Category Archives: Competitions

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Strzegom

Dutch Edge Closer to Olympic Qualification with Eventing Nations Cup Win

Janneke Boonzaaijer (BEL) rides ACSI Chanp de Tailleur. FEI – Libby Law

A demanding cross-country test shook up the order at the fourth leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ which took place at Strzegom (POL). Strong performances in this phase meant that The Netherlands walked away as the worthy winners. Despite having one rider eliminated on the cross-country, the Dutch finished on a final score of 133.8 with their other three riders finishing inside the top ten riders. Team USA were runners-up on 142.8, whilst Belgium finished in third on 166.1 penalties. Nine teams came forward to compete including host nation Poland who did not have such a happy time with none of their three riders completing the competition.

Dutch Chef d’Equipe Andrew Heffernen was delighted with the result. “These guys performed so well. It was a really tough competition and it was really refreshing to see such a strong and forward thinking and demanding cross-country course. It also gave us good pictures. There were no nasty falls or moments and that was really good for the sport. These guys performed fantastic and that is why we won. I am very proud.”

The Germans led the first phase with the Dutch team in third after the dressage, but this would certainly not prove to be a dressage competition. Germany slipped to eighth after the cross-country course designed by Marcin Konarski took its toll on so many combinations. Konarski has been designing international courses at Strzegom for 20 years and his accolades include World Cup Finals and Senior European Championships. The venue is famed for its technicality and big bold jumping efforts and this year was no exception. “This year’s course has a lot of technical questions. There are also a couple of very bold jumps where the horses have to show a lot of bravery,” he said.

Experienced Dutch rider Merel Blom-Hulsman, who has been a mainstay of the Dutch team for over a decade, summed up the challenge: “It was hard to get this win. It was a difficult course with a lot of technical questions and big jumps in between so I think we all really had to push to the end, so it was quite a difficult challenge.”

The Dutch team lost their fourth member Stephen Hazeleger, who was one of 13 athletes to come to grief on the cross-country. Fortunately, their other three team members achieved fast and clear cross-country rounds to put them well ahead of the rest of the field going into the final phase. Although they had a 25-penalty margin ahead of USA in second, the pressure was still on with all three athletes’ scores to count in the jumping phase, who held onto their nerves as well as first place.

There was further pressure on the result this year, as the Series takes on extra significance as the last chance to earn a single Team slot to Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Five of the nations competing are not yet qualified, including The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Austria. The FEI Eventing European Championship at Pin du Haras (FRA) this August and the 2023 Pan American Games at Santiago (CHI) in October will provide further chances for nations to qualify.

Like many other nations who are not yet qualified, the Dutch selected a more experienced team on good horses. Their sole objective this season is Olympic Qualification, explains Blom-Hulsman. “There is not a bigger motivator than Paris. We stand up every morning just pushing for Paris and we will keep pushing until we are there, for sure.”

Heffernen reinforced this notion: “We have two Nations Cup competitions coming up in the next few weeks, one in France and one in Switzerland, and of course there is the European Championships, so we are concentrating on those three competitions now, so hopefully we can repeat this performance.”

The FEI Eventing Nations Cup will now move to Haras de Jardy (FRA) which runs from 13-16 July. The Belgians lead the Series at this halfway stage, with a total of 350 points, whilst the Dutch now move up to second with 285 points. The Series concludes in Boekelo (NED) from 4-8 October, where the final team place for the Paris Olympics will be allocated to the highest placed nations not already qualified.

FULL RESULTS

by Eleanore Kelly

press@fei.org
www.fei.org

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Strzegom

Dutch Team Victorious in the Eventing Nations Cup at Strzegom

The Dutch team went into the lead after great cross-country rounds at a demanding track, and even some knockdowns in the jumping did not threaten their win. The best result on the team belonged to Janneke Boonzaaijer with ACSI Champ de Tailleur. She had one down, but ultimately finished third with 40,5. Sanne de Jong with Enjoy ended up on fifth – 43,8. The team was also represented by Merel Blom-Hulsman with Chinuk R and Stephan Hazeleger with Gold Rush. The Dutch finished with a collective score of 133,8.

“I think the team riders performed so well that actually in the end it was quite easy to win!” said the smiling chef d’equipe Andrew Hefferman. “I’m joking, of course. It was a really tough competition; it was really refreshing to see such a strong, forward-thinking, and demanding cross-country course. I think it was really good for the sport. The guys performed fantastic.”

