RICHMOND, B.C. Gary Brewster, of West Vancouver will be trying to prove he's the best in the west when he jumps in the final leg of the Kubota Cup national show jumping series on Sunday, August 12. Brewster trains at Twin Oaks Equestrian Centre in Richmond, host of the Kubota Cup. Partnered with his 13-year-old gelding, Hurricane, Brewster leads the standings in the western conference in a race to earn a berth in the Kubota Cup National Final in Toronto, in November. Thirty-seven-year-old Brewster and Hurricane were also the winners of the last western conference Kubota Cup, in Edmonton in June.

But Brewster can't take anything for granted. He only needs to be in the top-five to be guaranteed a berth in the National Final, but the race is so tight even the current leader is not assured one of the expense-paid trips. Close behind Brewster is veteran horseman, Albert Kley, of Calgary, on the ageless Daiquiri SM. This pair was third in this competition last year, and they already have one Kubota Cup win under their belt this season. Fellow Calgarian Jonathan Asselin, on Rayanna Chiara, is just a tiny margin behind Kley. This rider/horse combination finished second here in 2006. Right on Asselin's heels is B.C. native Tamie Phillips, now of Strathmore, Alberta. Phillips, on her home-bred Lucas, is the defending champion in this Kubota Cup and was the 2006 western conference series leader. Rounding out the top five is 22-year-old Emily George, of Calgary. George qualified for the National Final last year on Smart Thinking, but holds down fifth position now with Ramila.

George and Phillips are two of the younger up-and-coming show jumpers for whom the Kubota Cup has proven to be a developmental tool. Both have earned berths in the Kubota Cup National Final before and both are now on the Canadian Equestrian Team short list.

Although there is a somewhat bigger point-spread between the top-five and the remainder of the field, it would only take a minor upset to completely shuffle the standings. Both Brewster and George have other mounts in contention, currently positioned in the top-ten.

The Kubota Cup eastern conference kicked off on July 28 with Ian Millar's 30-year-old daughter, Amy Millar, taking the early lead in what will be another close contest. Eastern qualifying concludes in October.

The final Kubota Cup in the western conference is on Sunday, August 12 at the Twin Oaks Equestrian Centre in Richmond. The Kubota Cup is the only show jumping series in Canada that guarantees participation by riders from both eastern and western Canada. East and west will meet at the Kubota Cup National Final on November 3 at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.


For further information contact: Jayne Huddleston 905-338-8328
jayne@jaynehuddleston.com