Calgary, AB - There was a championship feel in the air for the Saturday of the 2012 Spruce Meadows ‘National’.
The $60,000, 1.45 meter TransCanada Parcours de Chasse got underway with an international entry of 22 horse/rider combinations. With only one round to come out on top, Mario Deslauriers (USA) was the fastest to conquer the 600 meter Guilherme Jorge (BRA) course, which included 17 jumping efforts, including the south bank. The American veteran was close to being usurped by young Daniel Bluman (COL), but managed to hold onto first place aboard his 10 year old Dutch Warmblood Gelding, Whistler.
TransCanada Parcours de Chasse - Top 10
1- Mario Deslauriers USA Whistler
2- Daniel Bluman COL Vicky
3- Yann Candele CAN Game Ready
4- Rodrigo Lambre BRA Chepepe La Escondida
5- Darragh Kerins IRL Hot Wheels
6- Andres Rodriguez VEN Remonta Eden
7- Leslie Howard USA Lennox Lewis 2
8- Beda Wachter CAN Voilastar
9- Callie Schott USA Wrigley
10- Tim Gredley GBR Unex Voske
With the sun shining on the International Ring, 33 horse/rider combinations stepped in for the first leg of the CN Precision Series, the $200,000 1.60 meter CN Reliability World Cup Grand prix. Course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA) kept next week’s Olympic trials in mind, making things tricky enough that only 5 combinations returned for the jump off. The course, which stretched 555 meters with 16 jumping efforts, proved difficult for most, but champion Kent Farrington (USA) sped through, double clear with a jump off time of 38.98. Farrington was pleased with his 11 year old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Uceko. “Jumping in this ring really suits my horse. With the big ring, he is really able to let himself go, and get up to speed.” Farrington commented.
CN Reliability Grand Prix - Top 10
1- Kent Farrington USA Uceko
2- Eric Lamaze CAN Derly Chin de Muze
3- Darragh Kerins IRL Lisona
4- Richard Spooner USA Cristallo
5- Richie Moloney IRL Ahorn Van De Zuuthoeve
6- Beezie Madden USA Cortes C
7- Robert Whitaker GBR USA Today
8- Leslie Howard USA Utah
9- Jennifer Crooks IRL SF Uryadi
10- Kirsten Coe USA Combina
Always looking for ways to involve the community in the sport of show jumping, Spruce Meadows’ “Community Spirit: Show your colors” brought kids and clubs from all walks of life to the International Ring. Groups from all around the Calgary community gathered for the chance to watch international calibre competition, and bring their enthusiasm to the International ring. The Calgary Dragon Boat Club took home the ‘Most creative’ prize, Polo cross Canada was deemed ‘Best Dressed’, and ‘Most Athletic’ went to the Calgary rage women’s football club. For groups under fifty people, ‘Most enthusiastic’ were the MJP academy of Irish Dance, while the ‘Most Enthusiastic’ group over fifty was given to the Trinity Christian School Grade 8 class. Conco Phillips, The Calgary Sun and CN made it all possible with $30,000 in prize money.