Category Archives: Winter Equestrian Festival

Competitions, Show Jumping

Isabella Russekoff and Balou’s Fly High Win Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45m CSI4*

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Isabella Russekoff and Balou’s Fly High. © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 23, 2022 – The second-to-last week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), sponsored by Palm Beach County Sports Commission, began on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. Isabella Russekoff (USA) and Suave Pony LLC’s Balou’s Fly High were victorious on the opening day of WEF 11 in the $10,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45m CSI4*, which served as the qualifier for the “Saturday Night Lights” feature, the $150,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Series Final Classic CSI4*.

Olaf Petersen, Jr (GER) set the power-and-speed track for 78 starting competitors, representing 19 nations. Going clear proved to be quite possible, with 39 riders finding their way fault free. Doing so quickly, however, proved to be a challenge, answered best by Russekoff and Balou’s Fly High, who soared through the short course in 31.66 seconds.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Competitions, Show Jumping

Vogel Victorious in $50k Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix Final

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Richard Vogel and Looping Luna. © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 20, 2022 – Week 10 of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), sponsored by Horseware Ireland, concluded its competition on Sunday, March 20. Richard Vogel (GER) bested 28 of the world’s most promising young show jumpers for the win in the $50,000 Hermès Under 25 Series Grand Prix Final.

The young athletes brought their A-game against Michel Vaillancourt’s (CAN) track, and 11 members of the opening field navigated their way into the jump-off. The time-allowed was an issue for only two riders, and six riders did not advance due to a downed rail. Grace Debney (GBR) took the lead for the return and set a challenge for the remainder of the exhibitors with her time of 37.81 seconds. As the first to go, however, Debney left the door open for two pairs to find a slightly faster clear path around and settled for third place aboard the Temple Equestrian LLC’s 11-year-old Selle Francais mare Boheme De La Roque (Kannan x Quick Star).

Carlos Hank Guerriero (MEX) had one of his best rides to date aboard the H5 Sport Horses LLC’s 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding H5 Chacco San (Chacco-Blue x Sandro Boy). The 21-year-old left all of the rails untouched and sliced over the fences to overthrow Debney by mere milliseconds with a time of 37.76 seconds.

However, the class’s winning ride would come from Germany’s Richard Vogel. Having seen where he needed to make moves for the win, Vogel piloted the Horse Management GMBH’s eight-year-old Hanoverian mare Looping Luna (Lord Fauntleroy x Calido I) over a clear round in 36.16 seconds and knocked over a second off of Guerreiro’s time.

While Vogel won the final grand prix, he also took home top honors for the entire series, which encompassed events over five different weeks of the WEF circuit. The victory felt extra sweet for Vogel who, at the age of 24 years old, is in his final year of eligibility for the Under 25 series.

Darragh Kenny Closes Out Horseware Ireland Week with Win in $75,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic CSI4*

The $75,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic CSI4* rounded out show jumping in the International Arena on Sunday of WEF 10. Vaillancourt’s final design of the week was an unbeatable challenge for many, and the class saw only eight combinations advance to the jump-off track. The large starting field included 58 horse-and-rider pairings from 15 nations, but only three of those countries would be represented in the jump-off. Challengers accrued faults in various areas throughout the tough track with the time-allowed of 76 seconds dashing the hopes of three entries and a combination of downed rails alongside additional time penalties disappointing the rest.

Ever the dominating force, McLain Ward (USA) was the first double clear with his newer mount, Kasper Van Het Hellehof. The lead would be short-lived, as Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam upped the ante aboard the Triple S Group’s 10-year-old KWPN mare Holliewood (Nabab De Reve x Diva). Sweetnam, however, would hold the title for mere minutes as his fellow countryman, Darragh Kenny (IRL), once again rode to the fastest time as he blazed forward into the lead with a time of 36.64 seconds.

The victory gallop was poised to be all-Irish until the USA’s Lillie Keenan battled her way into the boys’ club as the final contender on course. Keenan piloted her highly successful partner Skyhorse, a 15-year-old BWP gelding (Calvaro F.C. x Quidam de Revel), to the spot directly behind Kenny with a tight time of 37.20 seconds. Daniel Coyle (IRL) bookended the Irish podium as he stepped into the third-place position aboard Ariel Grange’s 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding Oak Grove’s Carlyle (Casall x San Patrignano Corrado).

