Calgary, AB – July 9, 2018 – The Gallagher/Meller Sport Horses team built on their success in the show ring following their first week at Spruce Meadows in the ‘National’ Tournament CSI5* presented by Rolex, with three more impressive weeks of competition at the famed venue in Calgary, Alberta with rider Peter Lutz in the irons for owners Katherine Gallagher and M. Michael Meller.
“Spruce Meadows was amazing,” expressed Meller. “It is world-class venue with world-class athletes competing week after week. To have all of our horses be so consistent is very exciting. They all produced multiple clear rounds over difficult courses and learned so much. It’s an exciting time for the Gallagher/Meller team because we have a phenomenal group of horses right now that are really beginning to peak.”
During their second week, the ‘Continental’ CSI 5*, held from June 13 -17, Lutz rode the 13-year-old Selle Français gelding, Robin de Ponthual, to a double-clear finish for the third place prize in the 1.55m Scotiabank Cup. Lutz and Camillo VDL completed two clear rounds to capture fourth place in the 1.40m Coril Holdings Barrage. Lutz also piloted Very Chic du Tillard to a clear round early in the week followed by a double-clear finish to earn eighth place in the 1.35m Friends of the Meadows Jumper.
The third week of competition, the ‘Pan American’ Tournament CSI 5* presented by Rolex, was held from June 26 – July 1. Lutz and Very Chic du Tillard, a 9-year-old Selle Français gelding, were double-clear for fifth in the 1.40m Williams Family Jumper and rode to a clear round in the 1.40m Friends of the Meadows Jumper.
The final week of summer competition at Spruce Meadows, the ‘North American’ Tournament CSI 5* presented by Rolex, held from July 4 – 8, Lutz and Retiro, a 13-year-old gelding, finished fifth in 1.45m Sun Life Financial Derby. Lutz and the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion, Camillo VDL, clear for sixth place in the 1.45m Friends of the Meadows Cup. Lutz and Robin de Ponthual placed seventh in the 1.50m AON Cup as well as the 1.60m ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup, while Very Chic du Tillard produced another clear round in the 1.40m Trimac Welcome.
Next the team will head to the Flintfields Horse Park near Traverse City, Michigan for the final four weeks of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival before returning to Spruce Meadows for the ‘Masters’ CSIO 5* from September 5 – 9.
