Source:  News Release

Evening of the Horse Serves up Record Memories

 (SPRUCE MEADOWS, Calgary, AB): 61,410 fans visited Spruce Meadows Friday to enjoy championship sport. 

The $100,000 Encana Cup saw 34 horse/rider combinations move through the course designed by Leopoldo Palacios (VEN). Over the 575 meter course with 16 jumping efforts, 4 combinations moved through to the jump off. Kent Farrington (USA) saw his 7^th FEI victory at Spruce Meadows this year alone riding his 11 year old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Uceko. With this victory, Farrington sits as a favorite the $1,000,000 CN International this Sunday. The Chicago native is also one of three riders that are in play to take home the CN Precision Series bonus of $50,000, after winning a previous CN Grand Prix this summer. “The CN International is the one you are always working for” commented Farrington. “I’m looking for consistency in my horses, and Uceko has shown to me that he has what it takes to get there.”

After rolling out the floodlights, 11 horse/rider combinations manoeuvred their way through the ATCO Electric 6 Bar. The first round saw 6 of those riders take down one of the jumps that stretched to 1.66 meters tall. When the last fence in the grid moved up to 1.99 meters, both Robert Whitaker (GBR) and Harrie Smolders (NED) cleared the massive jumps, Whitaker aboard the 9 year old Holstein Gelding Catwalk IV, and Smolders riding Exuis Walnut de Muze, a 13 year old Belgian Warmblood mare. While this is Smolders first appearance at Spruce Meadows in 2012, Whitaker was a force to reckon with in the International ring during the Spruce Meadows Summer Series. “This summer was great for Catwalk” Whitaker commented. “This venue is great to work on him with, with all the crowds and lights and things.”

The weekend continues at Spruce meadows, with the Suncor Winning Round scheduled for 11:00am, followed by the BMO Financial Nations Cup at 2:00pm.

Dr. Sam Shaw, Vice President, Natural Gas Policy Development, Encana Natural Gas presenting the winners’ cheque to Kent Farrington. Photo Credits: Spruce Meadows Media Services.

Encana Cup – Top 10

1-Kent Farrington                     USA                Uceko

2-Hans Dieter Dreher               GER                 Magnus Romeo

3-Shane Breen                         IRL                  Cos I Can

4-Juan Carlos Garcia                ITA                  Prince De La Mar

5-Harrie Smolders                    NED                Regina Z

6-Christina Liebherr                  SUI                  LB Con Grazia

7-Abdullah Al Sharbatly           KSA                Larkhill Cruiser

8-Christian Ahlmann                 GER                 Aragon

9-Beezie Madden                     USA                Simon

10-Eric Lamaze                        CAN                Coriana Van Klapscheut

Sett Polocicchio, President Capital Project Division, ATCO Electric and the winners of this years’ ATCO Electric 6-Bar, Robert Whitaker and Harrie Smolders. Photo Credits: Spruce Meadows Media Services.

ATCO Electric Circuit-Six Bar – Top 10

1-Robert Whitaker                   GBR                Catwalk IV

1-Harrie Smolders                    NED                Exquis Walnut De Muze

3-Shane Breen                         IRL                  Balloon

4-Shane Sweetnam                   IRL                  Diktator Van De Boslandhoeve

5-Carla Diewert                       CAN                Vaquero

Barnmice News is brought to you by EnglishHabit.com,
your complete online English tack shop.

Send English Habit a friend request and become eligible to win a saddle pad.

It's not too late to enter!  Check our Barnmice page for details.