Sam Walker Wins CET Medal National Final at Royal Horse Show

Fresh off a win in the prestigious ASPCA Maclay Final at the National Horse Show in Lexington, KY, on Sunday, November 4 – where he became only the fourth Canadian winner in the event’s storied history – 16-year-old Sam Walker of Nobleton, ON returned home to Canada to also top the Running Fox CET Medal National Final.

“It feels a little bit surreal!”

“It feels a little bit surreal!” said Walker of his dual wins, first aboard Waldo on Sunday at the National Horse Show and then four days later riding Willem, a mount owned by Nicole Loochtan that was a last-minute ride for Walker after his intended mount for the final was sold.

Hot off his victory in the ASPCA Maclay National Final, Sam Walker of Nobleton, ON, won the Running Fox CET Medal with Willem at the Royal Horse Show. Photo by Jump Media

“He came up here for the CET from Castlewood Farm in Wellington, FL,” said Walker, who trains with his parents, Scott and Dee Walker of Forest Hill Farm, and John Brennan and Missy Clark at North Run. “He was amazing this week; I couldn’t be happier with how he performed. I’m just really, really grateful that I got the opportunity to ride him.”

Reserve Champion in the Running Fox CET Medal National Final was Beatrice Daviault of Saint-Damase, QC, riding Lia; third place went to Mackenzy Nadeau of Carleton Place, ON, aboard Ferraro K, owned by Brookstreet Stables. Rounding out the top four was Kyara Semrau of Foothills, AB, with Cori Coletta.

Running Fox CET Medal National Final – Overall Results
Placing / Rider / Hometown / Horse / Owner / Total Score
*Note – the top four placings were determined by additional testing, not by the total score.
1st / Sam Walker / Nobleton, ON / Willem / Nicole Loochtan / 174
2nd / Beatrice Daviault / Saint-Damase, QC / Lia / Beatrice Daviault / 161
3rd / Mackenzey Nadeau / Carleton Place, ON / Ferraro K / Brookstreet Stables / 167
4th / Kyara Semrau / Foothills, AB / Cori Coletta / Kyara Semrau / 164.5
5th / Madison Weber / Vancouver, BC / Carter Z / Madison Weber / 159
6th / Stephanie Bourassa / Laval, QC / Catull / Stephanie Bourassa / 156
7th / Hayley Mercer / Langley, BC / Crown Royal / Hayley Mercer / 156
8th / Halle Gainey / Kelowna, BC / Steel Magnolias / Halle Gainey / 145

Running Fox CET National Medal Final – Jumping Phase
Placing / Rider / Hometown / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Sam Walker / Nobleton, ON / Willem / Nicole Loochtan / 89
2nd / Mackenzey Nadeau / Carleton Place, ON / Ferraro K / Brookstreet Stables / 86
3rd / Anya Bereznicki / Calgary, AB / East / William Stuart / 84
4th / Beatrice Daviault / Saint-Damase, QC / Lia / Beatrice Daviault / 81
5th / Kyara Semrau / Foothills, AB / Cori Coletta / Kyara Semrau / 80.5
6th / Mikayla Brabant / Chestermere, AB / Cortofino / Spruce Meadows Ltd. 80
7th / Stephanie Bourassa / Laval, QC / Catull / Stephanie Bourassa / 78
8th / Hayley Mercer / Langley, BC / Crown Royal / Hayley Mercer / 76.5

Running Fox CET National Medal Final – Flat & Gymnastic Phase
Placing / Rider / Hometown / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Sam Walker / Nobleton, ON / Willem / Nicole Loochtan / 85
2nd / Kyara Semrau / Foothills, AB / Cori Coletta / Kyara Semrau / 84
3rd / Madison Weber / Vancouver, BC / Carter Z / Madison Weber / 83
4th / Mackenzey Nadeau / Carleton Place, ON / Ferraro K / Brookstreet Stables / 81
5th / Beatrice Daviault / Saint-Damase, QC / Lia / Beatrice Daviault / 80
6th / Hayley Mercer / Langley, BC / Crown Royal / Hayley Mercer / 79.5
7th / Campbell Legere / Hammond Plains, NS / Himalaya / Karley Hopwood / 79
8th / Stephanie Bourassa / Laval, QC / Catull / Stephanie Bourassa / 78