Second place on the podium went to the USA – 142,8, who became vice-leaders after dressage and kept it throughout the three trials. The American squad consisted of: Jennifer Caras with Trendy Fernhill, Cassie Sanger with Fernhill Zoro, Andrew Mc Connon with Ferrie’s Cello, and Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. The latter had the best dressage score, dropped down to second after cross-country and secured that placing with a clear round – 35,7.

The Belgians on the podium: Tine Magnus and Champagne Pia Z, Karin Donckers and Leipheimer van’t Verahof, Julien Despontin and Honeyblue, and Jarno Verwimp riding Kyba van de Jomaheide – 166,1. They jumped up from fifth after dressage and fourth after XC. The home team of Poland did not manage to finish the rivalry. The last athlete – Julia Gillmaier – withdrew her mare Red Dream Princes before the showjumping to save her strength for the next challenges of the season.

In the individual classification of the CCIO4*S, the winner was Lea Siegl aboard the 13-year-old Van Helsing P – 33,3. The Austrian rider took the lead after the cross country, jumping up from seventh after dressage, and went clear in the showjumping.

There were no surprises in the 4*L, the most demanding class of the event. The winner was Michael Jung with 10-year-old Kilcandra Ocean Power. He took the lead in the dressage, added overtime points in the cross country, and performed a brilliant clear on the showjumping course (44,7). Second place went to Merel Blom-Hulsman (NED) with Vesuve d’Aveyron (52,2), and third to Mia Hastrup (DEN) with Constantin M (59,1).

Swiss athlete Felix Vogg stood on the highest step of the podium in the 3*L, after a clear jumping round. He rode Dao de l’Ocean – 40,5. Janneke Boonzaaijer with Coffee IJS finished second, only 0,3 behind him, and third went to Philip Ryan (IRL) with Amansara – 48,5.

In the 2*L, the win went to Desirée Schmidt (SUI) with Freestyl de la Cense, after a “double clear” – 33,9. She finished before the German Andreas Dibowski with Lillet 3 – 35,8, and Brooke Schmid riding Giandra V. Schloesslihof – 38,2.

The 2*S was dominated by Swedish rider Louise Romeike, who took the win with Rockett 19 (26,0) and second with Extravagance (29,0). Germany’s Nina Schultes was third with DSP Danakil Desert – 31,0. The highest-ranked Pole was Weronika Król i Look at Her, who finished eighth with 38,9.

Polish riders were unbeatable in the junior 2*S. After two clear rounds, the winner was Karolina Miś with Go Jack – 31,1, and a close second went to Zuzanna Społowicz with Polish-bred Bankier – 31,4. German Matti Garlichs with Ludwig 282 was third with 31,7. In the Pony class, the best score belonged to Anni Müller (GER) with Nightys Flashlight (30,7). Ben Leuwer (GER) wont the 1*-Intro with Balou’s Mascot M – 28,6.

280 horse-and-rider combinations representing 24 countries took part in the 20th jubilee edition of the LOTTO Strzegom Horse Trials.

Online results: http://results.strzegomhorsetrials.pl/event.php?event=21

Contact:
www.strzegomhorsetrials.pl
press@strzegomhorsetrials.pl

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Strzegom

Strzegom Horse Trials – FEI Eventing Nations Cup

Photo: Mariusz Chmieliński

The rivalry for valuable points in the fourth leg of the Nations Cup in equestrian triathlon will be decided in Morawa, during the 20th jubilee edition of LOTTO Strzegom Horse Trials.

280 horse-and-rider combinations representing 25 countries will compete in 10 international classes from one to four stars, including the FEI Eventing Nations Cup. This year, the stakes are incredibly high. The Nations Cup series is a chance for teams that have not yet qualified to secure their ticket for next year’s Olympic Games in Paris. There is a record number of teams entered this year. As many as 10 squads will compete in Strzegom, including the representatives of Japan and the United States for the very first time at the venue.

The arenas in Strzegom will host, among others: Germany’s multi-medalist Michael Jung, a double Olympic champion, who also held the titles of European and World Champion; his compatriots Andreas Dibowski and Dirk Schrade, Olympic team gold medalists; and the Dutch Merel Blom, team bronze medalist of the World Equestrian Games. The entry list also includes leading Polish eventers, members of the national team: Paweł Warszawski, Jan Kamiński, Joanna Pawlak, Wiktoria Knap, and Julia Gillmaier.

