Spruce Meadows National Tournament Wrap-up

June 14, 2009

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Canadians Dominate the First day of “National”

Spruce Meadows, Calgary, Alberta --- The Spruce Meadows International Ring was action filled for the first time in nearly nine months on wednesday, June 10th. The action featured the sports biggest names during the first competition of the 2009 Spruce Meadows “National” Tournament, the Enbridge Cup, as 66 horse/rider combinations competed in the 1.50 metre event.

The test was set by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) who built a course that featured 15 jumping efforts. D’Ambrosio’s course was able to separate 18 entries who mastered each effort to move on to the jump-off round.

Returning to Spruce Meadows for the first time since 2005, Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) showed why he is one of the world’s best after riding clear in the first round on both Cazino and Lagran. The first round clears did not parlay into a perfect day for Pessoa and his mounts after knocking rails with both in the jump-off.

With the former World, World Cup and Olympic Champion out of contention the field was clear for Canadian Mario Deslauriers. Deslauriers was perfect through both rounds of competition riding Ardeche Van De Zelm a 9 year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding clear with a time of 39.57 seconds. “He has never been here before. He’s scopey, smart, fast and careful. It was his first time in the ring and he was very comfortable,” said Deslauriers after his victory.

The win was not a run away as Deslauriers was only a hundredth of a second quicker than superstar Beezie Madden (USA) who could only watch her victory be taken from her by the quick Canuck.

Enbridge Cup top 10 –

1- Mario Deslauriers CAN Ardeche Van De Zelm

2- Beezie Madden USA Danny Boy

3- Eddie Macken IRL Tedechine Sept

4- Jaime Azcarraga MEX Presley Boy

5- Jenna Thompson CAN Zeke

6- Jonathan Millar CAN Contino 14

7- Antonio Maurer MEX Callao

8- Marie Hecart FRA Catalina

9- Jaime Azcarraga MEX Celsius

10- Leslie Howard USA Raimond W

The ATB Financial Cup was the final competition of the International Ring today and the first leg of the Spruce Meadows Canadian Championship. There were 23 entries in the 1.60 metre competition, all vying for a win on the first day of the Spruce Meadows “National” Tournament.

Anthony D’Ambrosio designed a challenging but fair first day course, allowing riders to prove their ability over the 15 jumping efforts. Today it was the best of the best who were able to fight their way to the top.

The jump-off line up matched that of any major championship, Beezie Madden, Ian Millar (CAN), and Eric Lamaze (CAN). Madden was the first in the ring with her proven stallion Judgement. She pushed her mount to be quick and careful, he responded with a clear round and a time of 39.68 seconds.

Millar followed the American into the ring with his Olympic mount In Style. Having watched his opponent he know where to cut corners. “When you get to watch a rider like that go before you, it really helps create a game plan,” said Millar. The game plan was needed as the pair put together a clear round in a time of 38.96 seconds.

The only person standing in Millar’s way was Olympic Gold Medalist Eric Lamaze and his great stallion Hickstead. Lamaze needed to be perfect and fast to come away with the win. Perfect they were but the pair stopped short of fast, settling for third place with a time of 40.17 seconds.

Today it was Millar’s day to win the ATB Financial Cup. Beating such talented opponents made it all the sweeter. “Winning a competition like this one will stick in my mind forever. You get to ride with great riders and great horses,” said Millar after his win.

ATB Financial Cup top 10 –

1- Ian Millar CAN In Style

2- Beezie Madden USA Judgement

3- Eric Lamaze CAN Hickstead

4- Beezie Madden USA Crème Brule

5- Jill Henselwood CAN Special Ed

6- John Anderson CAN Terrific

7- Pablo Barrios VEN Sinatra

8- Keean White CAN Celena Z

9- Ali Nilforushan IRI Green Sleeps Vioco

10- Ali Nilforushan IRI Warco Van De Halhoeve

Canadian Domination

Thursday June 11, 2009

Competing against your opponents is a given but Thursday, in the 1.50 metre Prairie Mines & Royalty Ltd. Cup, few were up to the challenge posed by the course. The 39 entries battled hard over the Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) designed course, but it was the course battled back.

While the time allowed, 80 seconds, cost some, it was the 15 jumping efforts, spread over the Spruce Meadows International Ring that cost nearly everyone else. Only two posted clear round under the time allowed, Norman Dello Joio (USA) and Mario Deslauriers (CAN).

The pair faced off in the jump-off, each hoping for their chance to claim victory in this tough competition.

Dello Joio was the first to jump-off. Riding his 12 year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding KLM Jimmy, the pair incurred 8 jumping faults, clearing the path for a Deslauriers win.

