The final competition of day one of the 2019 Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament was the AKITA Drilling Cup (1.60m). Forty-five riders started the FEI competition looking to add their name to the historic trophy.
FEI course designer Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) laid out a technical track in round one that produced only seven clear trips. Seven nations were represented in the jump off including France, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Belgium, Brazil and Canada. Ireland's Conor Swail was at the top of the leader board looking to secure another Irish win, but Eduardo Menezes (BRA) did not want another second place finish. Aboard his Olympic mount H5 Quintol, the pair flew over the final fence clear in a time of 37.45s, inching out Swail who had a time of 37.87s.
"It is not always easy to do, but I try to compete against myself. I do my plan, but use the information I have when I go last (in the jump off). I try to go as fast as I can and leave all the fences up, if that gives me first today, tomorrow second, after tomorrow third and sometimes sixth, it is okay, that is the nature of our sport" - Eduardo Menezes (BRA) on his plan when competing.
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