– Once again, the Royal Horse Show has attracted the
biggest names in the sport of show jumping to compete at the Ricoh
Coliseum in Toronto, ON, as part of the 83rd Royal Agricultural Winter
Fair running November 4-13, 2005.
Leading the charge are British veterans Nick Skelton and Michael Whitaker. Skelton, currently ranked number five in the world, will return to the Royal for the second year in a row with his athletic stallion Arko III, who has become a fan favourite world-wide. Last year, Skelton tied for the record in the National Steel Car Four Bar competition with his grey stallion, Russel.
Whitaker, a four-time Olympian who currently sits 15th in the world rankings, will be hoping the third time is the charm as he makes his third consecutive appearance at the Royal Horse Show. Skelton and Whitaker, long-time stalwarts of the British Show Jumping Team, comprised one-half of their country’s European Championship Team this summer in Italy.
Eric van der Vleuten, who is also making a return visit to the Royal Horse Show, will represent the Netherlands. The Dutchman closed out last year’s Royal Horse Show with a win in the $60,000 ‘Ricoh’ Big Ben International Challenge and by taking home the Leading International Rider title just as he had in 2002. Dutch hopes will be doubled this year with the addition of Piet Raijmakers, a long-time member of the Dutch contingent who currently sits 29th in the world.
Philippe Rozier and Canadian-based Yann Candele will both represent France while Irish Olympian Kevin Babington will make a return visit to Toronto. Geir Gulliksen will fly the Norwegian flag.
A strong American contingent includes Beezie Madden and McLain Ward, one-half of the 2004 Olympic Championship Team. These two riders helped prove the United States supremacy at the Olympic Games in Athens, and come into the Royal Horse Show as strong favourites in every competition they enter. Currently ranked ninth in the world, Madden is one of the few female competitors to ever crack the top ten while Ward sits in 17th position. Compatriots Laura Kraut (16th), Margie Engle (28th) and Schuyler Riley (34th) are also experienced contenders while two newcomers have burst onto the scene in the form of 22-year-old Georgina Bloomberg and 20-year-old Cayce Harrison.
The top five Canadians in the world rankings are guaranteed entry into the Royal’s international division – Ian Millar (46th), Jill Henselwood (47th), Eric Lamaze (66th), Kim Farlinger (135th), and Erynn Ballard (163rd). Three additional Canadian riders advance to the international division, which officially opens on Tuesday, November 8, based on the outcome of the Canadian Show Jumping Championships held on Opening Weekend at the Royal.
Featured events in the International Division include the $60,000 CN World Cup Grand Prix on Wednesday, November 9. In addition to offering valuable World Cup points to all competitors and a large purse, it is the final competition in the Canadian World Cup League and will determine Canada’s two representatives for the 2006 World Cup Final next April in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. American challenger McLain Ward will attempt to defend his title in Friday evening’s $50,000 Weston Canadian Open while Closing Night at the Royal Horse Show brings the sentimental favourite, the $60,000 ‘Ricoh’ Big Ben International Challenge.
With opening weekend featuring the Canadian Show Jumping Championships on Friday and Saturday, November 4 and 5, followed by the Royal Rodeo at 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 6, the Royal Horse Show offers something for everyone during all 10 days of competition. Royal Horse Show fans will not only be treated to world-class show jumping competition, but the state-of-the-art Ricoh Coliseum allows for video playback on the big screen as well as dramatic lighting and a high-tech sound system.
In addition, CBC Sports will broadcast the Canadian Show Jumping Championships LIVE on Saturday, November 5 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. (EDT) and the $60,000 CN World Cup Grand Prix on Saturday, November 12 at 4:30 to 6 p.m. (EDT).
Tickets for all Royal Horse Show performances, held as part of the 83rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, can be purchased through Ticketmaster at tel: 416 872-7777 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.ca. For more information on the Royal Horse Show, including complete schedules, please visit www.royalfair.org.
