Daniel Coyle Mines Victory in CSI2* Canada Gold Grand Prix at Wesley Clover Parks

Daniel Coyle of Ireland won the $35,000 USD CSI2* Canada Gold Grand Prix on Sunday, August 16, to close out the CSI4* / CSI2* Ottawa International show jumping tournament at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, ON.

The 21-horse starting field featured heavy hitters with long resumes as well as some newer faces at the international level.  French course designer Grégory Bodo found the right balance with his track producing six clear rounds for the jump-off.

Coyle had the advantage of going last in the jump-off.  As the final entry in the opening round, Coyle stayed at the ingate to watch the first jump-off challenger, Canada’s Gavin Moylan, execute his plan with Lordy-P.  By the time four others had jumped, Moylan still held the lead with a clear round in a time of 39.94 seconds.  Only Coyle remained with Nord Face VDL and he knew exactly what he needed to do.  While he looked to be behind Moylan’s pace at the beginning, Coyle turned on the speed half-way through the short course, leaving out strides to cross through the timers in 38.55 seconds and claim victory.

“I was last to go so that’s always a huge advantage,” said Coyle, who represented Ireland at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.  “I knew Gavin was winning and, having watched his round, I knew what I had to do to beat it.  I knew half-way around the course that I wasn’t fast enough.  My horse was jumping very high at the beginning of the course, but you don’t need to be that high over the jumps; it’s not fast to do it that way.  I knew I had to catch up, and he’s got to learn to go fast!”

By turning on the afterburners, the pair were able to better Moylan’s time by over one full second.  Moylan finished as runner-up riding Lordy-P, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion (Grandorado TN N.O.P. x Wellington), that he owns in partnership with Priscilla Denegre.

Four-time Olympic medalist for the United States, Beezie Madden, was also double clear in a time of 41.30 seconds to take third riding Nairobi, an 11-year-old Oldenburg mare (Casallco x Landadel) owned by Abigail Wexner.  Canada’s Sean Jobin riding Qourtois and Blyth Marano of the United States aboard Theo Duc T&L Z were also double-clear to finish fourth and fifth respectively.

While Coyle has been a frequent winner at Wesley Clover Parks, his horse is new to the international show jumping scene.  Purchased this winter in Ocala, FL, by owner Ariel Grange, Coyle and Nord Face VDL are quickly forming a successful partnership.

“From the moment we tried him, we thought, ‘this horse is special,’” said Coyle of the eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Insider VDL x Tinka’s Boy).  “It was just a matter of whether we could contain it.  He has so much blood, so much scope, and so much power.  It seems strange to say but don’t need all that; you need to be clever and handy.

“He’s so talented but he’s a dinosaur,” continued Coyle.  “I don’t know if I’ve ridden a bigger horse and I don’t know if I’ve ever ridden a more talented horse.  Next year will be very telling.”

Grange, who operates Lothlorien in Cheltenham, ON, and Lothlorien South in Ocala, FL, was in attendance to see Coyle and her new horse take the victory.

“She’s happy!” confirmed Coyle.  “This is a local show for us.  It’s not on our doorstep but it’s quite close, and we like to support local shows.  Ottawa is a traditional show and there’s not so many of those anymore.  It’s nice for the horses and the spectators.  I love jumping on grass better than any sand and I’m pretty sure the horses do, too.”

Coyle wasn’t the only Irish rider to have a good week at the Ottawa International.  Conor Swail scored a hat trick by winning three of the four CSI4* classes on offer, all aboard Casturano, a 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Castelan 3 x Canturo) owned by Conall Murray.  Swail also won Friday’s $31,000 USD CSI2* Qualifier after topping an 11-horse jump-off riding Nadal Hero & DB, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Kannan x Polydor) for owner Mannon Farm.

In addition to show jumping competition, the local Ottawa community came together to support the fifth annual Spurs & Sparkles Gala, presented by RBC Royal Bank, on Wednesday evening, August 12.  This year’s Spurs & Sparkles event raised over $200,000 for the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation through an evening of one-of-a-kind sport and entertainment featuring local craft beverages and delectable food from the city’s best restaurants and vendors.  For more information, visit www.spursandsparkles.com.

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 here.

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

$35,000 USD CSI2* Canada Gold Grand Prix
Sunday, August 16, 2026

Rider / Hometown / Horse / Faults / Time
1.  Daniel Coyle / Ireland / Nord Face VDL / 0:0 / 38.55
2.  Gavin Moylan / Canada / Lordy-P / 0:0 / 39.94
3.  Beezie Madden / United States / Nairobi / 0:0 / 41.30
4.  Sean Jobin / Canada / Qourtois / 0:0 / 41.70
5.  Blyth Marano / United States / Theo Duc T&L Z / 0:0 / 41.80
6.  Nicholas Dello Joio / United States / Vanilla / 0:4 / 48.86
7.  Charlotte Bettendorf / Luxembourg / Kalliope / 4
8.  Mckayla Langmeier / United States / Lilesta GE / 4
9.  Vanessa Hood / United States / FBW Graphik / 4
10.  Aaron Vale / United States / Tulara Cascara / 4
11.  Conor Swail / Ireland / Nadal Hero & DB / 4
12.  Erica Forgeron / Canada / Verdiano / 4