Spruce Meadows National Sunday

It is a fan favourite, the ATCO Structures Double Slalom kicked off the Spruce Meadows International Ring today. The Double Slalom is always an exciting competition as horse/rider combinations race against each other over parallel courses.

One of the most unique aspects of the ATCO Structures Double Slalom is that it is a chance for many young riders to ride their horse in the storied Spruce Meadows International Ring. The winners list through the years include the greats, Beezie Madden (USA), Rodrigo Pessoa (USA) and Ian Millar (CAN) but it also includes names like Aimee Aron who won the event at the age of 14, the youngest ever in the International Ring.

Today’s final was Taylor Bland (CAN) against Brie Etcheverry (CAN). Both had competed in the ATCO Structures Double Slalom before, neither have had the chance to lead a Spruce Meadows victory ride. The win would be a lifelong memory for either, their first of hopefully many wins in the International Ring.

It was Etcheverry who raced her 10 year-old Warmblood gelding, Pilgrim Van De Paddepoel around the track the quickest. The 21 year-old Calgarian credited her speedy mount. “He’s a lot of fun to ride, like a sports car, loves to go and loves to jump,” explained Etcheverry of her horse.

ATCO Structures Double Slalom

1-         Brie Etcheverry                      CAN               Pilgrim Van De Paddepoel

2-         Taylor Bland                          CAN               Tango Las Marismas

3-         Karina Aziz                            CAN               Arriba

3-         Reed Kessler                         USA                Ice D’Ancoeur

5-         Jacqueline Colborne              CAN               Peninsual Vision

5-         Taylor Mulligan                      CAN               Rose Anne Steal

5-         Braden James                       CAN               Starlet

5-         Tani Zeidler                           CAN               Helraiser Clemence

The Nexen Cup Derby was the final competition of the 2009 Spruce Meadows “National” Tournament. It is one of the most challenging events in the sport for both horse and rider, with a distance of 1100 metres, 25 jumping efforts and every natural obstacle on the ring standing between them and the finish line.

Since the Nexen Cup Derby began in 2007 only one pair has mastered the course, only one pair has cleared the course, Beezie Madden and her great stallion Judgement. Madden looked to defend that title today but there were great competitors standing in her way.

Putting themselves ahead of the pack early were 2008 Olympians Pablo Barrios (VEN) and his Dutch Warmblood gelding, Sinatra. The pair incurred a mere four jumping faults in a time of 160.96 seconds.

Those four faults weren’t challenged until Ian Millar (CAN) and Redefin entered the ring. Millar showed why he has won more derbies than anyone else at Spruce Meadows as he navigated his gelding around the course perfectly. It looked like a rare clear round was in the cards for Millar as he made his way to the last fence. That last fence that had already cost so many cost Millar a perfect round. A single rail followed by a single time fault, Millar settled for third place.

When Barrios was finally matched it was Canadian Mario Deslauriers and his 15 year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Paradigm who did it. Deslauriers and Paradigm put together a solid round, finishing with four faults and forcing a jump-off.

A jump-off wouldn’t be necessary if Beezie Madden and Judgement could do what only they have done, ride the Nexen Cup Derby clear. Maybe it was the heat, or maybe it was because he hadn’t been competing since November but Judgement had two rare rails. “I took it for granted a little bit. He was not very competition fit and he was blowing a lot harder than usual when he left the ring today,” said Madden of her horse after the competition.

Madden’s eight fault round meant that Deslauriers and Barrios would jump-off with four faults. Barrios was the first in the jump-off and he was perfect, finishing clear with a time of 46.94 seconds. Deslauriers would have to be perfect and fast if he was going to win the Nexen Cup Derby.

“Paradigm’s a fast horse. I just had to stay on track,’ said Deslauriers of his jump-off plan. The plan paid off, he was fast, clear and in first place after finishing with a time of 43.15 seconds. “When he’s relaxed he’s the best,” said Deslauriers. Today Paradigm must have been relaxed because it doesn’t get any better than first place.

Nexen Cup Derby

1-         Mario Deslauriers                 CAN               Paradigm

2-         Pablo Barrios                        VEN               Sinatra

3-         Ian Millar                              CAN               Redefin

4-         Beezie Madden                     USA                Judgement

5-         John Anderson                      CAN               Terrific

6-         Jill Henselwood                     CAN               Black Ice

7-         Eric Lamaze                          CAN               Lord du Janlie

8-         John Anderson                      CAN               Gesine 36

9-         Leslie Howard                       USA                Raimond W

10-       James Billington                    GBR                Midnightlady