Beezie Madden and Judgement win the ATB Financial Cup but Canadians Dominate on Opening Day of Spruce Meadows “National”

(SPRUCE MEADOWS, Calgary, AB): “You can’t win it all if you don’t win the first one,” laughs Canadian Jill Henselwood after making her 2006 debut in the International Ring Wednesday and winning the Enbridge Cup 1.50m.

Henselwood and three of her students had outstanding rounds, all 4 of them riding clear in the first round, making it to the jump-off on a night where Canadians took six out of 10 top placings.

By taking a few gambles on-course, Henselwood and her mount Special Ed managed to finish the jump-off 0.3 seconds faster than her closest competitor, fellow Canuck, Eric Lamaze riding Narcotique De Muze.

“I feel strongly about Spruce Meadows and about Canadian Show Jumping,” says Henselwood. “We are hungry; we want to be on top.”

The maple leaf soon made way for the stars and stripes however, when Beezie Madden, of Cazenovia, New York went on to win the second competition of the evening, the ATB Financial Cup 1.60m.

She was untouchable aboard her Dutch Warmblood, Judgement, finishing more than a second faster than second place finisher Canadian Ian Millar.

Madden admits the Canadians have what it takes to win at Spruce Meadows this year. “They’ve always had great riders, and now they’ve got 5 great riders on great horses, that’s a very hard thing to do for any country,” says Madden.

The action in the International Ring begins at 5:00pm tomorrow with the Luscar Cup. For full results and schedule, please go to http://www.sprucemeadows.com/

Enbridge Cup 1.50m
1. Jill Henselwood/Special Ed/Oxford Mills, ON/0 – 42.50 (jump-off)
2. Eric Lamaze/Narcotique de Muze II/Schomberg, ON/0 – 42.87 (jump-off)
3. Will Simpson/El Campeons Tosca/Thousand Oaks, CA/0 – 43.71 (jump-off)
4. Kelley Small/Calibur/Kanata, ON/0 – 45.22 (jump-off)
5. Eric Lamaze/Ramiville/Schomberg, ON/0 – 46.59 (jump-off)

ATB Financial Cup 1.60m
1. Beezie Madden/Judgement/Cazenovia, NY/0 – 43.07 (jump-off)
2. Ian Millar/In Style/Perth, ON/0 - 44.24 (jump-off)
3. Chris Pratt/Rivendell/Belfountain, ON/0 - 47.028 (jump-off)
4. Laurie Bucci/Quidam’s Ramiro/St. Hilaire, QC/0 - 56.215 (jump-off)
5. Eric Lamaze/Hickstead/Schomberg, ON/4 – 44.22 (jump-off)

June 8th, 2006 | HJN Staff Reporter |

Leave a Response (or trackback on your own site)

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Close this window.