Lexington, KY – With several top performances at Nations Cup competitions this year, the U.S. aims to continue its winning ways in the Nations Cup competition at the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows ‘Masters,’ September 7, in Calgary, Canada. In the $350,000 BMO Nations Cup, Beezie Madden, Lauren Hough, Kirsten Coe, and Lauren Tisbo will represent the U.S. with Robert Ridland serving as Chef d’Equipe.
The 2013 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final champion, Madden (Cazenovia, NY), has led numerous U.S. Nations Cup teams to exceptional performances this year. She helped the U.S. earn victory in the $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm at CSIO Wellington as well as to second-place finishes in Rotterdam and Hickstead and a third place finish in Dublin.
At the CSIO5* ‘Masters,’ Madden will ride Abigail Wexner’s Simon and Cortes ‘C’.
Simon is a 1999 Dutch Warmblood gelding.
Cortes ‘C’ is a 2002 Belgian Warmblood gelding.
Hough (Wellington, FL) has a résumé full of impressive Nations Cup efforts and hopes to add another strong performance to the list. She won the Massimo Dutti Prix in June on the Longines Global Champions Tour stop in London and the Trofeo Warsteiner at the CSI4* Coruna a month later.
At Spruce Meadows, Hough will ride Laura and Meredith Mateo’s Quick Study and The Ohlala Group’s Ohlala.
Quick Study is a 1999 Selle Francais gelding.
Ohlala is a 2004 Swedish Warmblood mare.
Coe (Royal Palm Beach, FL) was a member of the winning Nations Cup team at the CSIO3* Bratislava and has continued to earn top finishes throughout the season. At Spruce Meadows, she finished second in the $50,000 RBC Financial Group Cup during the ‘Canada One’ CSI-W 4* tournament and fifth in the $400,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix World Cup Qualifier during the ‘National’ CSI5* tournament.
Coe will ride Ilan Ferder, Lovsta Stuteri, and Tal Milstein’s Baronez and Zojasper this week.
Baronez is a 2001 Belgian Warmblood mare.
Zojasper is a 2004 KWPN stallion.
Tisbo (Wellington, FL) is a rising star in the jumping world. She won the $35,000 PwC Cup, finished second in the $50,000 Lafarge Cup, and third in the $35,000 Progress Energy Canada Cup during the CSI5* ‘North American’ at Spruce Meadows.
At the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows ‘Masters,’ she will ride Tequestrian Farm, LLC’s Roundthorn Madios and Catharina 9.
Roundthorn Madios is a 2002 Irish Sport Horse gelding.
Catharina 9 is a 2004 Mecklenburg mare.
5 September 2013 – The world renowned Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament started on 8th September, and marks the second show of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. Following the release of two special films dedicated to celebrating this significant occasion, Rolex has released the third and final film.
In the concluding film of the series, Eric Lamaze, Linda Southern-Heathcott and Ian Allison identify the different components that make the course and competition at Spruce Meadows world famous.
To support the partnership with Spruce Meadows and the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, Rolex has also produced a dedicated press pack which provides detailed information on the brand’s equestrian sponsorship and the background to its long-term relationship with the sport.
Eric Lamaze conducts a guided course walk on the opening day of the Spruce Meadows “Masters” tournament. Photo Credit – Rolex/Kit Houghton.
4 September 2013 – Calgary, Alberta – Canadian Olympic Champion and Rolex Testimonee Eric Lamaze welcomed guests on the opening day of the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows “Masters” tournament in Calgary, AB. The five-day show jumping tournament, running from 4-8 September, culminates in the CAN$1 million CN International, presented by Rolex.
Lamaze welcomed guests and media to his stables where he introduced his two top mounts, Powerplay and Quelmec du Gery. Both horses were acquired in June of this year by owner Artisan Farms, giving Lamaze three months to get to know the horses in preparation for the “Masters”. Lamaze will ride Powerplay, a nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding, in Saturday’s CAN$350,000 BMO Nations’ Cup and in Sunday’s CAN$1 million CN International, presented by Rolex.
Following a tour of his stables, Lamaze took guests on a guided course walk in the International Ring, explaining the intricacies that both horse and rider will encounter when facing Wednesday’s CAN$50,000 Akita Drilling Cup. Describing various approaches, as well as the use of colour and shadow employed by two-time Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios, Lamaze gave an insightful look at the sport of show jumping.
The CAN$1 million CN International, presented by Rolex, is part of the new Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping which brings together three of the greatest events in the world – CHIO Aachen, CSIO Spruce Meadows and CHI Geneva, offering an unprecedented €1 million in bonus money to any rider who can win all three grand prix events in succession. To date, Lamaze and his 2008 Olympic gold medal partner, Hickstead, are the only horse and rider combination to have won all three events.
“It’s the super bowl of show jumping,” said Lamaze of Schomberg, ON. “For the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping to be at Spruce Meadows, one of the best venues in the world, and Aachen and Geneva, is very fitting. To win any one of these events can make a rider’s career.”
