Ireland’s Daniel Coyle Opens RBC Ottawa International With a Win at Wesley Clover Parks

$32,000 Opener CSI5*, Presented by FACES Magazine

Ottawa, Ontario – Daniel Coyle of Ireland won the $32,000 Opener CSI5*, presented by FACES Magazine, on opening day of the RBC Ottawa International show jumping tournament on Thursday, August 14, at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, ON.

A total of 26 competitors were welcomed onto Wesley Clover Parks’s expansive grass grand prix field to contest the $32,000 Opener CSI5*, presented by FACES Magazine. Having successfully jumped the first phase of the course set by Brazilian course designer Marina Azevedo, Coyle turned on the speed to navigate the second phase of the course in a time of 29.52 seconds riding Farrel.

Ireland’s Daniel Coyle Wins Opener

Ireland’s Daniel Coyle won the $32,000 Opener CSI5*, presented by FACES Magazine, riding Farrel on Thursday, August 14, at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, ON.

It would prove to be good enough for the win, with Canada’s Erynn Ballard of Tottenham, ON, settling for second in 30.41 seconds riding Her Game Ball BG, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Carambole x Burggraaf NV) owned by Mary Frances Looke. McLain Ward of the United States, currently ranked number eight in the world, rounded out the top three with a time of 30.49 seconds riding Snapchat van de Broekkant Z, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Hunter’s Scendix x Concorde) he owns in partnership with Beechwood Stables LLC and Susan Heller.

Canada’s Erynn Ballard Takes Second

Canada’s own Erynn Ballard took second in the $32,000 Opener CSI5*, presented by FACES Magazine, riding Her Game Ball BG.

Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography

Coyle’s Winning Partner: Farrel

Coyle’s winning partner was Farrel, purchased at the VDL Auction in Wellington, FL, as a seven-year-old. The horse was originally purchased by the late Susan Grange, founder of Lothlorien farm in Cheltenham, ON, and now under the sole ownership of her daughter, Ariel.

“He’s had a very peculiar career,” said Coyle of the Dutch Warmblood gelding (VDL Cardento 933 x Argelith Stakkato). “He was my top horse as a nine-year-old and then COVID hit, and he had some time off. He grew a cyst in his stifle and they said he’d never jump again, but Ariel came in with some magic and said we’ll give him another chance. He owes none of us anything but if you see him going into the arena, he’s so fired up. He’s been my top horse before and now he’s 15 years old and he’s still one of our top horses. It’s a really special story.”

Currently ranked ninth in the world, Coyle was back on Canadian soil after competing with different horses at CSIO5* Dublin the previous weekend. As a high performance athlete, traveling to the top shows in the world is part of the game.

“It’s very difficult,” he said of the international travel. “I don’t think there’s one person who could say, ‘oh, it’s no problem.’ It’s very difficult to go from different time zones and to riding different horses in different parts of the world. But that’s how you stay at the top of the game. You have to do it if you want to stay at the top. Is it tiring? Is it frustrating? At times, of course it is. But like any other athlete, you have to get on with it.

“I like to come back here to Ottawa, especially because Ariel really likes it here,” concluded Coyle, who first began riding for Lothlorien farm and the Grange family in 2016. “We do so much traveling around that it’s nice to come closer to home.”

McLain Ward Rounds Out the Podium

McLain Ward of the United States placed third with Snapchat van de Broekkant Z in the $32,000 Opener CSI5*, presented by FACES Magazine, at the RBC Ottawa International.

$5,000 Opener CSI2*, Presented by Aztec Equestrian

The day started with a win for Jessica Mendoza of Great Britain, who was riding Bullseye III Z for the first time in competition having taken the reins from student Varvara Borodina. Mendoza was clear in both phases of competition, turning in a winning time of 26.39 seconds. Canada’s Livia Martin was also double clear to finish runner-up with Vico G in a time of 26.76 seconds while Caroline Mawhinney of the United States rounded out the top three riding OO Seven de l’Equipe to a time of 28.04 seconds.

Jessica Mendoza Takes the CSI2* Opener

Great Britain’s Jessica Mendoza topped the $5,000 Opener CSI2*, presented by Aztec Equestrian, riding Bullseye III Z for the first time in competition.

