Luis Larrazabal Makes Winning Debut at Major League Show Jumping Ottawa

Luis Larrazabal of Venezuela made his first visit to Wesley Clover Parks a winning one by scoring victory in the $62,500 USD CSI5* Steel-Craft Qualifier on opening day of the Major League Show Jumping Ottawa tournament.

A total of 40 of the best show jumping athletes in the world took to the grass grand prix field in the hopes of a win on Friday, August 23.  Ten were clear over the track set by Olaf Petersen Jr. to qualify for the all-deciding jump-off.  As the final rider to return for the jump-off, Larrazabal knew what he had to do to win riding Belle de Muze, a 14-year-old Moroccan-bred mare he owns in partnership with Driss Ngadi.

Canadian Olympian Erynn Ballard held the lead with a time of 40.33 seconds, but Larrazabal used his mare’s footspeed to his advantage and crossed the timers in 39.68 seconds to take the win.  Ballard settled for second with Fave d’Authuit, a nine-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Ilan Ferder while Colombia’s Mark Bluman rounded out the top three with a jump-off time of 41.11 seconds riding a new partner, Concare PS.

“Knowing I was going last in the jump-off was a big advantage for me knowing how fast she is,” said Larrazabal, 31, who made his Olympic debut mere weeks ago in Paris, France.  “I didn't see anybody before me because I didn't want to get ahead of myself.  It's happened to me before and I've learned from my mistakes.  I just took my time, believed in her, did my plan, and it went my way.”

Of his first trip to compete at Wesley Clover Parks, Larrazabal noted, “It's unbelievable here.  The show, the people, the hospitality – everything is top, top class.  It's such a nice place and it's been amazing.  I love it.”

Ballard of Tottenham, ON, had made a trip to the winner’s circle earlier in the day after winning the $31,100 USD CSI2* 1.45m Qualifier, presented by CIBC Wood Gundy.  A total of 13 riders from a starting field of 60 qualified for the jump-off, but none were faster than Ballard and De Flor 111 Z Santa Rosa.  The pair were double clear in a time of 34.75 seconds to take the win over Ali Ramsay of Victoria, BC, and Duke of Doel who stopped the clock in 34.93 seconds.  American Ashley Vogel posted a jump-off time of 36.20 seconds riding Birdy du Thot to take third.

The Major League Show Jumping Ottawa tournament runs through Sunday, August 25, 2024, at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, ON.  Showcasing the highest level of international show jumping competition with a CSI5* rating from the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), Major League Show Jumping Ottawa also features a CSI2* division to offer a combined total of more than $800,000 in prize money.

Upcoming competition highlights include:

Saturday, August 24 at 10 a.m. - $31,100 USD CSI2* Kubota Grand Prix

Saturday, August 24 at 4 p.m. - $200,000 USD CSI5* MLSJ Team Competition
*followed by press conference

Sunday, August 25 at 11 a.m. - $182,000 USD CSI5* RBC Grand Prix
*followed by press conference

General admission tickets are required for all competition days at Major League Show Jumping Ottawa and can be purchased by clicking here.  Children aged 12 and under are admitted free.  For those unable to attend in person, livestreaming from Major League Show Jumping Ottawa is available on Clip My Horse.

For more information on the Ottawa Equestrian Tournaments, visit www.OttawaEquestrianTournaments.com.  All competitor information is available at www.ottawaequestriantournaments.com/calendar and full results can be found at ottawa.showmanagementsystem.com/events.  All class lists and results are also available by downloading the Major League Show Jumping app.

Get the latest updates, news, and photos by following Ottawa Equestrian Tournaments on Facebook here and Instagram at @OttawaEquestrianTournaments.  Share your Ottawa Equestrian Tournaments experience by tagging #TenYearsOfTournaments and #RideTheParks!

$62,500 USD CSI5* Steel-Craft Door Products Ltd. Qualifier – Friday, August 23

Rider / Country / Horse / Faults / Time
1.  Luis Larrazabal / Venezuela / Belle de Muze / 0:0 / 39.68
2.  Erynn Ballard / Canada / Fave d’Authuit / 0:0 / 40.33
3.  Mark Bluman / Colombia / Concare PS / 0:0 / 41.11
4.  Abdel Said / Belgium / Bonne Amie / 0:0 / 41.45
5.  Ali Ramsay / Canada / Conrado 12 / 0:0 / 41.79
6.  Loic Cannaert / Belgium / Ultimately Cooley / 0:0 / 46.00
7.  Brian Moggre / United States / MTM Vivre le Reve / 0:4 / 40.28
8.  Amy Millar / Canada / Christiano / 0:4 / 40.75
9.  Sean Jobin / Canada / Sterrehof’s Edinus / 0:4 / 46.10
10.  Shane Sweetnam / Ireland / Paulien Dwerse Hagen / 0:8 / 43.39
11.  Gabriel de Matos Machado / Brazil / Legaland Sandro / 4
12.  Alison Robitaille / United States / Oakingham Lira / 4