Ottawa, CAN – July 19, 2018 – Ireland’s Jordan Coyle claimed victory in the $35,500 CSI3* Capital Classic, presented by RBC, on Thursday, July 19, at the CSI3* Ottawa International Horse Show at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, ON.
Coyle headlined a starting field of 30 international competitors trying their luck over the first-round track set by course designer Alan Wade. Once the starting field was narrowed down for the tie-breaking jump-off, the luck of the Irish was on Coyle’s side. He grabbed the early lead and made the rest of the jump-off contenders chase his time of 40.22 seconds riding Eristov. Seven more challengers attempted to beat him, with 25-year-old Lindsay Douglass of the United States coming the closest, clocking in at 41.70 seconds riding Butterfly Tibri Z, her 13-year-old Zangersheide mare. Riding for the U.S., Jonathan McCrea, 45, took third place with a jump-off time of 41.87 seconds riding Aristoteles V for owner Candy Tribble.
Two Canadians rounded out the top five with Vanessa Mannix, 29, of Calgary, AB, placing fourth aboard Hey Jude in her Ottawa International Horse Show debut with a time of 42.02 seconds and local favourite Kelley Robinson, 34, of Russell, ON, stopping the clock in 43.545 seconds to place fifth aboard G.Q., a Belgian Warmblood stallion that she bred herself.
In the end, Irish eyes were smiling on Coyle. He and his winning mount, Eristov, owned by Elan Farm, have only been partnered together since the beginning of the year.
“He’s been very, very good to me,” said Coyle of the nine-year-old grey Dutch Warmblood gelding. “Today felt pretty easy and relaxed for him. I think he’s a very special horse, and for sure he’ll do good things in the future.”
Coyle is also making his inaugural visit to the Ottawa Equestrian Tournaments, and especially enjoys jumping on the grass grand prix field, the only one of its kind in eastern Canada.
“The grass ring here is perfect,” said Coyle, 25, who also won the $7,500 Speed Derby, presented by Millar Brooke Farm, riding Mojo TSP on July 15 during the Ottawa National Horse Show. “The show is very, very good. It’s relaxed, and there’s no real stress about anything. I’ve brought clients here; we have 19 horses here between us all. Everyone’s really happy here.”
The CSI3* Ottawa International Horse Show continues Friday, featuring the $10,000 Under 25 Grand Prix, presented by MarBill Hill Farm. Saturday brings the highlight event of the week, the $132,000 CSI3* Grand Prix beginning at 2:30 p.m., and the show culminates on Sunday with the $15,000 1.40m National Grand Prix.