Frances Land and Vieanne Take $8,000 Thompson Family Cup 1.45m at Spruce Meadows

June 26, 2014–On Thursday, competition got underway this morning in the Chinook Ring with a win for Frances Land (USA) in the $8,000 Thompson Family Cup 1.45m. Thirty-seven entries contested Manuel Esparza’s (MEX) speed course with seven clear rounds. Land guided her 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Vieanne (Andiamo x Voltaire) to victory in 65.87 seconds. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) finished second aboard Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Mimosa in 68.67 seconds. Ali Wolff (USA) rode John Wolff’s Artemis to third place honors in 69.35 seconds.

Frances Land and Vieanne | Photo Copyright Spruce Meadows Media Service

A college student at Emory University in Georgia, Land is making the most of her summer break by riding as much as possible. She and Vieanne showed during week one of Spruce Meadows Summer Series, the ‘National’ CSI 5* presented by Rolex, and finished second in the $33,500 ATCO Pipelines Cup 1.45m. The pair took a break during the ‘Continental’ Tournament CSIO 5*, then came back fresh in the third week of competition to kick things off with a win.

“I showed her yesterday in a 1.30m warm-up, so today was just her third class here and she is really fresh,” Land detailed. “She feels great. She is just naturally so fast that I knew that this course was not one to run. I just had to ride the track and be smooth. I knew the straight lines were a bit steady and some of the curves I just needed to be smooth. There were a few leave-outs. I went around the blue oxer when I was planning to go inside after the grob, but I think naturally she is just faster if I am smooth. It just worked in my favor today.”

Thursday was Land’s first time showing in the Chinook Ring at Spruce Meadows, and the ring seemed to play to her favor as well.

“I was surprised because I had never gotten to show out here and I was actually a bit worried because this ring is a little smaller, but it was lovely,” Land acknowledged. “She jumped great. The smaller ring actually helped slow her down a little because she was being a bit wild. The Chinook is great, I love jumping out there.”

Final Results: $8,000 Thompson Family Cup 1.45m

1 VIEANNE: Dutch Warmblood / M / 12 Andiamo x Voltaire
FRANCES LAND (USA), Frances Land: 0/65.870

2 MIMOSA: Swedish Warmblood / M / 10 Cardento x Easy San
SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), Spy Coast Farm, LLC: 0/68.670

3 ARTEMIS: Zangersheide / M / 9 Chamberlain Z x Casimir
ALI WOLFF (USA), John Wolff: 0/69.350

4 WRIOMF: Dutch Warmblood / M / 11 Tangelo van de Zwthoen x Julius
CHRISTIAN SORENSEN (CAN), Christian Sorensen: 0/70.340

5 COMETA: Oldenburg / G / 9 Contender x For Pleasure
NICOLAS PIZARRO SUAREZ (MEX), Veronica Portugal M: 0/70.820

6 RIVIERRA: Warmblood / M / 9 Cool Fontaine x Speed Clayetois
SCHUYLER RILEY (USA), van Decraen Lieven: 0/71.840

7 UNICO: Dutch Warmblood / G / 13 Odermus R x Wuzo
SPENCER BRITTAN (USA), Stranskys Mission Farms: 0/73.740

8 ZANDOR: Warmblood / S / 10 Oklund x Ulster
LUIS ALEJANDRO PLACENSIA (MEX), Luis Gerardo Plascencia: 1/75.540

9 CAPRILLI HSF: Zangersheide / G / 12 Caretano Z x Come On
GABRIELA MERSHAD (USA), Mershad Stables: 1/75.710

10 CHAQUI Z: Zangersheide / S / 8 Chacco Blue x Quilana Z
SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), Spy Coast Farm, LLC: 3/82.890

11 CONTIKI: Swedish Warmblood / G / 8 Contendro x Calido I
NICK DELLO JOIO (USA), Coker Farm: 4/68.160

12 UITTERAARD: Dutch Warmblood / G / 13 Numero Uno x Natosca
HECTOR FLORENTINO (DOM), Sheila Sosnow: 4/70.120

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