COUNTY Down’s Conor Swail has made a winning start to the 2022-2023 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup season, taking victory with ‘Vital Chance de la Roque’ in Saturday night’s opening leg in Sacramento (USA) – a venue where the Irishman also proved unbeatable 12 months ago.
Swail said: “[‘Vital Chance’] has had an incredible year. Every time I ride him, I know he’s going to give me a good shot [to win]. The two of us just seem to have a good partnership. Today, he jumped so well.”
Olaf Petersen Jr.’s (GER) course proved tough to navigate and a clear round was not produced until Swail cracked the code, 19 riders into the starting order. The jump-off field would ultimately consist of just three and Swail put his competitors away with a second clear effort in a sharp time of 38.19 seconds, impressing with two bold inside turns. No one could match him, but a duo of rising talent followed him on the podium, with 20-year-old Sophia Siegel (USA) and ‘A-Girl’ second (4/50.02 seconds) and Natalie Dean (USA) third with ‘Chance Ste Hermelle’ (8/43.65).
“When you go first [in a jump-off of this size], you’re either first, second or third. I’d prefer to be first, and I wanted to try to put it away early,” Swail said. “I was going to do what my strengths are. My plan was to be fast [and not] leave the door open.”
Swail collected 20 points for his victory and has taken an early lead in the North American League standings. Siegel sits second with 17 points, and Dean is third with 15 points. Seven legs remain through March and the North American League continues at the Washington International Horse Show in Upper Marlboro (USA) on October 29.
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