The track was incredibly difficult and knowing how many top riders there were, you just had to really take it jump by jump,” said Sternlicht
Ottawa, Ontario – It was Adrienne Sternlicht’s day at the RBC Ottawa International show jumping tournament at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, ON. Having won the US $35,000 Grand Prix CSI2*, presented by Mark Motors Group, in the morning, Sternlicht returned to the grass field to claim victory in the grand finale, the US $340,000 Grand Prix CSI5*, presented by RBC.
Equestrian is the only Olympic sport where male and female athletes compete against each other, and the women certainly proved they could hold their own in the RBC Grand Prix. A total of 24 riders took on the challenging five-star track set by Brazilian course designer Marina Azevedo. Sternlicht, Great Britain’s Jessica Mendoza and Elena Haas of the United States were the only three riders who posted clear rounds to advance to the jump-off.
Adrienne Sternlicht produced the only double clear riding Origa v/h Zuid -Pajottenland to win the US $340,000 RBC Grand Prix CSI5*, on Sunday, August 17, at the RBC Ottawa International at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, ON. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography
Mendoza was the first to return for the shortened jump-off track, setting the early standard with four faults in a time of 38.08 riding Summerhouse, her 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Induparts Guidam Sohn x VDL Indoctro). Haas was next to challenge with Claude, her 13-year-old Westphalian gelding (Captain Jack 44 x Cefalo). When she also dropped a rail in a slower time of 39.02 seconds, the door was wide open for Sternlicht as the final challenger. Knowing exactly what she needed to do to win, Sternlicht left all the jumps in place and claimed victory riding Origa vh Zuid-Pajottenland, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Starlight Farms 1 LLC.
Jessica Mendoza of Great Britain took second riding Summerhouse in the US $340,000 RBC Grand Prix CSI5* held at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, ON. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography
A member of the U.S. gold medal team at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, it had been just under a year since Sternlicht last competed in a five-star grand prix. The 32-year-old proved she was more than up to the task by winning the RBC Grand Prix.
“The track was incredibly difficult and knowing how many top riders there were, you just had to really take it jump by jump,” said Sternlicht who was competing against four of the top 10 riders in the world rankings including her own trainer, McLain Ward. “It is definitely an emotional win for me. It’s a horse that I’ve always really, really believed in. He has the ability to jump the biggest classes in the world and to feel like I did right by him today is super gratifying.”
Elena Haas of the United States placed third in the US $340,000 RBC Grand Prix CSI5* riding Claude. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography
Of having accomplished the incredible feat of winning both the two-star and the five-star grands prix on the same day, Sternlicht noted, “It definitely took a bit of pressure off knowing I was already really content with my day and excited about my partnership with a new horse.”
Adrienne Sternlicht of the United States rode her new horse, Corablue Z, to victory in the US $35,000 Grand Prix CSI2*, presented by Mark Motors Group, on the final day of the RBC Ottawa International show jumping tournament at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, ON. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography
In only their second FEI-sanctioned competition together, Sternlicht piloted Corablue Z to victory in the US $35,000 1.45m Grand Prix CSI2*, presented by Mark Motors Group. As the final challenger in a six-horse jump-off, Sternlicht left all the rails in place and crossed the timers in 41.80 seconds to take the win over Ireland’s Daniel Coyle who had held the lead with a time 42.85 seconds riding Calippo 57 for owner Ariel Grange. Delaney Flynn of United States was also double clear in 45.04 seconds to place third riding Namamia for Windsor Show Stables.
Adrienne Sternlicht of the United States is presented as the winner of the US $340,000 RBC Grand Prix CSI5* by Karen Sparks, Executive Director of Wesley Clover Parks, and Justin Schurman, Regional Vice President of Business Financial Services of RBC. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography
For more information on the RBC Ottawa Equestrian Tournaments, visit www.OttawaEquestrianTournaments.com. 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 $340,000 1.60m Grand Prix CSI5*, presented by RBC
Sunday, August 17, 2025
Rider / Country / Horse / Faults / Time
1. Adrienne Sternlicht / United States / Origa v/h Zuid -Pajottenland / 0:0 / 40.31
2. Jessica Mendoza / Great Britain / Summerhouse / 0:4 / 38.08
3. Elena Haas / United States / Claude / 0:4 / 39.02
4. Brian Moggre / United States / MTM Vivre de Reve / 4
5. Mario Deslauriers / Canada / Genial de B’Neville / 4
6. Erynn Ballard / Canada / Fave d’Authuit / 4
7. Richard Vogel / Germany / Komet 306 / 8
8. Darragh Kenny / Ireland / Colibelle Hero Z / 8
9. Daniel Coyle / Ireland / Gisborne VDL / 8
10. Carly Campbell Cooper / Canada / Baretino PS / 12
11. Pieter de Brabandere / Belgium / First Choice HT / 12
12. Delaney Flynn / United States / Cassinnia / 12
US $35,000 1.45m Grand Prix CSI2*, presented by Mark Motors Group
Sunday, August 17, 2025
Rider / Country / Horse / Faults / Time
1. Adrienne Sternlicht / United States / Corablue Z / 0:0 / 41.80
2. Daniel Coyle / Ireland / Calippo 57 / 0:0 / 42.85
3. Delaney Flynn / United States / Namamia / 0:0 / 45.04
4. Conor Swail / Ireland / Qoreen van’t Ruytershof Z / 0:0 / 45.53
5. Mary Francis Looke / United States / Engerupgaards Cezanne / 0:0 / 47.75
6. Nicole Walker / Canada / Excellent B / 0:4 / 45.60
7. Alise Oken / United States / Bonhomme Richard / 4
8. Savannah Jade Jenkins / United States / Hector du Ter / 4
9. Sarah Segal / United States / Boreale de Fondcombe / 4
10. Alessandra Volpi / United States / Korsika / 4
11. Yann Candele / Canada / Conny 409 / 4
12. Mary Francis Looke / United States / Finesse JW / 8
Source: Jump Media