The iconic Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ tournament once again delivered spectacle in Calgary, where the Friends of the Meadows Grand Prix at 1.45m took place. Riders from across the globe tackled the technical track, but only a handful managed to advance to the decisive jump-off. In the end, it was Great Britain’s Charlie Jones who proved unstoppable with Capitale 6, seizing victory in style.
From the start of the jump-off, Jones set the tone with a bold and forward ride aboard the 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding Capitale 6 (San Patrignano Cassini). Their flawless round in 40.86 seconds gave the competition an immediate benchmark that none of the following riders could beat.
Canadian rider Vanessa Mannix came closest with Lehar (Verdi TN), also producing a double clear, but her time of 44.09 seconds was not quite enough to challenge the British lead. The podium was completed by the United States’ Laura Hazlett, who guided Avianna (Air Jordan) home clear in 45.01 seconds.
Australia’s Hilary Scott and Clarima (Clarimo) secured fourth place with another double clear in 47.79 seconds, while Mexico’s Arturo Parada Vallejo and Castor (Casallco) rounded out the top five, posting a quick 42.73 seconds but collecting four faults along the way.