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Competitions, Show Jumping

Triumphant Return for Confu and Laura Kraut in $216k Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI4*

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Laura Kraut and Confu. © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 19, 2022 – Events at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) on Saturday, March 19, culminated in the $216,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI4* during the “Saturday Night Lights.” At the night’s conclusion, Olympic team gold and silver medalist Laura Kraut (USA) took home the top prize with her long-time partner, Confu, owned by St. Bride’s Farm.

Forty-five entries from 14 nations across the globe contested Michel Vaillancourt’s (CAN) opening course. His challenge for the riders included two double combinations, a triple combination, and a triple-bar early on at obstacle three. The first clear-round came as the fifth rider on course, Ashley Vogel (USA), produced a top ride aboard Madiba AG Z. Two horses later, Sweden’s Petronella Andersson put in her bid for the top title and ensured a jump-off. As the class neared its halfway mark, the field of returning riders grew with Mark McAuley (IRL), Lillie Keenan (USA), and Ben Maher (GBR) adding their names to the coveted list. Belgium’s Abdel Saïd put forward a heroic effort to repeat his winning performance in the WEF 9 grand prix but tipped just over the time allowed of 83 seconds and incurred a single penalty.

A final tally of 10 world-class pairs set the stage for an exciting jump-off across the evening’s final short course. Vogel led the charge but would not see the top of the podium as she accrued four faults. Andersson was the first to put in a successful double-clear, but McAuley was quick to up the ante. The night looked to be in the bag for the Irish as McAuley sat in second and Conor Swail put in a blazing round as the second to last to go into the lead, but Kraut and Confu clearly had other plans as the last to go in the jump-off.

The duo proved they are never a pair that should be counted out. Kraut and the 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Contact Me x Cambridge 8) exploded into action, finishing with a final time of 36.44 seconds.

The luck of the Irish was clearly still strong during the penultimate day of the Horseware Ireland week as both Swail and McAuley joined Kraut in the lap of honor. Swail once again locked in the honors of the runner-up position, this time with his own 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding Vital Chance De La Roque (Diamant De Semilly x Rivage Du Poncel) after flying over the final fence in 37.10 seconds.

McAuley and SNC McAuley Equestrian’s 13-year-old BWP gelding Jasco VD Bisschop (Dulf Van Den Bisschop x Krunch De Breve) duplicated their third-place finish in a four-star grand prix when they stopped the clock mere milliseconds behind Swail for a finishing time of 37.55 seconds. The pair was previously second-place recipients as well in the $216,000 NetJets Grand Prix CSI4* during WEF 3.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Nick Dello Joio and Cornet’s Cambridge Win $75k Adequan WEF Challenge Cup Round X CSI4*

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Nick Dello Joio pilots Cornet’s Cambridge. © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 17, 2022 – On Thursday, March 17, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, international competition continued during the week 10 of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), sponsored by Horseware Ireland. Nick Dello Joio (USA) snagged the victory in the day’s featured event, the $75,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round X CSI4*, beating out seven other top pairings for the win aboard Cornet’s Cambridge.

A large field of 70 horse-and-rider combinations contested Michel Vaillancourt’s (CAN) first-round challenge with hopes of adding their names to the list compiled for the jump-off track. Darragh Kenny (IRL) proved the luck of the Irish was alive and well on this Saint Patrick’s Day as he and Volnay Du Boisdeville produced the first clear effort. Seventeen different nations vied for the top spot, but the final battle came down to three Irishmen, three Americans, Beat Mändli as the lone representative for Switzerland, and Ben Maher as the solo contender for Great Britain.

Nick Dello Joio was one of three U.S. riders to return for the short track, but his expert navigation over the course with The Berry Group LLC’s 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding Cornet’s Cambridge (Balou Du Reventon x Cambridge 8) proved to be enough to hold on to the lead. The duo laid down a fast and flawless performance, clocking in at 37.87 seconds which put them two seconds ahead of the closest challenger.

