Jog day at Thunderbird Show Park. Photo ©tbird/Quinn Saunders
Langley, BC — The depth of talent at Thunderbird Show Park will be showcased over the course of the next three weeks in Langley, as tbird kicks off a three-week stint of international competition Aug. 10–14 with the Summer Fort Welcome CSI3*.
The schedule has expanded to offer a 1.35m division in addition to its 1.45m and 1.50m features, and that has drawn a competitive pool of both up-and-coming talent and established veterans. Thirty-six athletes presented 64 horses at Tuesday's inspection, and competition kicks off Wednesday, Aug. 10 with the CSI3* Two Phase 1.35m, CSI3* Happy Welcome 1.40m and CSI3* tbird Speed 1.45m.
The headlining athlete is a familiar name, as tbird's winningest rider Conor Swail (IRL), now the World's fourth-ranked show jumping athlete on the prestigious Longines Rankings, returns to his home away from home with the experienced Gamble and a newer mount in Clear Concept.
Uma O'Neill (NZL) returns to tbird with Clockwise of Greenhill Z, with whom she won the 2018 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Vancouver at tbird. The New Zealand Olympian will also bring forward 8-year-olds Messi and London's de Muze for their respective tbird debuts.
Also among the accomplished group are Alicia Gadban-Lewis (CAN) and Vanessa Mannix (CAN), the respective winner and runner-up from the 2021 Canadian Show Jumping Championships; Matthew Sampson (GBR), winner of the 2022 RBC Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows; Nations Cup veteran Ben Asselin (CAN); and five-star veteran and tbird's local U.S. rider, Kyle King.
The nine-class international schedule will conclude Sunday, Aug. 14 with the CSI3* ONNI Group Grand Prix at 2:00 pm PT. Tickets are on sale now at tbird.ca/tickets.
Featured Classes
Wednesday, August 10
CSI3* Two Phase 1.35m
CSI3* Happy Welcome 1.40m
CSI3* tbird Speed 1.45m
Thursday, August 11
Amy Brattebo Real Estate USHJA National Hunter Derby
CSI3* Maui Jim Challenge 1.40m
Friday, August 12
CSI3* tbird 1.35m
CSI3* Steel-Craft Doors Cup 1.50m
Saturday, August 13
CSI3* Sandhack Realty Classic 1.35m
CSI3* Winning Round 1.45m
Sunday, August 14
Maui Jim Grand Prix 1.40m
CSI3* ONNI Group Grand Prix 1.50m
Catch all the action from the Fort Grand Prix Arena live on tbird TV.
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