Nicole Walker Claims Canadian Show Jumping Championship Title

Toronto, Ontario, CAN – Nov. 3, 2018 – Nicole Walker of Aurora, ON, claimed the $125,000 Canadian Show Jumping Championship title on Saturday night, November 3, at the 96th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, ON.

Nicole Walker and Falco van Spieveld Photo: Ben Radvanyi Photography
Nicole Walker and Falco van Spieveld
Photo: Ben Radvanyi Photography

Having claimed victory in Friday’s $25,000 Canadian Show Jumping Championship – Round One, presented by Lothlorien, Walker held the lead coming into Saturday night’s two-round competition. The defending Canadian Champions, Amy Millar, 41, of Perth, ON, and Heros piled on the pressure by opening Saturday night’s competition with a clear round while Walker incurred four faults. When the top six in the standings went through to the all-deciding final, Walker kept her cool to deliver another clear jumping round, picking up one time fault over the course set by Ireland’s Alan Wade to bring her total score to five faults. When Millar and Heros faulted the second time out, their final score of 7.13 penalty points left them in second place, handing Walker her first Canadian Show Jumping Championship title riding Falco van Spieveld, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding.

“I will never forget this!” said Walker, who will celebrate her 25th birthday on Sunday, November 4. “It feels amazing. I’m very excited for my whole team, and I think the horse deserves a title like this because he’s such a special boy. I’m glad he could have a title to his name.”

Canadian Olympian Beth Underhill of Schomberg, ON, delivered a clear round riding Count Me In to finish in third position while 12-time Canadian Show Jumping Champion Ian Millar, 71, of Perth, ON, took fourth place riding Calvin Klein for Brookstreet Stables. Olympic team silver medalist Mac Cone of King City, ON, guided Zaia di san Giovanni to fifth for owner Mark Samuel’s Chadburn Holdings Inc. while Hyde Moffatt of Brantford, ON, also made the cut for the top six riding Granturo.

As the defending Under 25 National Champion at the Royal Horse Show, Walker has grown up competing at the annual Royal Horse Show.

Nicole Walker of Aurora, ON, aboard Falco van Spieveld is presented as the Canadian Show Jumping Championship by Karen Hendry-Ouellette of Equestrian Canada. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography
Nicole Walker of Aurora, ON, aboard Falco van Spieveld is presented as the Canadian Show Jumping Championship by Karen Hendry-Ouellette of Equestrian Canada. Photo: Ben Radvanyi Photography

“I had a lot of friends and family here tonight as it’s very close to home,” said Walker, who trains with 2012 Irish Olympic individual medalist Cian O’Connor and his assistant trainer, Mark Kinsella. “But beyond everything, the atmosphere is incredible here. It has so much tradition. I would recommend every rider to come visit it at some point, even if they’re not riding. It’s just such a cool experience.”

With their top finishes on Saturday night, Walker and Amy Millar earned their tickets into the international division as the two highest placed finishers in the Canadian Show Jumping Championships not already qualified. Erynn Ballard of Tottenham, ON, Keean White of Rockwood, ON, and Ian and Jonathon Millar, both of Perth, ON, qualified based on their standings in the Longines World Rankings while Jump Canada’s high performance committee named Ali Ramsay of Victoria, BC, and Beth Underhill of Schomberg, ON, as its two picks for the international division. The international division opens on Wednesday, November 7, featuring the $36,000 Jolera International Welcome in the evening session.

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