While not at the top of the podium, Ireland still had a strong performance with Mark McAuley and Jasco VD Bisschop taking second place, while Jordan Coyle rode to third aboard Centriko Volo. McAuley chased Dello Joio’s time with SNC McAuley Equestrian’s 13-year-old BWP gelding (Dulf Van Den Bisschop x Verania) and produced the only other double-clear effort, but was not quite quick enough across the ground after landing with a time of 39.61 seconds. Coyle then put forth the fastest four-fault score with a time of 36.56 seconds on Celtic Park LLC’s 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Centadel x Chacco-Blue).

Jennifer Bauersachs and Genuine Are Grand in the TRM Green Hunter 3’ Division

Up-and-coming hunter talent took to the FarmVet Ring 6 early in the morning for the final few classes of the TRM Green Hunter 3’ division. Professional hunter rider Jennifer Bauersachs piloted Lee Kellogg Sadrian’s seven-year-old Oldenburg gelding Genuine (Diarado x Kampari W) to the lead position.

Reserve champion honors went to Scott Stewart with Rivers Edge’s Northern Blue. The pair earned a first place ribbon and were right behind Bauersachs in the stake class with a score of 85.5 points.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Competitions, Show Jumping

Richard Vogel and Chaina-Blue P Pick Up First Win of WEF 10

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Richard Vogel and Chaina-Blue P. © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 16, 2022 – The 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) moved right along into week 10 on Wednesday. March 16. Competition in the International Arena geared up with multiple young horse classes and highlighted the $6,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m class which saw Richard Vogel (GER) and Chaina-Blue P take top honors.

A full roster of 70 horse-and-rider combinations lined up for Michel Vaillancourt’s (CAN) power-and-speed track. Twenty-seven pairings from the large field managed to successfully navigate the challenge without fault. Six entries had difficulty with the time-allowed across the track’s speed portion, and 13 were the victims of a downed obstacle. Ireland’s Darragh Kenny looked poised to accept the blue ribbon until Vogel entered the field halfway through the order. Kenny had managed to shave milliseconds off of third-place recipient Laura Chapot’s (USA) time of 31.641 seconds for a finishing time of 31.114 seconds. Kenny looked prime for the win with the HKC Collection LLC’s 15-year-old KWPN mare Cicomein VDL (Chacco-Blue x Jus De Pomme), but Vogel put forward a blazing fast round with a finishing time of 29.83 seconds that skyrocketed him into the lead.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Cook Closes Out WEF 9 with $75,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic CSI5* Win

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Karl Cook © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 13, 2022 – The final day of week nine at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) wound down its international competition with the $75,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic CSI5*. The USA’s anthem was the last to play on Sunday, March 13, as Karl Cook (USA) and Kalinka Van’t Zorgvliet received the winning honors.

The day built in anticipation of its pinnacle five-star event which brought out a starting field of 59 internationally ranked combinations. Alan Wade’s (IRL) farewell test allowed riders 73 seconds to find their way around the track. As the fourth into the arena, Cook was the first contender to produce a clear effort aboard Helen Signe Ostby’s 12-year-old BWP mare (Thunder VD Zuuthoeve x Flipper d’Elle).

Two trips later, Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam ensured there would be a jump-off as he joined Cook with a fault-free round aboard Sweet Oak, Spy Coast, and Seabrook’s Alejandro. The challenge got the best of many representatives from the 16 different nations as both time and jumping faults accrued throughout the class with downed rails over various areas of the course.

Eleven performances were good enough to earn a spot in the order for the short track. Both Nayel Nassar (EGY) and Heather Caristo-WIlliams (USA) qualified two mounts each as they bid for the top spot. Wade’s jump-off course was full of twists and turns with very few related distances, which gave the athletes multiple ways in which to shave off some time. As the first to qualify for the jump-off, Cook was the trailblazer of the second round and held no punches. He set off at a winning pace from the beginning with their blazing fast leading time of 37.04 seconds, daring the 10 pairs following to catch up. As the class came to a close, either a fence fault or a slower time appeared repeatedly, and it became clear Cook had put forth an impossible challenge to beat.

