Press Release: December 13th
Roadrunners Secure Home Win in the Desert
Published
13 DEC 2025
Est. reading time
3 min
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 2025
Contact: media@majorleagueshowjumping.com
Thermal, CA—The Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) Roadrunners secured a team win in front of a home crowd in the $262,500 5* Team Competition, presented by ClipMyHorse.tv, on Friday evening during Leg 7 of Major League Show Jumping (MLSJ) at DIHP in Thermal, California.
The Roadrunner victory—earned by Kaitlin Campbell (USA), Erynn Ballard (CAN) and Mclain Ward (USA)—helped the team take over third in the overall League standings after sitting just outside the top 3 coming into the week.
In the gold medal round, the Roadrunners’ Katilin Campbell (USA) aboard Cosm Castlefield Cornelious went head-to-head with Maccabi United’s Daniel Bluman riding Hummer Z, a fierce pair in both team and individual competition this season.
With only eight tenths of a second to spare, Campbell—a California native—brought home the win on a time of 44.14 seconds.
“They did the hard work tonight to put us in that final position,” said Campbell of her teammates.
“I heard Mclain on the sidelines after number three and I am more afraid of him than pulling on the reins, so I knew I just had to go,” joked Campbell. “I was on my best horse—I trust that horse so much, we've done so much together, and I knew I could let him go. We've used this team before and we're two for two now, so I think we need to stick with it.”
Campbell was sent to the gold medal round by two critical clears from teammates Ballard and Ward.
With the only pole on the ground for the Roadrunners in the opening round, Ballard earned redemption in the form of the Fastest Lap title in the jump-off. The Canadian Olympian stopped the clock at 43.73 seconds riding Her Game Ball BG for an extra point on the board.
“We're always showing up to win,” she said. “We've had some good rounds and some bad luck, but we play to win. We have a very strong group of riders on this team, and there's nothing better than a win at home. All of us rose to the occasion tonight. Our strategy was to put Mclain and me out to get us into the winning round. We're slowly working our way up to that first-place position.”
Ballard and Ward understood the assignment, and Ward—current world no. 11—answered Ballard’s top time with another quick clear riding First Lady. They stopped the final timers at 44.45 seconds.
Of the home win, Ward said, “I love coming west, and I think the work that's been done here by the group at the Desert Horse Park is spectacular for all levels of the sport, but also to bring top-level, world-class show jumping to the west coast. You see the riders coming and the level rising. I'm proud of the way we're finishing out 2025.”
Maccabi United settled for second while holding on to a 30-point lead in the season standings. The Trelawny Trailblazers sit the runners up behind them after jumping onto the podium in third in Palm Springs.
MLSJ action comes to a peak in the $340,000 5* Grand Prix, presented by Go Rentals, on Saturday at 6pm PT.
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 / Meraki Creative Group
Kaitlin Campbell aboard Cosm Castlefield Cornelious.
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