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Grand Entrance: A glistening Rolex Grand Slam trophy arrives in Calgary ahead of this week’s ‘Masters’ tournament, on the aptly named ‘Challenge Accepted’ charter from Liège, Belgium.Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk

A chartered 747 jumbo jet carrying 66 of the world’s top show jumping horses arrived in Calgary last night (Sat), ahead of the prestigious ‘Masters’ tournament at Spruce Meadows which kicks of on Wednesday.

Three tonnes of Dutch flowers, the coveted Rolex Grand Slam trophy, and a number of new jumps acquired from the recent Paris Olympics, were also aboard the plane that arrived from Liège, Belgium, to great excitement.

Equine passengers on the aptly named Challenge Accepted charter included Olympic gold medal horse Hello Jefferson, belonging to Team GBR’s Scott Brash, as well as Swiss competitor Martin Fuchs’ gelding Leone Jei, last year’s winner of the ‘CPKC International’, presented by Rolex — the $3million finale grand prix that takes place each Sunday of the yearly ‘Masters’.

Also on board was André Thieme’s (GER) DSP Chakaria, winner of July’s Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen, and now looking to continue their journey in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.They were accompanied by a number of grooms, vets and support staff.

The precious cargo, including the first of the new jumps, will delight tens of thousands of fans this week, from Wednesday, Sept. 4 to Sunday, Sept. 8, with elite horses and athletes from around the globe competing in a number of events alongside exciting entertainment.

Upon arrival, the horses, from across Europe, were transported to Spruce Meadows for a veterinary inspection and a walk before settling into their stalls for a meal and relaxing evening.

Throughout the ‘Masters’, the animals will be washed and watered using safe supplies from Spruce Meadows’ own on-site ponds, wells, and irrigation systems, as the venue continues to respect and comply with City of Calgary festival guidelines, as part of current water restriction measures.

In this Sunday’s ‘CPKC International’, presented by Rolex, German rider Thieme will try for his second consecutive Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping win, with DSP Chakaria, following a victory in the most recent Rolex Grand Slam event in Aachen, Germany in July.

Team GBR Paris Olympic gold medalist Brash will also be gunning for glory, as the only athlete to date to take the Rolex Grand Slam trophy, in 2015 — meaning he won three consecutive Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping competitions.

There are currently four Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping competitions, with the other three taking place in Germany, Switzerland, and The Netherlands.

Perhaps Fuchs and Leone Jei be triumphant again this year? Maybe Thieme and DSP Chakaria will continue their winning streak?
Join us this week at the ‘Masters’, at Spruce Meadows, to find out!

Ian Allison, Senior Vice President of Sport and Media Services, said: “For all of us at Spruce Meadows the start of the ‘Masters’ is really marked by the arrival of the charter. It has become a Labour Day weekend tradition.

“To welcome the world’s best horses, this year coming off the Paris Olympics, is always a treat. There are always the established stars and then some new names that have earned the right and will jump in the International Ring for the first time.

“It is nice that they now have a couple of days to settle in, before Tuesday’s veterinary inspection, and the start of competition on Wednesday.”Reigning Champion: The lovely Leone Jei, who won last year’s ‘CPKC International’,presented by Rolex, touches down. He competes with Swiss rider Martin Fuchs.Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk

Golden Gelding: Scott Brash’s (GBR) horse Hello Jefferson arrives in Calgary,following an Olympic gold medal win in Paris.Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk