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"This one is very, very special": Beezie Madden and Darry Lou win the 'CP International' presented by Rolex

Monday, 09 September 2019
CSIO5* Spruce Meadows 'Masters' 2019

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping. “He is nothing but a pleasure to ride," Madden said about Darry Lou after winning the $3,000,000 CAD 'CP International' presented by Rolex at the Spruce Meadows 'Masters'. Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.

 

Text © World of Showjumping

 


 

After winning Sunday's $3,000,000 CAD 'CP International' presented by Rolex at the Spruce Meadows 'Masters', Beezie Madden (USA) is the new live contender in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. Riding Darry Lou (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Nabab de Reve), Madden made an easy job over one of the world’s biggest and most challenging Grand Prix tracks – that goes over two rounds and a jump-off if needed. However, the latter was not needed on Sunday as Madden was the only one to keep the rails up in both rounds. 

“It feels amazing!" Madden commented on her win. "This is such an amazing place and it is an honour just to be here. Any win is fantastic, but I must say that this one is very, very special. Spruce Meadows always has such a great atmosphere and I find it inspiring to ride here. It is much more motivating to compete here as at a show where there is no crowd. The public and the fans just make it special. I do get the feeling that Darry Lou has the fans though, because he is so cute.”

Madden did nothing but praise her winning partner: “He is nothing but a pleasure to ride. I usually say that if anything goes wrong it is my fault, because he does exactly what I ask him to do. He has a beautiful gallop, a beautiful jump and his temperament is amazing so he is really, really a pleasure.”

A total of 49 horse-and-rider combinations lined up for the first round of the 'CP International' presented by Rolex that consisted of 14 massive jumps and 17 efforts, combined with a very short time allowed. In the first round it was mostly the combinations that caused problems with a double of uprights placed after the open water at no. 6, as well as the triple combination with a triple bar-upright-oxer at no.9 heading straight towards the short side. 

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping. Beezie Madden and Darry Lou flying over the double of oxers over liverpools. Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.

The twelve best pairs from the first round qualified for the second round: Eight clears, three on a time fault and the fastest four-faulter. If the riders thought the first round was difficult, the second round would really get their adrenalin pumping. It was especially the last line that gave the riders something to think about, with the double of liverpools at 9 consisting of two massive oxers, followed by a double of uprights at 10 consisting of narrow and very light bike jumps. 

“The second round was a real bear,” Madden laughed. “When I was walking the course this morning I asked if they even bothered to make a jump-off course. When we walked, it all looked so difficult – but you have to have faith. Leopoldo is brave, knows what he is doing, and it made for an amazing event today.” 

Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) who was responsible for giving the riders some serious questions to solve, said this about his courses: “We had really good riders here this year and that made me put a lot of pressure on myself. I needed to produce a second round that was big and difficult, but not dangerous. Here in Calgary we know we are the hardest, but in a good way.” 

The only one to clear all the fences in both rounds was Madden, adding just one time fault to her score in the second round. There was only one rider to end on a total of four faults to take the runner-up position; Rowan Willis (AUS) with the phenomenal Blue Movie (Chacco-Blue x Pilot). 

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping. Rowan Willis and Blue Movie delivered two splendid rounds to end second. Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.

“She was fantastic today. It was my fault really that rail, so I’m just very happy with her,” Willis said. “I have been based in England for a long time and my mare was bred in England. Two years ago, I came here. North America really suited her and I will stay here for the next year to get ready for Tokyo. I’m a bit of a gipsy at the moment. I go back to Lexington next week and the horses will be based there for the next few shows. Then I go to Wellington for the winter and back here for the summer.”

Max Kühner (AUT) and Chardonnay 79 (Clarimo x Corrado I) ended third after clearing the first round, then adding five penalties to his score in the second round. “I was very happy with Chardonnay. We are here in Calgary for the first time. I have to say I was pretty impressed the first days, but over the days I developed some faith in the course designer,” Kühner said laughing. “When I walked the second round today I thought ‘I would not build this at home, but ok…’”

Max used Friday evening’s Six Bar, which he won together with Italy’s Piergiorgio Bucci after both of them jumped at 1.95m, to warm up for the Rolex Grand Prix. “I already felt during the Six Bar that Chardonnay jumped better and better, so I was happy that my theory felt good also in practical life. And the verticals looked small today,” Kühner laughed. 

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping. Max Kühner and Chardonnay made a brilliant debut at Spruce Meadows to take the third place. Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.

Kühner was followed by Francois Mathy Jr (BEL) with Uno de la Roque (Numero Uno x Kannan), who sealed the Nations Cup win for Belgium on Saturday and jumped through Sunday’s Grand Prix with the total of six faults after recording one time penalty in the first round and five faults in the second.

Eric Lamaze (CAN) was in the lead after the first round with the fastest clear round, which gave him the opportunity to jump last in the second round. But it was not to be for Lamaze, as he and Fine Lady 5 (Forsyth FRH x Drosselklang II) finished the second round with eight faults – which pushed them down to fifth place. 

About having Lamaze coming after her in the second round, Madden said: “Well, I thought I was quite polite. I left him a time fault so if he would have jumped clear he could have beaten me. Eric and I have nothing but tremendous respect for each other but when we are out there we are both trying to win. I’m happy when he wins, and he is happy when I win.”

Kent Farrington (USA) – winner of the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen – was unfortunately not able to continue his Grand Slam-journey. With four faults from the first round, Farrington ended 14th – watching the second round from the sideline. 

 

 

 

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