Spruce Meadows, Calgary, Alberta, Canada – June 18, 2023 – The $80,000 ATCO Grand Prix CSI 2* was the first competition on final day of the Spruce Meadows ‘National’ CSI 5* & CSI 2*, presented by Rolex. Only the top thirty-five horse/rider combinations from qualifiers earlier in the week were able to step through the iconic clock tower in hopes of making it to the winner’s circle.

Thirteen riders representing seven nations, passed all the first round’s tests set out by FEI Course Designer Olaf Petersen Jr. (GER) and advanced to the jump off. It was a slightly cooler temperatures in the Alberta Foothills Saturday morning, but it seemed to suite Ireland’s Darragh Kenny (IRL) just fine.

Aboard Vancouver Dreams, Kenny galloped through the finish line, clear, with the fastest time of 39.50 seconds.

A prelude to the $145,000 ATCO Cup CSI 5*, two Irishmen battled for the win, the two same Irishmen with the same result. Conor Swail (IRL) was the closest one to Kenny, guiding Gamble towards two penalty-free rounds too, finishing second due to their jump-off time of 39.94 seconds.

A pleasant surprise throughout the week, Maddison Stephen (AUS) and Yalambis Ikon were back on the podium, rounding out the top three after a clean scorecard and being timed in 40.02 seconds in the tiebreaker.

Final Results – $80,000 ATCO Grand Prix CSI 2*

1) Darragh Kenny (IRL) & Vancouver Dreams – 0 / 0 – 39.50

2) Conor Swail (IRL) & Gamble – 0 / 0 – 39.94

3) Maddison Stephen (AUS) & Yalambis Ikon – 0 / 0 – 40.02

Source: Press Release (edited) from Spruce Meadows Media

Photo: © Spruce Meadows Media / Mike Sturk

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