Ireland’s Conor Swail snatched victory by a fraction from top Canadian rider Eric Lamaze in the ATCO Founders Classic at the five-star Spruce Meadows Masters meeting in Calgary, Canada last night.
In a twelve-way jump-off Swail got GK Coco Chanel across the line just one hundredth of a second faster than Lamaze on Chacco Kid, after the Canadian had taken over the lead from another Irish pairing, Cian O’Connor on Callisto.
O’Connor held onto third place among the world-class field of 62 combinations.
The Spruce Meadows Masters meeting is one of the top events in the show jumping calendar, and features the three-million Canadian dollar Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday.
Last night’s result means Conor Swail has qualified for the lucrative finale. O’Connor was pre-qualified because of his individual European Bronze medal, which gives him automatic entry to all Grands Prix until the next European Championships in 2019.
Mike Dunne
We Live Horse 
Hi Mike (ššš)
God, its tougher than the Golf & Tennis Circuits… but perhaps not GP motor racing, though cars don’t need mucking out ?…
At least with Golf & Tennis they just have to fly a few clubs or racquets around with the “grooms/caddies/ coaches/physios’ to handle them.
It’s some logistical biz when it’s horses with all their kit, wagons & quarantines and sensitive digestions etc to manage etc. States or the Pacific tomorrow
It still needs you etc., to keep racking them up to the branding of a Harrington or McIlroy or even an Aidan O’Brien.
Wonder how the Ballydoyle Labour case will impact on the Sport Horse World ? We’ve hardly noticed? Something for you and your ‘mates’ to make noises about ?
With that happy thought, I’m off to peddle Gin to the saucy fillies of the Polo World, today !
Keep up the good work,
Spud….
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