The Kubota Cup Grand Prix at Northlands

Exclusive to Alberta Equine… On-Line

June 12, 2006

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Edmonton, AB --- 4 photos included! Saturday, June 3, 2006, marked the Edmonton leg of the Kubota Cup Grand Prix at Northlands, part of the current, and second season of the Kubota Cup Canadian Show Jumping series. Held during the June 1 – 4 Edmonton Northlands Horse Show, (hosted by the Edmonton Hunter Jumper Association), the $35,000 Kubota Cup Grand Prix afternoon competition saw 30 horse and rider combinations compete in the exciting event. All these horses and riders were taking part in a show jumping series that in its short history has become a huge success in Canada’s show jumping world. For example, the 2005 inaugural Kubota Cup Canadian Show Jumping Series saw rookie Grand Prix riders and horses from coast to coast able to mix it up with a slate of nationally and internationally recognized riders and horses, a rare opportunity before this series was created.

The Kubota Cup was created as a result of a brainwave by one woman, Sandra Fraser. She dreamt of being able to bring show jumping opportunities to athletes all across Canada. Fraser, of Lejoma Sports Management, and now Event Manager for the Kubota Cup Canadian Show Jumping Series, had the vision of this Canada-wide sporting event. There had never been a Canadian series or a national tournament before, and she was able to use her considerable energy to sell the concept to Kubota Canada Ltd., as well as sucessfully tackle the task of selling the idea to the eight member shows. ( The Kubota series takes place in eight venues from coast to coast, during well established Canadian horse shows, fairs and show jumping tournaments.)

So why would Kubota Canada Ltd., distributor of compact diesel tractors and construction equipment in Canada, decide to support a multi-year commitment to the Olympic Sport of Show Jumping by funding the Kubota Cup Canadian Show Jumping Series? John Gilliland, National Marketing Manager for Kubota Canada Ltd., explains; “We knew it would be a great fit, with our mechanical horsepower to get the work done, and let the riders ride…when Sandra brought us her idea for a national show jumping series, we knew it could work! It was a learning experience last year, and now the whole Kubota dealer enthusiasm has grown immensely, generating sales from this sponsorship.”

Fraser’s goal to help equine and human athletes participate in show jumping has also helped raise awareness of equestrian sport in Canada, as the series itself, and the excitement it generates, contributes to achieving that goal. Another major awareness factor is the 13-part television series, Along For The Ride, which airs on Global National Television. This is a popular, (1.2 million viewers in its first season!), reality series profiling three horses and riders in each show, giving viewers a ‘behind the scenes’ look into their lives as they try to reach the pinnacle of show jumping in Canada – the Grand Prix level.

As an all-Canadian event, this Grand Prix Show Jumping tournament commences with competitions in an east and a west region. The Eastern Region is made up of Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces, and the Western Region comprises British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Yukon and Northwest Territories and Nunavut. While anyone can enter the class, and win the prize money, only Canadian citizens or landed immigrants can earn points, and be eligible for the privilege of becoming Kubota Cup winners in the series. There are four $35,000 competitions, where western and eastern Canadian champions are declared, and four more $60,000 purse events. The National Final takes place in early November at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario. Not only is prize money awarded to the top 12 place earners, but there are also prizes such as Softstall(tm) bedding systems, and Sereno Top Ride saddle pads, with the Crystal Trophy and Kubota RTV 900 utility vehicles going to Grand Prix winners. As well, the top five horse/rider team point earners from each regional division may be able to use a share of a $30,000 travel and accommodation bursary – also provided by Kubota Canada.

The $35,000 Kubota Cup Grand Prix at the Edmonton Northlands Horse Show demonstrated the level of commitment shown by Kubota Canada and all the other sponsors and participants. There are hundreds of people working to make these events a success, and this leg of the series was no exception. The Saturday competition took place over a challenging course with lines that meant riders really had to know their horse. Course designer Peter Holmes had created some oxer jump combinations that defeated many competitors if their pacing was even slightly off. Out of the 30 horse and rider combinations, only seven made it to the jump off.

Finally, Jonathan Asselin, of Calgary, AB, on Lolita, pulled ahead of last year’s winner of this class, Tamie Phillips of Strathmore, AB, on her horse Lucas…by a mere fraction of a second – 36.18 to 36.19! “I knew if I was going to do it, I’d have to do it on Lolita. We’ve knocked on the door many times, and it’s really great to put one in!” Asselin did more than put one in as he also placed third on Rayana Chiara. His first place netted the team $8,750 plus a complete Soft Stall tm therapeutic bedding system for the horse and a Sereno Top Ride ultra-suede saddle pad from Ogilvy Horse; his third place win added $5,250 to his prizes. “Rayana is the most consistent”… (of the three mares Asselin brought to the cup, Lolita, Rosita Fly and Rayana Chiara) … Asselin reflected as he relaxed after the competition, “but I knew that Lolita would have the best chance today, she was scopey and ready – this was a good course for her.”

Tamie Phillips talked about her performance with a rueful smile, “If I’d just kicked a little harder”, she said referring to her fractional loss to Asselin. “I loved my ride, Lucas jumped fantastic…we were just a little bit slower!” Phillips came away with the $6,300 second place win. The next competition for the Western Region will be the Western Final Qualifier at the Twin Oaks Derby in Richmond, BC.

Kubota Canada and the Kubota Cup Canadian Show Jumping Series is an example of how machines and horses can be brought together to provide a win-win situation all around for Canada’s equine community. As the main sponsor, Kubota Canada remains committed; “We don’t anticipate any reason why we would not go a third year,” says Gilliland. “Some day, we might step back, but for now, we’re having too much fun, we have to be on-side!” Fraser pauses a moment to reflect on the fulfillment of her vision, and her unique approach to creating the reality of the series; “ I've had this vision since I was a kid, of show jumping coast to coast. So to do this, I knew we needed a good sponsor, and Kubota Canada is an autonomous, Canadia-based company that uses Japanese expertise and know-how to create product in north America. To me, it's a no-brainer - sponsorship is important to sport, and the horse industry is a monster consumer - an agriculturally based sport. Besides, creating this series meant thinking outside the box...and I love that!

For more information on the Kubota Cup Canadian Show Jumping Series log on to: www.kubotacup.ca

The 2006 Kubota Cup Canadian Show Jumping Series includes the Kubota Cup Grand Prix class at each of the following shows:

The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, Brandon, MB, April 1
The Edmonton Northlands Horse Show, AB, June 3
The Kubota Capital Classic Show Jumping Tournament, Kubota Cup Big Ben Memorial Grand Prix, Ottawa, ON July 16
The Kubota Bromont International Horse Show presenting the Kubota Cup Grand Prix, Bromont, QC, July 29
The Twin Oaks Derby presenting the Kubota Cup Jumping Derby and Western Division Championship Presentation, Richmond, BC, August 13
The Kubota Collingwood Classic, presenting the Kubota Cup Grand Prix, Collingwood, ON, August 20
The Maritime Fall Fair presenting the Kubota Cup Grand Prix and Eastern Division Championship Presentation, Halifax, NS, October 14
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair presenting the Kubota Cup National Finals, Toronto, ON, November 4

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