Based in Vrasene, Belgium, and spending the winter season in Wellington, Florida, Spruce Meadows is the only Canadian venue where Lamaze competes. And with good reason – Lamaze is the all-time leading money winner at Spruce Meadows, having won more than $3.8 million to date at the Calgary venue alone. He’ll look to increase his lead even further throughout this week’s “Masters” competition, where Rolex has been the official timekeeper since 1989.
“For me, it’s one of the most exciting venues in the world to compete at,” said Lamaze. “As a rider, I look forward to it every year. When I arrive here at Spruce Meadows, I am ready to compete. It’s so special for me. It gives you chills when you come in the ring. You want to put in that clear round to hear the crowd come alive.
“It’s such a great organization; everyone is so knowledgeable about our sport,” Lamaze continued. “They really understand our sport. As riders, we’re very passionate about our sport, and they’re also passionate about what they do.”
Lamaze enters Sunday’s CAN$1 million CN International, presented by Rolex, as a two-time winner, having won the prestigious event on two occasions, in 2007 and 2011, riding the great Hickstead.
Calgary, AB, Canada – September 4, 2013 – The prestigious Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament opened today with two classes in the International Ring and featured exciting competition. The victory in the $85,000 Finning Cup 1.60m went to Christian Ahlmann (GER) on Taloubet Z. Kent Farrington (USA) and Blue Angel flew to the win over a field of 17 in the jump-off of the $50,000 AKITA Drilling Cup 1.50m. The ‘Masters’ continues through Sunday, September 8, and features the $1 Million CN International Grand Prix, part of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, on Sunday, and the $350,000 BMO Nations Cup on Saturday.
The $85,000 Finning Cup 1.60m had 39 entries, and 10 of those proceeded to the jump-off to determine who would join in the victory gallop. The courses this week are designed by Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela. Ahlmann rode Taloubet Z, his 2011 FEI World Cup Finals winning partner, to victory in the competition. Riding out of the second spot in the jump-off order, they put down an all-important clear round over a course that featured a long gallop to a skinny vertical. They finished in 45.38 seconds.
The next clear round came from Daniel Bluman on Sancha LS, a 10-year-old SLS Warmblood mare by Chin Chin x Polydor. They stopped the clock in 46.26 seconds for second place. The only other clear round in the jump-off came from Daniel Deusser (GER) on Stephex Stables’ Evita van de Veldbalie, who had a time of 48.32 seconds. Fourth place went to Penelope Leprevost (FRA) on Nayana, who had four faults in 45.13 seconds, while Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) and Vadetta VH Mettenhof were fifth with four faults in 45.89 seconds.
Ahlmann and Taloubet Z, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion by Galoubet A S.F. x Polydor owned by Judy Ann Melchior and Ahlmann, was Ahlmann’s first choice for the ‘Masters’ given his success here before.
“Taloubet did an amazing job today,” Ahlmann acknowledged. “He felt really, really fresh and concentrated. In the jump-off, I tried to take a little risk, but not go forward too much so we can keep the jump. In general he’s a really fast horse and there were a few good turns that I could make some time. It was a really good start and I hope we can keep it like that.”
Ahlmann felt that Taloubet’s attribute of an adjustable stride helped in today’s course, especially to the bogey skinny vertical. “To make a short stride with him is really easy because his stride is really flexible. I was hoping the jump would also be good because it’s a really difficult fence especially with the long line to it. He jumped it two times really good.”
Ahlmann, the World Number One rider since December 2012 until this month, was reflective when asked about losing his World Number One status. “It was a long time for me. I lost two really successful horses during the season,” he pointed out. “I knew the time was coming. It’s really hard to keep on top. It happened, but now the motivation is really big to get back.”
For Bluman, today’s competition was a huge boost to try and qualify for Sunday’s grand prix. He said of his ride, “It was a good course for my mare to start the week here. In the jump-off, I didn’t have the chance to see Christian go, but I imagine he turned really, really tight to the ‘coins’ jump. I’ve seen him on the TV and on the computer winning World Cup classes, so I figured he was going to turn tight! I couldn’t do it as tight as him. I took two or three seconds longer in that turn. After that she kept on jumping good. I’m very satisfied being second place to Christian today.”
Sancha is just 10 years old now, and Bluman feels that they are “growing together.” He said, “Every time I ride better, she jumps better. I believe the responsibility is more on me. From last year until now, there’s been a huge improvement with both her and me, and we hope to continue that way.”
Farrington and Blue Angel Show Their Speed
Out of 53 entries and 17 in the jump-off, Kent Farrington and Robin Parsky’s Blue Angel showed the speed they’re known for to take the win in the $50,000 AKITA Drilling Cup 1.50m. No stranger to the winner’s circle at Spruce Meadows, Farrington notched another win when he went second in the jump-off and stopped the timers in 36.13 seconds. Two horses later, new World Number One Ben Maher (GBR) and Urico, owned by Jane Clark, were just off the pace in 36.29 seconds for second place. Conor Swail (IRL) and the always quick Martha Louise were third in 36.64 seconds. Fourth place went to Lauren Hough (USA) and Ohlala in 37.35 seconds, while Daniel Deusser (GER) and Cornet D’Amour, owned by Stephex Stable and Double H Farm, was fifth with a time of 37.59 seconds.
