RICHMOND, B.C. - Riding the 13-year-old gelding Hurricane, Gary Brewster started Sunday's final leg of the Kubota Cup western conference in the pressure position, and he took the heat to secure the overall western conference lead. The final outing in the western conference was the $40,000 Kubota Cup Derby at Twin Oaks equestrian centre in Richmond. Despite a sixth-place finish for Brewster and Hurricane, they didn't relinquish their position as the overall best in the west. That assures them a trip to the Kubota Cup National Final in Toronto, in November. Brewster is from West Vancouver and trains at Twin Oaks.

Tamie Phillips, of Strathmore, Alberta, topped the western conference last year and was the defending champion in Sunday's derby. In spite of those credentials, Phillips was an upset winner yesterday. Last year, Phillips rode Lucas to both the western conference title and the derby win. Yesterday, as the first to enter the ring, she rode Starlet to a clear round that no one could match. 12-year-old Starlet is on the comeback trail, after some time off last year, due to surgery.

Calgary's Jonathan Asselin gave both Phillips and Brewster the closest challenge for their respective victories. He nearly made Phillips face a jump-off when he and Rayanna Chiara had no jumping faults. But one time-fault prevented a tie-breaker. His second place in the derby bounced him from third to second in the western conference standings, also assuring him a trip to the Kubota Cup National Final.

While a big shake-up in the qualifying points was mathematically possible, what resulted was only a minor shuffle. The same five riders who held top-five spots coming into the derby in Richmond simply shifted places. Joining Brewster, Asselin and Phillips among those assured a trip to the final are Albert Kley on Daiquiri, and Emily George on Ramila, both of Calgary.

Jonathan Asselin won the Cavalor MVP Award for this Kubota Cup. This is a sportsmanship award decided via a vote by their peers.

At least the top five western conference riders, and all Kubota Cup winners who are not otherwise qualified, will meet the top riders from the eastern conference in Toronto on November 3rd. Eastern conference qualifying concludes in October. Qualified riders earn a share of a $30,000 travel bursary to go to the Final.

As the champion of the west, Gary Brewster receives a crystal trophy and a Kubota RTV utility vehicle.

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