Press Release: August 22nd 2025

Maccabi United Make Their Mark on MLSJ Toronto

Published

23 AUG 2025

Est. reading time

3 min

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 22, 2025

Contact: media@majorleagueshowjumping.com

Toronto, ON—Maccabi United pulled together to win the Leg 2 $312,500 Cabana Coast 5* Team Competition on Friday evening under the electric lights of Major League Show Jumping (MLSJ) Toronto, the second of nine stops on the Season 5 tour.

In its second year as a franchise owned by Bluman Equestrian, Maccabi United’s Toronto gold marks their second Team Competition victory to date. Anchored in the gold medal round by Mark Bluman (COL) aboard Concare PS, Thaisa Erwin (AUS) riding Halita B and Danial Bluman (ISR) on Hummer Z joined him at the peak of the podium.

“We're amongst family and very good friends,” said Daniel Bluman of his 2025 roster lineup. “It makes for a very entertaining and fun class for all of us. I think Thaisa has performed incredibly in the last two events. Today, she carried us when we really needed it. We're very excited about the team we have.”

Clear rounds within a tight time allowed were difficult to come by in the opening round. Erwin posted one of only six fault-free trips around the Olaf Peterson, Jr. designed track.

“Halita is a wonderful mare and I'm grateful to have her; she wants to win as much as I do,” said Erwin, who pulled off a double-clear for the team. “We have amazing horses and good camaraderie. The boys are awesome to work with; very motivational, always out to win. We're lucky to be sitting on a lot of horsepower and horses that have enough blood that they can do this and also do a grand prix the following day.

“I think between all of us, we have a lot of experience and we're all good horse people; we try and do the right thing by the horses and set them up for success,” concluded Erwin.

Combined with Daniel Bluman’s blazing fast opening round in 68.86 seconds, Erwin’s clear sent Mark Bluman to the gold medal round against Nayel Nassar (EGY) riding Donvier for the Trelawny Trailblazers. Two rails on the floor for Nassar settled the Trailblazers—also including Lillie Keenan (USA) with Kick On and Conor Swail (IRL) aboard Casturano—with silver.

The bronze medal was determined in a jump-off between Leg 1 winners Helios and 2025 newcomers to The League, the Rainmakers. Fielded by Jordan Coyle (IRL), Marilyn Little (USA) and Sylar Wireman (USA), the Rainmakers put their first team podium on the board when Coyle riding King Kannan GP beat out Helios team owner Genevieve Meyer aboard Mylord Myles in the opening head-to-head for bronze.

As the early season team standings continue to shake up, the Trailblazers hang on to the top by a slim one-point margin over Maccabi United. After their victory in Traverse City, Helios sits in third just five points off the lead. With 16 points on the line for a winning team rider in the grand prix, the standings are primed for more shifts throughout the weekend.

“It’s very exciting to climb up [the standings],” said Mark Bluman, who now looks to Saturday's grand prix to make one final move on the Trailblazers. “We still have the grand prix tomorrow to gain points, so we are putting three good horses in, and hopefully we have the results again.”

Complete results from the $312,500 Cabana Coast 5* Team Competition at MLSJ Toronto can be found here. The next MLSJ Team Competition heads to CSI Greenwich for MLSJ Leg 3 on Saturday, August 27.

Action continues at MLSJ Toronto on Saturday in the $340,000 Kubota 5* Grand Prix at 8:15pm ET.

For more information on Major League Show Jumping and to view complete schedules, rosters and more, visit majorleagueshowjumping.com. Get in on the action by downloading the MLSJ App and tune in live all season at ClipMyHorse.tv.

Photos © MLSJ / Mackenzie Clark

Daniel Bluman & Hummer Z