Kent Farrington and Blue Angel
Farrington knew he could not rest easy despite his very quick ride. “I don’t know if you ever expect to hold the lead when you have a bunch of the best riders in the world coming after you. I think that would be a false sense of security,” he admitted. “I thought the horse went really well and put up a good round, so it was going to take some beating. You never sit comfortable in that situation.”
Blue Angel, an 11-year-old AES mare by Luidam x Ascendant, last showed at the Dublin CSIO a month ago, but Farrington said she was fit and ready for the ‘Masters.’ He noted of her and his top horse Uceko, “They’re used to traveling all the time; it’s just another day at the office for them. They feel really good and comfortable here.”
He concluded, “It always feels good to win the first class out of the box and have the momentum for the week. We have a lot more work to do here, but it’s a good way to start our week.”
Maher knew he would have his work cut out for him to beat Farrington’s time. “I’m a trier. I always try and win. I knew Kent would be fast. That’s a really fast horse and Kent’s one of the fastest riders in the world,” he said.
While he was “pretty quick” from the first to second fences, he did adjust later on in the course. He explained, “There was an option back to the Rolex oxer which I didn’t take. It was perhaps the winning turn if I took one less stride, but I decided to play a little safer today. I didn’t see it and it wasn’t quite there. It cost me a fraction of a second, but I’m very happy. Urico has had a slightly quieter summer. I’ve been doing a lot with the other horses and it’s his time to move up and help the team out.”
Maher found out that he jumped from #19 to #1 in the world this morning, which he remarked was a “big surprise.” Maher recently finished as a team gold and individual silver medalist at the P.S.I. FEI European Jumping Championships. He added, “It’s always been an ambition of mine and it’s great to be able to achieve that. I think it’s always a great feeling to win a big grand prix anywhere in the world, but I think the way the ranking works, it does prove consistency. It proves I have a great team around me, great owners, and great horses at the moment, which I’m very grateful for. It takes the whole package to give me the chance to be where I am right now and I’m enjoying every minute of it.”
The Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ continues tomorrow with the $50,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup 1.50m and the $125,000 CANA Cup 1.60m. For full results and more information, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com/tournaments.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
The second in a series of Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping films
30 August 2013 – Rolex has today released the second in a series of films celebrating the start of the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament, taking place in Calgary from 4-8 September, and its involvement in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. In the film, Linda Southern-Heathcott, President of Spruce Meadows, and whose parents founded and created the venue, and Senior Vice President Ian Allison outline the long family history of the show and how the traditions that Spruce Meadows was built on are still evident today.
The film is copyright free and available to use on websites by linking to, or downloading from, the links below:
The final film will be released in the next few days.
To support the partnership with Spruce Meadows and the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, Rolex has also produced a dedicated press pack which provides detailed information on the brand’s equestrian sponsorship and the background to its long-term relationship with the sport.
Wednesday 28 August 2013 – Following the launch of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping at the CHIO Aachen in June 2013, Rolex has released three new films to mark the next stage of the competition at the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament. The films feature Eric Lamaze, winner of the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Grand Prix in 2007 & 2011; Linda Southern-Heathcott, Spruce Meadows’ President; and Ian Allison, Spruce Meadows’ Senior Vice President.
All three films are copyright free and available to use on websites by linking to, or downloading from, the links below.
The first of the three films sees Rolex Testimonee, Eric Lamaze, describe why he finds Spruce Meadows such an exciting venue, and what makes it such a fitting location for the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.
The next two films will be released in the coming days.
To support the partnership with Spruce Meadows and the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, Rolex has also produced a dedicated press pack which provides detailed information on the brand’s equestrian sponsorship and the background to its long-term relationship with the sport.
Skelton and Big Star to Contest Next Leg of Rolex Grand Slam of Jumping
Calgary, AB, Canada – August 27, 2013 – Spruce Meadows will host the world’s best show jumpers at the prestigious ‘Masters’ Tournament, held September 4-8, 2013, in Calgary. The ‘Masters’ is a CSIO 5* event and will award $2.115 million in prize money. Seven of the top 10 ranked show jumpers in the world plan to attend, including newly named European Champion, France’s Roger Yves Bost (ranked #9 in the world). Rolex Grand Slam of Jumping leaders Nick Skelton (ranked #11 in the world) and Big Star will compete as well, and competition at this year’s tournament will be electric. Along with top individuals, there are eight teams that will compete in the BMO Nations’ Cup.
The top 10 ranked riders (as of July 31, 2013) that plan to show at the ‘Masters’ include World Number One rider Christian Ahlmann (GER), Beezie Madden (2-USA), Kevin Staut (3-FRA), who is showing for the first time at Spruce Meadows, Gerco Schroeder (4-NED), Steve Guerdat (7-SUI), Kent Farrington (8-USA), and Bost.
