Manitoba Equine ...On-Line News: Veteran’s Shine

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Veteran’s Shine - Spruce Meadows

July 3, 2008

Calgary, AB --- The $35,000 Pengrowth Cup came down to a dramatic jump-off finish, with first and second being separated by a hundredth of a second. It took World Cup silver medalist Rich Fellers (USA) and his stallion Flexible to beat out the speedy Calgarian John Anderson.

Anderson and his gelding Terrific set the pace early in the thirteen horse jump-off with a time to beat of 45.72 seconds. Entry’s raced to catch that fast time, and for many in proved costly, finishing the round not only too slow but with faults. The last entry into the jump-off was Fellers who was slow at the intermediate time. Riding his stallion carefully over the last half of the jump-off course was a wise decision as the veteran finished in first place with a time of 45.71 seconds. “I knew I was close. I had watched a couple go early and John was fast. I thought he was going to be hard to beat. Flexible is fast, I thought I could be there without putting the peddle to the metal,” explained Fellers after his win.

The Spruce Meadows International Ring was centre stage for the feature event, the $50,000 AKITA Drilling Cup. The course, designed by Werner Deeg (GER), was made up of 15 jumping efforts with a time allowed of 83 seconds. Thirty-two entries made their way around the course with nine moving on to the jump-off of the second leg of the Spruce Meadows North American Championship. One of those was Jill Henselwood (CAN) with her Olympic mount Special Ed. Henselwood beat Olympic teammates Ian Millar and Eric Lamaze to finish in first place as they continue to prepare for the 2008 Olympics later this summer in Hong Kong.

Henselwood gave it her all in the AKITA Drilling Cup. “I knew there was speed behind me. I didn’t hold him back, he is a super horse to jump-off on. I like him better in the jump-off than anything else,” explained the champion.

Jill Henselwood feels the Canadian Olympic team is coming together at the perfect time. “Everybody’s producing and competitive. We are coming together as a team, sharing information more than we would as individuals.” The Canadian Olympic team will continue to compete at Spruce Meadows throughout the Spruce Meadows “North American” Tournament.

Pengrowth Cup top 10 -    

1-         Rich Fellers               USA                Flexible
2-         John Anderson          CAN               Terrific
3-         Brianne Goutal          USA                Onira
4-         Chris Kappler                        USA                VDL Oranta
5-         Leslie Howard           USA                Jeans Glove Varnel
6-         Schuyler Riley           USA                Ilian
7-         Carolyn Kelly             USA                Rulanda
8-         Nikko Ritter              USA                Aristotles 17   
9-         Karl Cook                   USA                Uno De Laubry
10-       Lauren Hough          USA                Unicum Van’t Meerdaahof

AKITA Drilling Cup top 10 –

1-         Jill Henselwood                    CAN               Special Ed
2-         Lauren Hough                      USA                Casadora
3-         Ian Millar                               CAN               Redefin           
4-         Brianne Goutal                      USA                Ralvesther
5-         Eric Lamaze                          CAN               Hickstead
6-         Mario Deslauriers                 CAN               Paradigm
7-         Santiago Lambre                   MEX               Campino
8-         Jaime Azcarraga                   MEX               Presley Boy
9-         Eddie Macken                       IRL                 Tedechine September
10-       Richard Spooner                   USA                Air Time

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