Spruce Meadows Skyliner/Continental Tuesday

The “Continental/Skyliner” Tournament kicked off at Spruce Meadows today with an exciting feature competition, the 1.45 metre Scotiabank Cup. There were 31 entries hoping to master the Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) designed course.

Palacios is not known for going easy on riders and today was no different as he came at them with 14 jumping efforts and a time allowed of 66 seconds. It was the time allowed that caught many horse/rider pairs, with five entries losing their clear rounds to the clock.

There were six that solved the difficult course to move onto the jump-off round. With only the best returning it would be a battle of speed and agility for first place.

There is no one better at turning it up for the jump-off than two time American Olympic team gold medalist, Beezie Madden. Madden was the first to return to the ring with her 9 year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Danny Boy. Madden cruised around the course and crossed the finish line with 33.64 seconds on the clock and a clear round. The time to beat was set.

That quick time to beat put the pressure on Madden’s young country mate, Nick Dello Joio. Dello Joio pushed his gelding Draco to the cost of a single rail. The pair settled for fifth place.

Giving Madden a run for her money was Canadian great, Beth Underhill. Underhill has always been known for her speed and tonight was no different as she galloped around the ring with Cantero Z, a 10 year-old Zangersheide gelding. Everyone’s eyes were on the clock as the pair crossed the finish line, the time stopped at 33.71 seconds.

It was a win by a hair, but that was all Madden needed to take home first place in the Scotiabank Cup. “Danny Boy has a huge stride and he’s really becoming a top horse for me,” said Madden following her victory. “Although he’s just nine, doing both the World Cup Final and Spruce Meadows have really required that he play at a high level,” added tonight’s champion.

Scotiabank Cup

1-         Beezie Madden                     USA                Danny Bow

2-         Beth Underhill                      CAN                Cantero Z

3-         Jonathan Millar                     CAN               Vianco V/D Rampaarden

4-         Beezie Madden                     USA                Authentic

5-         Nick Dello Joio                      USA                Draco

6-         Karl Cook                            USA                Lavito

7-         Nicolas Pizarro                     MEX               Crossing Jordan

8-         Pedro Yrigoyen                     MEX               Gioconto

9-         Lisa Deslauriers                    USA               Ardeche Van De Zelm

10-       Andrea Strain                       CAN               Luigi

The “Continental/Skyliner” Tournament continues tomorrow with junior/amateur competitions. The feature competition, the Paramount Resources Prix des Nations, will begin at 6:00 pm on Meadows on the Green.