Rolex Testimonee and current Olympic champion, Steve Guerdat, looks forward to competing at the ‘Masters.’ He pointed out, “The show itself is just a huge highlight. It’s very exciting to go to the ‘Masters,’ and we all look forward to the $1 Million International Grand Prix on Sunday, especially with the new Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.”
Ranked #11 in the world is Great Britain’s Nick Skelton, who has set the circuit on fire this summer with his top horse, Big Star. The pair won the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen, the first leg of the Rolex Grand Slam of Jumping. The ‘Masters’ CSIO 5* hosts the second leg of the competition, while the final leg is at the CHI Geneva in December.
Spruce Meadows President Linda Southern-Heathcott noted, “We are very excited to have such a strong line-up of riders competing at this year’s ‘Masters.’ With over two million dollars in prize money over five days, we are pleased to be able to attract the top names in the sport, and even more money is on the line with the $1 Million International Grand Prix and the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. Every year we increase prize money and opportunities for riders, and every year they give us the best competition in the world.”
The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is the first global initiative to reward the outstanding rider who wins the Grand Prix at each tournament in succession. Any rider that wins the Grand Prix at each of the three tournaments consecutively will receive €1 million bonus on top of the prize money for each tournament’s Grand Prix. Moreover, any rider that wins two out of the three tournaments’ Grands Prix will also receive a bonus of €500,000 in succession or €250,000 for winning two out of three.
Skelton and Big Star will attempt to make history when they compete in the highlight event of the season, the $1 Million International Grand Prix, on Sunday, September 8. They will have tough competition from some of the best in the sport, along with last year’s winners, Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) and Cabrio van de Heffinck.
“Winning the prestigious $1 Million International Grand Prix last year was something incredible for me,” Philippaerts expressed, “because I didn’t expect to win it. People remember me from winning that Grand Prix, and it gave myself a boost for the future!”
He added, “I think the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ is one of the world’s best show jumping events, and it is an honour just to compete there. The ‘Masters’ is so unique because of the crowd. They love the sport. That makes us European riders come over to Calgary.”
National pride will be on the line when eight countries line up teams to compete in the $350,000 BMO Nations’ Cup. In addition to teams from Canada and the USA, there will be squads from Germany (winners in 2012), France, Belgium, Switzerland, Great Britain, and Ireland.
Guerdat will be a member of the Swiss team in the BMO Nations Cup as well. 2013 European Champions Great Britain will have a team, including Team Gold and Individual Silver medalist, Ben Maher, and Team Gold medalist Michael Whitaker.
There is fantastic prize money on the line each day of the ‘Masters’ Tournament. Spruce Meadows increased the FEI prize money awarded from 2012 by $300,000, making it a total of $2,115,000 in prize money given in the five-day event (not including special prizes or series). Eight of the 10 major events have also increased their world ranking point level, giving riders even more opportunity to raise their ranking in the world.
The schedule includes these major classes:
Wednesday, September 4: $50,000 Akita Drilling Cup 1.50m and $85,000 Finning Cup 1.60m
Thursday, September 5: $50,000 ATCO Structures and Logistics Cup 1.50m and $125,000 CANA Cup 1.60m
Friday, September 6: The Mercedes-Benz “Evening of the Horse” featuring the $205,000 Encana Cup 1.60m and $75,000 ATCO Electric ‘Circuit’ Six Bar under the lights and concluding with the Band of the Irish Guards playing live music to the fireworks display
Saturday, September 7: $125,000 Suncor Winning Round 1.50m and $350,000 BMO Nations’ Cup
Sunday, September 8: $50,000 Telus Cup 1.50m and $1 Million International Grand Prix
Saturday’s BMO Nations’ Cup and Sunday’s $1 Million International Grand Prix will be televised live on the CBC.
Spruce Meadows looks forward to welcoming the world’s best to the ‘Masters’ Tournament next week and invites everyone to come and see the sport of show jumping at its best. For a full schedule and list of riders attending, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com/tournaments.
For further information on the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, please visit www.rolexgrandslam.com.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Reed Kessler Tops $25,000 G&C Farm Riders’ Cup Series; Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083 Excel in $40,000 Friends of the Meadows Parcours de Chasse
Calgary, AB – July 14, 2013 – Five weeks of world-class competition wrapped up at Spruce Meadows on Sunday afternoon with a fantastic win for Ireland’s Conor Swail and Lansdowne in the $400,000 Spruce Meadows ‘Pan American’ Grand Prix. The final event of the summer featured a five-horse jump-off with a win for the Irish, Colombia’s Daniel Bluman and Sancha LS in second and fellow Irishman Cameron Hanley and Antello in third.
Canada’s Peter Grant set the track on Sunday with 33 entries contesting the first round course. Five combinations jumped clear to advance to the jump-off and the tight time allowed kept three others out of the running with just one time fault. It was a great demonstration of skill, power, and speed as the top competitors raced against the clock in the second round, but no one jumped clean. In the end, the four-fault round of Conor Swail and Lansdowne earned top prize with a time of 42.18 seconds.
