Press release from Thunderbird Show Park

Kicking off its 2022 season, Major League Show Jumping is set to begin its North American Tour with the 2022 Canadian Premier at Thunderbird Show Park May 26–29 in Langley, BC. With a star-studded lineup and many opportunities to compete at every level, tbird warmly welcomed back competitors Wednesday for two weeks of action-packed international show jumping and top hunter competition. 

Taking center stage in the Fort Grand Prix Arena is the first of three Major League Show Jumping events in Canada along the 10-stop tour. With competitive CSI5* and CSI2* events, elite international athletes have descended upon Thunderbird Show Park, including three of the world’s top 15 ranked show jumpers. 

World No. 5 Conor Swail (IRL) — tbird's winningest rider — returns to Langley as a member of 2021 MLSJ season champions Team Eye Candy. He's joined by World No. 7 Kent Farrington (USA), new to the MLSJ tour and riding for the Lugano Diamonds, and No. 14 Daniel Bluman (ISR), representing the Trailblazers.

Also new to the tour is four-time Olympic medalist Beezie Madden (USA), riding for the Crusaders. Irish powerhouse Paul O’Shea, the 2021 individual champion, returns to represent Team Eye Candy. The lineup isn't short on Olympians, with Israel’s Alberto Michan and Ashlee Bond, Egypt’s Nayel Nassar and Mexico’s Eugenio Garza Perez also competing. 

All horses competing internationally jogged Wednesday to proceed into competition Thursday. The CSI5* division successfully jogged 95 horses representing eight nations while the CSI2* division jogged 61 horses for eight nations.

To see a full competitor list for CSI5* competition click here. To see a full competitor list for CSI2* competition click here.

New to the Canadian Premier in 2022, the Major League Show Jumping format will provide something new for competitors and spectators alike. With eight teams competing for top honors, riders will participate in both team and individual competition, with $200,000 up for grabs in the Team Competition Saturday evening and nearly $450,000 in individual prize money to be awarded at the CSI5* and CSI2* levels over the four days of competition.