Alex Matz (USA) and his veteran mount Cashew CR won the $32,250 Strength & Speed Challenge on Wednesday, November 6, at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, ON.
The first competition of the CSI5*-W division, which denotes the highest level of show jumping sport also offering a World Cup qualifying grand prix, saw riders competing over a “power and speed” track set by course designer Oscar Soberon of the United States. Riders navigated eight fences and, if they left all of them in place, immediately advanced to the speed portion of the course. Taking a daring inside turn in the speed phase would prove to seal the deal for Matz, 28, putting him into the early lead with a time of 32.69 seconds.
Matz’s time was challenged by Conor Swail, but the Irishman came up short in a time of 33.56 seconds riding Gamble for owner Asta Torokvei. Making his Royal Horse Show debut, Germany’s Richard Vogel, currently seventh in the Longines World Rankings, placed third aboard Phenyo van het Keysersbos for owner Belam S.R.O. after stopping the clock in 34.72 seconds.