The first two days of the 2018 Spruce Meadows 'Continental' CSI5* featured great international sport. Riders competed putting their best foot forward as they stepped into the Meadow on the Green Ring for the first time this season to take on courses designed by FEI course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA). Jorge, a familiar face at Spruce Meadows, also designed the courses for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Mother Nature cooperated Thursday evening with only light scattered showers, and guests watching the Husky Energy Cup 1.50m were able to enjoy great sport from the balcony of the Gallery on the Green, Congress Hall. Fourteen horse-and-rider combinations made it through to the jump-off. Fan favourites Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Kent Farrington (USA) both had two horses in the jump-off, but it would be Israel's Daniel Bluman who would lay down the fastest time aboard Entano (Namelus R x Numero Uno), ahead of Lamaze on Saura de Fondcombe (Balou du Rouet x Paladin des Ifs). This is Bluman's first international win here at Spruce Meadows riding under the Israeli flag.

"The conditions are fantastic, you know every time you come to Spruce Meadows it's going to be great," said Daniel Bluman after his win.

Great weather continued for the AltaGas Cup Friday at the Spruce Meadows 'Continental' CSI5*. It was an exciting jump-off competition and for the first time of the 2018 Summer Series, the Canadian flag flew atop the champions flagpole with Tiffany Foster (CAN) and Brighton (Contendro II x Quick Star) in the winners circle. It was by only 1/100th of a second that Foster claimed the win over Theodore Boris (ISR) and Garkus van het Indihof (Toulon x Rubens Du Ri D'Asse).

The Scotiabank Cup 1.55m. was the final competition Friday evening and the sun was finally out and shining on the Meadows on the Green. Thirty-six horse-and-rider combinations started the competition but only eight would advance to the jump-off, two of which belonged to fan favourite Eric Lamaze. Young Lucy Deslaurier (USA) held the lead with Hester (Wandor vd Mispelaere x Winde D'Artevelde), but Lamaze and Chacco Kid (Chacco-Blue x Come On) were in it to win it. Laying down a quick time of 37.13s, Lamaze was untouchable.

"If you can win at Spruce Meadows it's good enough to win anywhere in the world. I couldn't be happier with my horse," concluded Lamaze.