Edited press releease from Spruce Meadows

The second day of the Spruce Meadows 'North American' CSI5*, presented by Rolex, started with yet another victory for former world no. one Kent Farrington (USA) in the International Ring. 

FEI course designer Peter Grant (USA) did not go easy on the riders this morning, offering a 530m 1.50m track over 12 obstacles with 14 jumping efforts which saw several eliminations. Three riders, out of a field of nearly 30, made it through to the jump-off: Ashlee Bond (ISR) on Contefina LVF (Contefino x South Pacific), Conor Swail (IRL) on Gamble (Vingino x Indoctro), and Farrington on Austria 2 (Casall x Corrado I).

The jump-off featured a short 350m track with a time allowed of 53 seconds. Bond started out with a fast pace and a clean trip, putting the pressure on Swail and Farrington to beat her time of 41.83 seconds. Swail went next, and his quick pace cost him a rail over the final oxer, to finish on four faults and a time of 42. 52 seconds.

Farrington and Austria 2, a 13-year old Holsteiner mare, were last to go, and managed to keep all the rails up while laying down a fast enough time to nudge Bond out of the first place position. This was the second win for the pair in the International Ring this year, after having also won the TELUS Cup during the 2021 Spruce Meadows 'Masters'.