Hyde Moffatt wins eastern division of Jump Canada talent squad

Hyde Moffatt of Brantford (formerly of Caledon) has emerged as the winner in the eastern division of the Jump Canada National Talent Squad Series.

In the opening event of the Eastern division, the Talent Squad Qualifier at the Caledon National Horse Show in Palgrave, Moffatt guided Denver, an eightyear old Trakehner gelding owned by Hawkestone Farms, to a first-place finish and 15 points. The duo also won the qualifiers at the Cornerstone at Barrie Horse Show for another 14 points, and at the Kubota Collingwood Classic, which was good for 15 points.

Moffatt also received 11 points for his third place finishes in two separate qualifiers, Caledon Summer Classic and International Bromont, to add an additional 22 points to his total. Moffatt won the eastern division with a total of 66 points.

"I am thrilled with Denver's progress this season," said Moffatt, 28, who, as the eastern division winner, will be awarded airfare to the 2008 World Cup Final in Göteborg, Sweden, as well as being nominated to receive athlete funding through Sport Canada Development Cards. "We have been spending the last two years bringing him along in the Talent Squad Series, and this year we were able to make the transition in to the grand prix ring."

Margie Gayford of Sharon, and Wingberry Farm and Harry Littler's Winston, an eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, finished in second place with a total of 51 points. The pair won the Talent Squad qualifier at the Caledon Summer Festival for 15 points and earned another 11 points for their third place finish at the Kubota Collingwood Classic qualifier. Her fourth-place finish at Cornerstone at Barrie - Week 1, for eight points, and a third place result at the Kubota Collingwood Classic, for 11 points, added to her seven points for a fifth-place finish at the $5,000 eastern division Talent Squad Final helped Gayford capture second place overall in the standings.

Moffatt also took third place in the eastern division, this time paired with Mark Hayes's seven-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Atlanta Van de Padenborre. Series highlights for the duo included a win at L'International Bromont for 14 points and second place and 13 points at the Caledon National Horse Show. Moffatt and Atlanta Van de Padenborre finished with 46 points.

Tied for fourth place were Billie Derouet, of Bromont, Quebec, and Sven Frei of Arva, Ontario. Both riders finished with a total of 38.

Derouet piloted her horse, Sweet Dreams, a 16- year-old selle francais gelding, to wins at both the L'International Bromont for 14 points and at the Blainville Jumping International in Quebec for eight points.

Riding his horse Quebec, a 13-year-old Oldenburg stallion, Frei won the Talent Squad class at the Canadian Country Classic - Week 2 and finished third at the Caledon Summer Festival for 11 points.

The top placed rider in east, Moffatt, and west, Gary Brewster of West Vancouver, divisions will be awarded airfare to the 2008 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Final in Göteborg, Sweden, April 23- 27. In addition, the two Division winners will be nominated for Sport Canada Development Cards to receive athlete funding.

For complete standings, please visit http://www.jumpcanada.ca/p rograms/TS_standings.html.