Alessandra Volpi Victorious in Five-Star Show Jumping Qualifier at Wesley Clover Parks

Alessandra Volpi of the United States emerged victorious in the US $75,000 Qualifier CSI5*, presented by Steel-Craft Door Products, on Friday, August 15, at the RBC Ottawa International show jumping tournament taking place at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, ON.

Show Jumping athletes from around the globe, including four of the top 10 in the world rankings, traveled to Ottawa to contest the RBC Ottawa International CSI5* CSI2*.  Friday’s featured competition was the US $75,000 Qualifier CSI5* with 27 horse-rider combinations coming forward to tackle the track set by Brazilian course designer Marina Azevedo on the grass grand prix field.  Twelve produced clear rounds to advance to the all-deciding jump-off.

Ireland’s Darragh Kenny held the lead with a jump-off time of 37.52 seconds when Volpi entered the ring.  She managed to leave all the rails in place and stop the timers in 36.82 seconds to move to the top of the leaderboard.  None who followed could catch her time, giving Volpi her first win at the five-star level with Qannando B&V.

Kenny settled for second with Colibelle Hero Z, a 10-year-old Zangersheide mare owned by Elena Haas.  Adrienne Sternlicht, a member of the U.S. gold medal team at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, placed third with a time of 38.27 seconds in the jump-off riding Origa v/h Zuid -Pajottenland for owner Starlight Farms 1 LLC.

Of her strategy going head-to-head in a jump-off against some of the top-ranked riders in the world, 25-year-old Volpi gave all the credit to the partnership she has developed with Qannando B&V, a nine-year-old black Belgian Warmblood stallion (Kannan x Emerald van’t Ruytershof) that she affectionately calls “Nando.”

“My horse is nine,” Volpi explained of the horse she purchased as a seven-year-old.  “He’s a bit younger, so every time I go in the ring I try and do my best for him.  We’re still learning together.  He’s been really competitive this summer.  He already won two big classes over in Europe, so I knew he had a chance in this jump-off.  I just gave it my all, stuck to the plan that I walked, and hoped it was enough.”

Volpi was competing in the Nation’s Capital for the second time, having first visited in 2023.

“The field is lovely,” she said of being at Wesley Clover Parks.  “A field like this is the best kind of grass you can jump on.  There’s lots of space for the horses, huge stalls, nice warm-up, and a good VIP.  It’s all the elements you look for in a nice show.”

In the two-star division, McKayla Langmeier of the United States posted the fastest jump-off time riding Chadina to win the US $31,020 Qualifier CSI2*, Presented by Soltek Equestrian.  With the original 42-horse starting field whittled down to 10 for the jump-off, Langmeier made use of her horse’s stride to stop the clock in 37.63 seconds.  Two Irishmen were hot on her tail with Darragh Kenny coming the closest to catching her after crossing the timers in 37.90 riding Mendoza VDL.  Conor Swail took third place with Qoreen van’t Ruytershof Z after also jumping double clear in 38.77 seconds.  Langmeier’s winning mount, Chadina, is a 12-year-old chestnut Oldenburg mare (Conthargos x Narew) owned by Rafferty Farm LLC.

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 four of the top 10 show jumping athletes in the world, including world number one Kent Farrington (USA); newly crowned European Champion Richard Vogel (GER), who is currently ranked sixth; McLain Ward (USA) ranked eighth; and Daniel Coyle (IRE) who sits in ninth.  RBC Ottawa International competition highlights are as follows:

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.

US $75,000 Qualifier CSI5*, Presented by Steel-Craft Door Products
Friday, August 15, 2025

Rider / Country / Horse / Faults / Time
1.  Alessandra Volpi / United States / Qannando B&V / 0:0 / 36.82
2.  Darragh Kenny / Ireland / Colibelle Hero Z / 0:0 /37.52
3.  Adrienne Sternlicht / United States / Origa v/h Zuid -Pajottenland / 0:0 / 38.27
4.  Conor Swail / Ireland / Casturano / 0:0 / 38.30
5.  Delaney Flynn / United States / Cassinnia / 0:0 / 39.91
6.  Mario Deslauriers / Canada / Genial de B’Neville / 0:0 / 40.53
7.  Erynn Ballard / Canada / Fave d’Authuit / 0:4 / 37.94
8.  Caroline Mawhinney / United States / Hallilea / 0:4 / 38.92
9.  Kent Farrington / United States / Garrison / 0:4 / 42.26
10.  Daniel Coyle / Ireland / Gisborne VDL / 0:4 / 46.02
11.  Sloane Coles / United States / Ninja JW van de Moerhoeve / 0:8 / 37.82
12.  Susan Horn / Canada / Dominka van de Lucashoeve / 0:8 / 44.12

US $31,020 Qualifier CSI2*, Presented by Soltek Equestrian
Friday, August 15, 2025

Rider / Country / Horse / Faults / Time
1.  McKayla Langmeier / United States / Chadina / 0:0 / 37.63
2.  Darragh Kenny / Ireland / Mendoza VDL / 0:0 / 37.90
3.  Conor Swail / Ireland / Qoreen van’t Ruytershof Z / 0:0 / 38.77
4.  Caroline Mawhinney / United States / Carsey Z / 0:0 / 39.12
5.  Nicole Walker / Canada / Excellent B / 0:0 / 39.56
6.  Nirvana Hank / Mexico / Exagon RBC Z / 0:0 / 41.14
7.  Nirvana Hank / Mexico / Marcus / 0:0 / 42.21
8.  Daniel Coyle / Ireland / Calippo 57 / 0:4 / 36.67
9.  Alessandra Volpi / United States / Korsika / 0:8 / 40.15
10.  Sarah Segal / United States / Boreale de Fondcombe / 0:withdrawn
11.  Delaney Flynn / United States / Namamia / 1
12.  Mary Francis Looke / United States / Engerupgaards Cezanne / 4