Canada’s First Win for the 2019 Summer Series
The PwC Cup (1.50m) was the afternoon competition for Thursday of the Spruce Meadows ‘National’ presented by Rolex. Thirty-four riders started the two round competition in the International Ring with the hopes of making it to the top of the leader board.
Riders were tested by FEI course designer Peter Grant (CAN) over twelve obstacles and 510m of track in the first round and fourteen of those riders passed the test jumping fault free rounds. Canada’s Eric Lamaze proved he was in it to win it and aboard his Olympic mount Fine Lady 5 jumped a quick clear that no one could catch.
“Keeps me happy and gives me a great reason to get up every morning and do something that I love doing,” said Eric Lamaze on being back in the saddle for the 2019 Summer Series.
The Best in the World can Only get Better
Day two of the Spruce Meadows ‘National,’ presented by Rolex, came to a close with the ATB Financial Cup 1.55m. As the only qualifier for Saturday’s RBC Grand Prix of Canada presented by Rolex, riders had to bring their A-game to the evening competition.
Thirteen out of the sixty horse/rider combinations representing eight nations posted clear rounds making it into the jump-off, including three Canadians. Eric Lamaze and Mario Deslauriers finished double clear but their times were not fast enough. Current FEI World Cup Champion Steve Guerdat (SUI) made a play for first place with a quick time of 46.31s, but came in just shy of 2018 FEI World Cup champion Beezie Madden (USA) whose time was 46.11s. The top three was rounded out by Australia’s Rowan Willis aboard Diablo VII and a jump off time of 46.95s.
All three riders have now qualified for Saturday’s RBC Grand Prix of Canada, presented by Rolex.
“I can bring my whole stable, young horses and clients. My goal is to have all the horses leave better than they arrived.” – Beezie Madden (USA) on coming to the Spruce Meadows Summer Series.
Age is Just a Number
The International Ring winner’s circle at Spruce Meadows is not just a place for the veterans of the show jumping world. This mornings Cardel Cup (1.45m) saw an array of horses and riders looking for their moment in the spotlight as a Spruce Meadows Champion.
Over 50 horse/rider combinations started the competition including top international riders Kent Farrington (USA), Steve Guerdat (SUI), Philipp Weishaupt (GER) and Eric Lamaze (CAN). None were able to best the time of seventeen year-old Brian Morggre (USA) and his home-bred chestnut mare MTM Flutterby. The duo posted a quick clear ride with a time of 65.62s to beat out some of the best to the winner’s circle.
“It’s pretty sureal, I wasn’t expecting to be here this year early in the circuit but here we are and it’s awesome.” – Brian Moggre (USA) on his first trip to the Spruce Meadows winner’s circle.
Eduardo Menezes with a win for Brazil
The competition started early on the International Ring day two of the 2019 ‘National’ CSI5* presented by Rolex with the Friends of the Meadows Cup 1.45m. Fifty horse/rider combinations competed in the one round competition against the clock, trying to produce the fastest clear round.
A familiar face to Spruce Meadows, Eduardo Menezes (BRA) and his speedy mare H5 Caruschka 2 were the only combination to produce a clear round and break the 70 second mark with a quick time of 69.27s.
“It always helps, it gives you confidence as you move into the weekend.” – Eduardo Menezes (BRA) on posting a win early in the week.
For more tournament information, click here.
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