Canada's Lea Rucker secured second place in the CSI2* Longines Grand Prix at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club. Riding her 12-year-old Oldenburg mare Macarena 42, she clocked a clear round in 36.59 seconds during the jump-off. Great Britain's Katie Speller won the event aboard Z7 Pink Panther with a time of 35.95 seconds.
The CSI2* Longines Grand Prix, part of the penultimate day of the Longines League of Nations and The Emirates Jumping Cup, featured a 1.45m track that tested accuracy and composure. A field of 41 rider-horse combinations competed, with eight producing clear rounds to qualify for the jump-off.
Katie Speller set the pace in the jump-off, delivering a bold clear round in 35.95 seconds on Z7 Pink Panther. Lea Rucker followed closely, completing her clear in 36.59 seconds on Macarena 42 to claim second. Syria's Jawad Nizam rounded out the podium in third with Faruso W, finishing in 37.87 seconds.
Rucker expressed her satisfaction on Instagram, writing, “Amazing way to end our month here in the UAE!!”
After her victory, Speller commented, “I’m absolutely thrilled. This is my second Grand Prix win and Panther’s second Grand Prix ever, and we’ve been lucky enough to win both of them. I’m really proud of how he’s stepped up to this level — he’s feeling confident and happy around these tracks now, which makes such a difference. I don’t usually love being first to go in a jump-off, but I trusted Panther completely. I had a clear plan from Shane, stuck to it, and thankfully everything came together.”
The event took place on February 15, 2026, at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.
