Photo: Cealy Tetley

Michael Grinyer Named ProChaps
‘Athlete of the Month’ for April

Photo: Cealy Tetley

Ottawa, Ontario – Michael Grinyer of Campbellville, ON, was selected by Jump Canada as the ProChaps ‘Athlete of the Month’ for April.

Grinyer took top honours in the $35,000 Kubota Cup Grand Prix held April 2 at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair in Brandon, MB. Riding his 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Alcatraz 34, Grinyer was one of three athletes from a starting field of 25 to post a clear round and advance to the jump-off. There, all three riders again left all the rails in their cups, making time the deciding factor. Grinyer’s time of 28.698 seconds, almost two seconds faster than his closest competition, gave him the victory.

“I normally go to West Palm Beach during the winter season, but this year I competed on the Arizona circuit and then went on to Calgary to compete at Spruce Meadows for two weeks before heading to Brandon,” said Grinyer. “We won the Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows a week earlier, as well as Friday’s ATCO Cup at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. In fact, our win in the Kubota Cup Grand Prix marked Alcatraz’s eighteenth consecutive clean round.”

“It is a real honour to be chosen as the ProChaps ‘Athlete of the Month’,” continued Grinyer. “I’ve been out of the top international circuit for a while, and it’s only since I purchased Alcatraz that I’ve gotten back to the Grand Prix level. It’s a real thrill.”

In recognition of his achievement, Grinyer will receive a pair of state-of-the-art riding chaps, compliments of ProChaps. A Canadian manufacturer of high-performance riding chaps, ProChaps is the proud sponsor of the Jump Canada ‘Athlete of the Month’ program and rewards each selected rider with a brand-new custom pair of its groundbreaking chaps. Using innovative materials, ProChaps has radically advanced the construction of riding chaps to cutting edge perfection. At the 2004 Spruce Meadows “Masters” Tournament, ProChaps was rewarded with the prestigious Equi-Fair New & Innovative Product Award for their original and unique chap design. For more information, please visit www.prochaps.com.

Jump Canada is a committee of Equine Canada responsible for all hunter, hunter equitation and jumper activities in Canada from the grass roots to the international level. Jump Canada is governed by a board of directors, the majority of whom are elected by the stakeholders in the sport. For more information regarding Jump Canada programs and activities, visit www.jumpcanada.ca.