Calgary, Alberta – Lauren Tisbo of Barrington, IL, closed out the Spruce Meadows summer tournaments with top finishes in the final events at the internationally acclaimed show jumping venue in Calgary, AB. Riding King Kolibri, Tisbo placed fourth in the $200,000 ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Saturday, July 7, and, on the final day of competition in the CSI5* “North American” tournament, guided Crème Brule to fifth place in the $140,000 Cenovus Energy Classic Derby.
Lauren Tisbo and King Kolibri placed fourth in the $200,000 ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup at the CSI5* Spruce Meadows “North American” show jumping tournament on July 7 in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Spruce Meadows Media Services)
A total of 44 horses entered to win Saturday’s coveted $200,000 ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup in the International Ring. Only seven clear rounds were produced over the challenging first-round track set by course designer Michel Vaillancourt of Canada. In the second round of competition, five horse-rider combinations, including Tisbo and King Kolibri, repeated their fault-free performance to force a jump-off.
Having had the fastest time in the first round, Tisbo had the advantage of going last in the jump-off. Kent Farrington, Rich Fellers, Leslie Howard and Beezie Madden, all major championship veterans for the United States, tackled the jump-off track before her. As the final rider in the International Ring, the 28-year-old amateur competitor gave it her best shot, jumping clear all the way until the final fence. With four faults in a time of 38.87 seconds, Tisbo placed fourth overall while the win went to two-time Olympic team gold medalist Beezie Madden riding Simon, who was clear in a time of 37.58 seconds.
“If you get that far, you have to go for it!” smiled Tisbo of her performance with King Kolibri, a 10-year-old grey Hannoverian stallion. “I didn’t walk into the competition expecting to get as far as I did. It is an honor to make it to the jump-off in one of the most prestigious grand prix events in North America, so you can’t be conservative at that point. My horse jumped great, and I couldn’t have been more pleased with his performance. I was thrilled!”
The final day of competition at the CSI5* Spruce Meadows “North American” tournament brought the $140,000 Cenovus Energy Classic Derby. Tisbo entered Crème Brule, who had been her partner four weeks earlier in the $175,000 Nexen Cup Derby where they placed third with 12 faults. Another grueling derby track saw Tisbo once again go head-to-head with top United States Equestrian Team veterans. Four faults for knocking down a rail as they exited the dreaded Devil’s Dyke obstacle placed Tisbo and Crème Brule fifth overall in the final standings. Katie Monahan-Prudent took the victory riding V.
“I was really happy with her performance, it was our best score to date in a derby,” said Tisbo of the 12-year-old selle francais mare owned by Tequestrian Farms. “After having a day like I did on Saturday, sometimes it is hard to keep focused and stay in the game. I was able to put the excitement of Saturday behind me, focus on the next challenge, and succeed.”
Tisbo now returns to her summer base in Sherman, CT. She plans to compete at the Jumper Classic from August 8 to 12 in Hampton Falls, NH, and the Hampton Classic from August 26 to September 2 in Bridgehampton, NY, before returning to Calgary for the Spruce Meadows “Masters” tournament held September 5 to 9.
“Spruce Meadows is my favorite show,” said Tisbo. “From the jump crew all the way up to Linda and Tom Heathcott and Marg and Ron Southern, I can’t compliment them enough. I am honored to be a part of it.”
For more information on Lauren Tisbo and Tequestrian Farms, please visit www.tequestrianfarms.com.
