Mother Nature decided to add a little moisture into the mix for the final afternoon of the Spruce Meadows ‘National’ Tournament and the ATB Cup 1.50m. With the rain not letting up, the FEI Ground Jury (officials) met and opted to change the type of competition from a Table A Jump Off to a Table A Speed. The fastest round with the least amount of faults would be placed at the top of the leaderboard.
Darragh Kenny (IRL) was unfazed by the change in conditions on the International Ring this afternoon. Like a true Irishman, he braved the weather aboard Chic Chic (Comme Il Fautà and performed brilliantly. Kenny was able to open the stallion’s stride up and sail through the finish line, clear, in a time of 66.55 seconds.
“It was a great day, I haven’t been to Spruce (Meadows) in probably four or five years and it’s a fantastic facility. It (the rainy weather) didn’t really bother me. He’s (Chic Chic) very brave so I just went as fast as I could” - Darragh Kenny (IRL) on being back at Spruce Meadows and competing in the heavy rain.
On stage, Conor Swail and Theo 160 (Christian 25) followed before Patricio Pasquel and Alicia Santa Rosa (Presley Boy).
Kenny on top in CSI2* Grand Prix
The ATCO CSI2* Grand Prix was the first competition on final day of the Spruce Meadows ‘National’, presented by Rolex. Only the top thirty-five horse/rider combinations from qualifiers earlier in the week were able to step through the iconic clock tower in hopes of making it to the winner’s circle.
Thirteen riders representing seven nations, passed all the first round’s tests set out by FEI Course Designer Olaf Petersen Jr. (GER) and advanced to the jump off. It was a slightly cooler temperatures in the Alberta Foothills this morning, but it seemed to suite Ireland’s Darragh Kenny just fine.
Aboard Vancouver Dreams (Valentino), Kenny galloped through the finish line, clear, with the fastest time of 39.50s. On stage it was again Conor Swail placing as runner-up, this time with his Dutch bred, Gamble (Vingino). Stephen Maddison (AUS) completed the stage with Yalambis Ikon (Yalambi's Carpino Z).
