The Tourmaline Oil Cup 1.60m opened the competition for the TELUS Evening of the Horse, bringing 32 horse-and-rider combinations onto the iconic International Ring.
Only five horse-and-rider combinations managed to deliver a clear round in the demanding first course. In the decisive jump-off, Andre Thieme guided the 14-year-old mare DSP Chakaria (by Chap 47 x Askari 173; bred by Martin Juergens) to a lightning-fast clear round, taking top honors with a winning time of 43.35 seconds.
Ireland's Thomas Ryan took second place aboard the SBS gelding Jezebeau BC (by Thunder vd Zuuthoeve x Vancouver d'Auvray; breeder: Tonia De Paepe) after stopping the clock at 44.62 seconds. The podium was rounded out by Norway's Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen riding Equine America Harwich VDL (by Arezzo VDL x Darco; bred by VDL Stud) in 45.90 seconds. Denis Lynch (IRL) followed in fourth place with Brooklyn Heights (by Nabab de Reve x For Pleasure; breeder: Eric Polfliet).
Thibeau Spits flew the flag for Belgium in Calgary, Canada. Riding the nine-year-old Zangersheide stallion Impress-K van 't Kattenheye Z (by Indoktro K van 't Kattenheye x Vagabond de la Pomme), bred by A. Strobbe and T. Raman, Spits kept all the rails intact during the opening round. Following his successful clear round, he chose to withdraw from the jump-off, securing a commendable and well-deserved fifth place in a strong international field.
