July 5, 2007 – Blainville, Quebec – The CSI-W Blainville Jumping International is underway at the Blainville Equestrian Park located north of Montreal, QC.

The first of two consecutive weeks of international show jumping competition, the CSI2*-W Blainville Jumping International held July 4-8, will host the first World Cup Qualifier of the Canadian show jumping season. Sunday's $70,000 Grand Prix Jumping du Quebec World Cup Qualifier represents the first opportunity for riders to gain valuable World Cup points towards qualifying for the 2008 World Cup Final in Goteborg, Sweden.

Other featured events include Friday's $20,000 Open Welcome Stake while Saturday brings the $25,000 Challenge Desjardins Modified Grand Prix at 2 p.m. followed immediately by the crowd-pleasing $3,500 Horse-Dog Relay.

On Thursday, riders had the opportunity to get comfortable in the competition ring over the track set by Linda Allen, course designer at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. In the Open Jumper Power and Speed, riders who successfully negotiated a first round of obstacles immediately advanced to the speed portion where leaving all the jumps up in the fastest time was the objective. Lauren Hunkin of Perth, ON, emerged the winner, turning in a time of 41.86 seconds riding Larry, a nine-year-old German-bred gelding, for owner Ridgefield House.

Mac Cone, in his final outing before departing for the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, finished second with Melinda. Cone guided the 13-year-old grey Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Southern Ways to a clear round in a time of 43.66 seconds.

Two-time Canadian Show Jumping Champion Ainsley Vince of Milton, ON, took third and fourth place in the standings. With Cantero Z, an eight-year-old grey Zangersheide gelding sired by the current World Champion horse, Cumano, Vince jumped clear but incurred three time faults while Top Gun, a seven-year-old grey Dutch Warmblood gelding, had one rail down in the speed phase to finish fourth with four faults. Cantero Z and Top Gun are both owned by Iron Horse Farm.

In the $2,500 Talent Squad competition, a means of recognizing up and coming riders with the potential to be future members of the Canadian Show Jumping Team, Quebec's own Billie de Rouet claimed victory riding Sweet Dreams, her 16-year-old selle francais gelding. While none of the riders were able to produce a clear round, de Rouet of Bromont had the fastest four fault round in a time of 67.79 seconds to edge 16-year-old Amanda Knowles of Toronto, ON, who stopped the clock at 67.96 seconds riding Mill Creek Marco Taere, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Bayshore Farms.

Located just north of Montreal, Blainville Equestrian Park features a variety of attractions that ensure all family members enjoy their visit. For more information, please visit www.classiqueblainville.com or contact Blainville International at tel: (450) 434-8202 ext. 108, e-mail: classiqueblainville@videotron.ca.

---

Rider Hometown Horse Faults Time
1. Lauren Hunkin Perth, ON Larry 0:0 41.86
2. Mac Cone King City, ON Melinda 0:0 43.66
3. Ainsley Vince Milton, ON Cantero Z 0:3 58.15
4. Ainsley Vince Milton, ON Top Gun 0:4 47.93
5. Paul Halpern Russell, ON Rolls Royce 0:8 44.35