IRELAND’S CONOR SWAIL BRINGS DOWN THE HOUSE IN THE LONGINES FEI JUMPING WORLD CUP™ TORONTO
Conor Swail of Ireland closed out the CSI5*-W Royal Horse Show by winning the $280,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto, presented by Ecclestone Horse Transport, on Saturday evening the 15th of November, held as part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, ON.
Swail brought a sold-out crowd of more than 6,500 fans to their feet as the final athlete to return in a three-horse jump-off over courses designed by Olaf Petersen, Jr. of Germany. He and Casturano, a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Castelan 3 x Canturo) owned by Conall Murray, stopped the clock at 41.24 seconds to take the win, Swail’s first in the FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto.
Two up-and-coming 21-year-old riders representing the United States rounded out the remaining spots on the podium with Skylar Wireman taking second on Barclino B while Mimi Gochman settled for third riding Inclen BH. Wireman had posted a leading time of 42.08 seconds before Swail entered the Coca-Cola Coliseum as the final challenger.
“If I do my job correctly and give him a good opportunity to do well, he generally does,” said Swail, 53, who left daring strides out to the second fence in the jump-off. “Both these kids are very good riders and they are great horsewomen. They’re tough to beat, so when I went in last and saw an opportunity there for me to win, I gave it my best shot.”
After the third leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League, Swail’s win has boosted him to the top of the standings as the race heats up for the 2026 FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Fort Worth, Texas, next April.
“I plan on doing the World Cup Finals this year; I feel it’s a good fit for Casturano,” continued Swail. “He has developed over the last couple of years at the five-star level and I think he’s ready to go to one of these championships with a very good chance of doing well.”
1. Conor Swail / IRL / Casturano / 0:0 / 41.24
2. Skylar Wireman / USA / Barclino B / 0:0 / 42.08
3. Mimi Gochman / USA / Inclen BH / 0:eliminated
4. Rene Dittmer / GER / Cody 139 / 1 / 70.27
5. Nicole Walker / CAN / Panter JVH / 1 / 70.72
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