All but one of the riders in the jump-off had the same red skinny jump down – the one that also got the best of Swail and Lansdowne. Daniel Bluman and Sancha LS had four faults at the skinny and finished second with their time of 46.80 seconds. Cameron Hanley and Antello were clear until the last fence and finished on four faults in 47.59 seconds to place third. Both Brianne Goutal and Tiffany Foster had two rails down, including the red skinny and the last fence. Goutal and Remarkable Farms’ Onira finished on eight faults in 41.46 seconds to place fourth. Foster and Artisan Farms’ Verdi III incurred eight faults in 41.99 seconds to place fifth.
Owned by Susan and Ariel Grange, the ten-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion Lansdowne (Guidam x Wolfganag) has had a fantastic circuit showing at Spruce Meadows this summer. In last week’s ‘North American’ Tournament alone, Lansdowne was second in the $200,000 ATCO POWER Queen Elizabeth II Cup, finished fourth in the $35,000 Progress Energy Canada Cup 1.50m and placed sixth in the $33,000 AON Cup 1.50m. He also jumped double clear for the Irish team in the $100,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup during June’s ‘Continental’ Tournament. Rider Conor Swail could not be happier with the horse’s progress and ultimate victory to wrap up the circuit.
“It is wonderful,” he smiled. “Already I have had an amazing show. All of my horses have been amazing, but to top it off with Lansdowne winning is just fantastic.”
“He is a real cool horse,” Swail described. “He is very laid back and he has a real swagger. He definitely works off of confidence. He has had a fabulous tournament here and I think it has really helped him grow. To me, he is a much better horse the last week than he was the first week. He has put in some fabulous rounds throughout and there is so much confidence there and scope and carefulness. He is a joy to ride. It was easy for me to have such good quality.”
Swail and Lansdowne went third in the jump-off and did not get to watch the first two rounds of Goutal and Foster. He knew they did not go clear, but he stuck to his plan knowing that Bluman and Hanley were still to follow.
“I knew Brianne and Tiffany both had faults and I knew there were two good riders behind me too, so it was sort of immaterial to be honest,” Swail stated. “I think I had to go in and put in a good round and hopefully it was going to be enough. Thankfully, even though we had a mistake, it still was enough.”
Swail and Lansdowne have known each other for quite some time and have started to form a great partnership after being reunited last year.
“I bought him as a seven-year-old and then rode him for his eight-year-old year and he was absolutely exceptional,” Swail explained. “I sold him to Sue and he was away for three or four months and then I got him back just in the beginning of last year. It is really starting to come together. Honestly, it looks like he is a world-class horse now, which is what I had always hoped he would be, so it is very exciting.”
“I think it is important also to mention my owners,” he added. “Without them this isn’t possible, so it is great to have Sue and Ariel and their family there supporting me and enjoying the sport as much as I do. Without it I would be standing there watching like everyone else. These classes don’t come so often, so it is nice to be able to enjoy it whenever we get the chance.”
Lansdowne now has a busy schedule coming up as he flies to Europe on Monday night and will compete on the Irish team for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup in Dublin, followed by the European Championships and then back to Spruce Meadows for the ‘Masters’ Tournament in September.
“He is still busy and there are some big events coming up, so it could not have worked out any better the way he has finished up here,” Swail acknowledged. “I am really happy with him and I am looking forward to September, especially with him and the way he is going. Hopefully he will have a nice chance there for the $1 million.”
In addition to the grand prix festivities on Sunday, the 2013 G&C Farm Riders’ Cup Series concluded and awarded $25,000 in bonus money to the top competitors of the summer. The bonus is presented to the top three FEI riders who showed in the 1.50m and 1.60m divisions held during the Spruce Meadows Sumer Series. The athlete accruing the most points at the ‘National’, ‘Continental’, ‘Canada One’, ‘North American’, and ‘Pan American’ Tournaments was awarded the championship bonus.
Following a very consistent circuit with top placings throughout all of the tournaments, 19-year-old U.S. rider Reed Kessler was awarded the championship prize of $15,000. In second place, Beezie Madden (USA) earned a $7,000 bonus, and in third, McLain Ward was awarded $3,000.
On winning the series, Kessler smiled, “I am thrilled. I was thinking when I had that rail down today that I had blown it and I knew I was leading the bonus, but I got a little lucky. I have had a pretty consistent Spruce and all of the horses have jumped great. My whole team has worked really hard for me, so it’s great to walk away as the most consistent rider. Spruce is always on our map every year, whether it is the summer series or the ‘Masters’. It’s a fantastic destination, so it is a big honor to be the leading rider here.”
Kessler acknowledged how her top horses have developed throughout the series and learned from their experiences this summer. She has a big European tour planned for the remainder of the summer and feels confident moving ahead.
“Cylana is pretty seasoned now but she has always loved it here,” the rider stated. “It is huge and she loves to work hard. I also had a new, greener horse in Wolf and I am very fortunate to have brought him here. I think he has come out of the circuit like a totally new horse.”