The competition starts on Thursday, June 22 with the dressage trial. During the first two days of the competition, the riders will present programs assessed by the judges in walk, trot, and gallop. Saturday and Sunday are for spectacular cross-country and showjumping trials – these requiring precision and technical skills.

The program will be complemented by a lot of attractions for spectators. The stuntmen from the Apolinarski Group will present their vaulting skills in a show of jigit, originating from the Caucasus – a Cossac riding style. For dog lovers, the organizers have prepared agility shows performed by the finalists of the “Mam Talent TVN” show. There will also be driving demonstrations, performed by the Youth National Team.

The competition will take place from 22 to 25 June at the hippodrome in Morawa near Strzegom. Admission is free. Car park costs PLN 20.

Contact:
www.strzegomhorsetrials.pl
press@strzegomhorsetrials.pl

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., FEI

Strong Squad Delivers Decisive FEI Eventing Nations Cup Victory for New Zealand

Tim Price (NZL) riding Falco. Photo Copyright: ©FEI/Libby Law Photography

Team New Zealand are setting themselves up to be strong contenders for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games next year, and results at Millstreet further reinforced that. An experienced quartet led from start to finish at the Irish event, to leave them on an impressive final score of 114.6. This is one of the best team finishing scores seen in this popular eight-leg series in recent years, perhaps unsurprising given World number one and two riders Tim and Jonelle Price made up half of the team. They were joined by the experienced Clarke Johnstone and rising star, Samantha Lissington. Team Belgium were runners-up on 131.9, whilst Ireland delighted their home crowd by finishing third in what was a fierce competition.

The cross-country course proved the make or break of many combinations and teams and making the time was suitably challenging, with no riders finishing inside. Tim Price won the class overall on Falco, the horse that also gave him an individual and team bronze in Pratoni. His wife Jonelle also played her part on the ‘pocket rocket’ McClaren. The Prices, joined by Clarke Johnstone, were all members of the bronze-medal winning team at last year’s FEI Eventing World Championship in Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA).  All three riders were mounted on experienced horses who continued their reliable form by jumping double clears in the Jumping and cross-country phases. They were joined by Samantha Lissington, who was the drop score after picking up 20 penalties for a refusal on the cross-country phase.

Chef d’Equipe of the New Zealand Team is former Olympic Eventing rider Sam Griffiths, who summed up the result. “We are really proud of their performance. Because New Zealand doesn’t have the equivalent of a European Championship, we decided that we wanted to target a couple of Nations Cups, of which Millstreet is one, so we sent a strong contingent. It’s really good to bring the group together and practice what we need to do. We will also be hoping to do well at Aachen. It’s always really good to target an event and then deliver a really good result at that event, so we are really pleased.”

Riders were full of praise for the event and cross-country phase which was designed by Mike Etherington-Smith. “One of the reasons why we targeted Millstreet is that we know how beautiful the venue is. The Duggan family takes amazing care of it. We love Mike Etherington-Smith’s courses. They are always beautifully presented and even with the going being fast, time was incredibly difficult even with experienced combinations going pretty much as fast as they could,” said Griffiths.

Tim Price was delighted with his horse Falco, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding.

“Falco is a cracking horse; he’s established now and his intelligence is being used for the good of everyone. I was really proud of him, he’s such a cool wee horse,” said Price.

“We took this seriously because the New Zealand team were using Millstreet as a marker point for the powers that be back at home. It was important that we delivered a decent result and showed that we were on track this year and through to Paris, so we treated it as such and all brought good horses onto the team. The time was very tight (on the cross-country) so it felt like a proper test.”

The Kiwis have had mixed success at major team championships in recent years, but Griffiths believes they have a great and long-lasting future ahead, with Millstreet highlighting that. “We had incredibly strong performances from Clarke Johstone and Jonelle, so we were really solid. We are really starting to grow some strength and depth. At Millstreet we had 19 combinations competing and, for a country that is on the other side of the world, that shows it is really developing.”

The Belgian team, who finished in second place, also delivered some solid jumping performances. Tine Magnus, Belgian team member spoke for the team: “We’re going for the Olympic qualification, so we’ll be off to Strzegom next – and we’re going to win! Millstreet is a wonderful place. The cross-country was great to ride; we’re not used to such lovely big galloping tracks.”

