Edited press release from Spruce Meadows
The North American Ring featured two FEI competitions on Saturday of the Spruce Meadows 'Continental' CSI5*/2*, presented by Rolex. Familiar faces from the 2022 Spruce Meadows Summer Series were ready to take on the the track laid out by FEI course designer Anthony d'Ambrosio (USA) in the $137,000 Friends of the Meadows 1.50m jump-off competition.
Four athletes representing four countries posted clear rides in round one, advancing to the jump-off, where the victory went to Nayel Nassar (EGY) and his veteran championship mount Igor Van De Wittemoere (Cooper van de Heffinck x Orlando). They were untouchable, posting a clear jump-off ride with a time of 37.54, leaving Armando Trapote (ESP) on Tornado VS (Toulon x Contender) to the runner-up position, while Natalie Dean (USA) on Chance Ste Hermelle (Calvaro Z x Hemmingway) placed third, Rowan Willis (AUS) on Blue Movie (Chacco-Blue x Pilot) fourth and Conor Swail (IRL) on Gamble (Vingino x Indoctro) fifth.