CORK’S Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz (ISH) secured a runner-up finish in the first leg of the North American league of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup season for 2026/2027, which kicked off on Sunday, with the five-star $340,000 1.60m Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Traverse City for the American Gold Cup.
The class saw only five of the 37 starters jumping clear over Alan Wade’s (IRL) challenging first-round course within the tight time allowed to make it through to the jump-off. With one of those, Charlotte Jacobs (USA), withdrawing, four were left to compete for the bulk of the prize money.
First to go in the jump-off, Beat Mandli (SUI) on Qoachella opted to try for a double clear and they duly obliged in a time of 38.03 seconds. This put the pressure on those who followed, with mistakes being made in an effort to beat the clock.
Sweetnam and his reliable partner made a good attempt, stopping the clock in 35.61, but a pole on the ground meant they had to settle for second place. Christian Kukuk (GER) on Akarad Tivoli Z also picked up four faults, but a slightly slower time put them behind Sweetnam in third, while Israel’s Mark Bluman picked up eight faults with Genial de B’Neville for eventual fourth place.
With the only fault-free round, Mandli was rewarded with the top prize of $102,000. Sweetnam took home $68,000 for second place, while Kukuk received $51,000 for third.
As this was the first leg of the North American league, the overall standings reflect the placings on the day. The next leg will be held in Puebla, Mexico at the end of the month.
Sweetnam commented afterwards: “‘Gizmo’ jumped great today in both rounds. It was a difficult course and the time was a factor. I think [Alan Wade] had the right number of clears. In the jump-off, I probably got greedy in the last line and paid the price - but the horse jumped great. It would’ve been nice to get the win, but it’s been a good class for me and the horse. Hopefully, we’ll be back to try to win next year.”
In the ribbons
The Traverse City Fall International in Michigan hosted two-star classes alongside the weekend’s five-star offerings. On Wednesday, the two-star $10,000 American Gold Cup 1.40m speed class saw Sweetnam steering Mirage GG into eighth place, followed by Gavin Harley on Fornett d’Emeraude in 10th. Meanwhile, in the day’s five-star $2000 1.40m speed class, Daniel Coyle rode Quintin into eighth place.
Friday’s five-star $116,050 1.55m Grand Prix qualifier saw Sweetnam placing 10th with Coriaan van Klapscheut Z.
The five-star $62,500 1.50m Winning Round class on Saturday was a battle of the Daniels, as Daniel Coyle and Israel’s Daniel Bluman were among the best 10 combinations from round one to go head-to-head in the ‘winning round’, eight of whom completed double clear. There was only a whisker between the top two, with the Derry man’s time of 31.84 with Calippo 57 being very narrowly beaten by Bluman’s round on Gemma W, clocking an unbeatable 31.81.
The 32-strong two-star $62,500 Horseflight 1.45m Grand Prix saw Sweetnam finish fourth with Loulou MPSZ, in a class where just six jumped double clear rounds.