DERRY’S Daniel Coyle was on top form at the Rolex-sponsored National meeting at Spruce Meadows over the weekend, when he made multiple podium appearances with his talented mounts. The best of these was when he and Farrel secured the top spot in Saturday’s five-star 1.50m speed class in a fast time of 68.14 seconds, more than two and a half seconds ahead of runner-up Nayel Nassar (EGY) and Linguini de la Pomme. Daniel Bluman (ISR) completed the podium on Corbie VV.

Coyle’s form continued into Sunday, when, less than 24 hours after his win, he and Ariel Grange’s 10-year-old gelding Jasper were runners-up in the 1.45m class. Just 11 of the 37 participants kept the first-round course, built by German designer Olaf Petersen Jnr intact, with only eight jumping clear a second time. Coyle and Jasper jumped clear again in a very quick time of 41.28 seconds, with only McKayla Langmeier (USA) shaving a quarter of a second off Coyle’s time to take the win.

Robert Blanchette was another to take Spruce Meadows by storm, with three wins across the weekend at 1.40m and 1.45m level.

In the ribbons

Conor Swail got off to a good start at Spruce Meadows on Wednesday, June 12th, when he rode My Lady Lavista to win the opening 1.45m class. He was followed by Daniel Coyle and Jasper in sixth, meanwhile Arielle Allen and Kandice Z won the 1m class. In the day’s 1.30m class, Coyle and Amalia came second.

On Thursday, Robert Blanchette won both the 1.45m class, on Coupis, followed by the 1.40m class, riding Abra Kadabra VD Heide Z. David O’Brien rode Palermo AEG into second place in the 1.20m class, while Swail also placed second, this time in the 1.30m class on board Ikonic PB.

Friday saw Blanchette ride Azmir D’Asbo Z into fifth place in the 1.45m class, while O’Brien also placed fifth with Birkegaardens Malibu DWB in the 1.40m class and then took third in the 1.20m class with Palermo AEG.

The highlight of Saturday was, of course, the 1.60m Grand Prix, in which O’Brien claimed sixth place with El Balou OLD. It was a home win for Canada’s Tiffany Foster on Battlecry.

Blanchette and Coupis were in the ribbons again, when they placed second in the day’s 1.45m class; Coyle and Amalia were sixth in the 1.30m class.

Blanchette claimed another win on Sunday at 1.40m level riding Abra Kadabra VD Heide Z. Meanwhile, Swail and Ikonic PB placed fifth in the day’s 1.30m class.