Looking Ahead: RBC Ottawa International Highlights

International show jumping competition will continue all weekend at Wesley Clover Parks. The RBC Ottawa International, featuring CSI5* and CSI2* divisions sanctioned by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), has attracted some of the highest-ranked athletes in the world, including world number one Kent Farrington (USA) and newly crowned European Champion, Richard Vogel (GER), who is currently ranked sixth in the world. RBC Ottawa International competition highlights are as follows:

• Friday, August 15 at 12 p.m. – US $31,020 1.45m Soltek Equestrian Qualifier CSI2*
• Friday, August 15 at 4 p.m. – US $75,000 1.50m Steel-Craft Door Products Qualifier CSI5*
• Saturday, August 16 at 10 a.m. – US $6,800 1.45m CIBC Wood Gundy Speed CSI2*
• Saturday, August 16 at 2 p.m. – US $70,000 1.50m Brookstreet Winning Round CSI5*
• Sunday, August 17 at 10 a.m. – US $35,000 1.45m Mark Motors Group Grand Prix CSI2*
• Sunday, August 17 at 2 p.m. – US $340,000 1.60m RBC Grand Prix CSI5*

Spectator tickets are available for purchase at www.ottawaequestriantournaments.com/spectators.

Live streaming of the RBC Ottawa International CSI5* and CSI2* is available on Clip My Horse. For new subscribers, use special code OTTAWA20 for 20% off until August 18.

For more information on the RBC Ottawa Equestrian Tournaments, visit www.OttawaEquestrianTournaments.com. All competitor information is available at www.ottawaequestriantournaments.com/calendar and full results can be found at ottawa.showmanagementsystem.com/events.

Follow @ottawaequestriantournaments Instagram page as well as Facebook for exhibitor information, show updates, results, and more.

Presentation Ceremony

Daniel Coyle aboard Farrel is presented as the winner of the $32,000 Opener CSI5*, presented by FACES Magazine, by Karen Sparks, Executive Director of Wesley Clover Parks.

Official Results

$32,000 Opener CSI5*, Presented by FACES Magazine

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Rider / Hometown / Horse / Faults / Time

1. Daniel Coyle / Ireland / Farrel / 0:0 / 29.52
2. Erynn Ballard / Canada / Her Game Ball BG / 0:0 / 30.41
3. McLain Ward / United States / Snapchat van de Broekkant Z / 0:0 / 30.49
4. Nicole Walker / Canada / Atout des Trambles / 0:0 / 31.14
5. Daniel Bluman / Israel / Kapitaal L / 0:0 / 34.12
6. Jonathan McCrea / United States / 0:0 / 34.24
7. Caroline Mawhinney / United States / 0:0 / 34.24
8. Alise Oken / United States / Gelvera / 0:0 / 42.52
9. Richard Vogel / Germany / Michael Jackson W / 0:4 / 28.53
10. Amy Millar / Canada / Christiano / 0:4 / 32.42
11. Sean Jobin / Canada / Sterrehof’s Edinus / 0:4 / 36.40
12. Sloane Coles / United States / Limoncello Z / 0:4 / 39.01

$5,000 Opener CSI2*, Presented by Aztec Equestrian

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Rider / Country / Horse / Faults / Time

1. Jessica Mendoza / Great Britain / Bullseye III Z / 0:0 / 26.39
2. Livia Martin / Canada / Vico G / 0:0 / 26.76
3. Caroline Mawhinney / United States / OO Seven de l’Equipe / 0:0 / 28.04
4. Daniel Coyle / Ireland / Calippo 57 / 0:0 / 28.45
5. Alise Oken / United States / Bonhomme Richard / 0:0 / 28.79
6. Yann Candele / Canada / Conny 409 / 0:0 / 29.07
7. Katherine Drapeau / Canada / Freestyle du Shamrock / 0:0 / 29.15
8. Jay Hayes / Canada / Londora / 0:0 / 30.07
9. Kristen Hillier / Canada / 0:0 / 30.30
10. Francesca Bolfo / United States / Jadalco / 0:0 / 30.76
11. Maria Yzerman / Canada / Lazarro van’t Leetereind / 0:0 / 30.84
12. Sarah Segal / United States / Boreale de Fondcombe / 0:0 / 30.96

Jennifer Jum Media LLC – RBC Ottawa intertnational Press Release

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