Colombia’s Daniel Bluman, pictured here riding Conconcreto Sancha LS, opened the international show jumping division of the Royal Horse Show® with a win in the $20,000 International Jumper Power and Speed on Tuesday, November 10. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography
Conor Swail of Ireland claimed victory in the $35,000 Jolera International Jumper Welcome riding Martha Louise on Tuesday evening, November 10, at the 2015 Royal Horse Show® in Toronto, ON. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography
Darcy Hayes and Say When won the $25,000 Knightwood Hunter Derby at Toronto’s iconic Royal Horse Show®. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography

November 10, 2015 – Toronto, Ontario – Daniel Bluman of Colombia opened international show jumping competition with a win in the $20,000 International Jumper Power and Speed on Tuesday, November 10, at the Royal Horse Show®, held as part of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in downtown Toronto, ON.

Show jumping talent representing six nations – Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Ireland, the United States, and New Zealand – arrived in Toronto for five days of fierce international competition. Bluman and Conconcreto Believe, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Ukato x Burggraaf) owned by Blue Star Investments, Alberto Simhon and Abraham Chehebar, topped a 19-horse starting field to score the first victory of the week. The pair turned in a time of 32.09 seconds for the win over a track set by British course designer Richard Jeffery.

“The first class of the week is usually a friendly one, but still has a very good purse,” said Bluman, 25. “If you have a horse that is naturally fast, you can let them go a little bit. That was the case with Believe; she is very careful and very, very fast. I saw the people go before me and they weren’t going crazy so I thought I wouldn’t intervene too much. It paid off, and I am happy to start with a win.”

Bluman is competing at the Royal Horse Show for the fourth time, and said, “I love Toronto. This show is a very prestigious indoor event here in North America, and I am always delighted to be invited to take part in the competition.”

Before Bluman clinched the victory, Reed Kessler of the United States had held the lead. She and Charity 33, owned by Kessler Show Stables, would eventually finish second with a time of 33.46 seconds while Ireland’s Conor Swail and Cita, owned by Susan and Ariel Grange, took third place in a time of 34.42 seconds. Ten-time Canadian Olympian Ian Millar of Perth, ON, and the appropriately named Heros took fourth in 34.76 seconds for owners AMMO Investments. Dermott Lennon of Ireland rounded out the top five aboard Fleur IV, owned by Canada’s Rebecca McGoldrick, in 35.24 seconds.

Having already scored one victory, Bluman has his sights set on Wednesday night’s feature event, the $125,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Toronto. The Royal Horse Show® was selected as one of only four Canadian events to be part of the newly formed Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League.

“This is a great new format,” said Bluman of the change. “Before, there were too many World Cup qualifiers, making it difficult for the riders to jump in all of them. I think it’s great to have fewer events with more prize money and bring the level up. You can see that this week; there are only 24 riders here, but if you look at those 24, you have the big guns here. Longines has been a great supporter of equestrian sport and we, as riders, are very thankful for that.”

The Royal Horse Show marks Bluman’s fifth Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League appearance so far this season. His goal is to qualify for the 2016 Longines FEI World Cup™ Final to be held from March 23 to 28 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

“I’m in a qualifying spot, but it’s not over and I need to add more points,” said Bluman. “The idea is to go to World Cup Final this year. I’ve been building a string of horses for a very long time and finally now I have enough to go.”

Bluman plans to ride Conconcreto Believe in Wednesday night’s qualifier, explaining, “The characteristics of this venue fit her well and if the course is what I expect it will be, I think I could get a good ribbon.”

The $35,000 Jolera International Jumper Welcome was held Tuesday evening, and saw the final rider of the night come home with the win. Having settled for third earlier in the day, Swail tripped the timers in the fastest time, 58.17 seconds, to take the victory riding Martha Louise for owners Susan and Ariel Grange of Cheltenham, ON. Roberto Teran of Colombia placed second with a time of 59.30 riding Woklahoma for the ARK Partners LLC while Laura Kraut of the United States took third with a considerably slower time of 64.02 riding Andretti S for Stars & Stripes.

The $25,000 Knightwood Hunter Derby, also held Tuesday evening, saw a win for Darcy Hayes riding Say When for owner Danielle Trudell Baran. The pair was awarded the Paddy Ann Burns Trophy in recognition of the achievement.

Erynn Ballard and Valentino Now, owned by MVB Group, accepted the Lorna Jean Guthrie Challenge Trophy, awarded to the high point horse following both the $15,000 Braeburn Farms Hunter Derby held Monday evening and the $25,000 Knightwood Hunter Derby. Ballard and Valentino Now won Monday night’s $15,000 Braeburn Farms Hunter Derby before placing second in Tuesday’s featured competition.

For more information on the Royal Horse Show, the marquee event of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, please visit http://www.royalfair.org/horse-show. To purchase Royal Horse Show tickets, please visit Ticketmaster at http://www.ticketmaster.ca/venueartist/131553/986584.

Funding support for The Royal has been provided by the City of Toronto and the Government of Ontario.

$20,000 International Jumper Power and Speed – Tuesday Matinee, November 10

Rider Hometown Horse Final Time
1. Daniel Bluman Colombia Conconcreto Believe 32.09
2. Reed Kessler United States Charity 33 33.46
3. Conor Swail Ireland Cita 34.42
4. Ian Millar Perth, ON Heros 34.76
5. Dermott Lennon Ireland Fleur IV 35.24
6. Leslie Howard United States Backstory 35.88
7. Beezie Madden United States Breitling LS 37.57
8. Mac Cone King City, ON Gasper van den Doorn 37.94
9. Laura Kraut United States Deauville S 38.85
10. Lisa Carlsen Okotoks, AB Parette 39.52
11. Sharn Wordley New Zealand Famoso D IVE Z 39.56
12. Charlie Jacobs United States Flaming Star 39.83

$35,000 Jolera International Jumper Welcome – Tuesday Evening, November 10

Rider Hometown Horse Faults Time
1. Conor Swail Ireland Martha Louise 0 58.17
2. Roberto Teran Colombia Woklahoma 0 59.30
3. Laura Kraut United States Andretti S 0 64.02
4. Reed Kessler United States Cylana 0 65.46
5. Jonathon Millar Perth, ON Baranus 0 67.34
6. Charlie Jacobs United States Cassinja S 0 71.43
7. Leslie Howard United States Gentille van Spieveld 0 72.46
8. Erynn Ballard Tottenham, ON Appy Cara 0 73.32
9. Callan Solem United States VDL Wizard 0 75.61
10. Sharn Wordley New Zealand Barnetta 1 78.87
11. Mclain Ward United States HH Carlos Z 4 58.14
12. Dermott Lennon Ireland Loughview Lou Lou 4 62.52

About The Royal
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world’s largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian show. This year, the 93rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair runs November 6-15, 2015 at Exhibition Place, Toronto. For competition schedules, live webcasting, results and to purchase tickets, please visit www.royalfair.org.