Spruce Meadows Canada One: Luck of the Irish

Source: News Release

Luck of the Irish

(SPRUCE MEADOWS, Calgary, AB): The sun was shining strong on Spruce Meadows for the second day of the 2012 ‘Canada One’ Tournament.

With 75 horse/rider combinations saddling up for the 1.45 meter West Jet Cup, course designer Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) created a difficult and technical track for the riders. After 16 jumping efforts over 540 meters, a scant 6 combinations moved on into the jump off. Among them, Shane Sweetnam (IRL) beat out his competitors with double clear rounds aboard his 8 year old Belgian Warmblood mare, Everlychin de la Pomme. Although victory is nothing new to Sweetnam, the Irishman says that it’s always special to win at Spruce Meadows. “The track was tough, and the lines were technical, but you expect to be challenged when coming here” said Sweetnam, the 2011 Cenovus Classic Derby winner. “It makes the win a bit nicer, because you know that it wasn’t easy.” In second place, two time Olympian McLain Ward (USA) just missed out on top spot, just hundredths of a second behind Sweetnam.

Sweetnam got right back in the saddle to tackle the 1.50 meter Duncan Ross Cup. Out of a field of 41, Sweetnam was one of 6 horse/rider combinations to make it through to the jump off on the course designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) that stretched over 450 meters, with 15 jumping efforts.. Although hard fought the Irishman conceded victory to Kent Farrington (USA), aboard Voyeur, a 10 year old Dutch Warmblood. This win is the 5^th of Farrington’s lengthly list of FEI wins at Spruce Meadows this season.

It will be an exciting Canada Day weekend at Spruce Meadows! Riders are back on their mounts tomorrow for the $50,000 RBC Cup at 2 o’clock PM. In celebration of Canada, Spruce Meadows has activities for the whole family on Sunday, which will feature the $100,000 Esso Challenge World Cup Qualifier.