Saskatchewan Equine ...On-Line News: Every Day is Action-Packed During the Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament

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Every Day is Action-Packed During the Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament

September 4, 2008

Spruce Meadows, Calgary, AB --- Following the welcome of the Olympic riders, a solid schedule of show jumping and team equine events in the TELUS Battle of the Breeds have filled this week at Spruce Meadows.

The first competition, the Zeidler Financial Cup, began the “Masters” Tournament opening day action in the International Ring as a Spruce Meadows rookie made his way around the course.

Italy’s Piergiorgio Bucci made his first competition at Spruce Meadows one to remember by beating five competitors in a jump-off. For Bucci just arriving at Spruce Meadows was worth the trip, “It is the most beautiful place in the world. Until you see it you can’t even imagine it,” said Bucci. The Italian has now qualified for Sunday’s $1 million CN International Grand Prix.

(See results below.)

Beezie Madden returned to Spruce Meadows in championship form. Riding her stallion Judgement, the Olympic individual Bronze and team Gold Medalist, rode for the win in the evening's final event, the Finning Welcome.

Jumping off against 8 of the world’s best, including Olympic individual Gold Medalist Eric Lamaze, Beezie Madden was the first to go and she dug deep. Madden cleared the Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) designed jump- off course in 41.46 seconds. The jump-off course included 8 jumping efforts and spanned over 360 m. Riding with ease, Madden felt great on her first day back at Spruce Meadows, “Judgement loves it here, it doesn’t matter what competition we do, he’s always super,” said Madden after her win.

It was survival of the fittest, Thursday, in the AKITA Drilling Cup. 41 entries made their way around the Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) designed course, with only 3 returning for the jump-off.

The jump-off course took horse/rider combinations over 7 obstacles with a time allowed of 48 seconds. Pushing their horses for speed was a costly decision for Ashlee Bond (USA) and Roger-Yves Bost (FRA), both finishing their jump-off rounds with four faults. The master of the AKITA Drilling Cup was veteran Piet Raymakers (NED) with his 13 year-old Hanoverian stallion Van Schijndel’s Rascin. The pair finished their round clear with a conservative time of 43.83 seconds.

Raymakers knew he needed to be more than fast to beat Ashlee Bond’s quick four fault time of 38.05 seconds, “The course was really like a European grand prix. I knew half way through the there was no way to beat the time, so I decided to give the horse a nice clean ride to win,” said Raymakers. It was a decision that paid off for the veteran who earned a spot in Sunday’s $1 million CN International.

(See results below.)

The second International Ring event, the CANA Cup, had 39 entries weave their way around a Leopoldo Palacios designed course. With 15 jumping efforts and a time allowed of 83 seconds it was again, no easy feat.

With an impressive group of top international riders only two were able to make it through the finish line clear and under the time allowed.

Jumping off were Daniel Etter (SUI) and Nick Skelton (GBR). Etter, a Spruce Meadows rookie faced a veteran who has won nearly every Spruce Meadows championship available.

First in the ring were the Swiss rider and his gelding Peu a Peu. The pair finished clear with a time of 40.88. A time Skelton knew would be hard to beat, “Daniel was quick, I was hoping he would have a rail and make my job easier,” said Skelton at the end of competition. With the advantage of seeing his competitor Skelton was able to squeak through the finish line in 40.73 seconds, a blink ahead of his competitor. “I went as quick as I could. That was luck,” commented Skelton after his victory.

(See results below.)

The TELUS Battle of the Breeds began on Thursday with Compulsory Skills and Jeopardy Jumping. Team Mule was the leading team after all scores were tallied.

(See results below.)

Friday night, fireworks will light the way into the weekend after the ATCO Electric Six Bar, signifying the end of the EnCana Evening of the Horse.

This year Sylvia and Diana are on-site at Spruce Meadows, producing daily episodes for the Equinely-Inclined! podcast. Stay tuned to the E-Notes page for links to each episode as it is produced, as well as interesting information, links and information on a 50th episode 'meet-up' time and location!

Zeidler Financial Cup top 10 of 44 starters -

1-         Piergiorgio Bucci      ITA                 Da Zara Porto Rico
2-         Daniel Etter               SUI                  Peu a Peu
3-         Harrie Smolders        NED               Walnut de Muze
4-         Theo Muff                  SUI                  Con Spirito R
5-         Rich Fellers               USA                McGuinness
6-         Cameron Hanley      IRL                 Siec Royal Star
7-         Jenn Serek                 CAN               Bottom Line
8-         Amy Millar                 CAN               Piccobello du 

Val de Geer
9-         Jill Henselwood         CAN               Special Ed
10-       Piet Raymakers         NED               Van Schijndel’s 

Rascin

Finning Welcome top 10 of 46 starters –

1-         Beezie Madden         USA                Judgement
2-         Richard Spooner       USA                Cristallo
3-         Jaime Azcarraga       MEX               Presley Boy
4-         Eric Lamaze              CAN               Hickstead
5-         Roger-Yves Bost       FRA                Ideal de la Loge 
6-         Mario Deslauriers     CAN               Paradigm
7-         Robert Smith             GBR                Ronaldo
8-         Nick Skelton              GBR                Arko III
9-         Ben Maher                 GBR                Robin Hood W
10-       Ian Millar                   CAN               In Style

AKITA Drilling Cup top 10 of 41 entries -

1-         Piet Raymakers         NED               Van Schijndel’s 

Rascin
2-         Ashlee Bond              USA                Cadett 7
3-         Roger-Yves Bost       FRA                Lolita de la Loge
4-         Marcus Ehning         GER                Noltes Kuechengirl
5-         Holger Wulschner    GER                Cefalo
6-         Richard Spooner       USA                Pako
7-         Leon Thijssen            NED               Pegasus
8-         Emilio Bicocchi         ITA                 Jeckerson Olea 

0003
9-         Tim Gredley              GBR                Timo
10-       Jaime Azcarraga       MEX               Forastero  

CANA Cup top 10 of 39 entries - 

1-         Nick Skelton              GBR                Arko III
2-         Daniel Etter               SUI                  Peu a Peu
3-         Jonathan Asselin       CAN               Rayana Chiara
4-         Holger Wulschner    GER                Clausen
5-         Lauren Hough          USA                Quick Study
6-         Harrie Smolders        NED               Walnut De Muze
7-         Jaime Azcarraga       MEX               Presley Boy
8-         Tim Gredley              GBR                Omelli
9-         Gerco Schroder         NED               Eurocommerce Milano
10-       Marcus Ehning         GER                Plot Blue

Battle of the Breeds - Compulsory Skills

1 - Team Mule
2 - Team Pinto
3 - Team Morgan
4 - Team Quarter Horse
5 - Team Paint
6 - Team Shetland Pony

Battle of the Breeds - Jeopardy Jumping

1 - Team Thoroughbred
2 - Team Connemara
3 - Team Arabian
4 - Team Mule
5 - Team Welsh Cob and Pony
6 - Team American Saddlebred

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