Will Simpson Claims Victory in the Opening 5* Class at Spruce Meadows’ ‘North American’ Tournament

The veteran American rider wins The Crew 1.45m with Chacco P – Patricio Pasquel (MEX) and Kara Chad (CAN) complete the podium

Calgary, AB – The FEI 5* competitions at Spruce Meadows’ prestigious ‘North American’ Tournament kicked off in style today with Will Simpson (USA) securing victory in The Crew 1.45m, the first international class of the week. Partnering with Chacco P, the Olympic gold medallist delivered the fastest clear round of the day in 68.86 seconds, setting the pace and claiming the win.

Simpson, a seasoned rider returning to Spruce Meadows after a few years away, was thrilled with the result:

“It’s been great. The horse is really loving it up here. The atmosphere is amazing, and I’m so excited to be here for the 50th anniversary. I hadn’t been here in a while, so it’s been great. All the riders and horses we brought are already talking about coming back next year.”

The Crew 1.45m Podium

Joining Simpson on the podium were Patricio Pasquel (MEX), who took second place aboard Cabablue, and Canada’s Kara Chad, who rounded out the top three with Corinna Z. Simpson also placed fourth with a second mount, Imar, highlighting his strong start to the week.

Top 10 Results – The Crew 1.45m (FEI 5*)

1. Will Simpson (USA) & Chacco P
2. Patricio Pasquel P (MEX) & Cabablue
3. Kara Chad (CAN) & Corinna Z
4. Will Simpson (USA) & Imar
5. Melody Liu (USA) & Napoleon van den Dael
6. Sarah Lottis (CAN) & Itoulon S
7. Sahana Ganesan (USA) & My Ferrari
8. Jose Antonio Chedraui Eguia (MEX) & Con-Cor
9. Patricio Pasquel (MEX) & Gazelle SM
10. Alexandra Biederman (USA) & Cornet’s Cookie

Santiago Varela (ESP) at the Helm for 5* Course Design

This week’s FEI 5* courses will be designed by Santiago Varela (ESP), renowned for his technical yet fair tracks. Up next is the Jayman BUILT Cup, where riders will compete for a coveted spot in Saturday’s $1,000,000 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup – one of the highlights of the summer show jumping calendar.

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