The second week of the Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments begins tomorrow and there will be more top competition from June 12-16. The ‘Continental’ Tournament CSIO-W 5* is host to the $100,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ on Thursday, June 13, as well as the $200,000 CN Performance Grand Prix CSI-W on Sunday, June 16.
There will be complimentary admission and parking for spectators during the ‘Continental’ Tournament.
Spruce Meadows is host to one of only two Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ events in North America. The competition is a qualifier for North American countries hoping to attend the series final in Barcelona, Spain, in September. Since less than five teams were invited, Canada, the United States, and Mexico were able to field two teams each. The Chefs d’Equipe then chose which team would be competing for Nations Cup points.
The draw for the order of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ was held today and is as follows:
1. Canada Two
2. USA Stars*
3. Canada One*
4. USA Stripes
5. Mexico Team 1 Azteca*
6. Mexico Team 2 Maya
7. Ireland
* competing for Nations Cup points
“We look forward to hosting the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ at Spruce Meadows,” said Spruce Meadows President Linda Southern-Heathcott. “It is a great opportunity for these countries to compete with developing horses and riders, and I believe we will have great sport this week.”
The Chef d’Equipe for the Canada One team, Mark Laskin, spoke about the opportunity to field two teams. “We’ve never had the ability to have two teams compete at the same time. It’s our ‘home court,’ so there is definitely a lot of excitement and interest from our riders in getting a spot on the team. We’re all very excited for the opportunity,” he remarked.
Dr. Geoff Vernon, who represented the United States at today’s draw, agreed, “It’s always a great honor to ride for your country, and any time you can afford that opportunity to double the number you would normally have is great for the riders. It brings enthusiasm to the sport.”
Daniela Garcia Nigaglioni, Chef d’Equipe for the Mexico Maya team, said that this was the first time that Mexico has had 15 riders who wanted to come to a Nations Cup. “We have very experienced riders who have been to Wellington and the Olympics, and then riders who were in the 1.30m rings last year,” she said. “We are very excited to see how they will be together in this new Nations Cup.”
Although Ireland will just have one team, the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ at Spruce Meadows will be an important part of the schedule for them, said Chef d’Equipe Robert Splaine. “To have the opportunity to compete in a Nations Cup at such high quality in Canada is vitally important to the overall Irish plan, which incorporates Hickstead, the European Championships, and our own show in Dublin,” he explained. “I’ll come see our riders in action and hopefully they will do well and represent their country well, and I’ll be able to select one or more of those to come to Europe later on in the season.”
For those who are interested in watching some of the best equestrian team competition in North America, the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ will be held on Thursday, June 13, at 12 pm in the Meadows on the Green Ring.
Along with the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ on Thursday, there will be the $35,000 Husky Energy Cup 1.50m in the Meadows on the Green and the $33,000 RSA 1.45m in the All Canada Ring. Friday’s competition includes the $33,000 Altagas Cup 1.45m and the $33,000 Scotiabank Cup 1.50m in the Meadows on the Green. The $33,000 Talisman Energy Cup 1.50m will be held in the Meadows on the Green on Saturday, while the $33,000 McDaniel & Associates Derby 1.45m will run in the All Canada Ring.
Sunday’s highlight class is the $200,000 CN Performance Grand Prix CSI-W at 2 pm in Meadows on the Green. Earlier in the day will be the $60,000 Great-West Life Cup 1.50m.
For more information on Spruce Meadows and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
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