It was a good day for the Irish, with team Ireland taking the win at the FEI European Championships and Conor Swail winning again at Thunderbird Show Park in the Steel-Craft Doors $35,000 Cup.
Swail and Flower have two in the bag leading up to Sunday’s Longines FEI World Cup Jumping. Swail commented after the class that about the confidence he feels with the wins under his belt going into Sunday’s class: “It does do a lot that she’s jumped three rounds in the ring and excelled. It gives me a lot of confidence going in.” Swail also congratulated his Irish teammates on their victory today.
With a big class of 63 riders and 17 in the jump off, this was the last chance for riders to get out on the grass before the big day on Sunday. The jump off came down to times with eight clear rounds. Course designer Allan Wade did a fair track, but it was the natural combination that got most of the group, 7AB, particularly A, a tall vertical.
Swail’s time of 38.70 beat Mandy Porter’s who came second on Coral Reef Follow Me II with a time of 39.32. Porter was the only one with two in the jump off, but caught a rail with her second Milano. Ben Asselin was the top-placed Canadian aboard Wahrhaftge CR.
And now the riders have to declare which horse they will take for Sunday’s Longines FEI World Cup Qualifier.
Results:
1. Flower – Conor Swail
2. Coral Reef Follow me II – Mandy Porter
3. Wahrhaftige CR – Ben Asselin
4. Columbcille de Reve – Lauren Crooks
5. Grand Cru vd Vijf Eiken – Vanessa Mannix
6. Pumped Up Kicks – Jennifer Gates
7. Wicked – Jenn Serek
8. Mai Tai – Karrie Rufer
9. Prim’ de Lairaud – Laura Jane Tidball
10. Milano – Mandy Porter
11. Luebbo – Jamie Barge
12. Daylight VDL – Christopher Surbey
