Equestrian vaulters from Chilliwack made up most of the Canadian contingent travelling to the Kentucky Horse Park for a series of test events leading up to the 2010 World Equestrian Games.

For the first time, North America will host the Games, which are held every four years and feature the world championships for all of the disciples recognized by the International Equestrian Federation.

The vaulting test event was comprised of three separate competitions – the American National Vaulting Championships, the North American Young Riders championship and the Kentucky Cup, an international competition offering qualifying points for next year’s world games.

Seven Canadian vaulters participated in one of more of these events, five of them training with the Cheam Vaulters of Chilliwack.

Colin Schmidt competed in the American Nationals, where he placed second in the highest mens' division. This is the first time a Canadian has placed among the top three competitors at the American championship.

Alisa Porter competed in the Kentucky Cup where she became one of two Canadian women to earn the necessary qualifying points to represent their country at the World Equestrian Games next summer.

Porter, and Alberta vaulter Hannah Marland, are now short listed for the Canadian team to WEG 2010. Each country may enter three male and three female individual vaulters in the world championships.

Two members of the Cheam Vaulters, Chelsey Wierks and Raven Schmidt made their debut at the international level by competing in the preliminary class at the Kentucky Cup.

Schmidt was also one of two Canadian vaulters to participate in the vaulting demonstration event at the Young Rider’s Championship. Langley vaulter, Tauren Deluca, who trains with both the Cheam Vaulters of Chilliwack and the Triple M Vaulters of Langley, also made her international debut at the Kentucky Cup preliminary event.

Cheam coach, Lori Wallden, was along the hundreds of volunteers who provided their time and expertise in staging the Kentucky event.

Chilliwack audiences will be able to see these vaulters, and many others, in action when this community hosts the Canadian National Vaulting Championships and the BC Provincial Vaulting Championships on September 19 and 20 at Heritage Park.

This will be Canada’s first national championship.

Chilliwack will also play host next spring to Canada’s first internationally sanctioned competition which will give vaulters their final opportunity to earn qualifying points for the World Equestrian Games.