Daniel Coyle & Fortis Fortuna. ph: Amanda Ubell Photography.
At the Royal West Jumping Tournament in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, competition kicked off with the 1.45m $35,000 Friends of Rocky Mountain Cup on Tuesday, October 25, 2017. Known for his speed, Ireland’s Daniel Coyle picked up the win aboard the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare Fortis Fortuna (Quidam De Revel x Carthago), leading the class with a time of 58.24s.
Presented by Pure North and Sponsored by Mermac Construction, Volker Stevin and NSI Scapes, the one round competition against the clock saw 38 entries compete in the indoor arena. Coyle, 4th in the order, set an unbeatable time that would see him end the day atop the leaderboard. The Irishman also posted a clear round aboard the 11-year-old Holsteiner mare Cita (Casall x Pik Ramiro), with the two finishing 23rd with a time of 73.00s.
In preparation for Saturday night’s Longines FEI World Cup Qualifier, the 22-year-old plans to jump both horses in Thursday’s qualifier.
Fellow Irishman Conor Swail looked like he might catch him, first setting the pace with CK Coco Chanel, who eventually finished 4th, and then later on with two-time winner from the first week, Flower, who finished 3rd in tonight’s competition.
Canada’s Jim Ifko came closest to dethroning Coyle, crossing the timers in 59.89s aboard the nine-year-old Selle Francais stallion Un Diamant des Forets (Diamant de Semilly x Papillon Rouge). An unlucky rail kept him out of the top position, but his sheer speed kept him in 2nd place over a dozen clear rides.
“I walked the line and chose to do a galloping four strides. However, after watching the entire class do a tight five strides, I convinced myself to do that instead,” commented Ifko. “It wasn’t the right ride for my horse – I wish I had done the four strides.”
Ireland’s Conor Swail secured 3rd and 4th place aboard the nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding GK Coco Chanel ( Clarimo x Lerano 2) and the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare Flower (Bon Ami x Randel Z), respectively.