US Towell claims thrilling victory in Toronoto CSI4*-W final

US rider Jack Hardin Towell claimed a thrilling victory in the $85,000 GroupBy Big Ben Challenge on Saturday night to close out the CSI4*-W Royal Horse Show, held as part of the 95th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in downtown Toronto.
In front of a sold-out crowd of more than 6,000 spectators packed at the Ricoh Coliseum, 23 riders challenged the final track set by 2016 Rio Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge of Brazil. Eight riders, including Kent Farrington and McLain Ward, currently numbers one and two in the Longines World Rider Rankings, jumped clear to advance to the all-deciding jump-off. 
Towell grabbed up the whole scene, blazing around the jump-off track with Lucifer V in 38.37 seconds. The 29-year-old snatched the win from Canada’s own François Lamontagne, who had stopped the clock in 40.92 seconds atop of Chanel du Calvaire. Third place was Australia’s Sharn Wordley riding Barnetta.At his first time in this important competition, Towell also won the $35,000 Jolera International Jumper event on Tuesday, November 7. An excellent debut in Toronto for him and his Lucifer, who he has been paired with for four years. Together they took part in two World Cup Finals, ending 28th in Gothemburg 2016 and 32nd in Las Vegas 2015.
Full ranking: http://www.longinestiming.com/#!/equestrian/2017/1418/html/en/longinestiming/resultlist_134.htmlphoto: Ben Radvanyi Photography
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