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Flexible and Rich Fellers take it from sea to sky World-ranked pair chalk up 2nd win at Summer Classic Tournament

August 21, 2025

Langley, BC (August 17th, 2008) – Under thundering skies, thirty-six riders and their horses from across the continent took to the grass, but in the end, it was Rich Fellers and Flexible who claimed first in the $50,000 Sea to Sky Grand Prix at Thunderbird Show Park.

The pair put in two great rounds to show why they are ranked second in the world, after their appearance at the Rolex FEI World Cup Final in Sweden. At 49, Fellers could be an Olympic contender, but he prefers family to international travel.

The course, designed by former US Olympian, Buddy Brown, featured 16 jumping efforts, with a double and triple combination, as well as the open water. Reaching all four corners of the ring, Brown’s course was a careful one, with several turns and a few difficult tracks.

The first round was a challenging one as both the first and final fences eliminated many of the competitors. Bolts of lightning highlighted the end of the round, but the rain stopped in time for the jump off as nine horse-rider combinations advanced.

Andrea Strain and Zeline led things off with a beautiful round, her time of 44.06 setting the pace for the rest of the field. Fellers and Gyro started great, but took the inside turn to the final fences and dropped two rails. Darren Dlin and Catwalk went off course early, opening the door for Jennifer Crooks and SF Shakira, who posted four faults.

Christopher Lowe and Jackpot also finished with four faults after crashing through the second half of the combination. With her second horse in the jump off, Strain and Luigi took one rail mid-course with a time of 45.35. Alberta’s Allen Kruger had the same rail and were a couple seconds slower.

Bryna Closson, from Whitefish, Montana, and her mount, Rip Tide, weren’t able to topple Strain from the lead, even with a clear round and a time of 44.24 - just off the pace. And so, in the end there was Flexible. As expected, the pair were flawless, going fast and leaving all the sticks up. His time of 43.00 flat was the best of the day.

Riders in Sunday’s Grand Prix came from across North America. Locals from Vancouver, Burnaby and Langley went up against those from Alberta, Montana, California, Oregon, Washington and even Florida. For spectators it was a chance to see the number two-ranked hose-rider team in the world, Rich Fellers and Flexible.

$25,000 Thunderbird Show Park Grand Prix TOP 8
1. Rich Fellers Flexible Oregon clear
2. Andrea Strain Zeline Langley, BC clear
3. Bryna Closson Rip Tide Montana clear
4. Jennifer Crooks SF Shakira Washinton 4 faults
5. Andrea Strain Luigi Langley, BC 4 faults
6. Allen Kruger Pronikki Alberta 4 faults
7. Christopher Lowe Jackpot Burnaby, BC 4 faults
8. Rich Fellers Gyro Oregon 8 faults

This is Thunderbird’s 35th anniversary. George & Dianne Tidball welcomed their first horse and rider into the original Park grounds that now house the Colossus Theatre in 1973. Eight years ago they moved to the current 85-acre facility. During the six annual tournaments, the Park runs six hunter and jumper competition rings, including one of North America’s best Grand Prix fields.

Visitors to Thunderbird are treated to world-class show jumping in a warm and inclusive environment that respects tradition, history, competition and entrepreneurial spirit that inspired George Tidball to bring MacDonald’s to Canada and found the Keg restaurant chain.

Next weekend’s $75,000 Keg Steakhouse & Bar Grand Prix on Sunday, August 24th at 2pm will close out the professional show season for Thunderbird Show Park. The Park looks forward to welcoming 2008 Canadian Olympian, Jonathan Asselin, back from Beijing and into the line up for this class.

For more information, please visit our site at www.thunderbirdshowpark.com. Thunderbird offers grandstand seating and complimentary parking and admission.

For further information on visiting the park or conducting telephone interviews with organizers, sponsors or riders, contact Pamela Saunders at Mark My Words PR via phone at 604-833-3372 or by email at [email protected].

Written by Pamela Saunders · Filed Under Canada, Pamela Saunders, Thunderbird 
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