IT was a weekend to remember for County Down showjumper Conor Swail after he won his first-ever ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup grand prix – the crown jewel of the Spruce Meadows summer series.
The Darragh Cross man - on 17-year-old Count Me In, owned by Mannon Farm - came up trumps against 40 of the world’s best riders, many of whom will be in action at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, to take the coveted prize. Twelve advanced to the second round, but only four made it to the jump-off - Swail, fellow Irishman Neal Fearon, Canada’s Amy Millar and American Nicholas Dello Joio.
In the end, Swail – currently ranked 15th in the world - and Count Me In were victorious while Amy Millar and Truman finished second, with Dello Joio and Cornet’s Cambridge third.
An elated Swail, who finished his clear jump-off round in 39.29s, said: “Honestly, what that horse has done for me is incredible. The highlight reel for me is basically him in my career.
“He went through a little bad patch last year where we weren’t that comfortable jumping bigger, and then we’ve just built him up back nicely. And honestly, he feels as good as ever.
“It feels amazing - the Queen’s Cup is one of the most prestigious grand prix in the world. I hit the post one year with a great horse I had, Lansdowne, but it’s fitting that Count Me In was able to get me the win because he’s been a horse of a lifetime for me.
“Just so happy for him.”