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Veterans Shine at Spruce Meadows

September 4, 2025

SPRUCE MEADOWS, Calgary, AB): It was survival of the fittest today at Spruce Meadows in the AKITA Drilling Cup. There were 41 entries who made their way around the Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) designed course, with only 3 returning for the jump-off.

The jump-off course took horse/rider combinations over 7 obstacles with a time allowed of 48 seconds. Pushing their horses for speed was a costly decision for Ashlee Bond (USA) and Roger-Yves Bost (FRA), both finishing their jump-off rounds with four faults. The master of the AKITA Drilling Cup was veteran Piet Raymakers (NED) with his 13 year-old Hannoverian stallion Van Schijndel’s Rascin. The pair finished their round clear with a conservative time of 43.83 seconds.

Raymakers knew he needed to be more than fast to beat Ashlee Bond’s quick four fault time of 38.05 seconds, “The course was really like a European grand prix. I knew half way through the there was no way to beat the time, so I decided to give the horse a nice clean ride to win,” said Raymakers. It was a decision that paid off for the veteran who earned a spot in Sunday’s $1 million CN International.
AKITA Drilling Cup top 10 of 41 entries -

1- Piet Raymakers NED Van Schijndel’s Rascin
2- Ashlee Bond USA Cadett 7
3- Roger-Yves Bost FRA Lolita de la Loge
4- Marcus Ehning GER Noltes Kuechengirl
5- Holger Wulschner GER Cefalo
6- Richard Spooner USA Pako
7- Leon Thijssen NED Pegasus
8- Emilio Bicocchi ITA Jeckerson Olea 0003
9- Tim Gredley GBR Timo
10- Jaime Azcarraga MEX Forastero

The second International Ring event, the CANA Cup, had 39 entries weave their way around a Leopoldo Palacios designed course. With 15 jumping efforts and a time allowed of 83 seconds it was again, no easy feat.

With an impressive group of top international riders only two were able to make it through the finish line clear and under the time allowed. Jumping off this afternoon were Daniel Etter (SUI) and Nick Skelton (GBR). Etter, a Spruce Meadows rookie faced a veteran who has won nearly every Spruce Meadows championship available.

First in the ring were the Swiss rider and his gelding Peu a Peu. The pair finished clear with a time of 40.88. A time Skelton knew would be hard to beat, “Daniel was quick, I was hoping he would have a rail and make my job easier,” said Skelton at the end of competition. With the advantage of seeing his competitor Skelton was able to squeak through the finish line in 40.73 seconds, a blink ahead of his competitor. “I went as quick as I could. That was luck,” commented Skelton after his victory.
CANA Cup top 10 of 39 entries -

1- Nick Skelton GBR Arko III
2- Daniel Etter SUI Peu a Peu
3- Jonathan Asselin CAN Rayana Chiara
4- Holger Wulschner GER Clausen
5- Lauren Hough USA Quick Study
6- Harrie Smolders NED Walnut De Muze
7- Jaime Azcarraga MEX Presley Boy
8- Tim Gredley GBR Omelli
9- Gerco Schroder NED Eurocommerce Milano
10- Marcus Ehning GER Plot Blue

Tomorrow’s first International Ring competition, the $100,000 EnCana Cup, will begin at 5:00 pm, followed by the $50,000 ATCO Electric Circuit which will begin at 7:30 pm. The $2 million Spruce Meadows “Masters” Tournament will continue through Sunday.

Written by Meghan Chevrette-McIvor · Filed Under Canada, Hunters & Jumpers, Masters Tournament, Meghan Chevrette-McIvor, Spruce Meadows 
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