The Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament is set for an exciting CSIO 5* competition on September 10-14, 2014. The feature competition of the week is the $1.5 Million CP International, presented by Rolex, one of the most prestigious grand prix events in the world and part of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. There will be $2.8 million CAD on the line over the five days, an increase of more than half a million dollars from 2013. The top riders in the world, many having just competed at the FEI World Equestrian Games, will be on hand to thrill crowds as they compete for top prizes. Spruce Meadows welcomes team silver medalists Kevin Staut and Penelope Leprevost of France and team bronze medalists of the United States, McLain Ward, Kent Farrington, and individual bronze medalist Beezie Madden.
The $1.5 Million CP International, presented by Rolex offers the biggest prize money for a single-day event in show jumping and sets a new benchmark in the sport. A founding sponsor at Spruce Meadows, Canadian Pacific has helped make the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament the richest event in the world. The two round event starts at 12 p.m. on Sunday, September 14. It will be televised live by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and be seen in more than 100 countries around the world.
“We are excited to welcome these top riders to this year’s edition of the ‘Masters’ Tournament,” said Spruce Meadows President Linda Southern-Heathcott. “The $1.5 Million CP International, presented by Rolex will be a thrilling event with some of the biggest names in the sport, and we all eagerly await to see if someone can take home a prize as part of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. We strive to improve the Spruce Meadows experience every year for our exhibitors, sponsors, and spectators, and we believe that the 2014 ‘Masters’ will be truly memorable.”
Spruce Meadows is host to the second leg of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, following the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen in July and prior to the CHI Geneva in December. The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is the first global initiative to reward the outstanding rider who wins the Grand Prix at each tournament in succession. Any rider who wins the Grand Prix at each of the three iconic tournaments consecutively will receive €1 million bonus on top of the prize money for each tournament’s Grand Prix. Moreover, any rider who wins two out of the three tournaments’ Grand Prix events will also receive a bonus of €500,000 in succession or €250,000 for winning two out of three.
Top team sport also returns to Spruce Meadows with the $300,000 BMO Nations’ Cup on Saturday, September 13. Eight national federation teams will take part in the BMO Nations’ Cup, including:
Canada – Olympic gold medalist Eric Lamaze, 10-time Olympian Ian Millar, Olympian Tiffany Foster, and 20-year-old rising star, Ben Asselin
U.S.A. – Olympic gold medalists Beezie Madden, McLain Ward, Leslie Howard, and Olympian Lauren Hough
Belgium – last year’s CP International winner Pieter Devos, 2012 CP International winner Olivier Philippaerts, Nicola Philippaerts, and Niels Bruynseels
France – Kevin Staut, Penelope Leprevost, Cedric Angot, Marie Hecart
Germany – FEI World Cup Finals Champion Daniel Deusser, 2014 Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen winner Christian Ahlmann, Marco Kutscher, Philipp Weishaupt, and Andre Thieme
Great Britain – European Championship gold medalist Michael Whitaker, Robert Whitaker, William Whitaker, and Guy Williams
Ireland – Conor Swail, Shane Breen, Dermott Lennon, and Billy Twomey
Switzerland – Olympic gold medalist Steve Guerdat, Marie Etter, Alain Jufer, and Nadja Peter Steiner
Additional top individual riders will compete during the week of the ‘Masters,’ including the five all-time Spruce Meadows money winners. The roster includes riders such as U.S. Number One rider Kent Farrington, FEI World Cup Finals winner Rich Fellers (USA), Olympian Reed Kessler (USA), Richard Spooner (USA), Quentin Judge (USA), Kyle King (USA), Jonathon Millar (CAN), Christian Sorensen (CAN), Frank Shuttert (NED), Marc Houtzager (NED), Jaime Azcarraga (MEX), Luis Alejandro Placensia (MEX), Lucia Vizzini (ITA), Sameh El Dahan (EGY), Paulo Santana (BRA), and Mark Lindh (AUS).
The schedule includes these major FEI competitions. With the exception of the ATCO Electric Six Bar, all are important events for FEI World Ranking points:
Wednesday, September 4: $50,000 TELUS Cup 1.50m and $85,000 Finning Cup 1.60m
Thursday, September 5: $50,000 ATCO Structures and Logistics Cup 1.50m and $125,000 CANA Cup 1.60m
Friday, September 6: The Mercedes-Benz “Evening of the Horse” featuring the $210,000 Tourmaline Oil Cup 1.60m followed by the $75,000 ATCO Electric ‘Circuit’ Six Bar under the lights, the RCMP Musical Ride, and Band of the Welsh Guards playing live music to the fireworks display
Saturday, September 7: $125,000 Suncor Winning Round 1.50m and $300,000 BMO Nations’ Cup
Sunday, September 8: $85,000 Akita Drilling Cup 1.50m and $1.5 Million CP International, presented by Rolex
Saturday’s Suncor Winning Round and BMO Nations’ Cup and Sunday’s $1.5 Million CP International, presented by Rolex will be televised live on the CBC.
With $2,647,000 in the FEI division, a further $111,000 is awarded in the Equine Canada National division, along with the Mercedes-Benz Leading Canadian Rider Award. The outstanding Canadian in the 1.40m National Division drives away with a new Mercedes-Benz to use for an entire year. An additional $24,000 is given for TELUS Battle of the Breeds, and $7,800 for special awards, for a total prize money amount of $2,782,000 given over five days at the ‘Masters.’
The ‘Masters’ Tournament will also bring a wealth of fun activities for the whole family to enjoy. The RCMP Musical Ride will be performing daily, and the horses will be stabled in West Meadows, eager for visits from the public. The Spruce Meadows Prairie Dogs, presented by RE/MAX will entertain with our canine friends during special performances located behind the East Grandstand from Friday through Sunday. Wagon Rides and Pony Rides, presented by Kozy Shack will run throughout the tournament and BMO the Bear will be onsite for cuddly visits, complemented by face painting and the BMO human foosball display – a great way to tire the little ones out! CP’s Little General will delight visitors both young and old, offering rides on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am – 2 pm and the Heart and Stroke Foundation, in conjunction with CP Has Heart, will be onsite with a fun and innovative way to learn about the importance of heart health.
In its 25th year, the TELUS Battle of the Breeds will feature three competitions and 10 different breeds vying for the championship title. On Friday, September 12, the winning names for Name the Foal, presented by TELUS will be announced, so don’t miss your chance to learn the names of the future stars of show jumping! Fireworks, orchestrated in time to live music courtesy of the Band of the Welsh Guards, presented by GE Canada will cap off the evening on Friday, September 12, and the Household Cavalry and King’s Troop will bring a delightful flair to the grounds. Looking for some retail therapy? Both equine and non-equine art and products will be on display in the Equi-Plex, the Gallery on the Green, the Spruce Meadows Tack Shop & Plaza Exhibit space. For more information on these activities, and everything going on around the grounds, please visit our website at www.sprucemeadows.com.
The world’s top international riders return September 10-14 for the ‘Masters’ Tournament CSIO 5*. Everyone is invited to see the sport of show jumping at its best. For more information and full schedule, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
For further information on the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, please visit www.rolexgrandslam.com.
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