Thousands of show jumping fans flocked to the International Ring to watch the CSI5* 1.55m Duncan Ross Cup on Canada Day at Spruce Meadows. The 33 entries representing seven countries took on the track designed by Canadian FEI course designer Peter Grant. Athletes needed to successfully complete 12 obstacles (15 efforts) under the time allowed in order to make it to the jump-off round.
Five competitors representing Canada, the United States and Mexico passed the first round test to come back for the jump-off, including Canadian riders Mario Deslauriers and Jacqueline Steffens. Even though it was her first trip to Spruce Meadows, Steffens took to the International Ring like a veteran. Aboard her 12-year-old bay gelding Freaky (Darco x Litho H), Steffens laid down the fastest clear round with a jump-off time of 41.27s.
"It was a really special feeling, we've been knocking at the door in a couple classes and so to jump double clear and my horse felt amazing – it was really special," Jacqueline Steffens said about her first victory at Spruce Meadows.
Mario Deslauriers and Emerson (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Berlin) finished second, with a time of 42.90 in the jump-off, followed by Kent Farrington (USA) and Landon (Comilfo Plus Z x Quadrillo) in third after the pair clocked a time of 43.54. Jose Alberto Martinez Vazquez (MEX) and Quinley (Quintero x Calato) finished fourth, and Carlos Hank Guerreiro fifth with H5 Turbo Z (Thunder vd Zuuthoeve x Renville).
The top five riders from this competition have now qualified for Sunday's Grand Prix, the 'Pan American' Cup, presented by Rolex.
The CSI5* 1.50m Township Planning & Design competition started Canada Day at Spruce Meadows in the International Ring. This competition featured 33 horse-and-rider combinations challenging the first-round track set by FEI course designer Peter Grant and only ten combinations had no faults crossing the finish line to qualify for the jump-off.
Armando Hassey (MEX)) was ready for a win in the International Ring. Aboard the gelding Lomax (Lord Pezi x Quo Vados), Hassey laid down a clear jump-off round in a time of 45.64 seconds putting them at the top of the leaderboard. Mario Deslauriers took the runner-up spot with Uris de la Roque (Capital x Quick Star) after stopping the clock on 46.54 seconds, followed by Callie Schott (USA) and Carlo 454 (Conthargos x Balou du Rouet) in third, Albert Sanchez-Cozar (MEX) on Catover (Catoki x Contact Me) in fourth, and Katherine Strauss (USA) on Fair Field (Zirocco Blue VDL x Chin Chin) in fifth.
The top five riders from this competition have now qualified for Sunday's Grand Prix, the 'Pan American' Cup, presented by Rolex.