The Spruce Meadows 'Pan American' CSI5*/2*, presented by Rolex is Underway!
June 30, 2022
The Spruce Meadows 'Pan American' CSI5*/2*, presented by Rolex is Underway!
Eduardo Menezes (BRA) and H Big Action win the Friends of the Meadows 1.55M
© Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk
A Win for Eduardo Menezes (BRA) in the Friends of the Meadows 1.55M
Spruce Meadows (June 30, 2022) - The Friends of the Meadows 1.55M competition on the International Ring welcomed 26 competitors through the Spruce Meadows Clock Tower for the first day of competition of this FEI CSI 5* tournament. The single round competition against the clock required riders to go as quickly as possible without any faults if they wanted to make it to the winners circle.
Canadian FEI Course Designer Peter Grant set the track to test the competitors and it was Eduardo Menezes (BRA) riding his 10 year old stallion H Big Action who passed with flying colours. The pair soared over the final fence clear covering the 500 metre course with a time of 67.88s that was untouchable.
"It is the best place (Spruce Meadows) to build up a horse if you know which class to enter them in. It's a tough show, as it should be, but if you pick right they learn a lot" - Eduardo Menezes on building young horses at Spruce Meadows.
The top 5 riders from this competition have now qualified for Sunday's Grand Prix, the 'Pan American' Cup, presented by Rolex.
Jim Ifko (CAN) & Un Diamant de Forets
© Spruce Meadows Media/Dave Chidley
Jim Ifko (CAN) aboard Un Diamant des Forets Jump to Victory
The first competition on the International Ring to start the 'Pan American', presented by Rolex Tournament was the Friends of the Meadows Jumper 1.50M. Over 50 entries contested the course set by FEI Course Designer Peter Grant (CAN). Sixteen of riders were able to clear the 500 metre,11 obstacle track with no faults, but Jim Ifko of Canada riding Un Diamant des Forets was the quickest of them all. The pair left all 13 fences up in a lightning fast time of 58.77s putting them into first place.
Matthew Sampson (GBR) & Elisa BJX win the Friends of the Meadows 1.45M
© Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk
The All Canada Ring Welcomes Over 230 Rounds
It was busy day on the All Canada Ring at Spruce Meadows for the start of the 'Pan American', presented by Rolex Tournament. The day began with 77 horse/rider combinations competing in the single round Friends of the Meadows 1.40M competition. Matthew Sampson (GBR) continued his winning ways aboard Curraghgraigue Obos Flight were unbeatable with a clear round and time of 65.52s.
The Friends of the Meadows 1.45M was up next with 46 entries tackling the track set by FEI Course Designer Joey Rycroft (CAN). Matthew Sampson of Great Britain riding Elisa BJX could not be beat posting a clear round with a time of 63.96s. This was Sampson's second win of the day.
The top 5 placings from the Friends of the Meadows 1.40M and the Friends of the Meadows 1.45M have now qualified for the Moore & Co. Winning Round and West Canadian Cup CSI2* Grand Prix respectively.
Two 1.30M competitions capped off the day on the All Canada Ring with over 50 competitors in each. Juan Jose Zendajas of Mexico (501A) and John Perez of Columbia (501B) rode to victory in their respective Friends of the Meadows competitions to kick off their 'Pan American' Tournament tour.
Images of the Day
Matthew Sampson of GBR riding Curraghgraigue Obos Flight wins the Friends of the Meadows 1.40M
© Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk
Juan Jose Zendajas (MEX) and Hector V.D. Papendijk
© Spruce Meadows Media/Dave Chidley
John Perez (COL) & Voodoo 10 win the Friends of the Meadows 1.30M
© Spruce Meadows Media/Dave Chidley
Farriers are ring side during Spruce Meadows Tournaments for any shoes lost on course
© Spruce Meadows Media/Ashley Jimenez