FEI Eventing Director Catrin Norinder was also present at the event, and said: “We’d like to thank Millstreet and the Duggan family for putting on such a great FEI Eventing Nations Cup™. The surroundings and cross-country course are amazing. It was truly competitive and a unique opportunity to get so many nations together.”

This FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ series is of particular significance to some nations this year, as the highest-placed team according to the final team classification of the 2023 Series, excluding teams/NOCs already qualified, will be allocated a place for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

This was the third leg of the Series which will now move to Strzegom (POL) which runs from 21-25 June. The Belgians lead the Nations Cup Series at this early stage, with 270 points scored, after winning the opening event in Montelibretti last month to add to their second place.

FULL RESULTS

by Eleanore Kelly

press@fei.org
www.fei.org

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, FEI, Show Jumping

Swiss Sweep to Victory Again in St Gallen

Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei. FEI/Martin Dokoupil

They waited 22 years to post a long-awaited win on home ground in St Gallen last year, and Team Switzerland stole the show once again when topping the opening leg of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2023 Europe Division 1 series at their home venue.

Their back-to-back victory was no walk in the park, however, with the result only decided in a thrilling jump-off against the clock in which home hero Martin Fuchs sealed it with a clear round from Leoni Jei, while Brazil’s Yuri Mansur and Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm QH were quicker but left the very last fence on the floor.

The Brazilians were truly impressive, firmly in the lead at the halfway stage on a zero score and without even having to call on their anchor partnership of Pedro Veniss and Nimrod de Muze Z. But in the end, it was Fuchs and teammates Edouard Schmitz, Bryan Balsiger, and Steve Guerdat who stood top of the podium, both Balsiger and Guerdat bolstering Swiss chances with superb double-clear performances.

Generous

The time-allowed of 77 seconds proved generous over Swiss course designer Gerard Lachat’s 12-fence track, but the final line of three fences that included a triple bar to a tight double of vertical-to-oxer and the final planks proved influential.

In glorious sunshine, the horses looked fresh and full of enthusiasm as they enjoyed the big open arena, and when Francisco Jose Mesquita Musa (Alea Marathon), Rodrigo Pessoa (Major Tom), and Mansur and his impressive 10-year-old mare all went clear first time out, then Veniss didn’t need to go as only the best three scores would count.

However, Great Britain and Switzerland were only a fence behind, on four faults going into round two when the British fell back with the addition of eight, while the Swiss, in contrast, really rose to the challenge to add nothing to their four-fault scoreline.

Chink

The first chink in the Brazilian armour was a brick out of the wall at fence two in an otherwise foot-perfect second run from Mesquita Musa. Pessoa produced a second spectacular clear and Veniss was faultless on his first tour of the track, but when Mansur’s mare kicked out the top plank at fence five at her second attempt, then they moved also on to a four-fault tally, forcing a third-round head-to-head.

That was also a thriller, Fuchs throwing down a superb target time of 42.14 seconds with a clear that had the home crowd gasping all the way. But Mansur was well up on time coming to the last and broke the beam in 41.84 seconds. Fuchs didn’t see the final fence fall for the Brazilian and initially thought he’d been beaten.

“I couldn’t even watch the last fence because I was looking at the time on the clock hoping Yuri would be slower. And then the clock stopped and he was faster and I was ‘whaaaat’!” said Fuchs.

As it happened, he had nothing to worry about. “I have to say congrats to team Brazil and Yuri Mansur for really making it so exciting for everyone today,” he added.

A great day

“What a great day!” 30-year-old multiple champion Fuchs said. “It was a very exciting class; my teammates were fantastic and my horse was great. I had a rail in the first round and was obviously very disappointed with that, because he jumped fantastic and I really thought we could go for the clear. But in the next round he really gave everything, and that’s also why we decided I would be the one to jump off, because my horse felt great today.”

When Swiss pathfinder Schmitz had the first element of the triple combination at fence six down on his second tour of the track, there was nothing sure about the destination of the St Gallen Nations Cup title.

“Now I knew we had to deliver clear rounds, because the Brazilian team looked very, very strong in the first round. We knew we had to put pressure on them and that’s how it turned out. It worked out really great, and it’s always very sweet to win in front of the home crowd,” Fuchs added.

