Edited press release from Spruce Meadows
Ireland’s Conor Swail and Count Me In (Count Grannus x Sherlock Holmes) won Friday's CSI5* 1.45m The Fantastic 4 at the Spruce Meadows 'Pan American'.
Twenty-four horse-and-rider combinations took on the track in the North American ring built by FEI course designer Anthony d’Ambrosio (USA). Of those riders, only seven posted clear rounds and qualified for the jump-off.
Of the seven, only six chose to take on the jump-off track in hopes of making it to the winner’s circle. It was another battle of the Irish between Conor Swail and Darragh Kenny, but it was Swail aboard Count Me In who would claim victory posting the fastest clear round in the jump-off with a time of 37.57 seconds. With a time of 38.75, Kenny and Arna T' Kruisveld (Arko III x Indoctro) finished second, followed by Canada's Kara Chad and Igor GPH (Harley x Crawford) in third who clocked a time of 39.31.
Friday’s showjumping action started on the North American ring with the CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix qualifier, with over 60 horse-and-rider combinations in it.
Twelve athletes passed all the first-round tests and advanced to the jump-off. Australia’s Katie Laurie has been on fire this week and aboard the grey McCaw MVNZ (Corofino II x Cassini II) she picked up another victory posting the fastest clear round in the jump-off with a time of 39.09s. Swail was also in the ribbons in this class, finishing second with Gamble (Vingino x Indoctro) in a time of 39.35. Great Britain's Amanda Derbyshire and Wonder If (Cevin Z x Bolivar) took the third place, only 0.01 behind Swail.