Two of showjumping’s top international riders will be fighting hard to take the honour’s in this weekend’s CP International, presented by Rolex, which is held at Spruce Meadows in Calgary.
Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt is the current live contender for the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, a bonus prize to any rider who wins the Grands Prix in Aachen, Geneva and Spruce Meadows in succession.
Following victory in Aachen earlier this summer, Philipp must claim the prize in Spruce Meadows if he has any chance of winning the €1m bonus for a third victory in Geneva.
But one man who’ll be doing his utmost to stop him is Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat. The London 2012 individual gold medallist won the Grand Prix at the CHI Geneva in 2015, so he is in with a chance of winning the “two-out-of-three” bonus given to any rider to claim two non-consecutive victories within one Grand Slam cycle.
Philipp Weishaupt will be riding LB Convall, the stallion who took him to victory in Aachen. According to his rider, the horse is in great form in Spruce Meadows.
“He is fresh, he felt at home here again straightaway, he greeted the parade horses of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as if they were old friends. He also felt great jumping too,” said Philipp.
“Convall had the day off on Thursday, I am riding him in an advanced jumping class on Friday, Saturday I will rest him again – and on Sunday we will be going for it.”
Only one man has won the Rolex Grand Prix of Show Jumping – Britain’s Scott Brash, who claimed the final leg of the competition at Spruce Meadows 12 months ago.
The CP International, presented by Rolex, takes place this Sunday – and you can watch the action live on Sky channel 253 from 7pm. Find out more about the show here. Alternatively, if you don’t have Sky, you can sign up to H&C Play today and watch via your laptop, tablet or Mobile device. You’ll also get instant access to our fantastic archive of shows. Click here to subscribe now.