Category Archives: Competitions

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

FEI European Junior Eventing Championships 2011 – Vale Sabroso (POR)

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BRITISH TAKE TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL GOLD by Louise Parkes

L to R - Kevin Seignier from France (Silver), Great Britain's Zoe Brenan (Gold) and David Doel, also from Great Britain (Bronze). Photo: FEI/Michael Steiger.

Lausanne (SUI), 12 September 2011 – Great Britain claimed team gold along with two of the three individual medals on offer at the FEI European Junior Eventing Championships 2011 at Vale Sabroso in Portugal over the weekend.  However the team silver medallists from Germany put up a spirited fight when the side was reduced to just three riders following last-minute injury problems and, leading through the dressage and cross-country phases, they were only pipped at the post in the final jumping test to finish ahead of the bronze medallists from France.

Zoe Brenan took individual gold for Britain riding Latino K while her compatriot, David Doel riding Kings Cross, scooped the bronze when finishing just 0.7 points behind Kevin Seigner and Or du Genet from France who slotted into individual silver spot.

The venue, in the beautiful Alcacer do Sol region, opened its gates to competitors from 15 nations – Italy, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, France, Germany, Denmark, Poland, Ireland, Portugal, Switzerland and The Netherlands – with eight countries vying for the team medals and a total of 52 starters.

HELD THE LEAD
The German team of Franziska Dennersmann (Rantan Plan Z), Charlotte Hachmeister (Kassio) and Josephine Wilms (Corvette D) held the lead after the dressage phase, with Ireland in second and Great Britain in third ahead of France.  This was a particularly good result for the Irish who do not always shine in the dressage department, but normally tend to come into their own when the jumping phases get underway.  However the Irish Juniors have clearly raised their game, and on this occasion Tori Dixon and Shadow Light were sharing third place on the individual leaderboard with Belgium’s Valentine Gabriel and Chopin Van’T Kattekwaad going into cross-country day on a score of 45.0.  German team member, Wilms, was lying second with a mark of 44.0 while British individual, Emily King, led the way with a mark of 41.9 from Mr Hiho.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF, USEF

Steffen Peters and Ravel Close the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions with a Clean Sweep of the Grand Prix National Dressage Championship

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Steffen Peters and Ravel. Photo: SusanJStickle.com

Gladstone, NJ – Steffen Peters went six-for-six at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions at the USET Foundation Headquarters. First, he swept the Intermediaire I on Weltino’s Magic (earning a place on the team for the Pan American Games in the process) and then dominated the Grand Prix National Dressage Championship on Ravel – scoring 77.660% in the Grand Prix, 80.083% in the Grand Prix Special, and 81.100% in the Freestyle to average 79.247% to win by more than six percentage points.

On a day when the nation remembered September 11, 2001, the national anthem played proudly in Gladstone, NJ.

Akiko Yamazaki and Four Winds Farm’s 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding cruised to a title that they last won in 2008. Ravel was tired after putting in a tremendous effort in the Grand Prix Special on Friday but America’s dressage superstar hung in there and, despite some mistakes, what he did well – he did very well.

“Interesting, obviously a little tough on the finish line,” said Peters. “There was the one piaffe that didn’t happen and that makes me not think about the other movements that were good… the changes and pirouettes were better than Aachen.”

Ravel always tries, but Peters knew based on how well behaved his superstar was in the prize giving, that the horse is ready for a vacation. He has had a busy few years, competing and winning at the biggest shows across the globe.

Continue reading Steffen Peters and Ravel Close the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions with a Clean Sweep of the Grand Prix National Dressage Championship →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Driving, Events, USEF

Fairclough Wins Third USEF National Four-In-Hand Driving Championship after 10-Year Hiatus

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James Fairclough. Photo: Richard Moore

Lexington, KY – The 2011 U.S. National Four-In-Hand Championship was contested over the weekend in Kennett Square, PA, at the 25th annual Laurels at Landhope International Combined Driving Event, one of the most prestigious events of its kind in the U.S.