Kessler was aiming for the G&C Farm bonus all summer and was quite happy to walk away with the win.
“I had an eye on it,” she admitted. “I had been in the lead for most of the time, but I didn’t do either of the derbies because I didn’t really have a horse for it, so the other riders started to gain ground on me. I thought maybe I wasn’t going to win it, but it was nice to bring it home in the end. It’s a nice thank you to my whole team and my horses who have been working so hard this whole series.”
Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083 Excel in $40,000 Friends of the Meadows Parcours de Chasse
Sunday’s competition began in the All Canada Ring with a win for Irish rider Shane Sweetnam and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Cyklon 1083 in the $40,000 Friends of the Meadows Parcours de Chasse 1.45m. Jumping a course set by Cristina Larangeiro (POR), 26 entries jumped the track in a faults converted, one-round speed format. Twelve combinations jumped the course without fault, but in the Parcours de Chasse, knock-downs are converted into seconds, making it possible for a very fast horse that has a rail to still finish in the top 12. The top five today were all clear and fast.
Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083
Shane Sweetnam had two mounts in the day’s competition, going first with Sweet Oak Farm’s Fineman and clearing the course in 88.573 seconds to eventually place fourth. Sweetnam changed his plan slightly for his second mount, Cyklon 1083, and the strategy worked with a clear round in 84.866 seconds for the win.
“Lucky enough, I had gone earlier with Fineman and I thought I had gone very fast with him,” Sweetnam explained after his round of honor. “There was an option between the skinny and the black vertical and I had done the black vertical with him, which I think lost me two seconds. I knew with Cyklon, if I was to win, I had to do that skinny and it paid off.”
Fellow Irishman Cameron Hanley also had two horses in the top five today. Hanley and Newton du Haut Bois cleared the course in 87.445 seconds to place second. He also guided Player du Quesnoy to fifth place honors with a clear round in 88.668 seconds. Both horses are owned by Eleonore Paschoude & Yves Bouvier.
USA’s Rich Fellers and Colgan Cruise, owned by Fellers and Harry Chapman, placed third after jumping clear in 88.499 seconds. Venezuela’s Andres Rodriguez and Elatrice, owned by Arao Enterprises LLC, were extremely fast and finished sixth despite a rail on course and four seconds added to their time to finish on 90.558 seconds.
Cyklon 1083, a 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding by Cardento x Cortus, seems to be getting the hang of the natural obstacles and open grass fields at Spruce Meadows. Sweetnam explained that both he and the horse enjoy the fun courses and space to gallop.
“He has gotten better,” Sweetnam noted. “He used to jump a little bit too high at times, like last year at the start, but he has definitely improved a lot and he really likes going fast. He has become a bit of a professional at this I think.”
“I also like doing classes like this,” Sweetnam acknowledged. “You can let loose. You have a plan, but you can really sort of take a free shot at it. There are always chances that if you get away with them, that they will win you the class, so I do enjoy it.”
Commenting on Cristina Larangeiro’s course, Sweetnam described, “It is a good course and it is really good for the spectators because everyone can go really fast. It is not overly big, but there were a few tricky things with the grob and the water jump and the double of ditches. There are a lot of fun things in it that make it fun for the spectators.”
Sweetnam has had a great summer competing at Spruce Meadows and looks forward to his next return. “Spruce is great,” he smiled. “The Southern Family and the people here really look after you. There are different types of jumping here from big to fast to the derbies, which you don’t get everywhere anymore. I have to say, I really enjoy it myself. It is a great place.”
Sunday’s competition concluded the 2013 ‘Pan American’ Tournament at Spruce Meadows following five weeks of fantastic summer events. The competition will return in September when the best horses and riders from around the world compete for top prize money and international acclaim during the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’. Running September 4-8, 2013, Friday’s Mercedes-Benz Evening of the Horse kicks off the weekend with spectacular sport and entertainment. The weekend continues with the BMO Nations’ Cup on Saturday and the $1 Million CN International Grand Prix as the exciting finale on Sunday evening. For more information and full results from the summer tournaments, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Calgary, AB – July 13, 2013 – Ashlee Bond (USA) and Agrostar earned an exciting victory in the $33,000 ASHCOR Technologies Cup 1.50m competition on Saturday during day three of the ‘Pan American’ Tournament at Spruce Meadows. The pair led a five-horse jump-off out of 37 competitors to win over Canada’s Kara Chad and Alberto II with Reed Kessler (USA) and Ligist finishing third.
The $40,000 Friends of the Meadows Cup Parcourse de Chasse originally scheduled for Saturday was cancelled due to inclement weather and will now be held on Sunday morning. The ‘Pan American’ Tournament will conclude on Sunday afternoon with the $400,000 Spruce Meadows ‘Pan American’ Grand Prix to wrap up the summer’s five weeks of competition.
In Saturday’s $33,000 ASHCOR Technologies Cup, course designer Peter Grant (CAN) set a large and technical track for the 1.50m competition. Held in the Meadows on the Green, 37 competitors attempted the course and just five were able to clear the first round without fault. For the jump-off, riders weighed their options on speed and risk as the rain started to fall and in the end, three jumped double clear.
