The opening round made one thing clear: Season 6 came with a clean slate. Maccabi United arrived in Toronto as both the defending leg winners and reigning MLSJ champions, but faults from Ilan Bluman on Acajou (Casallco x Chico's Boy) and Mark Bluman aboard Phelina de Septon (Jenson van't Meulenhof x Landor S) ended the season 5 champions’ run in Round 1.

First in the order, the Trelawny Trailblazers became the first team to punch their ticket to Round 2. Charlotte Jacobs and Rincoola Milsean (Aldatus Z x Cruising) opened the class with one rail down before new Trailblazers teammate Alex Matz delivered a clear aboard Clarimo vd Dijkhoeve Z (Comilfo Plus Z x Polydor). Lillie Keenan followed with another clear aboard Corexstra X (Cornet Obolensky x Exploit de Roulard), a new addition to her string, securing the Trailblazers’ place in the next round.

The Archers and Roadrunners followed the Trailblazers into Round 2, leaving one spot still up for grabs. Last to go in the opening round, Team KPF secured the final place in the top four.

Two teams that stood on the Toronto podium in season 5 found a very different result in this year’s opening round. The Rainmakers, third in Toronto one year ago, saw Bliss Heers on Farinjo des Mec (Carinjo HDC x Kannan) and Skylar Wireman with Citoki (Catoki x Chambertin) each finish with two rails down, while a costly moment between Jordan Coyle and Dexterity Z (Dominator 2000 Z x Canezaro) added to a difficult start. The Rainmakers finished the night in eighth.

Maccabi United also found themselves in unfamiliar territory. A miscommunication at the final fence between Ilan Bluman and Acajou, followed by an uncharacteristic 12-fault effort from Mark Bluman and Phelina de Septon, left the defending champions with too much ground to recover. Daniel Bluman and Hummer Z (Harley VDL x Hemmingway) delivered a clear, but it was not enough to move Maccabi into Round 2.

With four teams remaining, Round 2 saw the Trailblazers and Roadrunners secure their places in the gold medal match, while the Archers and KPF were sent to battle for bronze.

The current world no. 2 Kent Farrington (USA) with Rexton (Diaron OLD x Chacco-Blue) set the pace for KPF in the bronze medal match, but Mckayla Langmeier with Lilesta GE (Arezzo VDL x Quidam de Revel) answered for the Archers, stopping the clock faster to claim third.

With bronze decided, the Trelawny Trailblazers and Roadrunners went head-to-head for the first team gold of season 6.

Charlotte Jacobs on Rincoola Milsean set the target for the Trailblazers, but Daniel Coyle had the final word with VDL Mourinho (Etoulon VDL x Classe VDL). Making his first MLSJ Team Competition appearance for the Roadrunners, the season 6 addition took on the deciding match with a young mount and secured gold for his new team.

“Daniel knew what he had to do when he went in. He’s one of the fastest riders out there and planned it perfectly,” said Roadrunners teammate Shane Sweetnam.

The win also showed the strength of a Roadrunners team that extends beyond the riders competing in Toronto. “We got messages from our manager, McLain, Ilan, from both owners of the team. It’s a really good team vibe,” said Erynn Ballard.

The result puts the Roadrunners first, with the Trelawny Trailblazers taking second and the Archers completing the opening podium in third.

With season 6’s new team competition points multiplier in play, the Toronto win gives the Roadrunners a strong early lead in the overall standings. Behind them, the Trelawny Trailblazers and KPF are separated by just one point in the battle for second.