September 9, 2009 – Calgary, Alberta – The $20,000 Western Canadian Championships for the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series had a new home this year at the Rocky Mountain Classic II held from August 28-30 in Calgary, AB.

Marshall Whyte, 20, of Cochrane, AB, dominated the Six-Year-Old Division, winning the Western Canadian Champion and Reserve Champion titles. With Peninsula Croisette, Marshall was the first to compete and set a standard that no other could match after jumping double clear in a time of 46.16 seconds. He was his own best competition as his second horse, Peninsula Wooper, was also double clear in the jump-off with a slower time of 47.25 seconds.

Owned by Bryte Enterprises Ltd., Peninsula Croisette is a Dutch Warmblood by Indoctro out of Quita Z by the selle francais sire, Quito de Baussy. Bryte Enterprises Ltd. is also the owner of Peninsula Wooper, a Dutch Warmblood by Radisson out of Baleria by Natural.

The Five-Year-Old Western Canadian Championship was claimed by Jay Duke of Okotoks, AB, riding his own Grappa. Grappa jumped clear and was awarded an impressive style score of 48 points out of a possible 50 to easily win the championship title. Registered Hannoverian, Grappa’s breeding features Graf Grannus as his sire while his dam, Baronesse, is out of the thoroughbred sire, Bold Indian.

The Reserve Championship title in the Five-Year-Old Division went to Zapatero, ridden by Arrie Koppe and owned by Nicole Gergely of Coaldale, AB. Zapatero is a Dutch Warmblood by Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve out of a Voltaire dam.

Josef Selinger was the proud breeder and owner of the Four-Year-Old Western Canadian Champion. JES Patagonia, ridden by Taylor Boyd, earned a perfect jumping score of 50 and a subjective style score of 42 to claim the Championship title with a total of 92 points. JES Patagonia is a registered Canadian Warmblood by the thoroughbred sire, Yavari, out of the Canadian Warmblood dam, Charm, by Carthago Sun I.

The Four-Year-Old Reserve Championship title went to Chilly Pepper, owned by Frank Selinger of Calgary, AB, and ridden by Nicki Wilcox. Bred by Selinger’s St. George’s Stables, Chilly Pepper is a Canadian Warmblood sired by Carthago Sun I and out of Chit Chat by Cappuccino.

Previously held at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC, the move of the Western Canadian Young Horse Championships to Calgary encouraged greater participation from Alberta breeders and young horse owners. The $20,000 in prize money, which was broken down to $8,000 for the Six-Year-Old division and $6,000 for both the Five and Four-Year-Old Divisions, was also a great incentive.

“The number of horses registered from the west increased significantly in 2009, and we hope to see that trend continue next year,” noted Phil Henning, Chair of the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series.

Plans are underway to expand the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series in western Canada for 2010, and a committee is being formed to oversee the scoring, sanctioning of Canadian Jumper Development Series shows, and sponsorship. Volunteers interested in serving on this committee, or those interested in sharing opinions on how to increase participation in western Canada, are encouraged to contact info@jumperdevelopment.com.

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.

Proud supporters of the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series include Jump Canada, the Ontario Hunter Jumper Association, Lothlorien Farm, Gary Cooper, Dutch Masters Construction Services Ltd., Equus Integral (exclusive Canadian distributor of Cavalor and Devoucoux), Henry Equestrian, KingRidge Stables, Dr. Alan Manning, Mill Creek Stables, Peter Miller, Preston Sand and Gravel, Jennifer Rogers, Scotia McLeod, Sher-Al Farms, and W. Charlot Farms. An additional donation was made in memory of Morgan Firestone.

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



Horse Owner Rider
Champion Peninsula Croisette Bryte Enterprises Ltd. Marshall Whyte
Reserve Peninsula Wooper Bryte Enterprises Ltd. Marshall Whyte
3. Solar Power* Gillian Orr Pam Yerxa
4. Dan the Man* Tannis Skinner Guillen Tannis Skinner Guillen
5. Carlucci II Julie George Emily George

Horse Owner Rider
Champion Grappa Jay Duke Jay Duke
Reserve Zapatero Nicole Gergely Arrie Koppe
3. Dorado* Kathie Stell Diane Cottreau
4. KVF Zeno Lorrie Jamieson Lorrie Jamieson
5. Precipitation Joyce Enders John Teijgeman

Horse Owner Rider
Champion J.E.S. Patagonia* Josef Selinger Taylor Boyd
Reserve Chilly Pepper* Frank Selinger Nicki Wilcox
3. Adara Park Royal Farms Kyle Timm
4. Elvis* Alberta Label Specialist Ltd. Kelly Johnson
5. La Chocolate* Kimberly Tackaberry Katelyn Wilson
6. Contado Ute Brinkmann Jim Ifko
7. Ethan Hawke* Marlene Drew Stephanie Mah

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