The first day of the ‘National’ CSI5*, presented by ROLEX, opened with the Recon Metal One Round competition. Hyde Moffat (CAN), and his mount Grafton, had the honour of being the first horse and rider combination to step through the clock tower and out onto the International Ring in nearly 2 years.
In total, thirty-five horses took on the 1.45m course designed by FEI course designer Anthony D’ambrosio (USA). This track featured 11 obstacles (13 jumping efforts), and was a nice welcoming course for riders to tackle on the first day of the September Series.
12 riders came out of the International Ring with clear rounds, putting the pressure on for them to have quick times in order to place. In the end, it was Eduardo Menezes (BRA) and Calypso Des Matis who took the win with a clean round and a time of 63.61 seconds. Hyde Moffat came in a close second aboard Donjo, with a time of 63.87 seconds.
Click Here for the Recon Metal Jumper Results
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Photo by Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk
Connor Swail (IRL) and Count Me In Clinch the Win in the Cardel Cup 1.50m Competition
The conclusion of the first day of the ‘National’ came with a competitive jump-off in the 1.50m Cardel Cup, that saw fast rounds from Kent Farrington (USA), Connor Swail (IRL), Vanessa Mannix (CAN), and Nayel Nassar (EGY). In the end, it was Connor Swail who clinched the win, edging out Nayel Nassar by less than a second for the top spot.
The competition welcomed a total of 16 competitors who braved the course, designed by FEI course designer Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA). The course featured 12 obstacles (14 jumping efforts), and a jump-off with a time allowed of 47 seconds. Connor Swail only took 37.80 seconds to make it through the jump-off course, giving him the win. The win for Swail came aboard the 14-year old Hanoverian gelding, Count Me In. The gelding is a new mount for Swail, recently acquired from Canadian veteran Beth Underhill. It was the first time the gelding had ever been in the international ring. Swail commented after the win that he could not be more pleased with the performance.
International showjumping at Spruce Meadows continues tomorrow, September 2, for day two of The ‘National’, presented by ROLEX.
Following his win, Connor Swail remarked upon how even though the atmosphere feels very different without fans in the stands, he and the other riders are very glad to be back at Spruce Meadows.
