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| SHane Sweetnam and Traffic Boy. By Spruce Meadows Media Services |
A total of 18 horse and rider combinations tackled the course, originally designed by Britain's Pamela Carruthers in 1985.
Rare clear round
A crowd of 38, 915 watched as Shane rode to victory aboard his 10-year-old Swedish warmblood stallion Traffic Boy.
"When I woke up this morning, I never imagined I would be here," said Shane in the winner's circle.
The Irishman posted a clear round, just the 14th in the history of the event. He was fifth to go, putting the pressure on the other 13 riders who followed. Richard Spooner of the United States came close to pushing a jump-off, but took the rail on top of the 5m. The same fate befell Britain's Michael Whitaker, who was clear until the last jump of the Devil’s Dyke on Viking.
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| Ian Millar is presented with his trophy. By Spruce Meadows Media Services |
Canada's Ian Millar captured the Akita Drilling Cup. Twenty five horse and rider combinations took to the international ring to compete for the $50,000 dollar prize, but only two made it into the jump off.
The USA's Caitlin Ziegler, 16, aboard her 13-year-old Belgian warmblood Valencia, was first to go over the shortened course. With a total of eight jumping faults, she opened the door for Ian Millar, four time he age at 64, who brought home the victory with a clear round.
Ian admitted he would not let a 16-year-old beat him in the jump-off. Aboard the 11-year-old Dutch warmblood Star Power, he took home the victory.
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