BY JEAN LLEWELLYN
PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER LLEWELLYN
An old adage says “The higher you go, the harder you fall”. However, it was exactly the reverse for British Olympian Ben Maher on the final day of the Spruce Meadows Masters’ in Calgary during an afternoon that witnessed a weather trifecta: chilly, windy, and wet.
The third Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Major of the calendar, the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament, concluded with the CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex.
Thirty-nine horse and rider combinations, who had qualified across the first four days of the Major, lined up behind Rolex testimonee Richard Vogel, whose victories in the Rolex Grands Prix at The Dutch Masters and TSCHIO Aachen put him in a historic position to become only the second rider ever to claim the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. The first and only rider to date to have etched his name on the coveted trophy was Britain’s Scott Brash in 2015, who joined an exceptional field with his now 17-year-old Hello Jefferson (Cooper van de Heffinck - Hovis x Irco Mena). Their four-fault round, however, was completed in a time outside the top 12 who qualified to progress.
Held over two rounds, with a jump-off if riders were tied on penalties, the CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex, is one of the sport’s most demanding tests, requiring not only athleticism and courage but also the highest levels of trust and harmony between horse and rider.
The typically imposing first-round course, designed by the highly experienced Leopoldo Palacios, comprised 13 obstacles, including three combinations. It provided the ultimate test for this year’s field, which featured nine previous Major winners with 24 Major victories between them, alongside seven of the World’s Top 10 riders.
The first well-deserved clear round came from the 10th combination to enter the arena, Katie Laurie riding Django II. The New Zealand native is now based a stone’s throw from Spruce Meadows, so is no stranger to the international arena having competed during their summer tournament series.
The next clear came from Brazil’s Yuri Mansur, who delivered a superb performance aboard the 19-year-old QH Alfons Santo Antonio (Aromats - Fiorella x Sir Donnerhall) as the 26th combination to enter the arena. In total, seven riders delivered faultless rounds, including Rolex Grand Slam live contender Richard Vogel riding the stallion United Touch S (Untouched - Touch of Class x Lux Z), Lillie Keenan with Fasther (Vigo d’Arsouilles - Busther x Farmer), and Daniel Coyle in the saddle of Farrel (Cardento 922 - Becherry x Stakkato)...
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