The CN International has a new champion for 2010.  Jeroen Dubbeldam of the Netherlands had an impressive clear first round over a track that all the riders said was the biggest, toughest course they had ever seen for a first round at the Master's.  There were only four riders with zero faults heading into the second round.

And the second round course did not give the riders a break either.  Philip Spivey of Great Britain had the first clear in round one, but then had two rails and a time fault in the second for a total of 9 faults which landed him in 6th place. 

Richard Spooner of the US also had no faults going in.  He had a clear round going and being concerned about the time allowed with Eric Lamaze following him in the order, he rushed  a little in the last line.  Ultimately,  he had the last fence down for a second place finish.  

Richard Spooner and Cristallo had one fence down over two rounds 

for 2nd place in the CN International

Eric Lamaze, who has finished second in the CN International for two years running, was looking like he was going to achieve that elusive clear in the second round when he too had a big jump heading into a difficult line and lost his stirrup.  He broke bones in his left foot in July during his victory in the Grand Prix of Aachen and had to have surgery to repair the damage.  He has been, naturally, trying to keep as much weight off it as possible and just lost the stirrup as he was headed to the double of liverpools at the east end of the ring.  

He said, "There was no way I was going to try jumping those with one stirrup," so he had to circle which cost four faults for a refusal.  He also accrued three time penalties because of the circle and finished in third place.  

His third place finish this year caps an amazing run:  he won in 2007, was second to Nick Skelton in 2008, was second to McLain Ward in 2009.  But he was philosophical about the third place ribbon - he said, "everyone loses a stirrup sometime - I just lost mine in the big class, but that's the sport."

Jeroen Dubbeldam and BMC Van Grunsven Simon fulfilled a longtime dream 

in winning the CN International

Jeroen Dubbeldam had an excellent show at the Masters.  He last competed at Spruce Meadows nine years ago and said he had always dreamed of winning the big three Grands Prix in the world:  Aachen, the Olympics, and the Spruce Meadows CN International.  Now he has accomplished all three.  

Dubbeldam could not praise his horse, BMC Van Grunsven Simon, enough.  He had two clear rounds in the BMO Nations Cup yesterday, as well as good placings in other classes during the week.  Today his horse didn't have any trouble handling the difficult course and the only penalty they had in the CN International was a single time fault.