BROMONT, QUEBEC Canada’s only national show jumping series that guarantees participation from both east and west kicks off its eastern conference in Bromont, Quebec, July 28. The $60,000 Kubota Cup Grand Prix will be contested at the International Bromont tournament at Bromont Olympic Horse Park. Three competitions comprise each of the eastern and western conferences, during which rider/horse combinations from each will qualify for the Kubota Cup National Final, to be held at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto in November.

The western conference will wind up on August 12 in Richmond, B.C. A total of 37 rider/horse combinations have earned points in the first 2 competitions in the west. Following Bromont, the eastern conference moves to Collingwood, Ontario, then to Halifax, Nova Scotia before all the national finalists will be known.

Eastern conference star, John Pearce, of Stouffville, Ontario, is expected back in Bromont this year. He was the leader in the east last year and qualified 3 mounts for the Kubota Cup National Final. He capped off the series by winning the Final on Archie Bunker. Lauren Hunkin, of Perth, Ontario, was runner-up to Pearce for last year’s eastern conference lead and called it her biggest achievement to date, in the sport. She is also expected to compete in Bromont this year.

The winner of the Kubota Cup Grand Prix in Bromont will get a jump-start towards a trip to the National Final in more ways than earning qualifying points. All winners of a Kubota Cup qualifying competition automatically qualify for the Kubota Cup National Final, as long as they compete in at least 2 of the 3 qualifiers in their region. Therefore, the winner in Bromont is almost assured a chance to square off against the other qualified riders, including the best in the west, in November.