(SPRUCE MEADOWS, Calgary, AB): The 2007 Spruce Meadows “Masters” marks the grand finale of the international outdoor season at Spruce Meadows. What an incredible five days it promises to be!
With the results of the European Championships and Pan American Games freshly entered in the history books, Spruce Meadows now hosts the world’s best in international show jumping with a tournament roster that includes the gold (NED), silver (GER) and bronze (GBR) medal nations from the European Championships as well as the Olympic champions (USA) and very strong Swiss and Canadian teams.
World Champion Jos Lansink (BEL) returns fresh off of an individual silver medal at the Europeans in search
of his second CN International title. Lansink will be in tough against a power house entry of veteran stars and
rising stars from more than a dozen nations.
Among the former winners of show jumping’s most important grand prix that are here to compete is a group of incredible veterans that clearly understand what it takes to succeed at the “Masters”. It is at Spruce Meadows that the likes of Canadian Ian Millar and British stars Michael & John Whitaker and Nick Skelton have enjoyed some of their greatest successes and most bitter disappointments.
Over the five days of the “Masters” a showdown will take place with stakes that include $2 Million in prize
money and, just as importantly, some significant individual and team “bragging rights”.
Don’t be surprised if there are few surprises in the results as this year’s entry also features some riders and
horses that, for whatever reason, have never lived up to their international resumes at Spruce Meadows.
World Cup Champion Beat Mändli (SUI) and multiple championship gold medalist Christian Ahlmann (GER) would like nothing better than to finally win big at Spruce Meadows. One thing is for certain….”Good Sport” is guaranteed!
“Good Commerce” will come in many forms at this year’s “Masters”. Whether it be in the sprawling Equi-Fair layout that includes 300 exhibitors from around the world showcasing their respective wares, talents,
expertise and product lines, the Marketplace or in the BP Festival of Nations.
Friday’s Changing Fortunes Round Table, featuring marquee speaker Rodrigo de Rato y Figaredo, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, has attracted a global roster of delegates from around the world and is sure to stimulate critical thought and dialogue between these leaders of commerce and the body politic.
Senor de Rato’s theme of “Changing Fortunes” Global Balances - Global Risks continues the Spruce Meadows tradition of Round Table’s past to focus on topics that are integrative in nature, comprehensive in scope, anticipatory in timing and apolitical in approach.
The combination of “Good Commerce” and “Good Sport” is nothing at Spruce Meadows without the “Good
Friendship” that has become a hallmark of the venue over the last three decades. With athletes, fans, media,
sponsors, officials, guests and exhibitors now arriving from around the world, a “best ever” Spruce Meadows
“Masters” is on the near horizon.
Over the five days of the Tournament organizers are expecting crowds approaching 150,000 which would
deliver record attendance for the 2006 season driven off of the excellent attendance during the Spruce
Meadows Summer Tour in June and July.
Whether it be championship sport, the Parade of Nations, flowers from Holland, the works of Rembrandt,
the Spruce Meadows Prairie Dogs, the BP Festival of Nations, the awesome horsemanship of Anky van
Grunsven, the TELUS Battle of the Breeds, the diverse equine experience that awaits in the halls of Equi-Fair,
or spectacular high level fireworks - every visitor to this year’s “Masters” is sure to sense those qualities that have come to define Spruce Meadows.
The 2006 Masters saw Canada enjoy its greatest success ever throughout the tournament. The Canadian
athletes will look too built on those successes (both team and individual) and on the great successes enjoyed to date in 2007 to make this another Masters to remember.
For a complete tournament schedule visit the Spruce Meadows website at www.sprucemeadows.com. If you have any questions, please call Spruce Meadows Media Coordinator, Meghan Chevrette-McIvor at 974-4232 or email [email protected]
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