Conor Swail secured the win tonight in the $100,000 Truman Homes Cup CSI3* concluding the final Saturday of Royal West. Swail and Koss Van Heiste went double clear with 44.29 on the board to lock in their place on the podium.
“It feels wonderful. I was very happy with my round,” said Swail, “[Koss Van Heiste] is very young, he’s only eight years old. Tonight was a bit of a surprise to be honest but it is certainly a nice surprise.” James Chawke and Grasshopper went fifth in the jump off, just off the pace with 44.30 seconds putting them into second place. Third was awarded to Vanessa Mannix aboard Valentino D’Elte with 48.15 seconds. “Conor, James and Vanessa are exemplary. To be top three was impeccable,” said John Anderson.
Tonight’s much anticipated Truman Homes Cup began with 30 entries and 8 continued to the jump off. Werner Deeg designed the intricate 15-jump course. “[Tonight’s course] was bigger than what it’s been with a few slightly trickier parts to it,” explained Swail, “[Grasshopper] jumped around really nicely.”
Our top three tonight are the definition of teamwork. Swail, Chawke and Mannix have been a team for many years, riding in Grand Prix’s and training young horses together. “What you see in the ring is only a small part of the process that goes into results,” said Swail when asked about the team dynamic, “Myself, James and Vanessa – we’ve been together for many years as a team – tonight we’re one, two and three in a very prestigious 3-star event; it’s wonderful.”
“The growth of [Royal West], the support the riders have given us – Royal West is becoming a mainstay on the circuit,” said Anderson, “It is a tribute to the people who support us.” George Trutina, from Truman Homes, who constantly gives back to Calgary, sponsored this evening’s class and donated $150,000 in support of the Calgary Homeless Foundation. “We couldn’t do it without [Trutina],” explained Anderson, “to have this competition and the results we had today – it’s amazing, I am extremely happy.”
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