Calgary, AB – Spruce Meadows “Spring Welcome” Tournament was capped off today with the week’s feature event, the $25,000 TD Canada Trust Grand Prix. Course designer Werner Deeg (GER) set a big course, with 13 jumping efforts spanning over 390 metres.
Hoping to finish off the week on a high note the 18 entries came prepared to win. With the likes of former Canadian Olympians, John Anderson, Lisa Carlsen and Jonahtan Asselin competing, the TD Canada Trust Grand Prix was exciting from the get go.
The first round saw nine entries go clear to move on to the jump-off. Yesterday’s winner Andrea Strain was the first to go and the first clear. Strain set an early time to beat of 34.66 seconds. Going fast is never an issue for Calgary’s John Anderson. Anderson rode his 9 year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Terrific clear and very fast, finishing the course in 32.18 seconds.
With the time to beat now even faster Jonathan Asselin and his mount Coolio had to be quick. Asselin left out a stride early and was ahead of Anderson at the midway point. The early lead did not hold and when the clock stopped as Asselin crossed the finish line he was nearly a second shy of Anderson’s time.
John Anderson had set an unbeatable time and he finished his week with a win. “The first two tournaments here are really my first times competing this year. As the tournaments went on I got progressively better. It is really nice to end on a good note winning the Grand Prix,” said Anderson after his win in the TD Canada Trust Grand Prix.
TD Canada Trust Grand Prix Top 10
1- John Anderson CAN Terrific
2- Jonathan Asselin CAN Coolio
3- Andrea Strain CAN Luigi
4- Femke Van Den Bosch CAN Timebreaker
5- Tamie Phillips CAN Lucas
6- Allen Kruger CAN Pronikki
7- Lindsay Hitchner CAN Quipa LS
8- Andrea Strain CAN Novalis 46
9- Lisa Carlsen CAN La Boom
10- Lisa Carlsen CAN Woody
The Spruce Meadows “Spring Welcome” Tournament is the final indoor tournament before competition moves outside with the “May Classic” Tournaments.
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