A sell-out crowd packed the stands and VIP Lounge at Rancho Murieta's Indoor Arena, set with Alan Wade's challenging 1.60m course consisting of a total of 13 jumping efforts with a double combination at 5ab and a triple at 7abc. Wade's course presented technical questions and imposing elements that demanded intelligence, scope and split-second timing from horses and riders alike. Twenty-four riders representing seven countries competed, vying for a chance to continue on to compete in the World Cup Finals.
"We are ecstatic for the fantastic turn out for the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Sacramento Presented by Lasher's Elk Grove Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram," said Dale Harvey of West Palms Events. "This is Sacramento International's eighth year and, without question, the best event yet! We had a phenomenal line up of riders and we could not have asked for a better, or more packed stadium for the show! Thank you to all our sponsors and the spectators that came out for this incredible show-jumping event, we could not do it without all your support!"
Tricky sections of the course included a number of challenging turns, 7abc's triple combination, and a turn to the final Longines jump requiring horses to gallop past the gate. Jumps and turns come up extremely fast in Rancho Murieta's Indoor, requiring riders to plan their tracks carefully and think ahead.
Ultimately, six riders successfully navigated Wade's trying and imposing course, paving the way for a thrilling jump-off that had spectators alternately groaning, gasping and cheering for their favorites!
First in the order for round one, Rich Fellers of Wilsonville, OR, riding the indomitable Flexible, elicited a huge roar of appreciation from the crowd as he entered the ring. Fellers and Flexible were the returning champions from Sacramento International's 2014 competition! Fellers unfortunately had 8 faults and it was the fourth round in which Alec Lawler and Agamemnon had the first clear go. Five more clear rounds followed, including Quentin Judge aboard HH Copin Van de Broy, Eric Navet on JonkheerZ, the Master of Faster Richard Spooner and Chivas Z, Karl Cook and Tembla and Samuel Parot on Atlantis.
