / Cunningham 45 / Christopher Lowe / 4.94
4th Jim Ifko / Calgary, AB / Un Diamant des Forets / Eventyre Farms Ltd. / 8.09
5th Kennedy Ellingson / Edmonton, AB / Coeur de Riccerole VG Z / Kennedy Ellingson / 9.54
6th Jaclyn Duff / Edmonton, AB / Eblesse / Windermere Stables Ltd. / 10.07
7th Braden James / Pitt Meadows, BC / DeeJay / Stump Lake Ranch & Cattle Ltd. / 11.03
8th Ashley Papalia / Harrison Hot Springs, BC / Cacharel KDW Z / Ashley Papalia / 11.21