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Beth Underhill and "Viggo" winner of the $ 10,000.000 Champion Shavings Modifies Grand Prix at Palgrave August 7th, 2010

Beth Underhill Withdraws from WEG Contention

Schomberg, Ontario – Canadian Olympian Beth Underhill of Schomberg, ON, has withdrawn from World Equestrian Games contention.

Underhill and Top Gun had been named to the team that will represent Canada at two international events in Spain. The day before the Canadian Show Jumping Team Long List for the upcoming 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games was announced on July 14, Underhill was informed that Top Gun would no longer be available to her.

“I was shocked, I was not aware that this was coming,” said Underhill. “The horse had been named to the European tour, and the World Championships were within reach. I had been campaigning him very much with the focus on peaking this fall for Spain and the World Championships. The owners had a change of heart and the horse is to be sold. As difficult as it is, I have to respect their decision.”

Underhill began riding Top Gun, a 10-year-old grey Dutch Warmblood gelding by Corland, in the summer of 2008. That fall, the pair finished second in the Canadian Show Jumping Championships held at Toronto’s Royal Horse Show. In 2009, Underhill and Top Gun were members of Canada’s fourth placed team in the $350,000 BMO Nations’ Cup at the Spruce Meadows “Masters” Tournament and, this past February in Wellington, FL, were members of the victorious Canadian team in the CN Nations’ Cup.

Less than one week before receiving the news that the horse was to be sold, Underhill guided Top Gun to victory in the $35,000 1.50m Kinnear Financial Cup in the international ring at the Spruce Meadows “North American” Tournament in Calgary, AB.

“I am obviously devastated and disappointed that I do not have the opportunity to continue riding this horse,” said Underhill. “Over the past two years, the horse has been a very special partner for me.”

Underhill and Top Gun had been named to the Canadian Show Jumping Team that will compete in Nations’ Cup competitions in CSIO5* Gijon, Spain, from August 31 to September 5 and the League Final at CSIO5* Barcelona, Spain, from September 16 to 19.

“It is such a heart break to learn that the horse is no longer available, especially when it is only a couple of months before a major championship such as the World Equestrian Games,” said Terrance ‘Torchy’ Millar, chef d’equipe of the Canadian Show Jumping Team and Chair of the Jump Canada High Performance Committee. “Beth had brought the horse along to the top international level and was a strong contender for the World Championship team. It greatly diminishes Canada’s chances when good horses are taken away, and it is especially disappointing that we do not have good horses available to us after winning gold and silver medals at the last Olympics.”

Underhill was first named to the Canadian Show Jumping Team in 1990, and has represented Canada in Olympic, World Championship, and Pan American Games competition. Two of her most memorable grand prix mounts were Monopoly, her partner at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and Altair. Underhill operates Beth Underhill Stables in Schomberg, ON.

Canadian Success Stories
Jump Canada -April 2010
Beth Underhill took part in the test event for the upcoming FEI Alltech World Equestrian Games to be held this fall in Lexington, KY. In the $60,000 Kentucky Cup held Sunday, April 25, Underhill guided Top Gun, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Iron Horse Farm, to a second place finish. As she cleared the final fence, a Canadian goose came to meet her! Full story in Jump Canada ...

Beth with her Jack Russells

Beth with her Jack Russells, Forrest on left and Devon. Forrest was rescued from Jack Russell Terrier Rescue Ontario,a non-profit organization that works tirelessly to find homes for abused and abandoned Jack Russells. If you can help in any way perhaps by fostering a needy Jack or a donation to the foundation I would really appreciate it. These are wonderfull, intelligent dogs who need our help. Thank you for anything you can do. Please contact Jocelyn Dollack at Jack Russell Terrier Rescue Ontario or myself.

Interview with Beth

Canada Wins Nations’ Cup in Wellington, Florida

Wellington, Florida – The Canadian Show Jumping Team claimed victory in the $75,000 Nations’ Cup, Presented by CN, held Friday night, March 5, in Wellington, FL.

“The Canadian Show Jumping Team celebrated victory in the $75,000 Nations’ Cup, Presented by CN, in Wellington, Florida. From left to right: Yann Candele, Terrance Millar, Mac Cone, Eric Lamaze and Beth Underhill.” Photo Credit – © 2010 Randi Muster/Mustphoto, Inc.

The Canadian Team comprised of Mac Cone of King City, ON, Yann Candele of Nobleton, ON, Beth Underhill of Schomberg, ON, and anchor rider Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON, won the event with a total of 5 faults. Mexico finished second with a final score of 13 faults while Ireland was third with 29 faults. The home team of the United States finished fourth with 31 faults.

A total of 11 countries contested this year’s Nations’ Cup team event, the only one held in the United States. Canada completed the first round of competition with a perfect score of zero and incurred only five faults in the second round to secure victory in front of 8,300 fans, including a raucous Canadian cheering section. The win marked the fifth victory for Canada since the event’s inception in 2002. Canada has won the Nations’ Cup in Wellington more than any other country.

“Wellington is our town, we have been extraordinarily lucky here the past few years,” said Terrance ‘Torchy’ Millar, chef d’equipe of the Canadian Show Jumping Team. “We try hard for this event. We have a lot of fans that come down from Canada for this event. We put our best foot forward, and we had four great riders here tonight.”

In the first round, lead-off rider Cone incurred four faults at the final obstacle riding Larry Evoy and Sara Houstoun’ s Ole, his mount at the 2008 Olympic Games where Canada claimed Team Silver. Cone’s would prove to be the drop score as teammates Candele, Underhill and Lamaze all produced clear rounds.

In a format that sees only three riders from each country return for the second round with all scores to count, Candele led off the second round for Canada. Riding Pitareusa, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Susan Grange, Candele again produced a clear round. It would prove to be the only double clear round of the evening.

“It was the first Nations’ Cup for her, and it was super that she was double clear doing two rounds back-to-back at this level,” said Candele who made his Nations’ Cup debut for Canada last year in Wellington, FL, when Canada was also victorious. “The competition was at a high level, with even more teams and more competition than last year.”

Underhill incurred four faults in the second round, dropping a rail at the ‘c’ element of the triple combination riding Top Gun, a 10-year-old grey Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Iron Horse Farm.

As the final rider to tackle Anthony D’Ambrosio’s course, Lamaze could have two rails down and still secure the victory for Canada. It was a cushion the Olympic Champion did not require however, as he left all the rails in place, incurring only one time fault for exceeding the time allowed.

“Ronaldo was even better in the second round than in the first; he was actually a little bit spooky in the first round,” said Lamaze of the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Ashland Stables. “Even though this was only his first Nations’ Cup, I have been riding this horse for a few years and I know him well.”

Lamaze, currently ranked the number two rider in the world, summed up the Canadian victory by saying, “All of the Canadian horses were outstanding and all of the Canadian riders were outstanding. It was a great night for us, it was great sport, and we had great results.”

Beth Underhill and Top Gun From the Royal CN World Cup

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