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Rolex Grand Slam magazine Number 3

The Championship Jump Collection by Spruce Meadows In leaps and bounds 53 A fter competing at the Spruce Meadows “Masters”, the sky’s the limit for a show-jumper. They come out of the ring knowing they can jump over almost anything: London’s Tower Bridge, the Brandenburg Gate, the Great Wall of China, even Mount Rushmore. And even in quick succession; because Spruce Meadows’ legendary Championship Jump Collection includes these and many other special fences from all over the world. As is often the case with something unique, the secret behind it is a bold idea, a dedicated team and a long road to success. In the case of what is the most extraordinary collection of jumps in the world, the road led from Canada to the world’s Major championships in the history of equestrian sport – and back again! Spruce Meadows. The early 1970s. Even before the “Masters” attracted the world’s elite show-jumpers to the vast Calgary grounds for the first time in 1976, the Organising Committee was already well-known for the excellent quality of its facilities and courses; not only in terms of their configuration, but also for the materials, design, and workmanship of the impressive jumps. Coincidentally, the Olympic Games took place in Montreal in 1976 and the organisers were looking for a jump inventory to be used for the Games. It had always been Spruce Meadows’ dream that their competition, their grounds and their course design would one day achieve international standing. That dream was to come true! The traditional five-metre cedar rails and cups first designed for the 1976 Olympiad were the start of the Championship Jump Collection. When the jumps returned to Spruce Meadows after the Games, the Organising Committee hatched the idea that one day they would become a legacy for one of the sport’s great competitions. They should live on into perpetuity – as an inspiration and a benchmark of sorts for future generations. They were soon to be joined by others! Historic moments Another fortunate trend developed at equestrian championships in the 1980s, with the introduction of themed jumping materials designed to reflect the culture, environment and traditions of the host nation. Recognising that these events were almost without exception “one-offs”, Spruce Meadows embarked on a selective championship procurement programme of distinctive materials and has continually been expanding its collection ever since. The Dutch Bicycle of the 1994 World Equestrian Games in The Hague, the Coins from the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, Stockholm’s Butterflies of 1990 – all are memories of legendary moments in the history of equestrian sport and come together in the Championship Jump Collection, offering Olympic gold medallists such as Steve Guerdat and Eric Lamaze or World Equestrian Games gold medallists like Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum the opportunity to relive the greatest victories in their careers once again in Spruce Meadows. Soaring over the decisive jump one more time with that gold medal within reach! However, the Spruce Meadows Jump Collection is not composed exclusively of jumps from Major championships. The famous Irish Shamrocks, the Swiss Chalets and Stonehenge from Great Britain, for instance, are all examples of signature obstacles designed by the Spruce Meadows team as a tribute to the horses and riders of the respective nations as a thank you


Rolex Grand Slam magazine Number 3
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