On Saturday there were two 1.50m classes set for the combinations at Spruce Meadows, Calgary. Eventually Beezie Madden and Bliss Heers secured the win, making it an American day in Canada.
Beezie Madden guided her Jiva (ex. Jiva van 't Broeked) to victory in the first 1.50m Table C. Aboard her 10-year-old- Belgian Warmblood Mare by Concorde x Nonstop, Madden was onnly a tenth of a second faster as Kent Farrington in the saddle of his 11-year-old Casall-mare, Austria 2. Jiva was bred by Jan Linssen, out of Belgium and produced at an international level by Antonia Andersson.
Jordan Coyle completed the stage with the fastest time, but one jumping fault underway. Adding four seconds to his total, Coyle and Picador (Lupicor) eventually placed third. Outside the stage Stella Manship (Dundalk, f. VDL Douglas) and Darragh Kenny (Cazador LS, f. Casall La Silla) completed the top five.
Bliss Heers on top
A total of six combinations qualified for the Jump-Off in the 1.50m Canadian Utilities Cup. In the end Bliss Heers set the record time, speeding to victory in 36.68 seconds with Antidote de Mars (Diamant de Semilly). Current world number one, Steve Guerdat, followed as runner-up, crossing the finish in 36.82 seconds aboard Victorio Des Frotars (Barbarian). Also in this class Darraghh Keny settled for a third place.
Together with his 10-year-old Holsteiner Christos (Cristo), Kenny was followed by Canada's Eric Lamaze with Chacco Kid (Chacco Blue). Rodrigo Pessoa completed the top five in the saddle of J'Adore van het Klinkhof (Thunder vd Zuuthoeve).