Spruce Meadows Pan American Tournament Saturday Roundup

Rich Fellers (USA) claims victory in the AKITA Drilling Cavalry Charge

The 2019 Alberta Power Speed Challenge continued today with the AKITA Drilling Cavalry Charge. Over the previous two legs riders competed over the same track designed by FEI Course Designer Leopoldo Palacious (VEN) attempting to not only win individual competitions, but accumulate the most points (based off of placings in each competition) in the Alberta Power Speed Challenge.

Going into the third competition of the series, only one point separated first place and second place held by Beezie Madden (USA) riding Jiva and Jordan Coyle (IRL) riding Picador respectively. It looked like it was going to be another win for Jordan Coyle but teammate Dermott Lennon (IRL) and MJM Pursuit were slightly faster with a time of 75.73s against Coyle’s time of 75.80s. But the Irish dreams were dashed when veteran American rider Rich Fellers, one of the final riders to go, aboard Steelbi, knocked the Irish out to claim victory in the AKITA Drilling Cavalry Charge with a time of 75.51s.

A second win for Natalie Dean (USA) in the ‘Pan American’

The U25 ATCO Grand Prix was the final competition for the U25 riders of the ‘Pan American’ CSI5* Tournament, presented by Rolex. Twenty-six young riders made their way into the Meadows on the Green in hopes of a Spruce Meadows victory. In order to advance to the jump off, riders first had to jump a clean round one.

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Eleven horse/rider combinations jumped a clean first round to advance to the jump off. Natalie Dean of the United States and her partner Ceitasi had their sights set on a second victory for the week. The pair jumped the fastest clear round in the jump off with a time of 36.85s to take the win.

Eduardo Menezes (BRA) win the Friends of the Meadows Cup

It shaped up to be a beautiful morning start to Saturday of the 2019 Spruce Meadows ‘Pan American’ CSI5* presented by Rolex, beginning at 8:30AM on the Meadows on the Green. The first competition of the day was the Friends of the Meadows Cup (1.50m). It welcomed fifty-three horse/rider combinations to take on the 480m track designed by FEI Course Designer Alan Wade (IRL)

Following the completion of the first round, those riders who produced clear rides advanced to the jump off. Only ten horse/rider combinations would produce clear rides in the first round including some young up-and-comers from the United States Lillie Keenan and Jennifer Gates.

There were some very quick clear rides in the jump off, and Gates produced a very quick time of 33.93s. Brazil’s Eduardo Menezes and the 11 year-old gelding H5 Chaganus were the only ones fast enough to catch her, producing a time of 32.75s. Keenan was one of the last riders to go and did her best to catch Menezes, but would end up tied to the hundredths for second place along side Gates.

“It’s a great feeling for me. This is the last class I will do with this horse before the (2019) Pan American Games so it’s always good to finish with a win.” – Eduardo Menezes (BRA) on his Spruce Meadows win with H5 Changanus.

Jordan Coyle (IRL) with his third win of the 2019 Spruce Meadows Summer Series

The Young Horse Friends of the Meadow Cup (7 year-olds) kicked off the morning on the North American Ring with an 8:00AM start. Twenty-two young horses started the two round (jump off) competition and were required to jump a clear first round to advance to the jump off.

Nine of the horse/rider combinations jumped a clear round and returned for the jump off. Jordan Coyle (IRL) and Centriko Volo had the fastest clear ride in the jump off with a time of 30.46s to secure the win.

Nikolaj Hein Ruus (DEN) & Spot Cash win the Young Horse Friends of the Meadows Cup

Thirty horses competed in the Young Horse Friends of the Meadows Cup (1.45m) – the final FEI competition for the 8 year-olds for the week. The two round (jump-off) competition designed by FEI Course Designer Quintin Maertens (NED) saw only seven horse/rider combinations advance to the jump off following clean first rounds.

The young horses have really been building their confidence and experience over the last three weeks and Spruce Meadows stallion Spot Cash was no exception. Piloted by Nikolaj Hein Ruus (DEN), Spot Cash delivered the fastest clear round in the jump off with a time of 30.69s to secure the win.

Full results here.