Source:  News Release/Julie Cull

Amelia Vernon Captures Jump Canada Medal Final

Ottawa, Ontario — Amelia Vernon of Calgary, AB, won the Jump Canada Medal Final on November 8 during the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, ON.

Amelia Vernon was presented with a Jump Canada cooler after winning the 2011 Jump Canada Medal at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON.
Photo Credit — Ben Radvanyi Photography

Following the completion of regional and provincial Jump Canada Medal Finals, the top finishers from across Canada were invited to contest the Jump Canada Medal Final Championship at the Royal Horse Show.  In September, Vernon and Granted won the CET Medal Prairie Regional Final at the Fall Classic tournament, hosted at Anderson Ranch, in Calgary, AB.

At the Royal, Vernon navigated the challenging 12 obstacle course flawlessly riding Granted, a 10-year-old bay Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Emil Spadone of Redfield Farms.

“I am really happy to win because this has been a really stressful and exciting year,” said Vernon, 16.  “I am thrilled that it is ending on such a great note.  I competed at the Jump Canada Medal Final when I was 12 and 13, so it has always been a goal to win.”

The Jump Canada Medal Championship course, set at a height of 1.09m (3’6”), rode forward while incorporating broken lines, tight rollbacks, two combinations, natural jumps and a skinny wall without wings.  Out of the 29 entries, eight riders were invited back for the flat phase where riders were required to show a sitting trot, as well as the three gaits of walk, trot and canter in both directions.  For the final test to determine the overall placings, the top four riders remained in the ring for a ride-off over a shortened course.  The riders were asked to design a course themselves, with the requirements being to show two fences at a canter, one at a counter-canter and one jump at the hand-gallop.  Vernon, last to go, demonstrated all the elements perfectly to remain the judges’ top pick.

“Amelia has been riding with me since she was eight years old,” said Vernon’s coach, Jenn Serek, a Canadian Grand Prix rider and Equine Canada level 2 coach.  “All of my riders have been creating their own ride-off tests during practice their whole careers.  We are so proud of Amelia.”

Finishing in second position was Zoe Beckerman of Toronto, ON, with her own horse, Barrichello DDH, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding.

“My horse is actually a jumper, so for him to go in the ring and jump around so nicely made me very pleased,” said Beckerman, who was also the runner-up in 2010.

Victoria Soucier of Caledon, ON, earned third place riding Capriato, owned by Windy Hill Farm, while Brigitte McDonald of Calgary, AB, and Lancaster, owned by James, Susan and Brigitte McDonald, rounded out the top four.

About Jump Canada

Jump Canada the committee of Equine Canada responsible for all hunter, equitation and jumper activities in Canada from the grass roots to the international level. Jump Canada is governed by a board of directors, the majority of whom are elected by the stakeholders in the sport. For more information regarding Jump Canada programs and activities, visit www.equinecanada.ca/jumpcanada/.

About Equine Canada

Equine Canada is a member-based association that represents, promotes and services Canada's equine community and industry.  Its core areas of activity involve sport, equine health and welfare, education and safety, governance and marketing, representation and communication. Equine Canada is recognized by Sport Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Coaching Association of Canada as the national organization representing equestrian sport and equine interests in Canada. For more information about Equine Canada, please visit www.equinecanada.ca.

Visit www.equinecanada.ca for more information.

Jump Canada Medal Championships

Placing / Rider/ Hometown

1 / Amelia Vernon / Calgary, AB

2 / Zoe Beckerman / Toronto, ON

3 / Victoria Soucier / Caledon, ON

4 / Brigitte McDonald / Calgary, AB

5 / Nora Gray / Owen Sound, ON

6 / Brooke Stafford / Mississauga, ON

7 / Kendra Martenfeld / Toronto, ON

8 / Mackenzie Clark / Orangeville, ON