Reed Kessler and Ligist were first to go and cleared the short course in 44.72 seconds to eventually finish third. Ashlee Bond and Agrostar cleared the course in 42.88 seconds for the win, and last to go, Kara Chad and Alberto II, cleared the course in 44.33 second to finish in reserve. Beezie Madden (USA) and Abigail Wexner’s Amadora had four faults in 42.96 seconds to place fourth and Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Eregast Van’t Kiezelhof incurred four faults in 43.28 seconds to earn the fifth place prize.
California native Ashlee Bond purchased Agrostar, a nine-year-old Oldenburg stallion (Argentinus x Lupine), when he was seven. She is a half owner in partnership with his German owners Klatte KF, H.u.H. The stallion began showing with grand prix rider Richard Spooner two years ago and Bond took over the reins in 2012, quickly advancing from 1.25m on up. The pair did their first 1.30m in November last year, moved up to 1.40m over the 2013 winter and then jumped their first 1.50m competition this spring. Agrostar stepped up fast and traveled to this year’s FEI World Cup Finals as Bond’s second horse in April. She is now keeping him at the 1.50m height and has had a great experience showing the stallion this summer at Spruce Meadows.
“The whole series he has been amazing,” Bond stated. “I had to start in the 1.45m. He was ready, but I baby him a little bit because he is green and young and really careful. He stepped right up and he has done really great things here. I could not be happier. I came with an inexperienced horse at the 1.50m and I am leaving with a very experienced 1.50m horse. It is exciting and I am looking forward to the future.”
Going into the jump-off, Bond explained that she was hoping for a positive experience in their last competition of the tournament before returning to California.
“I wasn’t really thinking, ‘Let’s go out and win it’ because my horse is really green,” the rider stated. “I have done maybe a handful of jump-offs at this level with him, so I was just thinking, ‘Get a nice, comfortable rhythm and just try to stick with that.’ He is good at turning, which helps me out a bit and he is really good off that forward pace, but people here are really fast. Even his forward rhythm is still not going to cut it every day, but it is my last class this week, so I just wanted to put in a positive round and leave going home on a good experience.”
“The first round was tough,” Bond said of the afternoon’s track. “I thought it was really big. That is one of the toughest 1.50m tracks that I think they have built this circuit. You had to have rideability, you had to have scope, and you had to have carefulness. Everything was in there; it was not easy.”
“I went early and he handled it really well,” she continued. “He was actually a lot better in the jump-off I thought. He jumps so high in the first round sometimes that he actually tends to come down a little bit in the jump-off and jump more relaxed, which is kind of the goal for the first round. I was really happy with both rounds today; he was super.”
Seventeen-year-old Kara Chad also had a great experience today, finishing second with her ten-year-old Holsteiner gelding Alberto II (Acorado x Cassini I). The gelding showed with Great Britain’s Nick Skelton as a seven-year-old and has been moving up the ranks from Junior Jumpers all the way to 1.50m with Chad in the last two and a half years.
“That horse is amazing and he has always been so good to me,” Chad smiled after today’s performance. “He has a bunch of scope and a lot of personality. I know he can do this; it is just me coming up next to him and trying to meet him at this level. He takes care of me and he is an incredible horse.”
The pair showed in a derby a few weeks ago and is working on their consistency at the 1.50m level. Just this summer they have made giant leaps in their partnership.
“He is so versatile and so brave as well,” Chad praised. “I thought it was a hard track and big out there today, but he handles himself so well. I am very lucky and very happy with my result.”
The 2013 Spruce Meadows ‘Pan American’ Tournament concludes on Sunday with the $40,000 Friends of the Meadows Cup Parcourse de Chasse in the morning and the $400,000 Spruce Meadows ‘Pan American’ Grand Prix to be held as the finale event in the afternoon. For more information and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Adam Prudent and Vasco Victorious in $6,000 Shell Energy Cup
Calgary, AB – July 11, 2013 – The ‘Pan American’ Tournament at Spruce Meadows kicked off on Thursday with featured competition including a win for French rider Adam Prudent and Vasco in the $6,000 Shell Energy Cup 1.45m as well as a victory for USA’s Kent Farrington and Zafira in the $35,000 G&C Farm Cup 1.50m.
The ‘Pan American’ Tournament runs July 11-14, 2013, featuring CSI 5* competition and $625,000 in total prize money. The week will continue with the $15,000 CIBC Cup and $33,000 Friends of the Meadows Cup on Friday, the $40,000 Friends of the Meadows Cup and $33,000 ASHCOR Technologies Cup on Saturday, and the highlight event, the $400,000 PAN AMERICAN Cup presented by ROLEX, to wrap up competition on Sunday.
