After claiming the 2021 season title, Eye Candy is working their way back up the MLSJ standings. Their efforts were buoyed today by a win in the fifth stage of the 2022 season in Traverse City, MI. Amy Millar (CAN), Jacqueline Steffens (CAN), and Conor Swail (IRL) climbed atop the podium and bumped Eye Candy to second in the current overall standings.
Swail and Steffens kept hope alive in the second round before Millar sealed the deal in the final gold-medal jump-off against Emma Marlowe (USA) of the Trailblazers. Millar piloted Christiano (11-year-old Brandenburg gelding by Canoso x Compliment), while Steffen rode Cat Ninja (14-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by VDL Zirocco Blue x Corland), and Swail partnered with Theo 160 (10-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Christian 25 x Calando IV).
Trailblazers took the silver medal while Crusaders settled for the bronze to round out the podium.
A word from the winners
"It was very stressful jumping off for the team. I usually go first on this team, but it worked out. I jump last for Canada a lot, but I don’t have to go fast in Nations Cups." ~ Amy Millar (CAN)
"We’re picking up pace now. We’ve been getting consistent and it’s different from last year. It’s a little more competitive and the standards have been raised, which is great to see, but we had to catch up a little bit." ~ Jacqueline Steffens (CAN)
"We get on very well together. We’re doing our best and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. We’ve been a little unlucky; we were just knocked out by a very small margin a few times. We have a couple of fifths that could have been turned into podiums. It’s nice that we bounced back today and hit our groove again." ~ Conor Swail (IRL)
Major League Show Jumping continues at Traverse City Horse Shows in Traverse City, MI, through September 18 when the historic American Gold Cup CSI5* takes center stage to conclude the week.
Swail and Steffens kept hope alive in the second round before Millar sealed the deal in the final gold-medal jump-off against Emma Marlowe (USA) of the Trailblazers. Millar piloted Christiano (11-year-old Brandenburg gelding by Canoso x Compliment), while Steffen rode Cat Ninja (14-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by VDL Zirocco Blue x Corland), and Swail partnered with Theo 160 (10-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Christian 25 x Calando IV).
Trailblazers took the silver medal while Crusaders settled for the bronze to round out the podium.
A word from the winners
"It was very stressful jumping off for the team. I usually go first on this team, but it worked out. I jump last for Canada a lot, but I don’t have to go fast in Nations Cups." ~ Amy Millar (CAN)
"We’re picking up pace now. We’ve been getting consistent and it’s different from last year. It’s a little more competitive and the standards have been raised, which is great to see, but we had to catch up a little bit." ~ Jacqueline Steffens (CAN)
"We get on very well together. We’re doing our best and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. We’ve been a little unlucky; we were just knocked out by a very small margin a few times. We have a couple of fifths that could have been turned into podiums. It’s nice that we bounced back today and hit our groove again." ~ Conor Swail (IRL)
Major League Show Jumping continues at Traverse City Horse Shows in Traverse City, MI, through September 18 when the historic American Gold Cup CSI5* takes center stage to conclude the week.