Source:  News Release

CANDELE SCORES HIS HAT-TRICK AND THE EVENTERS KEEP IT ALL IN THE FAMILY
AT THE 90TH ROYAL HORSE SHOW

Yann Candele scores his third consecutive Canadian Championship title
while Waylon and Ian Roberts sweep the Indoor Eventing challenge.

Toronto, ON – Until tonight, no competitor at the Royal Horse Show had won three back-to-back Canadian show jumping titles. Yann Candele (Caledon, ON) changed that this evening, taking the Greenhawk Canadian Show Jumping Championship for an astounding third consecutive year.

By merit of his standing after last night’s competition, Candele earned the right to jump last in the order tonight. By the time the field including Ian Millar (Perth, ON), Jill Henselwood (Oxford Mills, ON), Ainsley Vince (Burlington, ON) and Erynn Ballard (Tottenham, ON) performed, Candele knew he would have to be foot-perfect if he were to have a chance at the title.

“I knew from past experience the winner must be clear all the way. There is no opening,” said Candele tonight. “When you’re leading, it’s for you to lose. I took a little more time to the last jump tonight, maybe almost too much time. But I wanted to be sure to give the horse the best chance at winning.” 

Candele’s risk over the enormous courses paid off with some big rewards, as did the efforts of Isabelle Lapierre (Breakeyville, QC) and Neil Badcock (Schomberg, ON), who finished third and sixth respectively - enough to earn them each a berth in next week’s International jumper division. 

“Captain Canada” Ian Millar very nearly ousted Candele, finishing on a total of two faults to Candele’s perfect zero. Lapierre finished on three, Vince on four and Henselwood on five. 

The Good Crop Services Indoor Eventing challenge also concluded tonight, with the father and son duo of Ian and Waylon Roberts (both of Port Perry, ON) taking the reserve and champion positions following two heated rounds of competition.

To say Waylon Roberts has monopolized indoor eventing at the Royal would be an understatement, as he has won the overall title six out of the seven times it has run. 

Australian Olympian and newly appointed Canadian team coach Clayton Fredericks gave Roberts a run for his money, but had to settle for fourth overall as his borrowed mount became a little wound-up in the ring tonight, making it difficult for Fredericks to execute his plan and a series of inside turns.

“Tonight we really had to gallop,” declared Fredericks, “but the trouble is - we missed a couple of the inside turns because he was SO fast! I wanted to sit up and wait but he wasn’t having any of it. I had to go with what I had. I was really pleased though, he jumped really well.”

New to Good Crop Services Indoor Eventing this year was Captain Mark Phillips, who designed two very different jumping tests for the two nights of competition.

“Tonight’s course was flowing and much faster,” explained Phillips. “I learned a lot last night, it was my first time in the ring here. The turns were a bit too tight and it was much more technical. We made it a bit more open between the jumps tonight with a nice variety of places to get up some speed and flow.”

Ian Roberts agreed wholeheartedly, endorsing tonight’s course as “well thought out, well placed and very appropriate.”

“Pretty much everyone will be able to say their horse came out of that ring tonight a little bit smarter, a little bit better, and a little more educated tonight.” Roberts remarked.  “But you don’t win a jump-off by holding back.” 

The Ontario Toyota Dealers Royal Rodeo returns to the Ricoh Coliseum tomorrow, Sunday, November 4th.  Amber Marshall, star of CBC’s Heartland, will co-host the exciting Royal Rodeo once again.

About the Royal Horse Show and 90^th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair ~ 

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world’s largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian show and this year runs November 2-11, 2012. A family tradition since 1922, the Royal Horse Show brings world-class horses and riders from Canada, the U.S. and overseas, including Olympic and World champions, to Toronto each November to compete for more than $780,000 in prize money and prestigious titles. Over 1,000 horses of all shapes and sizes participate in show jumping, dressage, indoor eventing, driving, coaching and so much more, over the ten-days of competition. Special family features such as the Spirit of the Horse Ring, EquiMania!, country-living exhibits and shopping, educational events & competition round out a day at The Royal. For competition schedules, LIVE webcasting, results and to purchase tickets, please visit www.royalfair.org.