Encouraging

When asked if the result is encouraging ahead of the challenge of achieving qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which until now has evaded Team Switzerland, Fuchs quickly replied, “We don’t need any encouragement! We are all already highly motivated to get this Olympic qualification, and a win like this gives you confidence, gives you a boost. If you can win in front of the home crowd where the pressure is high, then you know you can deliver also at a Championship, and that’s an important point we can take away from today,” he said.

Olympic places are on offer at the forthcoming FEI Jumping European Championship and at the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2023, which will take place in Barcelona (ESP) at the end of September. But before all that, there will be another five exciting rounds to decide the line-up for the Longines Final to which the top seven of the ten nations competing in Europe Division 1 will make the cut.

Sopot in Poland is the next port of call for competitors in this exciting top-level series, which also stops off at Rotterdam (NED) later in June before moving to Falsterbo (SWE) and Hickstead (GBR) in July and finally visits Dublin (IRL) in August.

by Louise Parkes

press@fei.org
www.fei.org

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Show Jumping, Tryon

Luiz Francisco de Azevedo and Nashville Win $39,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 2*

Luiz Francisco de Azevedo and Nashville ©Kendall Lueder for Natalie Suto Photography

May 25, 2023 – Luiz Francisco de Azevedo (BRA) and Nashville were the fastest of the day to take top honors in the $39,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 2*, the first international Welcome Stake of the 2023 season as part of Tryon Spring 4 competition. Francisco de Azevedo and Santa Cecilia Stables LLC’s Nashville (Diamant De Semilly x Darco), a 2013 Belgian Warmblood gelding, sped through the jump-off timers in 38.56 seconds to clinch the win. Scott Keach (AUS) and Wild Thing (Caraca x Contango II), Keach’s own 2012 gelding produced a 41.49-second jump off round to earn reserve. Accepting the third-place ribbon was Maria Gabriela Brugal Gasso (DOM) and J’adore Flamenco, the 2012 Anglo-Arabian gelding owned by BG Stables LLC, stopping the clock in 42.22 seconds.

Sixty-two entries challenged the first round, with the course set by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) and welcoming nineteen pairs to challenge the second round. Francisco de Azevedo was a bit surprised with how many entries qualified for the jump off, after walking the course and discerning its difficulty, but emphasized that it felt great to win against “many, many good riders and good horses. I decided to take all the risks, and it paid off. My horse is a naturally fast horse, and I took all the other risks inside and decided to turn really tight. It went well!”

Victoria Heurtematte and Scarlett Du Sart Z Dominate $6,000 Two Phase CSI 2*

Victoria Heurtematte (PAN) and Scarlett Du Sart Z claimed the win in Wednesday’s $6,000 Two Phase CSI 2* in a field of 39 entries, stopping the speed phase timers in 26.32 seconds to clinch the blue ribbon. McKayla Langmeier (USA) and Pepita VD Rollebeek, Linda Landmeier’s 2015 Belgian Warmblood mare (Tangelo VD Zuuthoeve x Toulon), cleared the speed phase in 27.50 seconds to receive second place honors, while third went to Luis Fernando Larrazabal (VEN) aboard Baroness, the 2015 Westphalian mare (Balous Bellini) owned by Leeann Ablin, after their 28.05-second clear performance. Twenty-two horse-and-rider pairs cleared the power phase to continue on to the short track, with twelve entries posting double-clear rounds over both portions of the Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) track.

For more info and results, visit www.Tryon.com.

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Show Jumping

CSIO Roma Piazza di Siena: Elegance amongst Tradition

Geneva, 23 May 2023 – CSIO Roma Piazza di Siena is recognized as one of the most beautiful horse shows on the international equestrian calendar, staged in the magnificent Villa Borghese gardens in the Italian capital from 25-28 May. The four-day event will showcase intense competition from the best horse and rider combinations on the show jumping circuit, concluding on Sunday 28 May with the 5* Rolex Gran Premio Roma.

The show has a rich history, with roots dating back more than a century. Combining elegance and style with world-class sport and athleticism, it attracts competitors from around the world. Rolex became Official Timekeeper of the show, as well as Title Sponsor of the esteemed Grand Prix, the Rolex Gran Premio Roma, in 2018.

