Only 16 years old, Canadian rider Locklyn Williamson made his U25 division debut at Thunderbird Show Park this season.
Aboard his partner Cassandro B, an 11-year-old Westphalian stallion, Williamson posted the only double clear in the MarBill Hill U25 Grand Prix on Sept. 15.
It was the final U25 class of the season, and Williamson's career best finish to date.
Sloane Betker and Canberre took second and Natalie Popham and Jillz placed third.
鈥淚鈥檝e never really won in a class like this, so it feels great!鈥� exclaimed Williamson.
Betker set the time to beat in Joey Rycroft鈥檚 1.40m short course in a speedy 34.37 seconds but caught a rail at the penultimate Maui Jim vertical to add four faults to the scoreboard. Popham and Jillz dropped four rails in the jump off, clocking in at 36.34.
It came down to Williamson. As the final pair to return, the junior rider held his composure and delivered a smooth clear to clinch the title.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 really get nervous. I really trust my horses and I trust my riding. And I鈥檓 pretty confident,鈥� he said, noting that his strategy was to play it easy.
鈥淚 was trying to ride [the jump off] like a first round or like I already had a mistake. I was just taking it easy on him. He jumped a lot this week already, so I just wanted it to be easy.鈥�
Cassandro B joined Williamson earlier this year, starting a partnership that took time to merge. The stallion was previously campaigned by Great Britain's Nicole Lockhead Anderson up to the 1.50m height.
鈥淲e got along really well in the barn,鈥� said Williamson, describing the stallion as 鈥渟uper happy鈥� and 鈥渞eally smart.鈥�
鈥淚t started off pretty rough with the jumping. He鈥檚 not really like my other horses. He really takes me to the jumps and I鈥檓 not quite used to that. So it was really fun getting along with him but we鈥檙e getting there now [in the show ring].鈥�
The pair started to hit their stride mid-season at tbird, winning a 1.40 Jr/Am class at the West Coast Classic in June and a 1.35m Open Jumper class at the Western Family in July. As of Sept. 15, they now have a U25 Grand Prix win on their record as well.
It鈥檚 a trajectory Williamson hopes to refine over the winter. He鈥檚 aiming to compete to the North American Youth Championships next year.
