Edited press release from Spruce Meadows 

On Sunday, the Spruce Meadows grounds were full and the International Ring packed with fans for the feature afternoon event, the CSIO5* 1.60m CPKC ‘International’, presented by Rolex – part of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. 

This $3,000,000 Grand Prix jumped over two rounds is one of the richest in the world. Following the completion of the first round of competition, the top twelve riders from round one returned for round two in reverse order of merit – their first and second round scores added together to determine final placings. In case of a tie for faults after two rounds of competition, a jump-off would be required to determine the winner.

Sunday’s courses were designed by Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) and his team; Anthony d’Ambrosio (USA), Peter Grant (CAN), Joey Rycroft (CAN), Florencio Hernández (MEX), Will Dean-Stobie (CAN), Jedd Smith (CAN) and Peter Wong (MYS), who have been assisting all week – designed the tracks with multiple tests for both horse and rider.

After the first round of competition, five horse-and-rider-combinations were clear: Martin Fuchs (SUI) and Leone Jei (Baltic VDL x Corland, bred by G.M. van Mersbergen and owned by Adolfo Juri), Tiffany Foster (CAN) and Figor (Querly-Elvis x Indoctro, bred by H.W. van Lindenberg and owned by Artisan Farms LLC and Tiffany Foster), Bertram Allen (IRL) and Pacino Amiro (Pacino x Mc Amiro, bred by Simon Scott and owned by Aiden McGrory), Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) and Elysium (Zirocco Blue VDL x Coronado I, bred by Manfred Tummes and owned by SIPE Handels AG) and Angelie von Essen aboard Alcapone des Carmilles (Diamant de Semilly x Heartbreaker, bred by Carole Levallois and owned by John Österdahl and Sylve Söderstrand). The second round of competition consisted of twelve obstacles and 15 jumping efforts that spanned 510m and had to be completed in 77 seconds of less. 

There was a hush over the stadium for each rider, and after the second round there were two double clears – which meant that there would be a jump-off between Canada’s Tiffany Foster and Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs.

Foster and Figor were first into the ring and as they had an unfortunate rail in the combination, all Fuchs had to do was go clear. Thousands were silent as Fuchs entered the ring on his great grey gelding Leone Jei, who cleared the final fence with ease and Fuchs knew he had won with a memorable mid-air celebration. Winning the CPKC ‘International’, presented by Rolex, Fuchs is now the new live contender in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. 

“It's really one of my biggest dreams to win here in Spruce Meadows," Fuchs said. "My father was here plenty of times. He was here quite a few times and well placed in the Grand Prix, but he never managed to win. And he said, this is the best show in the world and this is where you have to win. And he pushed me to to win one day here and today is just wonderful."

While Foster had to settle for the runner-up spot, Allen took third, Dreher fourth and Azcarraga fifth – the three latter with a score of four faults each.