Edmonton, AB - Tamie Phillips of Strathmore, AB and her 9-year-old homebred gelding, Lucas took on a top field of show jumpers in the $35,000 Kubota Cup Saturday and came away with the top prize. The challenging course set on the infield of Northlands Park at the Edmonton Northlands Horse Show proved too much for all but two of the 30 entries. The only other challenger in the jump off was Calgary’s Frank Selinger and Cheerio, a 10-year-old Oldenberg gelding. They had a second clear round but came up almost two seconds short on the time, and settled for second place.

The Peter Holmes-designed course was a tough but fitting test for a lineup that included several riders with impressive resumes including 8-time Olympian Ian Millar of Perth, ON and Irish show jumping legend Eddie Macken. “I thought it was pretty tough,” said Phillips. “My horse was jumping really well, but he actually had to try really hard out there.” A number of early tests followed by a triple combination and then a double combination to finish resulted in the high attrition. Selinger agreed that it was a difficult course. Second to go in the jump off he said he had to use up some time in the early part of it but hoped to make up some time on the last two jumps. “It didn’t quite work out, but we gave it our best shot.”

Calgary’s Carla Diewert and San Sebastian left all the fences up in the first round but incurred a time penalty that resulted in a third place ribbon for them. Fourth place went to yet another Alberta rider, John Anderson of Calgary with Multi-National Foods O’Malley who had a rail early in the course.

Phillips’ win shot her up the standings in the Western Canada Show Jumping Championship from 6th to first place, with only the Championship Final left to go at the Twin Oaks Derby in Richmond, BC in August. A Crystal Trophy and a new Kubota RTV Utility Vehicle will be awarded to the Western Kubota Cup Champion and the Eastern Kubota Cup Champion. “I need a new tractor!” said Phillips.

The fourth day of the Edmonton Northlands Horse Show saw a record number of spectators surrounding the Grand Prix ring which had the fences interspersed with the colorful Kubota machinery. Earlier, a long line of people snaked around the Kubota Display booth as fans came to meet Ian Millar who was signing autographs. Edmontonians were delighted to learn that Millar, Canada’s winningest show jumper, actually started riding for the first time when he lived in the city 48 years ago.
ATTACHED PHOTO:
Caption: Tamie Phillips and Lucas, winners of the $35,000 Kubota Cup Grand Prix at Edmonton Northlands Horse Show salute the sponsors as they take the victory gallop.
Photo Credit: Janus Communications Inc.
Photo may be used one time in connection with this release. Also available in higher resolution from januscom@shaw.ca.

RESULTS

$35,000 Kubota Cup Grand Prix
Edmonton Northlands Horse Show
June 4, 2005

1. Lucas/Tamie Phillips (Strathmore, AB) 0/0 47.34, $10,000
2. Cheerio/Frank Selinger (Calgary, AB) 0/0 49.34, $7,000
3. San Sebastian/Carla Diewert (Calgary, AB) 1/79.86, $5,000
4. Multi-National Foods O’Malley/John Anderson (Calgary, AB), 4/75.02, $4,000
5. Zeline/Eddie Macken, (Langley, BC) $3,000, 4/76.29
6. Cappuccinio/Andrea Strain (Langley, BC), 4/76.57, $1,500
7. Redefin/Ian Millar (Perth, ON) 4/76.63, $1,000
8. Sweet Dreams/Ian Millar (Perth, ON), 4/76.98, $800

WESTERN CANADA KUBOTA CUP CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Top Ten:
1. Lucas/Tamie Phillips – 330
2. Southern Pride/Karen Cudmore – 320
3. Galant D’Elle/Tani Anderson – 311
4. Multi-National Foods O’Malley/John Anderson – 310
5. Ashtin’s Lucky Seven/Kristin Russell – 266
6. Royal Viali/Gary Brewster – 264
7. Luxgood/Jonathan Asselin – 262
8. Freddy 84/Jim Ifko – 260
9. Watermark/Gary Brewster – 259
10. The Sophisticate/Andrew More - 246