Halton Hills, Ontario He just graduated from Grade 8 in June, but already Jake Krembil is a three-time winner of eastern Canada’s most coveted show jumping honour for 12 to 14 year-olds. After four rounds of jumping yesterday and today at the Canadian Country Classic show jumping tournament, Krembil won the Eastern Canadian Qualifier for the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Children’s International Jumping Final. Riding Meryle, Krembil had just one knockdown over the four rounds.
But the win does not absolutely guarantee Krembil a berth in the FEI Children’s International Jumping Final to be held in Jalapa, Mexico, December 3-8. When qualifying is finished in each region of the world, the top children, based on their scores in the Qualifiers, will get an expense-paid trip to Mexico to compete. A maximum of 32 may compete in the Final and the host country is allowed to fill up to half of those berths. Therefore, Krembil will have to be in the top approximately 16 in the world to earn a trip. The 14-year-old has done it twice before, representing eastern Canada at the Final in 2005 and 2006. In 2005, in Simi Valley, California, Krembil finished 17th of 32 starters. Last year, when the FEI Children’s International Jumping Final was held at Spruce Meadows, in Calgary, Krembil was part of a Canadian medal sweep, earning the bronze medal. Calgarians Taylor Bland and Ben Asselin took gold and silver.
Krembil trains at Canadian Equestrian Team member Eric Lamaze’s Torrey Pines stable in Schomberg, Ontario. In the Children’s International Jumping Final, competitors are required to ride borrowed horses, supplied by the host nation. If he goes to this year’s Final, he is certain to be one of the most experienced in international competition and in competing on unfamiliar mounts.
Krembil was the favourite going into this Eastern Canadian Qualifier, held at Halton Place in Halton Hills, Ontario. Jacqueline Steffans on Jump Lucky Z, of Harriston, Ontario, and Victoria Seale on Boomer, of Oxford Mills, Ontario finished second and third. Steffans had 8 faults and Seale had 12 over the four rounds of jumping.
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