Lapierre Wins Second Longines Event of 2017 in Calgary

By Catie Staszak

Canada’s Isabelle Lapierre became the first rider two win multiple events on the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League this year when she rode Cescha M to her second victory of the season in Calgary (CAN).

Lapierre (CAN) and her own 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare were one of just three horse-and-rider combinations to jump cleanly in the first round of the Werner Deeg (GER) designed course. No one produced a clear round in the jump-off. Lapierre sealed the victory with a 4-fault score and a winning time of 50.16 over Laura Jane-Tidball (CAN) and Concetto Son, who clocked in at 50.75 seconds, also knocking one jump-off rail down. Sarah Scheiring (USA) and Dontez were third with 4 faults and a time of 52.84 seconds.

“This was her second show indoors. She’s very green, and we didn’t know what to expect, but she always tries to win. She’s always good when she needs to be. She just likes to win.”

Lapierre and Cescha M won the season opener of the league, triumphing in Bromont (CAN) in August in what was the mare’s World Cup qualifier debut. Uniquely, the duo has won an event in each of the league’s sub leagues: Bromont is part of the east coast sub league, while Calgary is in the west coast sub league. Now, Lapierre has her sights set on the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final, which will take place in Paris (FRA) in April 2018.

“Paris is still a long way off, so we’ll keep her sound and fresh, and maybe we’re going to fly over the ocean!” she said. “But she’s looking good. That’s the plan so far.”

Calgary was one of two North American League events held on 28 October 2017, as Beat Mändli and Dsarie won on the east coast in Washington, D.C. (USA). The league resumes on the east coast in Lexington (USA) on 4 November 2017, while the next west coast event will take place 18 November 2017 in Las Vegas (USA).

Result

1. Cescha M, Isabelle Lapierre (CAN) 0/4 50.16

2. Concetto Son, Laura Jane-Tidball (CAN) 0/4 50.75

3. Dontez, Sarah Sheiring (USA) 0/4 52.84

4. Count Me In, Beth Underhill (CAN) 4 69.36

5. Luftikus S, Jennifer Gates (USA) 4 72.50

6. Arthos R, Richard Spooner (USA) 4 75.25

7. Darosso VDL, Jad Dana (LBN) 4 75.91

8. Emile de Diamant A S, Jack Towell (USA) 5 76.38

Full results can be viewed here

Isabelle Lapierre (CAN) – 1^st

“I think it goes so fast in the jump-off. You make a plan, but you just take what happens. I wasn’t sure when I jumped the last jump if I won it or not, because it took a long time to show it on the board!”

“I just think that [Cescha M] did an amazing job. I trust her over every jump.”

Laura Jane-Tidball (CAN) — 2^nd

“I was second here last year, so twice in a row! But my horse was amazing, and I couldn’t have asked him to have been any better than that tonight.”

Sarah Sheiring (USA) — 3^rd

“It’s such an exciting feeling. Words can’t really explain when everyone [in the crowd] explodes. It was such a tough track, so to go clear was really amazing.”

Standings

Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League — West Coast

1. Richard Spooner (USA) 38

2. Jamie Barge (USA) 35

3. Jenni McAllister (USA) 33

4. Laura-Jane Tidball (CAN) 32

5. Mandy Porter (USA) 29

6. Jenn Serek (CAN) 29

7. Sayre Happy (USA) 26

8. Jennifer Gates (USA) 24

9. Eric Navet (FRA) 20

10. Ali Ramsay (CAN) 19

Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League — East Coast

1. Alison Robitaille (USA) 42

2. Isabelle Lapierre (CAN) 40

3. McLain Ward (USA) 34

4. Andrew Kocher (USA) 31

5. Conor Swail (IRL) 29

6. Jack Towell (USA) 29

7. Devin Ryan (USA) 24

8. Sarah Scheiring (USA) 24

9. Charlie Jacobs (USA) 22

10. Beat Mändli (SUI) 20