(SPRUCE MEADOWS, Calgary, AB): Each year CN presents Show Jumping athletes with a unique opportunity in the CN Precision Series. The Series is a chance for athletes to win more than just the $1 Million bonus offered; they can also win an honoured place in Show Jumping’s history book. In order to earn that glory one would also be victorious in the four major FEI Grand Prix events that lead to the $1 Million bonus.
The CN Precision Series consists of three Spruce Meadows CSI Grand Prix events and one CSIO Grand Prix event. The journey down the CN Precision track begins at the Spruce Meadows “National” Tournament with the CN Reliability Grand Prix. The next stop on the track is at the “Continental” Tournament with the CN Performance. Tomorrow’s ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup which marks the third leg of the Series. The last stop takes a journey of the whole summer and is the illustrious CN International Grand Prix at the “Masters” Tournament.
An initial win on the journey earns the athlete a CN Iron Spike. A second Grand Prix win garners the athlete a CN Bronze Spike and $50,000. With a third win on the journey the athlete wins a Silver CN Spike and $450,000, bringing them to a total of half a million dollars. For the rider who wins all four competitions they will receive a final Gold CN Spike plus $500,000. Not a bad way to finish the season!
In the history of the CN Precision series only two riders have earned two spikes in a single season; Lauren Hough in 2004 and Beezie Madden in 2005. Amazingly both are in play again in 2007.
In 2006 four different riders won the four legs during the battle for the CN Precision Series. American Norman Dello Joio won the CN Reliability Grand Prix. Dello Joio’s student Lisa Silverman of the United States won the CN Performance. Beezie Madden laid claim to the ATCO Power QEII Cup for the second year in a row. The last prize went to Spruce Meadows rookie Eugenie Angot of France, who took home the biggest pay day in the sport winning the CN International Grand Prix.
The stakes are high for the CN Precision Series. With so much on the line only the best riders in the world can hope to claim victory in even one leg of the Series.
With Madden committed to the American Team’s Nations Cup effort this weekend on the European Tour, Lauren Hough will be the lone athlete aiming at scoring the victory bonus. More than 30 horse/rider combinations from around the world will be intent on denying Hough victory while also looking to hop on board the CN Precision series track en route to September’s final leg, the CN International.
You must be logged in to post a comment.