September 25, 2003 - The Tournament of Champions at the York Equestrian Centre is 35 minutes from downtown Toronto, and is located on Hwy 9 just east of the 404 Highway. Although the scheduled classes were cancelled on Friday as a precaution to Hurricane Isabel's wrath, both Saturday and Sunday made up for it with perfect temperatures and partly cloudy skies shielding riders and spectators from the sun.

In its sixth year, The Tournament of Champions may be considered by some as one of the best outdoor shows in Canada with a beautifully groomed Grand Prix ring, jumper rings and a large indoor arena for those rainy horse show days. This is definitely a spectator friendly show with The Family Village offering a shopping area with many unique venders, a DogSmart Performing dog show featuring Canine Grand Prix's with "Who let the Dogs Out" blaring in the background, a Birds of Prey show featuring Owls, Eagles, Hawks and Vultures put on by the Canadian Raptor Conservancy and a kid friendly petting zoo. Most importantly, the show features the best riders and horses from across Canada and individual riders from the United States, France and Belgium.

Sunday's $75,000 World Cup Qualifier course designed by Pierre Joliceour of Virginia presented by LG Electronics, included thirty enthusiastic riders to compete over the large, technical and careful final class of the week. The course caused problems for many riders at the triple bar liverpool line. There were also many rails had at the double combination of yellow plank verticals and the very scopey red and black oxer combination. Although Frances Yann Candele, dubbed "The Flying Frenchman", won the class, it was not a walk in the park for him. Nine of the thirty riders went clear in the first round to move on to the jump off.

Frankie Chesler of Orangeville, who had a flawless first round, was excited to qualify for the jump off, "When I walked the course I thought that it might be too much for VDL Nuit de Pomme (Jus de Pomme X Dorina), who is only eight. He definitely proved me wrong and made it feel easy." Chesler also went clear in the jump off but with a time slower than four other riders. "VDL Nuit de Pomme went as fast as he could for his limited experience and I couldn't have asked for a better ride today. I didn't want to push him so that he had a bad experience in the ring and this was a great experience for both of us, I see great things for him in the future."

Chesler had great success in the hunter ring this week as well riding the five-year-old bay thoroughbred Back Talk (Tabasco Cat X You Snapped) owned by Bill and Brenda MacKay of Mystery Stables in Aiken South Carolina. In the Pre-Green hunter division, Chesler claimed two first places, one second, one third and Champion of the division. Owner Bill MacKay was thrilled to hear of Balk Talk's win. "I know that he is in very good hands and he will go far with Frankie in the irons."

In the Jumper Annex ring, Chesler's student Natasha Smith-Avery of Orangeville Ontario wowed the crowds by winning Champion of the Section One Division and Reserve Champion of the Section Two Division. Smith-Avery also won the Junior Amateur Section One Grand Prix with Sher-Al Farm and Chesler's former mount Donny Brooke a 24 year old New Zealand thoroughbred and the Junior Amateur Section Two Grand Prix with Sher-Al Farm's French Kiss (Galant De La Cour X Weriska), a twelve year old Belgium Warmblood also a former mount of Chesler's. Smith-Avery was very excited about her wins and commented, "this was my first year in the Jumper Division and I am so happy to have finished this outdoor season on such a high note. I am very lucky to have Frankie as my trainer, she is very dedicated and committed."

Although Hurricane Isabel threatened to rain on The Tournaments parade, Mother Nature helped to prove otherwise. Over the last five years, Eddie Creed and Mac McQuaker have developed an outstanding horse show event that thousands enjoy every year. The Tournament itself has also helped to contribute over $200,000 to the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada helping to make kids wishes of ponies or horses come true.

This was the last outdoor show of the season with The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair hosting the Canadian Championships, in Toronto next in line, for riders and spectators to look forward to November 7th to the 16th 2003.

Results:

1 Yann Candele (France), Cookstown, ON Millcreek Marco Taere - 0:0 40.053 sec.
2 Ainsley Vince, Milton, ON Catch 22- 0:0 41.103 sec.
3 Yann Candele (France), Cookstown, ON Sweet Dream - 0:0 43.648 sec.
4 Mac Cone, King ON Cybella - 0:0 45.799 sec.
5 Frankie Chesler Orangeville ON VDL Nuit de Pomme - 0:0 46.330 sec.