IT was a fairy-tale ending for Canadian Olympian Tiffany Foster in her chase for the coveted five-star victory when it came on home soil at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley during the opening leg of Major League Show Jumping 2023, where Cork’s Shane Sweetnam finished in second place.

The undeniable crowd favourite in a four-horse jump-off, Foster posted the only fault-free day aboard the 12-year-old SWB mare Northern Light (Plot Blue x Contender), owned by Artisan Farms. Her time was 39.18 seconds.

Sweetnam, riding the Patrick Connolly-bred 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding James Kann Cruz (Kannan x Cruising), owned by Gizmo Partners, posted the fastest round in the jump-off (38.80) but a fence down meant he had to settle for the runner-up position.

Rounding out the podium, USA’s Lillie Keenan took third with Fasther, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding (Vigo d’Arsouilles STX x Farmer), owned by Chansonette Farm. She climbed onto the podium in Fasther’s second five-star Grand Prix appearance since recovering from an injury, finishing with a fence down in 44.95 seconds.

Derry brothers Daniel and Jordan Coyle finished in sixth and seventh places respectively. Daniel was riding Ariel Grange’s Legacy while Jordan was aboard Elan Farm’s Ariso. Both finished with a fence down in the first round.

Foster was over the moon with the win. “I’ve never won a five-star Grand Prix; I’ve won lots of classes and jumped lots of big things but never won one, so that’s why it’s very special to me. I almost didn’t enter this class with her because I always try to be mindful and stay in her comfort zone but today she jumped unreal, it was a big class!”

Sweetnam said: “I’ll take the blame for the rail. I wanted to be tight to the triple bar and it didn’t come up. James Kann Cruz jumped great as usual over a very difficult first round. He’s always thinking of ways to trick me and playing games! But if he keeps jumping clear rounds, I don’t care what he does. He is a big reason why I am in the top 10 in the world.”

Conor Swail was runner-up in the two-star Grand Prix at the venue. Riding Mannon Farm’s 10-year-old gelding Casturano, he was one of five double clears against the clock, just 0.9 of a second behind Canadian winner Erynn Ballard with Game Over.