Vivian Golden and J. J. Torano Shine in Medium Pony Hunters

A competitive field of 30 horse and rider pairs participated in Medium Pony Hunters sponsored by Always Faithful Equestrian Club. The number of entries resulted in a California Split of the classes which led to the division concluding with two champions. Vivian Golden with Baroness of Locheil and Jimmy Torano aboard Paris Charm took the joint top honors.

Golden and Baroness of Locheil, a nine-year-old Welsh Pony Cross, just started competing together at the start of circuit, but have already seen multiple championships in the division including weeks three, five, eight, and premiere week.

J. J. Torano and Paris Charm, a 14-year-old Welsh pony mare by Halifax owned by Megan d’Amico, were the Section B champions. They won three classes and picked up another second place for the additional top tricolor.

Torano has been riding Paris Charm since the beginning of the 2022 WEF, and while the mare was initially nervous, the pair have formed a good relationship in a short amount of time.

The reserve championships in the Always Faithful Equestrian Club Medium Pony Hunters went to Golden again on Funtastico, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, and High Tops, ridden by Agatha Lignelli for The Lignelli Family.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Competitions, Show Jumping

Abdel Saïd Scores Second Success in $406k Douglas Elliman Real Estate Grand Prix CSI5*

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Abdel Saïd with Arpege Du Ru. © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 12, 2022 – The penultimate day of the ninth week of competition at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) concluded with its highly-anticipated “Saturday Night Lights” event. A large crowd flocked in for the $406,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate Grand Prix CSI5* on Saturday evening. The night finished with Abdel Saïd (BEL) repeating his victory from 2021, but this time with his own Arpege Du Ru.

The event featured 41 of the world’s best equestrian athletes spanning 13 different nations and a significant track by world-renowned course designer Alan Wade (IRL). Wade’s test for the first round included a triple bar and a triple combination early on in the course as well as an open water obstacle.

2020 Tokyo Olympic Games team silver medalists McLain Ward (USA) and Contagious, owned by Beechwood Stables, were the class trailblazers, and they initiated the challenge with a clear round. Twelve pairs eventually found their way to a fault-free finish to contest the jump-off. The course’s time allowed of 81 seconds only kept one combination from advancing to the second round, and six entries had their night cut short by a lone rail tipped out of the cups.

As the first of the 12 to return, Ward once again led the charge but an unfortunate miscommunication at a vertical left him and Contagious on a four-fault final score for sixth place. Saïd’s performance with Arpege Du Ru produced the first double-clear effort of the class and bumped the pair into the top spot with a time of 38.58 seconds. Ten more world-class athletes gave it their all, but Saïd was determined to repeat his victory of the same class that he won during WEF 2021 aboard Bandit Savoie.

Thursday’s $75,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round IX CSI5* winners Kent Farrington (USA) and Orafina secured another memorable ribbon for the week as they put their name on the board for the runner-up honors. Farrington chased Saïd down to the wire with Kent Farrington LLC’s 10-year-old KWPN mare (For Fashion x Canturo) but stopped the clock still almost two seconds off of the top time to take the red ribbon on 40.42 seconds.

Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) joined his fellow countryman in the victory lap after piloting his 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare Katanga V/H Dingeshof (Cardento 933 x Tornedo FCS) to the third-fastest double clear time of 41.65 seconds.

Don Langdon, Managing Broker of Wellington, Palm Beach, and Jupiter for Douglas Elliman Real Estate, echoed the sentiment of many when he told the top three: “I’ve always admired your athleticism. To be able to step aside and quiet your mind to have a peak performance at a time like this is something to be incredibly proud of.”

The final double clear ride of the night was Katherine Dinan (USA) aboard Brego R’N B, owned by Grant Road Partners LLC. They were steady in 44.25 seconds for fourth place.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Competitions, Show Jumping

Ward Wins Again with Catoki in $37k Bainbridge Companies 1.45m CSI5* during WEF 9

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McLain Ward and Catoki. © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 11, 2022 – A full day of elite international competition was slated for the International Arena on Friday, March 11, at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). During WEF 9, presented by Douglas Elliman Real Estate, the $37,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.45m CSI5* saw an impressive 68 horse-and-rider combinations contending against the clock but none could best one of the fastest combinations in the world, Olympic team gold medalist McLain Ward (USA) and Catoki.

