It was a day of unlikely but greatly deserving winners on Saturday of the ‘National’ Tournament, as 17 year-old Lucy Deslauriers(USA) once again came out on top for another victory in the Spruce Meadows International Ring. Only the top Horse/Rider combinations of the 1.50m divisionqualified to compete in this afternoon’s TransCanada Winning Round and it was a star studded order of go with the likes of Eric Lamaze(CAN), Beezie Madden(USA), McLain Ward(USA) and Cameron Hanley(IRL) – along with this week’s winners Daniel Coyle and Chris Surbey.  

The top ten riders, from a field of 30 starters, qualified to the winning round competition, with two in the order receiving just one time fault in the first round of competition. The finishing times were close and the level of sport was thrilling with show jumping fans delighting in seeing their favorite athletes battle it out in great fight to the finish line. In the end none of the veteran roster would be able to catch young Deslauriers and her athletic a honest partner Hester (Wandor van de Mispelaere x Palestro vd Begijnakker), a 12 year-old Belgian Warmblood. Lucy piloted Hester around the winning round track with incredible efficiency arriving to the finish line 0.35 seconds faster than second place finisher, Team Canada great, Eric Lamaze. 

His prized mount, the impressive 11 year-old Chestnut Gelding by Chacco Blue showed great promise through the challenging 1.50m track and will undoubtedly be a familiar face  in Spruce Meadows presentations ceremonies throughout the Summer Series of tournaments. 

Fellow Canadian Yann Candele also was present at the podium for a third place finish on another Chacco Blue offspring, new partner Chavenyno, an 11 year-old chestnut gelding. Candele was one of two riders to qualify to the winning round with one time fault but was able to find an efficient track to land him self 2.14 seconds behind Lamaze, yet enough to score him ahead of the other seven qualified competitors.