Spruce Meadows, Calgary, Alberta, Canada – July 06, 2024 – Conor Swail (IRL) won Saturday’s $746,269 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup, leading a determined starting competition of 40 of the world’s best riders to take the coveted prize.
Twelve of those athletes advanced to the second round, but only four made it to the jump-off: Swail, Canada’s Amy Millar (CAN), American Nicholas Dello Joio (USA) and Neal Fearon (IRL).
In the end, Swail was victorious while Amy Millar (CAN) and Truman finished second and Nicholas Dello Joio (USA) and Cornet’s Cambridge came third.
An elated Swail, who finished his clear jump-off round in 39.29 seconds, declared afterwards: “It feels amazing. The Queen Elizabeth II Cup is one of the most prestigious Grands Prix in the world.”
Millar, who will soon head to France as one of the Team Canada Olympic show jumpers, was over the moon with her second place finish.
Millar, who was also faultless but came in at 40.85 seconds, said: “This is my last class before Paris so I couldn’t be feeling better about everything that’s going on with that horse and myself and our Canadian team going into what’s coming up next.
“Right now, our team is looking fantastic. All the horses are jumping clean, all the riders are riding great.
“Really, that’s all you can ask for.”
Dello Joio was more dejected after finishing in a swift 36.79 seconds but knocking a rail down on the final fence.
“It’s hard going first, especially with these guys behind you,” Dello Joio said.
“You got to think, do as much as you can to shut the door and really make them chase.
“I think I just chanced it a little bit too much. But I couldn’t be happier with my horse. I mean, he jumped unbelievably today.”
The trio and their competitors enjoyed one of Spanish course designer Santiago Varela Ulastres’ (ESP) last creations before he too heads to Paris, where he will join fellow designer, Gregory Bodo (FRA), as Olympic co-course designer.
Winner’s Circle: Conor Swail (IRL)
Thank Heavens: An emotional Conor Swail, of Ireland, celebrates his Grand Prix win on the back of his beloved horse Count Me In. A tearful Swail told onlookers how just last year the now 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding stopped performing out of the blue, but this year his ‘horse of a lifetime’ is back in full swing after successfully battling stomach ulcers.
Swail said: “Honestly, what that horse has done for me is just incredible. The highlight reel for me is basically him in my career.
“He went through a little bad patch last year where we weren’t that comfortable jumping bigger.
“And then, we’ve just built him back up nicely. And honestly, he feels as good as ever.”
Final Results – $746,269 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup CSI 5*
1) Conor Swail (IRL) & Count Me In – 0 / 0 – 39.29
2) Amy Millar (CAN) & Truman – 0 / 0 – 40.85
3) Nicholas Dello Joio (USA) & Cornet’s Cambridge & – 0 / 0 – 36.79
Source: Press Release from Spruce Meadows Media
Photos: © Spruce Meadows Media / Mike Sturk / Bart Onyszko / Tony Lewis / Kevin Udahl
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Categories: CSI 5*, English, Jumper News Ireland, Spruce Meadows
