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Double the fun as California rider wins twice at Thunderbird Show Park

Exciting action over the weekend as top riders compete at Summer Fort Festival in Langley
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Laura-Jane Tidball finished in fourth place at the Dianne Tidball Legacy Grand Prix last week at Thunderbird Show Park. California's Susan Hutchison (photo below) won both this event on Aug. 22 and the inaugural $55

Just a few tenths of a second separated first place from third place, but when the dust had settled, it was California’s Susan Hutchison atop the podium.

The American finished in top spot in the inaugural $55,000 CSI** Bryan Anderson Memorial Grand Prix on Sunday.

The event was part of the Summer Fort Festival at Thunderbird Show Park, which ran through the weekend.

“That’s not even a breath,” laughed Hutchison about the separation between first and third place.

She was aboard her horse Ziedento, who is owned by St. Bride’s Farm.

And the duo finished with a time of 38.02, a fraction better than Jack Hardin Towell and Man in Black (owned by Jennifer Gates) who came in at 38.32.

Third spot went to Rich Fellers aboard Flexible (owned by Harry and Mollie Chapman) in a time of 38.56.

Langley’s Andrea Strain, on the horse she owns, Djakarta, was 11th at 45.04.

International designer Peter Holmes set some challenging tracks through the two rounds for the 40 riders, with a dozen advancing to the jump off round.

Hutchison’s victory was her second of the weekend as she also took top spot on Friday at the Dianne Tidball Legacy Grand Prix.

She was aboard Sig Excel (owned by Sig International Inc.) and beat out more than 65 other riders.

Hutchison finished with a time of 44.79 while another American rider, Lauren Crooks, aboard Dancer (Crooks Show Jumping, LLC) was second.

A pair of Canadians took third and fourth spot with Lisa Carlsen on World’s Judgement (owned by Alycia and Terry Hayes) placing third.

Langley’s Laura-Jane Tidball was fourth. She rode Liam, who is owned by Thunderbird Show Stables.

For Tidball, the fourth-place spot in her late grandmother’s grand prix was the perfect way to honour her memory.

“Thank you for always believing in me and for teaching us to live up to your legacy,” she said in a note read aloud during the competition.

Hutchison echoed the sentiment.

“The Tidball family makes Thunderbird special,” she said.

“I’ve known them for years and there’s a place in my heart for Dianne and George. We all miss them.”

Both George and Dianne passed away earlier this year.

Aimee Markis/MOI Photography

California's Susan Hutchison took top spot in a pair of Grand Prix events over the weekend at Thunderbird Show Park.