The organizers have striven for continuous improvement since the show’s inception in 1922, ensuring the event’s stature as one of the most revered in the equestrian calendar, and in 2018, the 18th century oval was re-grassed returning it to its original splendour. As well as the Rolex Gran Premio Roma, the show hosts a Nations Cup, a prestigious team competition featuring the best show jumpers from across the world representing their countries.

The Rolex Gran Premio Roma has been won by some of the best show jumping horse and rider combinations in the history of the sport, with previous winning riders including Rodrigo Pessoa in 2009 and Eric Lamaze in 2011 and 2014.

This year, several athletes will travel to the Eternal City with hopes of etching their names into the history books of CSIO Roma Piazza di Siena. Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs will be looking to emulate his uncle Markus Fuchs, who won the prestigious Grand Prix in 2001, but will face stiff competition from former World No. 1 Daniel Deusser from Germany.

Martin Fuchs stated: “CSIO Roma Piazza di Siena is one of the most picturesque and prestigious shows in the world; it is such an incredible setting being located in the heart of such a historic and vibrant city. As with all Rolex Grands Prix, the standard of competition will be excellent, requiring skill and horsemanship to win.”

Virginie Chevailler
Rolex SA
virginie.chevailler@rolex.com

Merrick Haydon
rEvolution
mhaydon@revolutionworld.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Strzegom

The Race for the Nations Cup in Eventing Is On in Strzegom

Photo: Leszek Wójcik

The competition for the Nations Cup in the equestrian triathlon will take place at the hippodrome in Morawa during LOTTO Strzegom Horse Trials. Will the Polish team take the win once again?

The FEI Eventing Nations Cup season began in March in Montelibretti, Italy. The tour includes eight legs all over Europe. After two competitions, the Belgian team are the current leaders. This year, the fight is not only about Nations Cup points. A high position in the classification of the entire series is a chance for teams that have not yet qualified to secure their team for the Olympic Games – Paris 2024

During LOTTO Strzegom Horse Trials, the fourth leg of the Nations Cup will be settled. In Poland, it will be the highest-ranked class in eventing, i.e. an equestrian triathlon, in which riders and their horses compete in three trials: dressage, cross-country, and show jumping.

For the last three years, the Polish national team ended the fight at the Strzegom stage of the Nations Cup for with a place on the podium, and last year, for the first time in history, the white-and-red team were victorious.

In addition to the Nations Cup, the sports program includes as many as nine international classes from one to four stars, including ones for all youth categories. Powerhouse eventing teams have already announced their participation: Great Britain and, for the first time in history, a team from the United States.

“This year we celebrate the jubilee 20th edition of the competition. Much more than the sporting spectacle awaits the fans. The program includes many attractions for the audiences. Let’s celebrate together,” says Marcin Konarski, chairman of the organizing committee.

The Hobby Horse competition, which has recently been beating popularity records, will be a surprise innovation. It is a new sport discipline in which competitors challenge themselves on “horses” made of a horse’s head on a wooden bar, and the rules of competition are inspired by the regulations of equestrian shows. The two-day tournament, on June 24-25, will be held in eventing for the first time in Poland.

The program also includes performances by stuntmen who will present their vaulting skills in the show of the Caucasian jigitovka, as well as dog agility shows.

The competition will take place on June 22-25, at the hippodrome in Morawa near Strzegom, Lower Silesia. Admission is free.

Contact:
www.strzegomhorsetrials.pl
press@strzegomhorsetrials.pl

Championships, Competitions, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, USHJA

Lisa Goldman-Smolen Makes It Two in a Row Winning $25k HITS Grand Prix at HITS Chicago

Lisa Goldman-Smolen is on a streak with no signs of slowing down. After winning the first week’s $25,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS Chicago with Sovereign, she returned this Saturday with her winning mount from the Great American $300,000 Grand Prix, Ivaro N, and took home the top prize after holding the lead from start to finish. Not to be outdone by his barn mate, Sovereign took home third with Smolen, while Katie Leverick and Hardy slid into the second-place position.

After taking his 8-year-old year off due to Smolen’s pregnancy, Ivaro N stepped into his own in 2022 and continued his streak into 2023 for owner Barbara Disko. “Last year was amazing and then he has been amazing this year too,” expressed Smolen after her win. “He kept the streak rolling over the winter. He did very well in a lot of those Sunday $100,000 Grand Prix classes at HITS Ocala. He’s been nothing but incredible. I think giving him that little bit of time as an 8-year-old was really great for him.”

