'Flying Frenchman' leads Team Dynamic to victory

Simon Villeneuve, Amber Thomas and Joannie Houde all received horses from the Children's Wish Foundation on Saturday at the Tournament of Champions. The presentations were made by veteran show jumper Yann Candele and Brian McManus.

They call Yann Candele "The Flying Frenchman" for good reason.

The French rider and Brian McManus of Team Dynamic were the winners in the Celebrity Ride and Drive horse and car relay Saturday at the Tournament of Champions horse show at the Caledon Equestrian Park, with a time of 139.53 seconds.

The crowd-pleasing event, a fund-raiser for the Children's Wish Foundation, paired celebrity and corporate representatives with grand prix riders. The celebrities negotiated an obstacle course in a Torrent, supplied by Bolton's Cedar Hills Pontiac Buick Cadillac, then as soon as they passed the checkered flag, their rider partners jumped a show jumping course with their horses. The riders then leaped off their horses and took the driver's seat, with the fastest combined horse and horsepower time winning.

McManus put in a smooth round in the car, then Candele, famous for his pedal-to-the-metal style at the reins and behind the wheel, didn't disappoint. Candele says his usual driving is a little more conservative.

Photo by Cealy Tetley Yann Candele led Team Dynamic to victory in the Celebrity Ride 'n Drive to benefit the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada.

"I try to avoid speeding tickets as much as possible," said Candele, originally from France, who now calls King township home.

He said piloting the car was trickier than guiding the horse through the twisting course.

"It was slippery and the car was sliding a bit," he said.

Candele said the key to winning was using the hand brake to slow, so he didn't have to remove his foot from the gas pedal.

Second was actor Chris Potter (of TV and movie fame) and American rider Leslie Howard, who earlier in the day won the AMJ Campbell Van Lines $25,000 Speed Derby. Other celebrity drivers included CTV sports anchor Lance Brown, actor Art Hindle, singer/actor Michael Burgess and rock legend Ronnie Hawkins.

Colin Ayers of the Home Depot, sponsor of the event for the fifth consecutive, also participated as a driver, but said the real winner was the Children's Wish Foundation. Ayers said what's rewarding for him is seeing the reaction of the children with life-threatening diseases whose horse wishes are granted at the Tournament of Champions.

This year's recipient children in attendance were Simon Villeneuve and Joannie Houde from Quebec and Amber Thomas from Alberta. A fourth child also had her wish granted but was unable to attend.

The Tournament of Champions has raised $450,000 for the Children's Wish Foundation in seven years and granted the wishes of 12 children from across Canada.