Sixteen nations were represented in the starting field of the single-round speed class designed by Alan Wade (IRL). Wade set a time of 72 seconds allowed, and most entries navigated the time easily. Wednesday’s five-star class winner, Darragh Kenny (IRL), looked set to add another victory to his name for the week, until Bertram Allen (IRL) and his own 10-year-old BE/SEIS mare Emmylou (Billy Mexico x Lupin Z) took to the course. Kenny’s previous leading time of 59.19 seconds with Oakland Ventures LLC’s 11-year-old KWPN mare Gouvernante VDL (Bacardi VDL x Stakkato) lasted until Allen shaved almost two whole seconds off the clock to jump ahead with a time of 57.69 seconds.

The victory looked in the bag for Allen, but nothing was certain with Ward and his speedy mount Catoki as the third from final entry to compete. Upon crossing the timers, the duo once again proved unsurpassable, taking the lead in 57.15 seconds. The duo duplicated their victory in the same class of the same week from the 2021 WEF.

Allen’s performance stuck in the second-place position, and fellow countryman Kenny rounded out the class’s final lap of honor.

Maria Costa and Iceman B SFN Freeze Out the Competition in $6,000 Corro 1.45m CSI2*

The $6,000 Corro 1.45m CSI2* wrapped up international competition for the day. Just under 30 entries put forth their efforts over Wade’s single-round speed track. The class concluded with a win for the USA as Maria Costa piloted Iceman B SFN to the winning time of 63.40 seconds.

Only six of the opening field managed to come out of Wade’s test fault-free; a single rider had two time faults on the clock while an additional eight entries took down one obstacle. Costa put forward the best effort with her nine-year-old KWPN gelding (Mylord Carthago*hn x Corland) and bested the next closest contender by almost two seconds.

Bruno Passaro (ARG) produced the runner-up time with his second mount in the class, Alejandro Martin Del Campo’s 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding Splendide Kannan (Kannan x Quidam De Revel). As one of the six to finish without fault, they landed with a time of 65.70 seconds. Beth Underhill put Canada into the victory gallop as she and Casino Calvin galloped into third place. Underhill navigated the track in 66.61 seconds with the Rein Family LLC’s and Torrey Pines’s nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding Casino Calvin (Casino Berlin Old x Calvin) to round out the top three.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Competitions, Show Jumping

Farrington Finishes First in $75k Adequan WEF Challenge Cup Round IX CSI5*

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Kent Farrington and Orafina. © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 10, 2022 – The $75,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round IX CSI5* was the main event in the International Arena on Thursday, March 10, at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Kent Farrington put forth the winning jump-off round on Orafina.

A total of 52 elite international competitors representing 16 nations contested Alan Wade’s (IRL) first round. Wade designed a difficult track and by the class’s halfway mark only five entries were set to return for the jump-off. The course, which included both a double and a triple combination, kept 15 riders from jump-off contention with the fault of a single fence but also tripped up an additional five competitors with the tight time allotted of 73 seconds.

As the final fences were set for the shortened course, 10 combinations had qualified to return but only nine found their way back to the arena as Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and James Kann Cruz elected to save their jumps. Always one to watch out for in a jump-off class, Farrington was the first to qualify for the class and therefore the first to return with Kent Farrington LLC’s 10-year-old KWPN mare (For Fashion x Canturo). As he has done many times before, Farrington made it look easy as the pair cleared the final timers fault-free with a fast time of 33.41 seconds.

Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP) produced the second clear of the course aboard his own 10-year-old BWP gelding Malibu De Muze (Nabab De Reve x Tornedo FCS). Landing just a fraction slower than Farrington with a time of 33.68 seconds, Moya settled for second-place honors.

Belgium’s Jos Verlooy and Eurhorse BVBA’s Luciano Van Het Geinsteinde once again pinned in the top three for the class as they rounded out the victory gallop with a final time of 34.28 seconds. Verlooy and the 11-year-old BWP gelding (Quinn Van De Heffinck x Air Jordan) have been in top form and were the winning combination in this class during WEF 8.

Carly Anthony and Jet Blue Fly to Win $37,000 Corro 1.45m Grand Prix Qualifier CSI2*

The International Arena was buzzing with 73 entries for the $37,000 Corro 1.45m Grand Prix Qualifier CSI2*. Carly Anthony (USA) and Jet Blue led the way from start to finish to don the winning cooler and ribbon sash.

