Toronto, Ontario -November 13, 2002- For the past four years, Yann Candele of France has been competing at the Royal Horse Show and, for the past four years, he has won at least one class during the 10-day competition.

The year 2002 proved to be no exception as the 31-year-old rider pulled out all the stops to claim the $30,000 Jolera International Hit and Hurry. In a competition that demanded speed and agility, Candele delivered on both counts riding Espresso Thyme, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Toronto’s Eddie Creed. Riders jumped as many obstacles as possible in 45 seconds, earning two points for each obstacle successfully cleared and losing one point for each knock-down. Candele and Espresso Thyme blistered around the course, jumping 12 obstacles successfully to claim 24 points.

“It is rare to be able to jump one more fence than the other riders, it shows how fast he was,” noted Candele, who has been training in Schomberg, ON, since 1999. “It is always very hard at the Royal because you know you have been lucky to win a class the year before, so you come back and you don’t know what to expect. My horse was super and I am very lucky.”

No other rider was able to catch Candele’s score of 24 points, giving him the clear win. Several riders had a score of 22 points with time determining the final placings.

Earlier in the day, Eric van der Vleuten of the Netherlands celebrated victory in the $10,000 International Jumper Classic with Audi’s Goldenbridge. Both he and Mario Deslauriers of Bromont, QC, posted clear rounds in the jump-off, but van der Vleuten’s faster time of 40.18 seconds gave him the win. Deslauriers settled for second after posting a time of 42.99 seconds with Kathleen, a seven-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Silver Oaks Stables.

Wednesday features one of the most important competitions in Canadian show jumping as the Royal Horse Show plays host to the $60,000 World Cup Grand Prix, Presented by Jaguar. Canadian show jumping riders have been earning points all season long in the hopes of being named one of two Canadian representatives for the 2003 Budweiser World Cup Final next April in Las Vegas. Earlier in the day, grand prix dressage takes center stage at the Royal Horse Show with the Swarovski Canadian League World Cup Final beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Celebrate the 80th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, the world's largest indoor combined agricultural, horticultural, canine and equestrian event, from November 8 to 17, 2002, National Trade Centre, Exhibition Place. For more information, please visit www.royalfair.org.

$30,000 Jolera International Hit and Hurry

$10,000 International Jumper Classic