Robert Smith a winner in Wellington
In Wellington, USA, Robert Smith riding Gerry Maguire scooped the $30,000 first prize in the Zada LLC Masters Cup in Wellington USA.
Robert jumped a double clear round to beat fellow countryman, Nick Skelton on Arko III into second place by almost one second.
Sixty starters gathered for the 2 p.m. event, scored under FEI Rules for World Cup (Art. 655) and FEI Rules for Jumping, Table A mixed. Article 238.2.2. Time First Jump-off. Venezuela´s Leopoldo Palacios-Jugo designed today´s $100,000 Masters Cup challenge.
Nine horse and rider combinations qualified for the timed jump-off with first round clears. Fifteen riders had a single rail down for four faults, while another seventeen duos had two knockdowns. Nine had more than eight, and four were eliminated or withdrew.
The jump-off field featured a single American rider doing battle against eight foreign competitors for the top prize. Eric Lamaze of Canada and Torrey Pine Stable´s Hickstead had the drawback of returning in the first spot in the jump-off, but did not for a moment let that stop them from laying down a fantastic trip with a very fast time. Lamaze never let up and raced home with a clear go in 39.97 seconds, a time that would hold up for the third place finish.
Nick Skelton and the fabulous stallion Arko III took over the top spot
with a brilliant ride. Skelton met every spot perfectly and managed to
shave 4/10ths of a second off of the Canadian´s time, coming home in
39.48 seconds to take the lead.
Then it was time for Robert Smith and Gerry Maguire. Winners of the
tremendously fast Acorn Hill Speed Challenge on Friday, the duo put in
another stellar performance against the clock, racing home 9/10ths of a
second faster than countryman Skelton for the win. Smith broke the beams
in an incredible 38.54 seconds.
Results (26.02.06)
CSIW Wellington
Masters Cup – Zada Enterprise – AM5
1. Gerry Maguire / Robert Smith (GBR): 0/0/38.54
2. Arko III / Nick Skelton (GBR): 0/0/39.48
3. Hickstead / Eric Lamaze (Can): 0/0/39.97
4. Vdl Fleche Rouge / Leopold Van Asten (Hol): 0/0/42.14
5. Roxanne / Eric Flameng (Bel): 0/0/42.65
6. Calmero Orion / Francois Mathy (Bel): 0/8/39.79
7. Anthem / Laura Kraut (USA): 0/8/39.89
8. Naomi / Mario Deslauriers (USA): 0/8/42.51
9. Tyra / Yann Candele (USA):0/12/41.85
10. Constantin 24 / Markus Beerbaum (Ger): 4/78.34