George Balderston announced his arrival on the U25 circuit in dramatic fashion Wednesday. The Sexsmith, Alta., rider piloted Galahad to victory in the Western Pacific Emergency Response U25 1.35m, supported by Costa Palma’s, at Thunderbird Show Park’s CSI2*/4* Canadian Premier. It was his U25 debut—and a razor-thin margin at the finish.
The highly competitive division drew 26 combinations, but when the final timers flashed, a mere two-tenths of a second separated the top three.
Balderston and 14-year-old Selle Français gelding Galahad (Jarnac x Arpege Pierreville) stopped the clock in 29.53 seconds to claim top honours. Sloane Betker (CAN), fresh off a three-peat victory in the U25 at tbird’s April Season Opener, settled for second aboard Kristalstar in 30.02 seconds. Just four one-hundredths of a second behind Betker, Iris Hickey (USA) and Colorado M rounded out the podium in third with a time of 30.06 seconds.
For Balderston, 16, Wednesday’s win carried extra weight as his first foray into the U25 ranks—on a horse that has helped him climb the ranks.
“It’s actually my first U25 class,” Balderston said. “I’ve had Gal for two years. I started in the 1.0m jumpers with him, and then just went from there. He’s great. He’s super nice to be around. He’s super-nice to ride, and when he gets in the ring, especially at the horse show, he gets pretty revved and ready to go.”
The winning ride came down to an efficient turn to the last line, where Balderston’s intimate knowledge of his horse’s quirks paid dividends.
“My horse goes a little bit left. I turned quite tight to the Kubota [vertical] and went left,” he explained. “The seven strides [to the last] ended up quite straight for me—he moved nicely off it and it worked out really well.”
Balderston trains with Bretton Chad and Charlie Jones at Stone Ridge Sport Horses in Calgary, Alta, whose guidance he credits for his and Galahad’s rapid ascent through the levels.
“They’re very positive and also very knowledgeable, really good with the horses,” Balderston said of his training team.
With his first U25 victory now in the books, the young rider is already looking ahead.
“I’d like to win as many as I can,” he smiled, “and hopefully get a couple more of my horses into the U25 and see how that goes.”
Showcasing rising talent in show jumping, the Western Pacific Emergency Response U25 division, supported by Costa Palma’s, continues Friday with the $5,000 1.40m and Sunday with the $15,000 U25 1.40m.
$5,000 Western Pacific Emergency Response U25 1.35m
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time
- Galahad / George Balderston / CAN / Pamela Balderston / 0/0 29.53
- Kristalstar / Sloane Betker / CAN / Betker Horse Park Inc / 0/0 30.02
- Colorado M / Iris Hickey / USA / Linda Rae Hickey/ 0/0 30.06
- Cerafina / Maggie Kehring / USA / Three Vintage Equestrian / 0/0 30.32
- Connecticut / Amanda Sinnett / CAN / Amanda Sinnett / 0/0 30.54
- Maywise CJE / Jaydan Stettner / CAN / Jaydan Stettner / 0/0 31.39
- Cadeua W Z / Locklyn Williamson / CAN / Graham Williamson / 0/0 32.77
- Danger Civil VH Lindenhof Z / Maggie Kehring / USA / Maggie Kehring /0/0 33.03
- Clique / Ryan Davis / USA / Danielle van der Werf / 0/0 33.73
- Indiana / Sloane Betker / CAN / Sloane Betker / 0/4 28.72
Photo credit: Kim Gaudry for tbird