Anthony was the pathfinder with Jet Blue and was first to produce a clear effort across the track set by Alan Wade (IRL). Competitors were ready for the challenge with 21 pairs advancing to the jump-off. Three riders withdrew, leaving 18 to tackle the short course. Anthony and Jet Blue continued to set the standard, crossing the timers in 34.17 seconds.

Jet Blue is owned by Robin Parsky’s Portfolio Horses LLC and was previously ridden by McLain Ward (USA). Anthony took over the ride on the 11-year-old KWPN gelding by VDL Zirocco Blue about two years ago. Since then, the two have built up a strong partnership, including Anthony’s first nations cup appearance in the CSIO3* Nations Cup at the Vejer de la Frontera show in Vilamoura, Spain.

During WEF 7, Anthony and Jet Blue posted a clear first round in the $37,000 Palm Beach Equine Clinic 1.45m Grand Prix Qualifier, but they suffered rails down in the jump-off. This class was a different story.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Competitions, Show Jumping

Darragh Kenny and Chic Chic Win $37k Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45m CSI5*

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Darragh Kenny and Chic Chic. © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 9, 2022 – The third out of four internationally rated five-star weeks at the 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) brought back some of the world’s best riders to the International Arena on Wednesday, March 9. Wednesday’s competition culminated in the $37,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45m CSI5* where Ireland’s Darragh Kenny rose to the top aboard Chic Chic.

Top course designer Alan Wade (IRL) set up a power-and-speed track worthy of its 62 opponents as the premier event of the day. The task proved difficult for many, and only 18 managed to navigate fault-free. Of the 18 nations represented in the event, representatives from seven countries earned a clear round while 14 riders suffered from a disobedience or downed obstacle. The Irish dominated the day with Kenny blazing the trail and fellow citizen Mark McAuley taking up second with O’Hara ELS. Kenny went early in the class but proved he still has a knack for speed, holding himself nearly a second shy of any further competitors with a top time of 32.69 seconds. McAuley gave it his best shot but stopped the clock in 33.36 seconds which promoted him to second place with LT Competition’s 10-year-old CH mare by Ogano Sitte x Liandero.

Brazil had a top showing today as Eduardo Pereira De Menezes and Rodrigo Pessoa secured the third and fourth positions. Menezes jumped into third with H5 Sport Horses LLC’s 10-year-old KWPN stallion H. Big Action (Action-Breaker x Big Star) after narrowly missing McAuley with a finishing time of 33.79 seconds. Pessoa followed closely aboard the Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC’s Venice Beach in a time of 33.93 seconds to just miss the victory gallop.

Ashley Vogel and Lucy in the Sky Fly to Finish First in $6,000 Corro 1.40m CSI2*

The $6,000 Corro 1.40m CSI2* kicked off the international competition for the week. A total of 64 horse-and-rider pairings stepped forth to challenge Wade’s first track of the week with roughly one-third of the entries managing to successfully navigate the entire course fault-free. As the final horse passed through the timers, Ashley Vogel’s (USA) time of 31.35 seconds aboard Lucy in the Sky stayed good enough for the win.

Fellow U.S. rider Rebecca Conway landed mere milliseconds behind Vogel to secure the second place position with Jersey Girl. She and the Blue Hill Farm LLC’s 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare (Careful x Turban Rose) ticked in a time of 31.61 seconds to follow Vogel in the victory lap. Hector Florentino Roca (DOM) rounded out the top three as the final competitor to finish under 32 seconds. He piloted Wyndmont’s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding MeadowVale Cruise (Creevagh Ferro x Cruising) through a clean round with a time of 31.99 seconds.

Jos Verlooy’s (BEL) week was off to a winning start as the athlete took both the first- and second-place honors in the $1,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m CSI5*. Out of the 40 combinations, Verlooy left no room for a possible takeover as he rode to the top spot with Eurohorse BVBA’s FTS Killossery Konfusion in 30.63 seconds, and then proceeded to secure the runner-up spot as well aboard Nyjerc Z in 30.77 seconds.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.