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David Arcand Crowned Talent Squad Champion at Royal Horse Show

November 14, 2008

Toronto, ON --- David Arcand of Mount Royal, QC, secured victory in the Jump Canada Talent Squad Final by winning the $10,000 Alfred Rogers National Talent Squad Series Championship, Phase II, on Saturday, November 8, at Toronto’s Royal Horse Show.

Held over two days, the Talent Squad Final competition opened on November 7 with the $8,000 Alfred Rogers National Talent Squad Series Championship, Phase I, where Arcand and his horse, Santos Utopia, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, finished in ninth place.

Arcand returned to the Ricoh Coliseum the following day to handily win Phase II with the fastest double clear in a jump-off time of 41.10 seconds. Arcand was tied with Margie Gayford of Sharon, ON, when the points for the two phases were added together but, as Phase II carried more weight, Arcand was named the National Talent Squad Final Champion.

“We had a bit of a slow start at the beginning of the season because my horses had to be rested due to a virus they got early in the season,” said Arcand, who was coached at the Talent Squad Final by Francois Lamontagne, winner of the 2008 Jump Canada Talent Squad Eastern Division. “Santos Utopia qualified by only competing in three Talent Squad classes this season. I am really pleased with how well my horse performed in the Final. What a great to end the season.”

Gayford won Phase I on Friday night with the fastest clear round and placed tenth in Phase II riding Winston, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Wingberry Farm, to claim the Reserve Championship title.

The Jump Canada Talent Squad Series is a means of recognizing up-and-coming riders who are preparing to enter the grand prix ranks and gives them a platform to demonstrate their ability to become future members of the Canadian Equestrian Team.

About Jump Canada

Jump Canada is a committee of Equine Canada responsible for all hunter, equitation and jumper activities in Canada from the grass roots to the international level. Jump Canada is governed by a board of directors, the majority of whom are elected by the stakeholders in the sport. For more information regarding Jump Canada programs and activities, visit http://www.equinecanada.ca/jumpcanada.

About Equine Canada

Equine Canada is a member-based association that represents, promotes and services Canada's equine community and industry. Its core areas of activity involve sport, equine health and welfare, education and safety, governance and marketing, representation and communication. Equine Canada is recognized by Sport Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Coaching Association of Canada as the national organization representing equestrian sport and equine interests in Canada. For more information about Equine Canada, please visit www.equinecanada.ca

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