Ottawa, Ontario – August 15, 2025 – Alessandra Volpi (USA) emerged victorious in the US $75,000 Qualifier CSI 5*, presented by Steel-Craft Door Products, on Friday, August 15, at the RBC Ottawa International Show Jumping Tournament taking place at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Show Jumping athletes from around the globe, including four of the top 10 in the world rankings, traveled to Ottawa to contest the RBC Ottawa International CSI 5* & CSI 2*. Friday’s featured competition was the US $75,000 Qualifier CSI 5* with 27 horse-rider combinations coming forward to tackle the track set by Brazilian course designer Marina Azevedo on the grass grand prix field. Twelve produced clear rounds to advance to the all-deciding jump-off.

Ireland’s Darragh Kenny (IRL) held the lead with a jump-off time of 37.52 seconds when Volpi entered the ring. She managed to leave all the rails in place and stop the timers in 36.82 seconds to move to the top of the leaderboard. None who followed could catch her time, giving Volpi her first win at the five-star level with Qannando B&V.

Darragh Kenny (IRL) settled for second with Colibelle Hero Z, a 10-year-old Zangersheide mare owned by Elena Haas. 

Adrienne Sternlicht (USA), a member of the U.S. gold medal team at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, placed third with a time of 38.27 seconds in the jump-off riding Origa v/h Zuid -Pajottenland for owner Starlight Farms I.

Of her strategy going head-to-head in a jump-off against some of the top-ranked riders in the world, 25-year-old Volpi gave all the credit to the partnership she has developed with Qannando B&V, a nine-year-old black Belgian Warmblood stallion (Kannan x Emerald van’t Ruytershof) that she affectionately calls “Nando.”

“My horse is nine,” Volpi explained of the horse she purchased as a seven-year-old. “He’s a bit younger, so every time I go in the ring I try and do my best for him.  We’re still learning together.  He’s been really competitive this summer.  He already won two big classes over in Europe, so I knew he had a chance in this jump-off. I just gave it my all, stuck to the plan that I walked, and hoped it was enough.”

Volpi was competing in the Nation’s Capital for the second time, having first visited in 2023.

“The field is lovely,” she said of being at Wesley Clover Parks.  “A field like this is the best kind of grass you can jump on.  There’s lots of space for the horses, huge stalls, nice warm-up, and a good VIP.  It’s all the elements you look for in a nice show.”

Final Results – $75,000 Qualifier CSI 5*, presented by Steel-Craft Door Products

1) Alessandra Volpi (USA) & Qannando B&V – 0 / 0 – 36.82

2) Darragh Kenny (IRL) & Colibelle Hero Z – 0 / 0 – 37.52

3) Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) & Origa v/h Zuid -Pajottenland – 0 / 0 – 38.27

Source: Press Release from Jump Media for Ottawa Equestrian Tournaments – Wesley Clover Parks

Photos: © Wesley Clover Parks / Ben Radvanyi Photography

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