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Samantha Buirs delivers a three-peat performance at Thunderbird Show Park

Buirs and Total Touch take the West Coast Classic Grand Prix for the third year in a row

July 6, 2010

Langley, BC --– The field of competitors may have changed, but for the third year running it was Samantha Buirs who led the victory gallop in the $20,000 West Coast Classic Grand Prix. Buirs, aboard her ten year-old Dutch warmblood mare, Total Touch, edged out fellow Langley rider, Brian Morton with two flawless rounds for the win.

Twenty-five competitors passed through the tower in their bid to be on top in the Sunday afternoon Grand Prix. International course designer, Peter Holmes, tested each of them with his winding tracks and tight combinations. After an early adjustment on the time allowed, the field was narrowed to eight as rails toppled throughout the course. Kayleigh Ross, Gary Brewster, Katie Kraft and Chelsea Mcneill each posted clear rounds, with Brian Morton getting his own lucky number three as he advanced on Vaust, Westside and Spitfire.

Morton led the jump-off on Vaust, taking one rail, but posting a quick time of 43.84 to set the pace. Kayleigh Ross and Polar Ice faltered, chalking up twelve faults at 52.02. It looked like Gary Brewster and Royal Viali would be the first to go double clear, but a late rail kept him out of the top spots. It was the same for Katie Kraft and Maja. Brian Morton returned to the ring with his second mount, Westside, who had a good rub at fence two and three quick rails, which would drop him to seventh.

Samantha Buirs and Total Touch came into the jump-off on top after a first round that was three seconds faster than the closest competitor. She didn’t disappoint the crowd, delivering a clear ride with a time of 43.80. Chelsea Mcneill and Coupe Champagne had one rail, leaving just Morton and Spitfire to challenge. Taking the inside turns and leaving all the sticks up, he had spectators on their feet until the end, but wasn’t able to catch Buirs with his time of 44.01.

Morton and Spitfire earned a place on the 2010 Jump Canada Talent Squad and in 2009, claimed the Western Division of the 2009 Jump Canada National Talent Squad Series.

$20,000 West Coast Classic Grand Prix

Place Horse Name Rider Name Owner Time Faults

1. Total Touch Samantha Buirs Samantha Buirs, Langley BC 43.80 0

2. Spitfire Brian Morton Linda Opdycke, Winthrop 44.01 0

3. Vaust Brian Morton Melanie White, Calgary AB 43.84 4

4. Coupe Champagne Chelsea Mcneill Kathleen Thomas, Langley BC 46.17 4

5. Royal Viali Gary Brewster Suzanne Brewster, West Vancouver BC 46.28 4

6. Maja Katie Kraft Katie Kraft, Edmonton AB 48.92 4

7. Westside Brian Morton Brian Morton, Langley BC 48.06 12

8. Polar Ice Kayleigh Ross Kayleigh Ross, Surrey BC 52.02 12

About Thunderbird Show Park:

In their 37th season, Thunderbird will host seven major tournaments between May and September, welcoming thousands of competitors and spectators to their 85-acre equestrian show grounds in Langley, BC. Each tournament features both amateur and professional riders in hunter and jumper classes from Wednesday to Sunday. The Park is open daily to the public with grandstand seating around the Fort Grand Prix Field. Visit www.thunderbirdshowpark.com for more information and the full season schedule.

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