Top three finishers from U25 National Championships, Halle Duke, Claire Doty and Stella Chernoff on the podium.
Photo Credit: Amanda Ubell Photography
EC’s U25 Championship was contested over three days, beginning with Wednesday’s $5,000 MarBill Hill Table C competition, followed by Thursday’s $10,000 Devoucoux Saddles Jump off competition, and concluded with Saturday’s $25,000 Rocky Mountain Show Jumping Cup.
Athletes carried their scores from Wednesday’s Table C competition into the next two phases of the Championship, where the first round scores were added to the Table C scores to determine the ultimate winner. The Table C phase proved to be the ticket to victory for young Duke, who zipped around the track in 59.18 seconds winning the event and giving her the lead with a score of zero faults. Combined with a clear round and the win in Phase 2, she carried that score of zero into the final phase of the Championship.
“I really appreciate that Royal West was given the chance to host the National Finals. I’m not sure we would have been able to make the trip East this year. It was my horse’s first indoor competition, and I wasn’t sure how she’d respond, but of course was really happy with her performance,” said Duke. The native of Spruce Grove, AB., added “we show at many RMSJ horse shows throughout the year but Royal West is on a level of its own, and is really a special event.”
Duke and Ilana clearing a jump during the U25 National Championship
Photo Credit: Amanda Ubell Photography
Alberta’s Claire Doty and Stella Chernoff recorded scores of 5.71 and 5.02 respectively, had to post clear rounds for a chance at gold. Unfortunately, the two talented riders didn’t keep pace with Duke in Saturday’s competition with both athletes faulting in the first round. Doty finished with the silver medal and Chernoff won the bronze.
When the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair was cancelled earlier this year, Royal Mountain Show Jumping (RMSJ) was awarded the national show jumping and equitation championships. “We are extremely delighted that RMSJ agreed to host the 2021 National Championships for Jumper and Equitation at Royal West in Calgary” said EC’s CEO Meg Krueger. “We understand the significant planning and effort it takes to host such an event and appreciate the work of John Anderson and his team to make it happen. We’re looking forward to seeing all the athletes compete in the second week.”
Royal West continues next week where National Champions will be crowned in the Canadian Hunter Derby Series, the CET Medal, the JC medal, the 1.0m 1.10m 1.20m, and 1.30m divisions, and the Canadian National Championship in the Open Jumper division.
For more information on Royal West, click here
To watch live stream click here: https://livestream.com/rmsj
For high resolution photos, please contact communications@equestrian.ca
Placing / Rider / Hometown / Horse / Owner
1st Halle Duke / Spruce Grove, AB / Ilana / Halle Duke
2nd Shaelynn Enders / Rockyview, AB / Princessa / Joyce Enders
3rd Stella Chernoff / Dewinton, AB / Fay / Stump Lake Ranch & Cattle Co.
4th Claire Doty / Okotoks, AB / Marquis Le Beau Courally / Claire Doty
5th Ashley Arnoldt / Langley, BC / Lestat Old / Jennifer Arnoldt
6th Samantha Starratt / Calgary, AB / Akolito / Tonia Anderson
7th Isis Landsbergen / Sundre, AB / Witja / Isis Landsbergen
8th Karissa Enders / Calgary AB / Fort Knox WF / Margi Castiglione
9th Stella Chernoff / Dewinton, AB / Chinell / Stump Lake Ranch & Cattle Co.
10th Nyha Leclerc / Aldergrove, BC / Treffer VDV / Nyah Leclerc
11th Justine Cha / Camrose, AB / Texas / Christine Cha
$10,000 U25 National Championship – Phase II
Placing / Rider / Hometown / Horse / Owner
1st Halle Duke / Spruce Grove, AB / Ilana / Halle Duke
2nd Claire Doty / Okotoks, AB / Marquis Le Beau Courally / Claire Doty
3rd Stella Chernoff / Dewinton, AB / Fay / Stump Lake Ranch & Cattle Co.
4th Justine Cha / Camrose, AB / Texas / Christine Cha
5th Shaelynn Enders / Rockyview, AB / Princessa / Joyce Enders
6th Isis Landsbergen / Sundre, AB / Witja / Isis Landsbergen
7th Stella Chernoff / Dewinton, AB / Chinell / Stump Lake Ranch & Cattle Co.
7th Karissa Enders / Calgary AB / Fort Knox WF / Margi Castiglione
9th Samantha Starratt / Calgary, AB / Akolito / Tonia Anderson
10th Ashley Arnoldt / Langley, BC / Lestat Old / Jennifer Arnoldt
11th Nyha Leclerc / Aldergrove, BC / Treffer VDV / Nyah Leclerc
$25,000 U25 National Championship – Phase III
Placing / Rider / Hometown / Horse / Owner
1st Halle Duke / Spruce Grove, AB / Ilana / Halle Duke
2nd Karissa Enders / Calgary AB / Fort Knox WF / Margi Castiglione
3rd Claire Doty / Okotoks, AB / Marquis Le Beau Courally / Claire Doty
4th Shaelynn Enders / Rockyview, AB / Princessa / Joyce Enders
5th Stella Chernoff / Dewinton, AB / Fay / Stump Lake Ranch & Cattle Co.
6th Stella Chernoff / Dewinton, AB / Chinell / Stump Lake Ranch & Cattle Co.
7th Ashley Arnoldt / Langley, BC / Lestat Old / Jennifer Arnoldt
8th Samantha Starratt / Calgary, AB / Akolito / Tonia Anderson
9th Justine Cha / Camrose, AB / Texas / Christine Cha