With his 15 year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Paradigm, Deslauriers coasted to a four fault round and his second victory of the week. “He’s perfect, good, healthy and ready for Derby Day, Sunday,” said Deslauriers looking forward to the weekend ahead.

Pairie Mines & Royalty Ltd. Cup top 10 –

1- Mario Deslauriers CAN Paradigm

2- Norman Dello Joio USA KLM Jimmy

3- Nicolas Pizarro MEX Crossing Jordan

4- Leslie Howard USA Jeans Glove Varnel

5- Beezie Madden USA Onlight

6- Rich Fellers USA Kilkenny Rindo

7- Alexa Weeks USA Madison

8- Federico Fernandez MEX Tintero

9- Jaclyn Duff CAN Pan Tau 55

10- Mandy Porter USA Tristan

After a tough 1.50 metre competition, horse/rider combinations returned to the ring for the Spectra Energy Cup. The 33 entries all faced another tough Anthony D’Ambrosio designed course that featured 15 jumping efforts and a time allowed of 81 seconds.

Again, only two were up to the task of the difficult course, Olympic Gold Medalist Eric Lamaze and his Olympic team mate Jill Henselwood, the reigning Pan American Champion. Lamaze left a bit up to fate when he put his jump-off plan into action. “Jill is a great rider but Black Ice isn’t her number one horse. So, I was very conservative with Hickstead, hoping Jill would have a rail down.”

While it was a gamble to hold Hickstead back, it looked to be a calculated one after Henselwood took a rail on the second jump. Lamaze and Hickstead proved once again why they are the pair to beat.

Spectra Energy Cup top 10 –

1- Eric Lamaze CAN Hickstead

2- Jill Henselwood CAN Black Ice

3- Rodrigo Pessoa BRA Rufus

4- Rich Fellers USA Flexible

5- Henri Kovacs HUN Sassicaia II

6- Beezie Madden USA Crème Brule

7- Beezie Madden USA Judgement

8- Jonathan Millar CAN Contino 14

9- John Anderson CAN Terrific

10- Antonio Maurer MEX As Hyo Hugo

Exclusive Win

Friday June 12, 2009

Winning round competitions were featured in the Spruce Meadows International Ring on Friday. The first competition was the ATCO Midstream Winning round, which saw the eight best first round riders return for the ‘winning rounds.’

Competing on the Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) designed course, each rider brought their best effort forward, knowing a clear round might not be good enough to get them into the second round.

Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) was able to guide both his mounts around the course for clear rounds, solidifying himself a spot in round two on both Cazino and Champ 163. It was perhaps the return to Spruce Meadows that Rodrigo Pessoa was hoping for, a win in the International Ring.

One major opponent stood in his way, Canadian Olympic Team Silver Medalist Ian Millar. Millar was riding his gelding Redefin and looking for his second win of the week. Millar rode the second round course perfectly, shaving seconds off where he could guiding Redefin to a finish time of 45.67.

Millar’s round was not one Pessoa could match, as he settled for third and seventh place finishes. Pessoa is now looking forward to tomorrow’s CN Reliability Grand Prix. “Rufus is my number one horse. I will ride him in the Grand Prix tomorrow,” said Pessoa noting that he would be chasing favourite Eric Lamaze in his quest for victory.

The ATCO Midstream winning round was Millar’s second win of the week. He noted how difficult Friday’s competition was, “There were 8 horses with no jumps down in the first round. I thought there would be four or five for sure with two clear rounds. This was a hard course to jump twice clear.” The ability to ride both rounds so well is what sets Millar apart from so many of his competitors.

ATCO Midstream Winning Round top 8 –

1- Ian Millar CAN Redefin

2- Eddie Macken IRL Tedechine Sept

3- Rodrigo Pessoa BRA Cazino

4- Jaime Azcarraga MEX Celsius

5- Mario Deslauriers CAN Ardeche Van De Zelm

6- Marie Hecart FRA Ronaldo

7- Rodrigo Pessoa BRA Champ 163

8- Pablo Barrios VEN Lagran

The final competition of the International Ring was the RBC Capital Markets Winning Round. There were 25 entries vying for one of eight positions in the second round. Moving on to the second round meant you had to have no jumping faults and the fastest of the one time faulters.

The eight who moved on were all fast and competitive horse/rider combinations, it would take a special pair to win. One of the best in the business is Beezie Madden (USA), and she proved it again tonight.

