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Buirs has the right ‘Touch’ Langley rider takes the $50,000 Thunderbird Legacy Grand Prix

August 23, 2010

Langley, BC --- In a fitting finish, Langley rider, Samantha Buirs and her Dutch Warmblood mare, Total Touch, led the $50,000 Thunderbird Legacy Grand Prix. Buirs posted the first clear ride of the first round and took that success into the jump-off, beating 2009 World Cup finals rider, Mandy Porter and the current North American West League points leader, Ashlee Bond for the win.

Twenty riders took to the grass on Sunday afternoon to challenge Munich-based designer, Olaf Petersen’s, Grand Prix course. Having set courses at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and at World Cup qualifying events from Los Angeles to Moscow, Petersen challenged riders to deliver speed and control.

“The first half of the course was very forward, requiring riders to get a great deal of pace,” explained Petersen. “Then they had to be able to bring them back for the triple combination going towards home and make the turn away from the gate, which is always difficult, to take the final oxer that was 1.50m in height and 1.60m wide.”

Buirs was the first to post a clear first round, followed by Porter, Bond and another California rider, Molly Talla. While Bond wasn’t able to leave the rails up on Chivas, she brought Cadett 7 home fault-free. Porter was able to advance with both of her stallions, LaMarque and Chesapeake.

For Alberta’s Tani Zeidler and Ireland’s Jennifer Crooks, a rail on each of their mounts kept them out of the jump-off, but both finished in the top eight, along with Cara Anthony.

“My goal going into the jump off wasn’t to go crazy, but I wanted to go clear and pretty fast because I knew there was Mandy and Ashlee after me and they’re both tough competitors,” noted Buirs, who got an extra challenge when the crowd started cheering before she’d finished the course.

“I knew I had one more jump to go and lost my concentration a little, but I was able to set her up and finish the way I wanted to.”

The Thunderbird Legacy Grand Prix commemorated the Park’s thirty-seven year history.

“This park is a testament to my wife, Dianne’s, vision,“ explains founder George Tidball. “Under the leadership of my daughter Jane, it’s continued growth keeps her spirit alive.”

For Buirs, who calls Langley home, winning this event meant a great deal.

“I grew up playing in the dirt at the old Thunderbird grounds and the Tidball family has always supported me.”

$50,000 Thunderbird Show Park Legacy Grand Prix

Place Horse Name Rider Name Owner Time Faults

1. Total Touch Samantha Buirs Samantha Buirs 45.45 clear

2. Chesapeake Mandy Porter Wild Turkey Farm Llc 42.94 4

3. Camaron Hills Shanroe Molly Talla Camaron Hills Farm 43.62 4

4. LaMarque Mandy Porter Wild Turkey Farm Llc 49.41 4

5. Cadett 7 Ashlee Bond Little Valley Farms 42.91 8

6. Loving Dancer Tani Zeidler Zeidler Farm Canada Ltd. -

7. Woodpecker De Villars Cara Anthony Potcreek Partners Llc -

8. SF Uryadi Jennifer Crooks Olivia Cox-Fill -

Riders get a few days rest before heading back into the ring on Wednesday in preparation for Saturday’s FEI World Cup. The Summer Fort Festival at Thunderbird Show Park continues with the $10,000 TAG Auto Group Grand Prix on the 25th, the $30,000 CSI2” Summer Classic on August 26th before closing the season with the $75,000 Keg Steakhouse & Bar CSI2* - W World Cup at 1pm on Saturday, August 28th.

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