Source:  News Release

Eric Martin Electrifies in the Wood Automotive Group CSI2*

Calgary, Alberta – A perfect day led up to the start of the $33,000 Wood Automotive Group CSI2* Grand Prix and Talent Squad Qualifier. Germany’s Course Designer Volker Schmidt worked his magic by setting up an exciting set of challenges for a field of 23 contenders.

This was the fourth of five days of the Rocky Mountain Classic I tournament at beautiful Anderson Ranch, and the first week of 3 weeks in a row of competition put on by the highly acclaimed Calgary based show management company Rocky Mountain Show Jumping.

Spectators were delivered excellent competition with edge of your seat performances coming from the Grand Prix ring. Nine of the contenders ended so close to going clear, but just having one fence come down on course. Brenda Riddell and her partner Monet were so close to being clear, jumping all of the obstacles easily however time was not their friend tonight, a heart breaking 4/100ths of a second over the time allowed.

At the conclusion of an exciting first round, five stood out showing mastery of the questions asked. Those five would face each other in the jump off over a shortened course, where the fastest time and the least amount of faults would take home the win.

The first rider back into the arena for the jump off was Lorrie Jamieson aboard KVF Tacorde. She put the pressure on the rest of the field by leaving all the fences up and stoping the time at 50.52 seconds. That put the pressure on the remaining 4 as they knew not only did they have to go fast, but that had to be coupled with a clean round if they were looking for the win.

Second back in the jump off was Eric Martin and his young steed Camil. Coming quickly to the last fence, they put in a faster time and edged into the lead with a clear jump off in a time of 48.30 seconds. That is when the waiting game started for Eric, having to watch the final three go.

In the end, Eric fended off all three challengers and ended up with the win. The biggest challenge to Eric in the jump off was Ellicia Edgar bettering his time, but she couldn’t keep all the fences up. A beaming Eric led the top placings back into the ring for presentations to wrap up an amazing day.

"Eric Martin with Camil in the Jump Off" - Photo Credit Adrian Shellard

“The course was fantastic, Volker Schmidt does a phenomenal job. He builds it always tough enough. With 5 clear out of 23 is a great percentage, good number.” beamed Eric. “Mine was great, he tries, he is a young horse 8 years old. He tries really hard, he wasn’t the fastest today but we left them all up today. He was just phenomenal.”

“It is just wonderful to see such a great group of exhibitors attending our Rocky Mountain Classics and they get better every year. It is great to have all the competitors support.” remarked John Anderson, President of Rocky Mountain Show Jumping.

Reflecting on the continued improvements at Rocky Mountain Show Jumping: “The development is great, I have been coming here for 4 or 5 years now and every year it gets better and better.” said Eric. “This is the best the footing has ever felt all the horses are jumping phenomenally. And the courses and the jumps get better every time. And a special thanks to Gerry Wood and Wood Automotive Group for all their support”

As this competition is a FEI CSI2*, the riders gain important World Ranking points. “The importance of the FEI’s competitions are huge for me.” noted Eric. “We come from a small market and come all the way here to Alberta, and especially come here quite consistently to John’s. To get the top course designers and the FEI Longines Rankings to be able to better market our horses and ourselves and gives us a little bit of credibility in smaller markets to come here and compete against the best in Western Canada if not all of Canada.”

WATCH ERIC & CAMIL WIN IN THE JUMP OFF!

“Being part of the Longines World Rankings is really important to all of our competitors. They are all vying for those important World Ranking points because it helps them all in their careers and their marketing.” stated John. “It is a tough sport and for a lot of riders to attract sponsors and owners themselves it is important for them to be on the world list. We are really glad to be a part of the World Ranking list and thank you again Longines for your great support of the FEI.”

“Gerry Wood and his Wood Automotive Group have been involved with us here for a few years now and we are so happy for their support and it really helps us draw a good field of competitors. It is important for these riders to be jumping for some bigger purses.” declared John. “Thanks to Gerry Wood for sure and his Wood Automotive Group and his Advantage Ford, Okotoks Ford Lincoln and Woodridge Ford Lincoln. We couldn’t do it without all of their great support and we really owe it to them for sure.”

Rocky Mountain Show Jumping hosts its tournaments at Anderson Ranch in Calgary’s south end, a world-class facility featuring permanent stabling for 300 horses and a grass grand prix field complete with natural obstacles.  For more information on Rocky Mountain Show Jumping, please visit  www.rmshowjumping.com.

Competition continues next week at the Rocky Mountain Classic II, August 14 - 18, 2013.

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