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Britain's Nick Skelton Wins RBC Financial Group World Cup

July 2, 2005

Nick Skelton (GBR) & Arko III. Photo Credit: Cansport Photography

Spruce Meadows, Calgary, Alberta --- Nick Skelton (GBR) with his Athens Olympic partner - the beautiful Oldenburg stallion Arko III - captured the RBC Financial Group World Cup (1.60m) in an exciting 12-horse jump-off. Beezie Madden (USA) was the pacesetter, coming back first in the ring and finishing in a time of 35.30 with another clear. Fellow American Laura Kraut was next and finished in a time of 34.27, knocking more than a second off of Madden's time. In the end that was good enough for second place for Kraut and Miss Independent. Richard Spooner (USA) and Hilton Flight were third.

There were seven double clears in total in the event and Skelton was one of only two riders who took an inside turn between the first and second fence to shave off the necessary time to take the win.

Canada's Jill Henselwood and Special Ed were one of those double-clears and finished in fifth as top Canadian with Ian Millar right behind her.

"Luck does play a big part in this game," says Skelton. He has not jumped Arko III for a couple weeks, since the Grand Prix at the "National" where they had an unlucky rail in that event.

Luck also played a part in escaping the weather as once again the skies opened up, but this time between the Section (I) and Section (II) events on Meadows on the Green and not during the jumping. Skelton remarked the footing remained perfect, even with the bit of rain.

American Rich Fellers won the Section (I) or speed event today on an Irish horse named Flexible. They beat out a field of 26 horses in the ConocoPhillips Cup (1.50m) which has also put them into play in the Molson Canadian Six Pack Series as this event is the second leg of the six-part event.

Sometimes in a speed event, the time margins can come down to one hundredths of a second but the top three riders in the ConocoPhillips Cup finished with more than a second between them. Michael Whitaker (GBR) and El Caprichoio Atormen Tado finished second and Richard Spooner (USA) aboard Ezrah capturing another third place ribbon.

Tomorrow is the final day of the Spruce Meadows "Canada One" Tournament with feature events starting on the Meadows on the Green Ring at 10:00 am.

For full results and schedule information, please go to www.sprucemeadows.com

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