Riding an 8 year-old Dutch Warmblood mare named Exclusive, Madden was able to over power her competitors with a perfect second round. The pair finished clear with the fast time of 43.32 seconds. It was their first time riding in the Spruce Meadows International Ring, a feat rarely capped off with a win. “I’m happy she did well. You never know how they will react in this ring, but I didn’t have any reason to believe she wouldn’t be successful,” said Madden after her win.

RBC Capital Markets Winning Round top 8 –

1- Beezie Madden USA Exclusive

2- Norman Dello Joio USA Notre star de la Nutria

3- Marie Hecart FRA Why Not

4- Yann Candele CAN Pitareusa

5- Mario Deslauriers CAN Diablo

6- Beezie Madden USA Play On

7- Eberhad Bahle CAN Orestes

8- Mandy Porter USA Lariccello

Oh Canada!

Saturday June 13, 2009

The course was set up over 590 metres, there were 17 jumping efforts and a time allowed of 89 seconds, it would take a special horse and a talented rider to win the $200,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix Sunday at Spruce Meadows.

There were 10 horse/rider combinations who were up to the task in the first round of competition. Course designer, Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA), created a fair test that allowed the best to move on to the jump-off round.

The jump-off pitted the riders against each other, the course and the clock, for what was an exciting test of champions. The jump-off contingency was certainly filled by some of the best in the business, former World, World Cup and Olympic Champion Rodriogo Possoa (BRA), Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Spruce Meadows all time great Ian Millar (CAN).

Ian Millar was the first of the group to return for the jump-off, he rode his gelding In Style perfectly to finish with a time of 43.37 seconds. That round put the pressure on Lamaze who entered the ring to defend his CN Reliability Grand Prix title.

With his brilliant stallion Hickstead beneath him it seemed that they could repeat in front of the Canadian crowd. As the came up to the second jump a tension could be felt across the stadium, it was the same Bicycle jump that cost them a victory in last years $1 million CN International. The bike got the best of the pair again, as they finished their round with 4 jumping faults, settling for fifth place.

The final entry of the jump-off was Brazilian Rodrigo Pessoa and his Dutch Warmblood gelding, Rufus. Pessoa was looking to return to Spruce Meadows a champion for the first time since 2005. They had a fast intermediate time and looked good coming up to the final fence. Millar could only watch as Pessoa attempted the last obstacle. The Canadian didn’t need to worry as the rail came down. Pessoa finished faster than Millar but incurred four jumping faults.

It was the legend’s day, winning the CN Reliability Grand Prix for the first time since 1992 when he won it with Big Ben. “It was a little bit of a drought as they say,” said Millar after his win. The drought is no more, much thanks to Millar’s great partner In Style. “There’s not much a course designer’s going to do that he’s not going to get. Each year he gets a little bit better,” said Millar of his winning mount.

CN Reliability Grand Prix top 10 –

1- Ian Millar CAN In Style

2- Cara Raether USA Ublesco

3- Beth Underhill CAN Top Gun

4- Rodrigo Pessoa BRA Rufus

5- Eric Lamaze CAN Hickstead

6- Jenna Thompson CAN Zeke

7- Jonathan Asselin CAN Rayana Chiara

8- Beezie Madden USA Crème Brule

9- Amy Millar CAN Costa Rica Z

10- Keean White CAN Celena Z

The TransCanada Parcours de Chasse closed out the International Ring for the day. The speed competition had riders pushing their horses to the limit, knowing that faults would be translated into time, but a win would be possible with a rail.

The race against the clock was a battle for the 24 horse/rider combinations that had 17 jumping efforts in their way including the west bank. With $60,000 prize money on the line it would take a near perfect round to win the TransCanada Parcours de Chasse.

Will Simpson (USA) was fifth in the ring with his 14 year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Nadia. They pair were faultless and quick with a time of 89.11 seconds, setting a time to beat that would be hard for their competitors to match.

It took until the 21st entry into the ring for Simpson’s time to be challenged. That entry was Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist, Eric Lamaze and his 10 year-old Selle Francais gelding, Lord du Janlie. The pair navigated the course cutting corners where possible and finished with a time of 88.77 seconds, barely a second slower than Simpson.

Lamaze’s time was good enough to win, “He’s a fast horse he has a big stride and knows where he is on the course. He is definitely a speed horse and never seems to be tired.” An exciting finish, had the record breaking crowd on the edge of their seats creating a perfect stage for the final day of the “National”.

