Langley, BC — In international competition at the BCHJA Fall Finale, James Chawke (IRL) has been trading wins with himself.
On Thursday, he bested the CSI2* Qualifier with Nacara van Berkenbroeck Z. On Friday, he was already on top with that 11-year-old gelding when he did himself one better aboard Daido van’t Ruytershof Z, securing a 1-2 finish.
The winning time was 45.19 seconds. Chawke secured runner-up honors with a time of 47.29 seconds, while Tracey Epp (CAN) finished third with Klasse One—more than three seconds behind Chawke’s slower time (50.92s).
“I was obviously trying to be first and second, so I actually did one more [stride] up the first line on [Daido] than [Nacara], but [Daido] was much tighter turning back [to the next jump],” Chawke shared. “[Nacara] found the footing a little bit slippy when he was turning, whereas [Daido] is a little bit more surefooted, so I’d say that’s why she ended up quicker. She was just a bit better on her turns.”
The Winning Round format is rather unique within show jumping sport. Regardless of score, the top 10 combinations after an initial round of jumping return for a shortened course on a clean slate, meaning riders with as many as 11 faults in what proved to be a challenging first round returned with an equal chance at winning as the first round leader—also Chawke.
In fact, Chawke was the only rider to produce a first round clear—with Daido—and he replicated it over Meghan Rawlins’ (CAN) 1.45m short course.
“I thought it was a nice course. I thought it was enough [when I walked],” Chawke said. “But I think it rode a bit harder.”
In total, Chawke has now recorded eight victories in FEI competition this season at tbird—five of them with Daido. He may not have entered the season with those kind of expectations. In fact, he fractured his knee, separated his shoulder, and nearly tore his groin muscle off the bone in a fall after tbird’s BC Open in May and wasn’t sure he’d be able to compete in August. But he’s been the farthest thing from an also-ran since returning to the saddle.
With Daido in particular, he’s won two CSI3* Grand Prix events, in consecutive weeks at tbird in August. The mare only jumped her first 1.50m class in April; since May 1, Daido van’t Ruytershof Z has averaged just 2.3 faults at 1.45m and 1.50m, finishing among the top five 50 percent of the time, according to Jumpr App.
“It’s been a very good [season],” Chawke said, humbly. “[Daido] just keeps coming out and trying, and she’s always a real fighter and a winner.
“She’s obviously very fast, very blood, very careful,” he added. “She’s needed the miles jumping a bit bigger, and I suppose improving the ride-ability.”
Both of Chawkes’ top mounts will jump in Saturday’s CSI2* Grand Prix before getting some well-earned rest.
“I don’t think they’ll jump [again] before December,” Chawke said. “As of now, my plan is for this to be our last show for the foreseeable future. But they both deserve it.”
CSI2* Winning Round
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time
1. Daido van’t Ruytershof Z / James Chawke / IRL / James Chawke / 0/0 45.19
2. Nacara van Berkenbroeck Z / James Chawke / IRL / Alison Locke / 4/0 47.29
3. Klasse One / Tracey Epp / CAN / Tracey Epp / 4/0 50.92
4. Captain / Shannon Haney / CAN / Shannon Haney / 4/0 51.67
5. Caipirinha de Reve / Alicia Gadban-Lewis / CAN / Alicia Gadban-Lewis / 1/0 51.97
6. Connador / Braden James / CAN / Stump Lake Ranch & Cattle Co Ltd / 1/4 47.69
7. Unique Star / Kyle King / USA / Ritz Fuente LLC / 4/4 49.19
8. Idaho del Maset / Karianne Boyce-Lockhart / USA / Karianne Boyce-Lockhart / 11/4 54.43
9. Roc Zero LF / Rachel Long / USA / Long Farms / 9/8 53.72
10. Iwan / Charlie Jones / GBR / Stone Ridge Farms LLC / 1/12 63.66
