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Lauren Hayes Leads Family Charge at Capital Classic Show Jumping Tournament

July 15, 2004

Ottawa, Ontario --- Taking three of the top four placings, the Hayes family of Cheltenham, Ontario, enjoyed success on Thursday at the Capital Classic Show Jumping Tournament, held July 13-18, at the Nepean National Equestrian Park in Ottawa, Ontario.

Lauren Hayes led the family charge, winning the High Preliminary show jumping competition while dad, 2000 Sydney Olympian Jay Hayes, finished third and fourth in the standings. Riding Hill Cruise, an 11-year-old grey Irish mare that is owned by her family’s North Ridge farm, Lauren clocked in at 29.48 seconds in the jump-off, a time that could not be beaten.

Jay Hayes, a two-time Olympian, was last to challenge in the jump-off riding Landor, a 10-year-old German-bred gelding owned by North Ridge and Uplands Farm, but his time of 33.61 seconds was more than four seconds slower than that of his daughter.

“I didn’t have a chance to talk to him before his round, but he tried to beat me and he thought he was faster, but the timers showed a different story,” laughed Lauren, 24, a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University. “He is always encouraging me to beat him, so he got his way.”

Lauren has been riding Hill Cruise since last August, and says her jump-off strategy is a unique one.

“I just try to keep my horse as calm as possible, she likes to go and turns fast, so you have to hang on and try to keep your cool,” explains Lauren. “You never have to ask her to go fast, she is just naturally that way. It is funny because in the barn, she is a real sweetheart and loves attention, but the minute she goes into the competition ring, she is all business.”

The elder Hayes, 47, settled for third with Landor, a horse he plans to ride in Sunday’s $75,000 ‘Big Ben’ Memorial Grand Prix, and also placed fourth riding Song, a Polish gelding owned by Christine Zerygiewicz.

Breaking up the Hayes family domination was Brock Clermont of Guelph, Ontario, who rode Cassandra to a second place finish with a time of 33.02 seconds.

Friday afternoon, spectators were treated to an unique opportunity to watch the grand prix horses of tomorrow as they competed in the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series for four, five and six-year-olds. Ridden by some of the biggest names in show jumping, these horses are maturing into their roles as world-class show jumping athletes. Friday evening, the grand prix horses of today competed in the $10,000 ‘Kubota’ Open Welcome Stake at 6 p.m.

Over 700 horses competed at the Capital Classic for more than $150,000 in prize money. The weekend’s featured events included the Rising Star competition for up-and-coming athletes at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, followed by the thrills of the $35,000 Jumping Derby at 2 p.m. On Sunday the ever-popular $5,000 Horse and Dog Relay ran at 10 a.m. (horse/rider combinations team up with agility dogs from local clubs), as well as the Capital Classic’s flagship event, the sixth annual $75,000 ‘Big Ben’ Memorial Grand Prix, one of the richest grand prix events in the country.

In addition to world-class equestrian sport, the Capital Classic offers a wide variety of attractions for the whole family including the Antique Car Show, various equine displays and a thriving trade fair. The Nepean National Equestrian Park is located at the Moodie Drive exit off of the 417 Highway. Admission, including parking, is $7 Wednesday through Friday, and $10 on Saturday and Sunday. Children 12 and under are admitted free. For more information, please visit www.capitalclassic.ca 

High Preliminary Jumper  Final Results

Pl. Rider          Hometown       Horse       Flts. Time
----------------------------------------------------
1.  Lauren Hayes   Cheltenham, ON Hill Cruise 0:0 29.48
2.  Brock Clermont Guelph, ON     Cassandra   0:0 33.02
3.  Jay Hayes      Cheltenham, ON Landor 17   0:0 33.61
4.  Jay Hayes      Cheltenham, ON Song        0:4 35.66
5.  Amy Myers      Cookstown, ON  Tropic-o    1

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