Calgary, AB – June 17, 2013 – The Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments has started out as a major success this year, with increased entries and riders from 11 nations competing at the first two five-star Tournaments. The ‘National’ Tournament CSI-W 5*, held June 5-9, saw top action in the International Ring, including a repeat performance for Kent Farrington and Uceko in the $400,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix CSI-W. During the ‘Continental’ Tournament CSIO-W 5*on June 12-16, Spruce Meadows hosted a fantastic Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ that helped Canada and the United States qualify for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Final in September.
John Madden, Chairman of the FEI Jumping Committee, said he was extremely pleased with the $100,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ last week. “From its inception, Spruce Meadows has endeavored to further the sport of show jumping both in Canada and North America. In doing so, Spruce Meadows as set the standard for our sport world-wide,” he stated. “Their goals fits perfectly with the goals of Furusiyya to bring the world closer together through horses and horsemanship.”
Linda Southern-Heathcott, President of Spruce Meadows, said that the level of this year’s competition has been fantastic. “We have had amazing sport in the past two weeks,” she remarked. “We have been excited to watch the best horses and riders in the world, and awarded more than $1.7 million in prize money in the past two weeks. We saw Kent Farrington win the first two legs in the CN $1,000,000 Precision Series. We can’t wait to see what the last three weeks of the Summer Tournaments bring!”
Spruce Meadows hosted the second leg of competition for the North American region in the $100,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™, and it was Ireland who took home the win after they logged six clear rounds. The Irish team consisted of Conor Swail and Lansdowne, Darragh Kerins and E Muze Yek, Richie Moloney and Carrabis Z, and Cameron Hanley and Antello. The Team USA Stripes finished second, while Team Canada One were third.
The ‘Continental’ Tournament at Spruce Meadows finished with a fantastic day of competition, including another big victory for Kent Farrington and Uceko in the $200,000 CN Performance Grand Prix CSI-W. It was the second week in a row that they won the grand prix.
The biggest prize money purse on offer at the ‘National’ Tournament was in the $400,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix, CSI-W 5*, and it was Kent Farrington (USA) who took home the winner’s share for the second year in a row with Uceko.
By winning the first two grand prix competitions of the season, Farrington won a CN Bronze Spike and a $50,000 bonus through the CN $1,000,000 Precision Series. If Farrington and Uceko are victorious in the Atco Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup during the ‘North American’, they they will receive a CN Silver Spike and $450,000. The million dollar series will conclude with the CN International Grand Prix during the ‘Masters’, where an additional $500,000 bonus will be on the line if Farrington can come up with the winning formula once again.
Additional ‘Continental’ Tournament Results:
Beezie Madden (USA) and Coral Reef Via Volo won the $60,000 Great-West Life Cup 1.50m. Andres Rodriguez (VEN) and Caballito captured the top prize as the only double clear in the $33,000 Talisman Energy Cup 1.50m. McLain Ward won for two days in a row, this time with Wannahave in the $33,000 McDaniel & Associates 1.45m Derby. Katie Dinan and Sandro scored another big win in the $10,000 CN ‘Fast Track’ Junior/Amateur Derby.
McLain Ward (USA) and Grant Road Partners’ Super Trooper de Ness were fastest in a large field of 75 to win the $33,000 AltaGas Cup 1.45m. Christine McCrea (USA) and Romantovich Take One, owned by Candy Tribble, were best in the $33,000 Scotiabank Cup 1.50m. Quentin Judge (USA) and Dark de la Hart took the top placing in the $35,000 Husky Energy Cup 1.50m. Abigail McArdle (USA) and Cosma 20 led the victory gallop for the second day in a row, this time in the $33,000 RSA Cup 1.45m.
The first day of the Spruce Meadows ‘Continental’ Tournament featured two welcome competitions in the Meadows on the Green. The first was a $5,000 Friends of the Meadows 1.45m Welcome for the horses in contention to compete in tomorrow’s $100,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™. Enrique Gonzalez (MEX) and Quilebo D Tillard took the win in the speed format competition. Abigail McArdle (USA) and Cosma 20 were fastest to win the second $5,000 Friends of the Meadow 1.45m Welcome.
Additional ‘National’ Tournament Results:
The final day of the Spruce Meadows ‘National’ Tournament had two exciting competitions that featured speed and stamina. Leslie Howard (USA) and Lennox Lewis 2 took their second victory in the $175,000 Nexen Cup 1.60m Derby, equaling their 2011 finish. Olympic gold medalist Eric Lamaze went into another gear to notch the week’s first Canadian victory in the International Ring in the $40,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup 1.50m. Ashlee Bond (USA) sped to victory in the $60,000 TransCanada Parcours de Chasse 1.45m with Cadett 7. In the All Canada Ring, Katie Dinan and Sandro won the $10,000 ConocoPhillips Junior/Amateur Cup 1.40m.
Beezie Madden led the victory gallop in both competitions in the International Ring on Friday. In the $35,000 RBC Capital Markets Cup 1.50m, she and Amadora found the path to win. The $35,000 ATCO Energy Solutions Cup 1.45m had a field of 62 competitors, and it was Madden and Wrigley who were fastest in the jump-off. Fifteen-year-old Lucas Porter rode Phineas to victory in the $10,000 Mercer Junior/Amateur 1.40m.
The $35,000 Spectra Energy Cup 1.60m was the highlight of Thursday’s schedule at the Spruce Meadows ‘National’ Tournament. Darragh Kerins (IRL) and E Muze Yek found the key to a clear round and were fastest in the jump-off for Kerins’ first victory in the International Ring. McLain Ward won for the second day in a row, this time on Zander in the $33,000 ATCO Pipelines Cup 1.45m. Another first-time International ring win came for Lauren Tisbo and Roundthorn Madios in the $33,000 Prairie Mines & Royalty Cup 1.50m.
For the third year in a row, Kent Farrington (USA) captured victory in the $33,000 ATB Financial Cup 1.50m, this year with Blue Angel. In the $33,000 Enbridge Cup 1.45m, McLain Ward (USA) was victorious with Super Trooper de Ness. Christine McCrea (USA) and Romantovich Take One won the $33,000 Bantrel Cup 1.45m, while Francois Mathy (BEL) on Polinska des Isles won the opening competition of the day, the $33,000 Friends of the Meadows Cup 1.60m.
The Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments continue with the ‘Canada One’ CSI-W 4* Tournament, June 25-30, ‘North American’ CSI 5* Tournament, July 3-7, and ‘Pan American’ CSI 5* Tournament, July 11-14. For more information on Spruce Meadows and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.