Spruce Meadows “National” Sunday

Calgary, AB): The ATCO Structures & Logistics Double Slalom started with 32 entries and ended with one very fast, and very excited winner. It was 19 year-old Karl Cook (USA) and his 16 year-old mount, Notories Utopia who claimed first prize in the fan favourite event.

Cook first had to get through four rounds of competitors in the bracket racing style competition. “I didn’t have to be Hercules out there, I was clear in all the rounds, and lucky that my competitors had a rail,” said Cook. The American stayed the course with speed and control through each round of competition.

In the last round he faced fellow American Reed Kessler. The 15 year-old Kessler was in the semi-final of last year’s event, went for broke in this years final, costing her a valuable three seconds after a refusal.

“It was amazing,” said Cook of his first Spruce Meadows International Ring win. The ATCO Structures & Logistics Double Slalom is a great way for a young rider to introduce themselves to the big crowds in the biggest ring in the sport. With one win under his belt, Cook will certainly be back for more.

ATCO Structures & Logistics Double Slalom top 10 – 1. Karl Cook – USA – Notories Utopia 2. Reed Kessler – USA – Ice D’ancoeur 3. Nicole Lakin – USA – Cevin 24 3. Chelsea Moss – USA – Dornadoc 5. Pablo Barrios – VEN – G&C Leroy 5. Augusta Marit – CAN – Ingenisio 5. Beda Wachter – CANvVoilastar 5. Ben Asselin – CAN – Silvo

Pablo Barrios finished the Nexen Cup Derby with four faults in 2009, those four faults cost him first position. When he came through the Clock Tower today, he wasn’t going to make the same mistake.

Heading into today there had only been two clear rounds in the Nexen Cup, Beezie Madden (USA) and Judgement hold both of those. With the retirement of her great stallion Madden wasn’t competing today, could there be a clear round without her?

The course stands in the way of anyone going for that elusive clear round. It features 25 jumping efforts, including the infamous bank and devil’s dyke, this all spans over 1100 metres with a time allowed of 165 seconds. The master, Leopoldo Palacios (VEN), designed a course that would stand the test of time and demand a deserving winner.

Leslie Howard (USA) was the first to leave all the fence up on her 12 Dutch Warmblood gelding, Raimond W. She finished with just two time faults, a rarity from the Queen of Speed. “There’s no excuse for time faults, I hate them,” said Howard.

Those two time faults put Howard in the lead until her team mate Ashlee Bond stepped into the ring. Riding her 13 year-old Holstein gelding Cadett 7 Bond set out to do something she’s never done before, ride a Spruce Meadows derby. “The Devil’s Dyke and the hill were very intimidating,” said Bond. “My heart was racing and I’m never nervous,” added the American.

Intimidated or not, Bond ate up the course, finishing with just one time fault. “For me I was giving us a shot to go clean,” said Bond. That one time fault would cost Bond her win as she watched Venezuelan, Pablo Barrios come into the ring.

Barrios, riding his 11 year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, G&C Sinatra was the last to go. He rode the course perfectly, all the while keeping an eye on the time. “I really tried to make the time,” said Barrios. “That’s why I was 10 seconds under,” added the champion.

The win was the first for a Venezuelan at Spruce Meadows. Countrymen and FEI course designer Leopoldo Palacios was very proud. “This was the biggest sporting win for a Venezuelan I think,” said Palacios. “I am very proud of you,” added Palacious of Barrios.

For the win Barrios was equally excited, “It’s my first big Spruce Meadows win, and the first time that I’ve come into the ring on a golf cart,” said Barrios, adding, “I’m just very happy.”

This won’t be the last we see of these great derby riders, they are all eagerly anticipating the Mercedes-Benz Classic at the “North American Tournament. “I’m going again in four weeks, and he’d better be ready,” said Bond, adding, “because I’m going faster!”

Nexen Cup Derby top 10 –

1. Pablo Barrios – VEN – G&C Sinatra

2. Ashlee Bond – USA – Cadett 7

3. Leslie Howard – USA – Raimond W

4. Georgina Bloomberg – USA – Fiedi 3

5. Brianne Goutal – USA – Nice De Prissey 6. Femke Van Den Bosch – CAN – Tom Tom 7. Jill Henselwood – CAN – Bottom Line 8. Leslie Howard – USA – Lennox Lewis 2 9. Rodrigo Pessoa – BRA – Champ 163 10. Marilyn Little-Meredith – USA – Blue Curacao

The 35th Anniversary season continues Wednesday with the beginning of the Spruce Meadows “Continental” Tournament. The “Continental” also hosts the second leg of the CN Precision Series, the CN Performance Grand Prix. Canada’s Eric Lamaze won the first leg, but he has 3 time champion, Beezie Madden (USA) standing in his way.