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Skelton Wins Again on the Final Day of the Spruce Meadows "Canada One" Tournament

July 3, 2005

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

Spruce Meadows, Calgary, Alberta --- Winning both big weekend events yesterday and today, Great Britain's Nick Skelton commented he is looking forward to competition next week. He and the beautiful grey Holsteiner stallion, Russel, won the Esso Challenge (1.50m) event, beating out eight others in a jump-off with a time of 42.07.

This is the first Summer Tour at Spruce Meadows for Skelton as he is usually a mainstay on the British team during the "Masters" CSIO in September. He was looking for a change of scenery from his usual schedule of shows and has enjoyed his summer so far in Calgary and at Spruce Meadows. Everything has been great he remarked, "even the footing has remained remarkable considering all the rain."

Young Aimee Aron (USA) and Ostara set the time for Skelton to beat as he was last in the jump-off. She posted an impressive time of 42.82 for second with McLain Ward (USA) aboard Sapphire finishing third in a time of 43.26 seconds.

"She's moving up with me . . . we're both young and learning to go fast together," explained Aron of her nine-year-old Dutch mare. Skelton paid Aron a great compliment when he said he thought she was a great young rider now and was one day going to be brilliant.

Captain Canada Ian Millar and Sweet Dreams captured the West Canadian Cup (1.45m) earlier in the day, following a 26-horse jump-off. Millar in fact, had both his horses move forward to the jump-off but stopped out at the first fence aboard Online.

"Normally in this sport you go from the penthouse to the outhouse, but today for me I went from the outhouse to the penthouse," remarked Millar on his difficulties with his first horse.

Bernardo Alves (BRA) on the small but very quick Holsteiner stallion, Concept 2 finished second behind Millar in a time of 35.68 to Millar's winning time of 35.16. Nicole Simpson (USA) and El Campeons Tosca finished a close third in a time of 35.86.

The fourth and final week of the 2005 Spruce Meadows Summer Tour starts this Tuesday, July 5 through Sunday, July 1oth.

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

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