Mechlin Farm Shines in $5,000 USHJA National Derby

Mechlin Farm had a dominating performance during Friday’s $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby at HITS Chicago. Sarah Mechlin Duhon led the way with her veteran mount Monterius after executing a flawless handy round. Katie Kantrovitz and Shenanigans, who are trained by Duhon, followed closely in second place, while Duhon also nabbed both third and fourth with Rold Gold and Zinc, respectively.

“I’m super proud of the program – we have such an amazing team,” expressed Duhon after leading the lap of honor. “Winning these classes is not about the person in the irons; it is about everybody on the team!”

Caroline Weeden and Spellbound Capture Performance 3’6” Hunters Championship

Professional hunters once again kicked off the week at HITS Chicago as riders returned for the second week of the Lamplight Spring Classic. The Performance 3’6” Hunter divisions took center stage, where Caroline Weeden had a standout week aboard Spellbound. The duo took home two blues over fences on their way to the division’s championship title.

“We got Spellbound from Spencer Smith when he was 5, and we actually named him after Smith and call him ‘Spencer’ at home. Spellbound is 9 now, and he always produces and goes so nice. He’s just super fun to ride and have in the stable.”

For more results and information, visit HitsShows.com.

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, FEI, Show Jumping

United States Is Golden in the Golden State

McLain Ward (USA) riding Contagious (FEI/McCool Photos)

The United States won their second consecutive Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ event Sunday in San Juan Capistrano (USA), securing a comfortable victory in front of a home crowd at The Oaks International Grand Prix Field two weeks after triumphing in Mexico.

The event marked the first Nations Cup event held in the state of California, and Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland brought forward a powerhouse team that featured Lillie Keenan (Argan de Beliard), Karl Cook (Kalinka van’t Zorgvliet), Laura Kraut (Dorado), and McLain Ward (Contagious).

The squad delivered. Over Leopoldo Palacios’ (VEN) 1.60m track, they finished on a total score of 12 faults. Ireland finished second (17 faults), with Mexico third (33 faults).

“Qualifying for the Nations Cup [Finals] in Barcelona had to be a major priority, because that’s one of two ways left to qualify for the Olympics. We basically took our ‘A’ team at the beginning of the year and split it in half. We sent the first half to Mexico [and came here] with the other half,” said Ridland.

All three riders from the U.S.’s silver medal-winning squad from Tokyo were represented across the two teams. In Mexico, Kraut delivered three clear rounds when prevailing in a jump-off against Mexico. In San Juan Capistrano, it was Ward’s turn to lead the way. Ward produced the only double-clear effort on the day aboard his partner from the Tokyo Olympic Games, Contagious.

“I thought Leopoldo set a very challenging track. When I walked it, I have to say I was a tiny bit surprised at how big it was,” Ward said. “But it’s a five-star Nations Cup. There are huge consequences to this qualification, and that’s the way it should be.”

The United States boasted a comfortable lead heading into the second round, with more than a rail in hand over Canada. But Ireland launched a tremendous rally their second time around the course. Neither Andrew Bourns (Sea Topblue), David Blake (Claude), nor Conor Swail (Nadal Hero & DB) touched a pole, finishing the round with just a single fault added to their scorecard.

That put a greater amount of pressure on the home nation, but veterans Kraut and Ward were clear for the U.S., securing the victory. Not a single U.S. rider incurred more than 4 faults in a single round of competition.

“When this group of riders that we have here are on form, it suits us when it’s more difficult. So I think it worked in our favour,” said Ward.

Kraut was the only rider to have also competed in Mexico. In that event, she rode her Tokyo Olympic Games mount, Baloutinue. In San Juan Capistrano, she brought forward 10-year-old Dorado for his Nations Cup debut.

“I was thrilled with him,” Kraut said. “I will tell you, in the first round, he definitely was impressed. I agree with McLain that the course was much more difficult than I was expecting, and it caught me off guard. [Dorado] was a little bit shy from the first round, and he could have gotten smaller for the second round, or he could have grown. He grew and rode around beautifully, like he’d been doing it a long time.”

With their victory, the United States increased their lead in the North and Central America and Caribbean division; they boast 200 points. Mexico sits second with 170 points, and Canada is third (150 points).

The division concludes in Vancouver (CAN) on 4 June 2023.

Full Results

By Catie Staszak

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