June 4, 2007 – Troy, Ontario – It was a day of emotion as Rio's Lovestory W jumped to victory in the first competition of the Canadian Young Horse Development Series, the Fox Run Spring Horse Show held May 27 in Troy, ON.

Just days after the passing of renowned Canadian sire Rio Grande, his daughter won the Four-Year-Old Division in her first competitive outing. Bred and owned by Augustin and Christine Walch of W. Charlot Farms, Rio's Lovestory W is a grey Canadian Warmblood mare by Rio Grande out of Lavinia by Lavall I. Ridden by Martien van der Hoeven, Rio's Lovestory W was awarded an impressive style score of 47 and, having posted a clear round for a perfect score of 50, was crowned the winner with a total of 97 points.

"It was the first time that one of our Rio Grande horses was back in the ring after his passing," said Augustin Walch, whose horses took three of the top six spots in the Four-Year-Old Division. "It was very emotional for us to see her go so well at her very first show, and for her to win the class was just incredible."

W. Charlot Farms also claimed victory in the Six-Year-Old Division. Ridden by van der Hoeven, Vasco da Gama posted the only clear round in the four-horse jump-off. A German-bred Hannoverian stallion, Vasco da Gama is by the well-known sire, Voltaire, out of Raphaela by another well-known Hannoverian sire, Raphael.

In the jump-off, Vasco da Gama was clear in a time of 55.41 seconds while Oregano Z, a registered Zangersheide by Ovatio owned by Christi McQuaker and shown by her husband, Mac McQuaker, had four faults in a time of 53.46 seconds to place second. Another W. Charlot Farms-owned entry, Viva's Lightning W, a dark bay Hannoverian gelding by W. Charlot Farms' stallion, Viva Voltaire, out of a Sandro dam, placed third with four faults in a slightly slower time of 53.75 seconds. Elliott Stone had difficulty in the jump-off with his entry, Untouchable, to place fourth with 13 faults.

Of the 19 horses that contested the Five-Year-Old Division, J.R. emerged the winner for owners Gord and Paige Munro. Ridden by Ben Murphy, J.R. received a style score of 44 combined with 50 for a clear jumping round for a winning total of 94 points. German-bred, J.R. is by the Westphalian stallion, Pep, out of a state premium mare by Goldlack.

Ridden by owner Louise Masek, Valentino K was close behind with a score of 93 points. The dark grey Canadian Sport Horse gelding was bred by Peter Karneef and is by Indorado out of a Grannus mare. Third place went to Rob Carey and Augustine, who scored 92 points.

The Seven and Eight-Year-Old Division only had one entry in Divine Diva, but she was a deserving winner, posting a clear first round for owner and rider, Michelle Vandal of Milton, ON. Bred by Jim Mackay, Divine Diva is a Canadian Sport Horse mare by the thoroughbred sire, Vice Chancellor, and out of a Clydesdale dam, Mac Rene Ideal Shelly. Divine Diva has grown up in the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series and enjoyed great success in the various age categories.

The purpose of the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series is to encourage the development of young show jumping talent and to give Canadian breeders additional incentives to breed superior show jumping prospects. Competing on a level playing field, the horses are divided according to age and jump at a level suited to their development. This careful development allows the horses to gain valuable experience and advance to the higher levels of show jumping competition with confidence. The Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series also gives prospective buyers for the hunter and jumper markets an opportunity to view a large group of prospects in a competition setting.

The 2007 Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series includes seven events in Ontario and six in Quebec with the Eastern Canadian Finals taking place September 19-23 at the Tournament of Champions in Palgrave, ON. A total of eight events will be held in Alberta and British Columbia with the Western Canadian Finals taking place August 22-27 at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC. The National Young Horse Finals will feature $52,000 in total prize money, and will be held during the CSI-W Tournament of Champions in Palgrave, ON, from September 19-23.

Proud supporters of the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series include Jump Canada, the Ontario Hunter Jumper Association, Mr. Michael Boyd, Brubacher’s Harness Shop, Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association, Dutch Masters Construction Services Ltd., the Hannoverian Breeders Club of Eastern Canada, Henry Equestrian Insurance Brokers Ltd., KingRidge Stables, Dr. Alan Manning, Mill Creek Stables, Peter Miller, Mr. Charles Ormston, Scotia McLeod, TD Waterhouse and W. Charlot Farms.

For more information, please visit the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series website at www.jumperdevelopment.com.

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Horse Owner Rider
1. Divine Diva* Michelle Vandal Michelle Vandal

Horse Owner Rider
1. Vasco da Gama Augustin Walch Martien van der Hoeven
2. Oregano Z Christi McQuaker Mac McQuaker
3. Viva's Lightning W* Augustin Walch Martien van der Hoeven
4. Untouchable Elliott Stone Elliott Stone
5. VDL Upsala H* Liam Dumont-Walker Michelle Vandal
6. Feature Attraction 3E* KingRidge Stables Hugh Graham
7. Col de Rousset Natalie Smith Natalie Smith
8. Bloomington* Elizabeth Gayford Elizabeth Gayford
9. Fifth Estate 3E* KingRidge Stables Hugh Graham
10. Rio's Diorello W* Augustin Walch Martien van der Hoeven

Horse Owner Rider
1. J.R. Gord and Paige Munro Ben Murphy
2. Valentino K* Louise Masek Louise Masek
3. Augustine* Aubrie DeSylva Rob Carey
4. Grande Finale 3E* KingRidge Stables Roberto Teran
5. Grand Slam 3E* KingRidge Stables Roberto Teran
6. Lilius Liam Dumont-Walker Michelle Vandal
7. Granite 3E* KingRidge Stables Hugh Graham
8. VDL Viper H* Michelle Vandal Michelle Vandal
9. Capriato Windy Hill Farm Angie Temelini
10. RCS Shadrach* Pat Allen Louise Waterfall

Horse Owner Rider
1. Rio's Lovestory W* Augustin Walch Martien van der Hoeven
2. Viking Ferro Richard and Meryl Cannon Chris Sorensen
3. Relevant K* Danielle Vauaroutsos Jennifer Ramsey
4. Holy Smoke 3E* KingRidge Stables Roberto Teran
5. Futi's Rosario W* Augustin Walch Martien van der Hoeven
6. Futi's Calypso W* Augustin Walch Martien van der Hoeven
7. Riga* Sherri Hunt-Serazia Carly Campbell Cooper
8. High Star 3E* KingRidge Stables Hugh Graham
9. Holiday 3E* KingRidge Stables Hugh Graham
10. Alvin* Big V Farm Katie Vrbicek


NOTE – The star * beside a horse’s name denotes that it is Canadian-bred.