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18 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2009 Local rider wins national jumping gold Local sports By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF It was down to four riders for the Canadian junior horse-jumping championship at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair when coach Chris Dalia looked over and saw his student yawning as she prepared for the final. Bored? Uninterested? Neither. "He knows me well," said Rachel Bingham, who has trained with the former Olympian at his Oakville farm for four years. "When I get nervous, I yawn. He just told me to focus on what I have to do rather than how big (of a competition) it is." Bingham had won the provincial under-15 equitation title the year before with her new horse, Oliver, but now she was competing against riders as old as 18 with at least two years experience at this level. The Royal was supposed to be a learning experience but what the 16-year-old learned was that she could compete with the best riders. She finished fourth in the opening round and moved up to second in the next round to qualify for the four-rider final. She and her coach planned to execute a more difficult task to give her the edge in the final and she was rewarded as she earned the national title. "Rachel did unbelievable. She was close to perfect," said Dalia. "She marched in and laid it down." The junior level features three-and-a-half-foot jumps and focuses on technical skills, the rider's ability to control the horse and positioning. It is meant to provide riders with a solid foundation before moving up to senior level. Dalia is confident Bingham will be able to succeed once she reaches that level due to her determination, competitiveness and her work ethic. "She's probably the hardest working student I've ever had," he says. Bingham has been riding since going to a horseback riding camp when she was seven. She now rides every day and picks up extra rides when- agency targeting prospects By Kevin Nagel METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP PHOTO COURTESY OF CEALY TETLEY / TETLEYPHOTO.COM NATIONAL CHAMPS: Rachel Bingham and her horse, Oliver, make their way through the equitation course at the recent Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto. Bingham won the Jump Canada Equitation championship. ever she can, riding friends' horses when they're not able to. It can be a big adjustment switching horses as each has its own personality, strengths and weaknesses, but the Grade 11 student at King's Christian Collegiate says that only helps make her a better rider. "She intuitively knows how to do things," Dalia said. "Some learn things mechanically, she learns through feel." And though she rides other horses, it's the connection between herself and Oliver that she enjoys most about riding. "I love having that strong bond," she said. Bingham competed in some large competitions in the U.S. this summer. Those provided valuable experience for both rider and horse, who Bingham says "is still a little green." Dalia said, like most young riders, consistency is all Bingham lacks. But the extra effort she puts into her riding will help her overcome that, he said. Bingham will head to Florida at the end of January to train for two months. Her goals there are "to build on a successful season. I have a lot more to work on and hopefully I'll be even better next year." Mike Bonanno has plenty of enthusiasm. The Oakville Royals Baseball Club alumnus will likely need it as he attempts to make his mark as a sports agent. Oak Sports Management is an Oakvillebased business in its first year of operation, with Bonanno Mike Bonanno listed as vicepresident in charge of player representation. "One of our biggest strengths is we are young," said Bonanno, who decided to end his athletic career when faced with Tommy John surgery after injuring his elbow. "About (two months) ago we started taking on clients, minor league prospects, mainly." A shortstop/pitcher in high school with Burlington's Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Bonanno attended Brevard Community College in Florida on a baseball See Injury page 20