Irish rider Daniel Coyle wasted little time finding his winning form as the 2026 Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ opened Wednesday in Calgary.
Coyle and Calippo 57 captured the Cardel Homes Cup, producing a fast, faultless jump-off round in the first major competition of the five-day tournament. Their winning time of 40.24 seconds topped a deep international field in the CSIO5* 1.55-metre event on the International Ring.
Germany’s Daniel Deusser finished second aboard Pepita Van T Meulenhof BR, while American McLain Ward and High Star Hero placed third.
The opening-day class gave riders their first chance this week to test the International Ring and begin positioning themselves for the qualifying opportunities and feature competitions still to come.
Course designer Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela presented a challenge that still left plenty of room for a crowded jump-off. Twenty-one horse-and-rider combinations completed the opening round without a jumping fault, placing a premium on both speed and precision in the deciding round. Coyle, an experienced Spruce Meadows competitor, used his familiarity with the venue while guiding Calippo 57, a relatively new partner, around the course.
“I think, for me specifically, knowing Spruce Meadows is a big help,” Coyle said. “Coming here for a first or second time is challenging for the riders. Things are different here than they are anywhere else, as they should be. That’s why it’s called the ‘Masters.’”
Coyle’s victory provides an early boost in a tournament that becomes progressively more demanding before Sunday’s closing program. It also continued his success with Calippo 57 at Spruce Meadows after the pair won the Canada Cup Derby in 2025.
Top 10 in Cardel Homes Cup
- Daniel Coyle (IRL) & Calippo 57
- Daniel Deusser (GER) & Pepita Van T Meulenhof BR
- McLain Ward (USA) & High Star Hero
- Nicolas Sers (FRA) & Eleven de Riverland
- Andres Azcarraga (MEX) & Contendros 2
- Nayel Nassar (EGY) & Esi Ali
- Daniel Deusser (GER) & Otello De Guldenboom
- Angelie Von Essen (SWE) & Voila DK Z
- Thomas De Wit (BEL) Tools DW Z
- Martin Fuchs (SUI) & Conner Jei
The ‘Masters’ continues through Sunday, bringing many of international show jumping’s leading riders and horses to Calgary this week.