The $35,000 G&C Farm Cup was the highlight competition on Thursday with 62 entries jumping a challenging course set by Peter Grant of Vancouver, BC. Jumping in the beautiful Meadows on the Green, nine entries went clear to advance to the jump-off and just three were able to clear the short course without fault. First in the order of go and therefore first to return for the jump-off, Kent Farrington and Haity McNerney’s Zafira set the pace with what would prove to be the winning clear round in 37.88 seconds.
Canada’s Tiffany Foster and Victor, owned by Torrey Pines and Artisan Farms LLC, finished second with a clear jump-off round in 39.61 seconds. Mexico’s Nicolas Pizarro and Polasko placed third with a time of 43.81 seconds. Reed Kessler (USA) qualified two horses for the jump-off, finishing fourth with Ligist with four faults in 37.80 seconds. Kessler was also fifth with Iron Works Partners’ Wolf S with four faults in 42.23 seconds.
Class winner Zafira is a nine-year-old KWPN mare by Nassau x Cappucino van Berkenbroek. Zafira is gaining some valuable experience showing in the big rings at Spruce Meadows this summer and Farrington is very pleased with the mare’s progression.
“Zafira is a green horse to come to Spruce Meadows,” Farrington remarked. “It started out a little hairy. A year ago in the fall she was just doing 1.35m. She was a little behind, so I have come here and just tried to give her really strong miles. I started in the 1.45m and that went a little up and down, but now having been here for a while, she is getting more comfortable and she has steadily been improving.”
“Jumping a division higher in the 1.50m and being able to win is a great last week for the horse,” Farrington smiled. “Today she jumped great. That was her first class this week, so to march right into a big class like that, I was thrilled with her.”
Zafira has made a big step up this year and Farrington hopes to see continued success with the talented mare.
“I think she is just right on track,” he noted. “My goal was to bring her here and to give her lots of mileage and hopefully she stepped up and jumped some good classes and that is exactly what she is doing. I think leaving here she will be a much better horse where she will be comfortable walking into a lot of different venues and jumping some different classes.”
Farrington has a nice string of horses right now and is letting Zafira decide for herself where she will fall in the line-up.
“Like all of them, I get them when they are young and sort of produce them along the way and see how good they want to be,” he explained. “I think she is already a nice grand prix horse. She is only nine years old and where she goes from there I don’t know. The horses will decide if they want to be a superstar or they want to be a good second horse or a grand prix horse or what they want to do, but that is sort of always the unknown. You don’t know until you do it, but so far she is progressing nicely and I am happy with where she is.”
Zafira will show again later this week and then Farrington will make the decision about whether she will go to Europe or continue on to the Hampton Classic Horse Show in New York at the end August.
Prudent and Vasco Show Early Speed for Victory in the $6,000 Shell Energy Cup
Thursday’s schedule began with the $6,000 Shell Energy Cup 1.45m competition, held in the All Canada Ring, with 32 entries jumping a course set by Cristina Larangeiro of Portugal. The one round speed competition saw nine clear rounds with a win for Adam Prudent (FRA) riding Katie Prudent’s Vasco, an eleven-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Andiamo x Clinton. The pair took an early lead, seventh in the order of go, and could not be beat with their faultless round in a blazing fast time of 69.62 seconds.
Brianne Goutal (USA) and Cloverleaf Farm’s Uata made a great effort in 70.68 seconds to finish in reserve. Leslie Howard and Peter Howard’s Lennox Lewis 2 had the first clear round of the class in 73.22 seconds to place third. Belgium’s Francois Mathy and Opus PSG cleared the course in 74.20 seconds and finished in fourth place.
Adam Prudent and Vasco
“Vasco is a new horse that I just purchased before Calgary, so I have had him for six weeks now,” Prudent said of his winning mount. “He has come up quite well. We started him out in the 1.30m and now he is winning in the 1.45m. He has had results in every division since I have moved him up. He was doing 1.45m, 1.50m in Europe, but this is the first time I have shown him at this height and he is doing great.”
Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam was the only rider to top Prudent’s time, completing the course in 67.10 seconds aboard Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Cyklon 1083, but four faults left the pair out of the ribbons. Prudent explained that his speed with Vasco came easily.
“I just let him open up his stride,” Prudent stated. “I didn’t even really try to go fast. He is just a naturally fast horse I think and it worked out for the best.”
“He is a very careful horse, very scopey, a great horse all in all,” Prudent added. “He is very calm. Once you start jumping he becomes a little hotter and goes towards the rail, but he is a very easy horse to deal with. I haven’t shown him on anything but grass so far, but he loves the big open fields and he loves opening up his stride.”
Prudent and Vasco will head back to Europe after this week’s competition where they will compete in Dinard and then Valkenswaard.
“He is a sale horse, so if he is not sold after that I might go to Arezzo for two weeks and then there is a month tour in Morocco that I might take him to. He will definitely step up. He is a horse that I bought to possibly do 1.60m. He has a lot of potential and a lot of scope.”
The ‘Pan American’ Tournament at Spruce Meadows will continue on Friday with the $15,000 CIBC Cup 1.40m and $33,000 Friends of the Meadows Cup 1.60m in the Meadows on the Green Ring. For more information and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
