Brandon, MB - Michael Grinyer of Campbelleville, ON won the inaugural Kubota Cup Grand Prix Saturday at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair with his horse, Alcatraz 34, claiming the first place prize money of $8,750. Karen Cudmore and her 10-year-old Dutch gelding Moxie, last year’s Saturday Grand Prix winners, finished second after a six-way jump-off. However, the duo were awarded the top points in the Western Kubota Cup Championship.

Cudmore, one of Canada’s top grand prix competitors who has represented the country in international competition lives in Omaha, NB and elected to collect points in the Western Division while Grinyer will compete in the Eastern division.

Top international course designer Richard Jeffrey of England, who set the courses at the Royal for the second consecutive year, said he created a technical track to challenge the 25 riders and horses which he said were of a greater quality than competed at last year’s event. “This new Kubota Cup has certainly brought them here,” he said.

Cudmore and Moxie, second to go in the class of 25, put in the initial clear round on the course which included several elements that tested the rideability of the horses including a pair of very tight vertical fences, followed by a long gallop to a wide oxer. First to come back in the jump off, the duo set the pace early by putting in a quick clear round. Doug Henry of Aurora, ON, next to come back with his 18.2hh nine-year-old gelding Burguunder, also went clear, but was slower. Grinyer managed to step up the pace, beating Cudmore’s time by almost two seconds.

Kubota Canada Ltd.’s National Marketing Manager, John Gilliland, who received the riders’ salute from the President’s Box, called the Grand Prix “absolutely fantastic.” He said he and the other company representatives and dealers, who had been on site all week for the debut of the Canadian Show Jumping Series of which Kubota Canada is the title sponsor, were extremely pleased with their reception from the media and the public. “We’re ecstatic,” said Gilliland.

Sandra Fraser, event manager and founder of the Canadian Show Jumping Series said, “I had high expectations, based on historic record attendance at this venue. But the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair over-delivered in all categories.”

“The overall quality of the competitors was a huge surprise,” added Fraser. “High performance athletes showing up with their top mounts indicates the support the riders are giving to this Series.”

Nineteen horse/rider combinations collected points in the Kubota Cup Grand Prix towards the Western Championship. The next event in the Western Division of the Kubota Cup Canadian Show Jumping Series will take place June 4 in Edmonton at the Northlands Horse Show while the Eastern Division premieres at the Kubota Capital Classic in Ottawa July 17. The Champion in each division will receive a crystal trophy and a Kubota RTV utility vehicle.

Top Results - $35,000 Kubota Cup Grand Prix
Royal Manitoba Winter Fair
Brandon, MB
April 2, 2005
1. Alcatraz 34/Michael Grinyer (Campbellville, ON) $8,750; 0-0/28.69
2. Moxie/Karen Cudmore (Omaha, NE) $6,300; 0-0/30.39
3. Burguunder/Doug Henry (Aurora, ON) $5,250; 0-0/34.53
4. Camaron Hills Shanroe/Molly Talla (Perris, CA) $3,850; 0-4/31.62
5. Southern Pride/Karen Cudmore (Omaha, NE) $2,800; 0-4/33.00
6. Galant D’Illi/Tani Anderson (Calgary, AB) $2,450; 0-VW

Western Kubota Cup Championship Standings (Top Six)
1. Moxie/Karen Cudmore (Omaha, NB) – 180
2. Southern Pride/Karen Cudmore (Omaha, NB) – 170
3. Galant D’Illi/Tani Anderson (Calgary, AB) – 165
4. Ashtin’s Lucky Seven/Kristin Russell (Edmonton, AB)– 160
5. O’Malley/John Anderson (Calgary, AB) – 155
6. Lucas/Tamie Phillips (Strathmore, AB) - 150