Spruce Meadows Champions Welcome: FEI Weekend

The Champions Welcome Tournament at Spruce Meadows just concluded it's lead-up to the Masters with four FEI classes this weekend. Course designer, Werner Deeg (GER), truly set 'welcoming' courses - big enough to test, but also fair enough to help build confidence.

Richard Spooner won Saturday's 1.50 meter class on Billy Bianca, his speedy and careful 10 year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Molly Ohrstrom.

Richard Spooner and Billy Bianca flew around the jump-off course. Photo: moranequinephoto.com

Beezie Madden and Cortes C came closest to Spooner's time, but just missed by 0.70 of a second. Cortes C is a nine year-old Belgian bred gelding owned by Abigail Wexner.

Beezie Madden and Cortes C put in a smooth and quick jump-off round to earn second place honors. Photo: moranequinephoto.com

Earlier in the day, Simone Wettstein of Switzerland took the red ribbon in the 1.45meter Friends of the Meadows Welcome. She rode Celerina II CH, a 13 year-old Swiss Warmblood mare to the win. Karim E Fares of Lebanon piloted Tatjana, a Dutch Warmblood mare into second place.

Sunday's big class was the 1.50 meter $78,000 Friends of the Meadows World Cup Qualifier. Khaled Al-Eid of Saudi Arabia was first to go out of eight in the jump-off and he set a time on Presley Boy that none of the others could catch. Presley Boy is a 14 year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Saudi Equestrian.

Khaled Al-Eid and Presley Boy grabbed the lead in the jump-off and no-one could catch their time. Photo: moranequinephoto.com

Khaled Al-Eid said that this class was an excellent warm-up for the Masters. The Saudi team is concentrating on a good showing in the BMO Nations Cup next Saturday.

Richard Spooner had a strong showing with Cristallo in the jump-off, coming closest to Al-Eid's time just missing by 0.40 of a second. Cristallo, Spooner's seasoned veteran, is a 13-year old Holsteiner gelding owned by Show Jumping Syndication Intl.

Cristallo and Richard Spooner put in a another good round in the World Cup Qualifier. Photo: moranequinephoto.com

The 1.45 meter class on Sunday was won by Peter Charles (GBR) riding Murkas Nevada, a 10 year-old Selle Francais stallion owned by Olga White. His time was almost caught by Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) riding his own Dakar, an 8 year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding.

Spruce Meadows is hosting three members of the Philappaerts family; along with Olivier, father Ludo and brother Nicola are also competing.

Richard Spooner continued his good form in this class and earned another top ribbon, taking third place on Billy Bianca.

 

Full results can be found at SpruceMeadows.com.