Photo ©tbird/Quinn Saunders
Langley, BC — There's just one more week of international competition at Thunderbird Show Park in 2022. The BCHJA Fall Finale concludes the annual FEI calendar in Langley, Sept. 21–25, 2022.
The Finale boasts both CSI3* and CSIU25 divisions, giving up-and-coming combinations the chance to compete at the international level. Fifty three horses from both divisions jogged for inspection Tuesday at tbird. Those equine athletes represent 35 athletes and six nations.
Fall is unquestionably in the air. Peter Holmes (CAN) will set the tracks for international competitors in the Thunderbird Jumper Arena, where tbird regulars will get the taste of a fresh surface and atmosphere after jumping in the Fort Grand Prix Arena on grass all summer.
World No. 4 Conor Swail (IRL) headlines the group, returning to his home-away-from-home following a stint in Europe, where he contributed to a home Irish victory in the prestigious Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ of Ireland for the Aga Khan Trophy. His employee James Chawke (IRL) is also a rider to watch with the exciting Howard du Seigneur; the two took a three-star victory at tbird's Summer Fort Classic in August.
James Chawke (IRL) and Howard du Seigneur. Photo ©tbird/Quinn Saunders
Hometown hero Tiffany Foster (CAN) returns to tbird after jumping to 12th individually at the FEI Jumping World Championships in Herning (DEN) last month. Kyle King (USA), also based locally in Langley, will line up again, hoping to notch another tally in his win column after topping the CSI3* ONNI Grand Prix at the Summer Fort Welcome.
International competition begins Wednesday, Sept. 21 with the CSI3* tbird 1.40m. The week's feature is the CSI3* tbird Grand Prix 1.50m, set for Saturday, Sept. 24. Meanwhile, U25 riders will aim for Sunday's CSIU25-A MarBill Hill U25 Grand Prix 1.40m.
Young riders (under age 21) will have their own spotlight, as the BCHJA Fall Finale also features CET Regionals. The CET (Canadian Equestrian Team) Regionals will feature the top 20 qualifying athletes in the region, who will compete Friday and Saturday in two phases—flat/gymnastics and jumping—followed by a mandatory final work-off for the top six performers. With four qualifying spots available, riders will look to punch their tickets to the National Finals in Toronto in November. tbird's 2021 CET Regional Champion, Taylor Winther Blair, recently won the tbird Grand Prix at the Harvest Celebration.
Featured Classes
Wednesday, September 21
CSI3* tbird 1.40m
Thursday, September 22
CSIU25-A MarBill Hill U25 1.35m
CSI3* tbird Qualifier 1.45m
Friday, September 23
CSIU25-A MarBill Hill U25 1.40m
Saturday, September 24
CET Regionals Jumping and Ride-Off
CSI3* tbird Grand Prix 1.50m
Sunday, September 25
Friends of the BCHJA Grand Prix 1.30m
CSIU25-A MarBill Hill U25 Grand Prix 1.40m
Catch all the action from the Fort Grand Prix Arena live on tbird TV.
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