TransCanada Parcours de Chasse top 10 –

1- Eric Lamaze CAN Lord du Janlie

2- Will Simpson USA Nadia

3- Leslie Howard USA Lennox Lewis 2

4- Leslie Howard USA Coram

5- Beezie Madden USA Exclusive

6- Neck Dello Joio USA Draco

7- Antonio Maurer MEX El Cigala

8- Sean Crooks USA Cincinatti La Silla

9- Will Simpson USA Black Cherry

10- Cody Auer USA Okido

Winning Sunday

Sunday June 14, 2009

It is a fan favourite; the ATCO Structures Double Slalom kicked off the Spruce Meadows International Ring today. The Double Slalom is always an exciting competition as horse/rider combinations race against each other over parallel courses.

One of the most unique aspects of the ATCO Structures Double Slalom is that it is a chance for many young riders to ride their horse in the storied Spruce Meadows International Ring. The winners list through the years include the greats, Beezie Madden (USA), Rodrigo Pessoa (USA) and Ian Millar (CAN) but it also includes names like Aimee Aron who won the event at the age of 14, the youngest ever in the International Ring.

Today’s final was Taylor Bland (CAN) against Brie Etcheverry (CAN). Both had competed in the ATCO Structures Double Slalom before, neither have had the chance to lead a Spruce Meadows victory ride. The win would be a lifelong memory for either, their first of hopefully many wins in the International Ring.

It was Etcheverry who raced her 10 year-old Warmblood gelding, Pilgrim Van De Paddepoel around the track the quickest. The 21 year-old Calgarian credited her speedy mount. “He’s a lot of fun to ride, like a sports car, loves to go and loves to jump,” explained Etcheverry of her horse.

ATCO Structures Double Slalom top 5 –

1- Brie Etcheverry CAN Pilgrim Van De Paddepoel

2- Taylor Bland CAN Tango Las Marismas

3- Karina Aziz CAN Arriba

3- Reed Kessler USA Ice D’Ancoeur

5- Jacqueline Colborne CAN Peninsual Vision

5- Taylor Mulligan CAN Rose Anne Steal

5- Braden James CAN Starlet

5- Tani Zeidler CAN Helraiser Clemence

The Nexen Cup Derby was the final competition of the 2009 Spruce Meadows “National” Tournament. It is one of the most challenging events in the sport for both horse and rider, with a distance of 1100 metres, 25 jumping efforts and every natural obstacle on the ring standing between them and the finish line.

Since the Nexen Cup Derby began in 2007 only one pair has mastered the course, only one pair has cleared the course, Beezie Madden and her great stallion Judgement. Madden looked to defend that title today but there were great competitors standing in her way.

Putting themselves ahead of the pack early were 2008 Olympians Pablo Barrios (VEN) and his Dutch Warmblood gelding, Sinatra. The pair incurred a mere four jumping faults in a time of 160.96 seconds.

Those four faults weren’t challenged until Ian Millar (CAN) and Redefin entered the ring. Millar showed why he has won more derbies than anyone else at Spruce Meadows as he navigated his gelding around the course perfectly. It looked like a rare clear round was in the cards for Millar as he made his way to the last fence. That last fence that had already cost so many cost Millar a perfect round. A single rail followed by a single time fault, Millar settled for third place.

When Barrios was finally matched it was Canadian Mario Deslauriers and his 15 year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Paradigm who did it. Deslauriers and Paradigm put together a solid round, finishing with four faults and forcing a jump-off.

A jump-off wouldn’t be necessary if Beezie Madden and Judgement could do what only they have done, ride the Nexen Cup Derby clear. Maybe it was the heat, or maybe it was because he hadn’t been competing since November but Judgement had two rare rails. “I took it for granted a little bit. He was not very competition fit and he was blowing a lot harder than usual when he left the ring today,” said Madden of her horse after the competition.

Madden’s eight fault round meant that Deslauriers and Barrios would jump-off with four faults. Barrios was the first in the jump-off and he was perfect, finishing clear with a time of 46.94 seconds. Deslauriers would have to be perfect and fast if he was going to win the Nexen Cup Derby.

“Paradigm’s a fast horse. I just had to stay on track,’ said Deslauriers of his jump-off plan. The plan paid off, he was fast, clear and in first place after finishing with a time of 43.15 seconds. “When he’s relaxed he’s the best,” said Deslauriers. Today Paradigm must have been relaxed because it doesn’t get any better than first place.

Nexen Cup Derby top 10 –

1- Mario Deslauriers CAN Paradigm

2- Pablo Barrios VEN Sinatra

3- Ian Millar CAN Redefin

4- Beezie Madden USA Judgement

5- John Anderson CAN Terrific

6- Jill Henselwood CAN Black Ice

7- Eric Lamaze CAN Lord du Janlie

8- John Anderson CAN Gesine 36

9- Leslie Howard USA Raimond W

10- James Billington GBR Midnightlady

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