The first day of the Spruce Meadows “North American” Tournament was action packed as competition returned to the International Ring. It was the AON Risk Services Cup that got things started in front of the Canada Day crowd of over 11,000.
There were 77 entries that took on the 1.50 metre, 14 jumping effort, Guilherme Jorge (BRA) designed course. Jorge put together a fair challenge for the entries as 12 were able to complete the first round clear and move onto the jump-off.
For the jump-off the horse/rider combinations had to make their way around 8 jumping efforts across 345 metres of the ring. Speed would factor into the jump-off group that included, Olympians, World and World Cup Champions.
It was Canadian Mario Deslauriers who set the pace as the lead off entry with his 8 year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, Urico. Deslauriers has had an incredible first three weeks at the Spruce Meadows Summer Series and looked every bit as good tonight when he crossed the finish line in 44.25 seconds.
There were still 11 worthy opponents to follow him into the ring for the jump-off so for the Canadian it became a game of sit and wait. After a twenty minute weather delay he watched fellow Canadians Yann Candele, Eric Lamaze and John Anderson cross the finish line without challenging his time.
It wasn’t until American Rich Fellers entered the ring that eyes started watching the clock. Fellers challenged hard on his Irish bred stallion, Flexible. Pushing his mount around the course with signature speed it looked like they might take the lead. As they crossed the finish line the clock stopped at 45.61 seconds, over a second behind the first place time of Mario Deslauriers.
“I’m thrilled, it’s very exciting to have a horse like this,” said Deslauriers after his win in the AON Risk Services Cup. “It’s easy, he’s quick and I feel that this is my horse. He’s a good fit and that’s a good feeling,” added the champion.
AON Risk Services Cup top 10
1- Mario Deslauriers CAN Urico
2- Rich Fellers USA Flexible
3- John Anderson CAN Gesine 36
4- Yann Candele CAN Pitareusa
5- Jaime Azcarraga MEX Presley Boy
6- Amy Millar CAN Costa Rica Z
7- Jamie Azcarraga MEX Celsius
8- Eric Lamaze CAN Undercontract
9- Rodrigo Pessoa BRA Cazino
10- Beth Underhill CAN Top Gun
The Enerflex Cup was the final event of the day and it did not disappoint with 35 rounds of championship competition. Guilherme Jorge (BRA) designed another excellent course which featured 15 jumping efforts over a distance of 555 metres and a time allowed of 84 seconds.
There were 27 starters in the competition with eight moving onto a jump-off round. The jump-off roster featured the best riders in the sport all on their top mounts. It was going to be a show down of speed, agility and horsepower.
Canadian Jill Henselwood was the first to go clear in the jump-off. With her 15 year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Black Ice, Henselwood set the time to beat at 47.18 seconds.
Her Canadian Olympic team mate Eric Lamaze rode his gold medal winning mount Hickstead into the ring looking to beat that time. Lamaze steered his great stallion around course in 44.33 seconds, a new time to beat.
Following the Canadians into the ring was Brazilian great, Rodrigo Pessoa. Pessoa rode his 11 year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Rufus with a agression. He wanted to win and turned up the speed to do so, crossing the finish line in 42.78 seconds.
Pessoa had to watch and wait as one last competitor entered the ring, Captain Canada, Ian Millar. Riding his Olympic mount In Style Millar looked to be a Canadian winner for the crowd on Canada Day. While he was fast the time wouldn’t be good enough to beat the speedy Brazilian as he came home in 43.74 seconds.
The Canadian crowd wasn’t disappointed to cheer on the deserving International winners of the Enerflex Cup, Rodrigo Pessoa and Rufus. “This horse has been knocking on the door. He deserved to win, so that was nice,” said Pessoa after the win. “He’s been wanting to win and now we are ready for the Grand Prix on Saturday. I need this momentum,’ added tonight’s champion.
Enerflex Cup top 10
1- Rodrigo Pessoa BRA Rufus
2- Ian Millar CAN In Style
3- Eric Lamaze CAN Hickstead
4- Jill Henselwood CAN Black Ice
5- Mario Deslauriers CAN Paradigm
6- Will Simpson USA Archie Bunker
7- Jonathan Asselin CAN Rayana Chiara
8- Keean White CAN Celena Z
9- Alicia Jonsson USA Don Francisco
10- Shane Sweetnam IRL Amaretto D’Arco
Tomorrow’s t feature competitions, the $35,000 Pengrowth Cup, are set to begin at 5:00 pm and will be followed by the $35,000 D-Line Construction Cup, in the Spruce Meadows International Ring.
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