Spooner Scoops a Win on the Last Day of the National

The sun started to peak out after a morning of steady rain on the International Ring for the CNOOC Nexen Cup on the final day of the 2018 ‘National’ CSI5* presented by Rolex. Forty-one horse/rider combinations started the jump off competition, formerly the CNOOC Nexen Derby. In 2017, the CNOOC Nexen Derby was won by Richard Spooner (USA) for the third time in a row aboard Cristallo his 19 year old gelding, a proven derby winner, since retired. In 2018, Spooner was still intent on victory.

Vanessa Mannix (CAN) would be the first of only six clears in the competition. She was followed by Nicolas Pizarro (MEX) who had a second place finish earlier this week but still looking for a win. Four more clear rounds joined Mannix and Pizarro including Kent Farrington (USA) and Richard Spooner with his new mount, the nine year old Quirado C. Even though it wasn’t a derby, Spooner would once again lay claim to the victory, in a thrilling jump off, of the final competition of the Spruce Meadows ‘National’ presented by Rolex. “This horse is actually extraordinary” stated Spooner about the nine year old gelding. “Some horses don’t get me, he gets me.”

The conclusion of the CNOOC Nexen Cup marked the end of the 2018 ‘National’ presented by Rolex and we congratulate all of the winners of this week’s competitions.

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Full results here.

2018 Speed Series Challenge Kicks Off

The ATCO Cavalry Charge (Table C) kicked off the start of the 2018 Speed Series Challenge for riders competing at the Summer Series. The course designed by FEI course designer Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) utilizes many of the jumps of the Spruce Meadows Championship Jump Collection and is a trip around the world. Jumps from the Olympics (Montreal, Atlanta, Sydney, Beijing, London, Rio), Pan American Games (Toronto, Guadalajara) and World Equestrian Games (Kentucky, Normandy, Aachen) made their way center stage for athletes to navigate over the next three weeks.

Ireland’s Daniel Coyle with Forona was sixth to go in the order of 46 horse/rider combinations and held onto the top spot all the way to the very last entry. Rodrigo Lambre (BRA) was the last to go and no one had been able to catch Coyle’s time without a rail. Lambre and the quick horse Chapilot (who won earlier this week) changed that.

Galloping down to the last fence, Lambre had to leave it up to beat Coyle, and Chapilot did not disappoint. With a time of 79.13s Lambre took over first place in the ATCO Cavalry Charge, his second win of the Spruce Meadows ‘National’ presented by Rolex.

This exact same course will now move to the Meadows on the Green for the ‘Continental’ CSI5* (June 11-17) and the ‘Pan American’ CSI5* presented by Rolex (June 28-July1) before coming back to the International Ring during the ‘North American’ CSI5* presented by Rolex. The horse/rider combination with the most points gained over each of the Speed Series competitions will become the 2018 Spruce Meadows Cavalry Charge Speed Series Champion.

“There were many riders and they were very fast. You have to think about every turn” – Rodrigo Lambre (BRA)

Full results here.

Summer Continues at Spruce Meadows

Week one of the 2018 Spruce Meadows Summer Series is tucked neatly under our belts and there is so much more to come. Summer at Spruce Meadows has become a destination for those from near and far. Up next is the ‘Continental’ CSI5* Tournament, where we move our International competitions to the Meadows on the Green Ring and admission and parking throughout the tournament is complimentary.

Enjoy full days of top sport as athletes will take on tracks designed by FEI course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA) who designed the courses for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Along with all the show jumping action, Vendor Village and the Spruce Meadows Shop will remain open throughout the week for all your retail needs. The foals selected for the 2018 Name the Foal, presented by Telus will also be featured daily during the tournaments.

The new Spruce Meadows Carousel and Mini Train will be operating, compliments of ATCO, on the weekend of the ‘Continental’ CSI5* Tournament (June 16 & 17) and what a great way to spend Father’s Day. Great Events Catering has also be put together a special BBQ (Saturday) and brunch (Sunday) available for purchase once on the grounds.

More information on everything happening this summer can be found on the Spruce Meadows Website www.sprucemeadows.com or you can download the new Spruce Meadows App (IOS or Andriod).

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