The 2011 U.S. National Four-In-Hand Championship included four entries in the Four-in- Hand division – three Americans, Chester Weber, James Fairclough and Josh Rector, who vied for the National title, and one Canadian, Eugen Hug.

Competitors took to the soggy, post-Tropical Storm Lee dressage arenas on Friday, with Chester Weber of Ocala, FL, getting off to an early lead with a picture-perfect dressage test with a score of 39.04, putting him up by a margin of eight points over Fairclough.

But Fairclough took the lead on Saturday during the Marathon when Weber made an uncharacteristic mistake, going the wrong way through a gate in the third hazard to put him a little under eight points behind Fairclough as they headed into Sunday’s Cones phase. It wasn’t clear sailing for Fairclough either as he had a glitch in the water hazard causing his team to take some stutter steps. “My whip got caught,” he said. “It cost me four or five seconds.”

Weber was disappointed with the Marathon but blamed no one but himself. “I had a gate backward in hazard No. 3,” he said. “We walked it that way. It was just a mistake and I have nothing to say except it was inexcusable.” He was very pleased with how well his horses went. “I thought the course was very heavy-going,” he said. “It was terribly hot and the whole Section E, you could be going downhill and the horses had to pull.”

Continue reading Fairclough Wins Third USEF National Four-In-Hand Driving Championship after 10-Year Hiatus →

Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF, USEF

Endreson Sweeps National Junior Dressage Championship at 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm USEF Dressage Festival of Champions

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Kya Endreson and Pik L. Photo: SusanJStickle.com

Gladstone, NJ – The results of the 2011 National Junior Dressage Championship remained unchanged as Kya Endreson and Pik L swept both the Team and Individual Tests to win Endreson’s very first National Championship title.

Pik L is a very experienced 18-year-old Hanoverian stallion, who has been an incredible small-tour horse for nearly a decade. Endreson rode him to Team Gold at the 2011 Adequan FEI North American Junior/Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North this summer, but took her first national title at Gladstone today.

“It was awesome,” said the 16-year-old from the Outer Banks of North Carolina. “I feel so lucky to be able to ride such a great horse… he’s just so awesome and he’s helped me so much.”

Pik L’s son Pikko del Cerro HU contested the Intermediaire I National Dressage Championship this weekend, finishing eighth. Pik L’s career includes two Pan American Games and scores of wins at the Intermediaire level. He is now happily showing Endreson the ropes and their two-day score of 70.612% rewarded the only combination to go over 70% in either test.

“I feel like it went pretty well,” said Endreson. “He was a little strong at some points and he was a little tired from yesterday but he stayed with me.”

Endreson is a full-time working student at Hassler Dressage.

Continue reading Endreson Sweeps National Junior Dressage Championship at 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm USEF Dressage Festival of Champions →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, USEF

Coudray Leads the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team as They Jump Their Way into the Top 10 at Fidelity Blenheim International Horse Trials

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Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister. Photo: Stockimageservices. com

Lexington, KY – With three riders in the top 10, the Land River U.S. Eventing Team had everything to play for in the show jumping on the final day of the 2011 Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials in Woodstock, U.K.

And Tiana Coudray played the game the best for the U.S. throughout the week, adding nothing to her dressage score of 49.4 to finish second on Jaital, Inc.’s, Ringwood Magister, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding.

“Today it was pretty much textbook,” said Coudray after the show jumping.

The California native has had a rough spring. After falling at their first CCI4* at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone in April, they then struggled at the Luhmühlen CIC3*, but Coudray made the decision to stick it out in England over the summer and regain the form that saw her win the Jersey Fresh CCI3* with her flashy grey in 2010.

She found it at Blenheim.

“I am so, so pleased,” said Coudray. “It’s extra special because things have been so tough for quite a while. I was a pretty good way to finish off the season.”

Continue reading Coudray Leads the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team as They Jump Their Way into the Top 10 at Fidelity Blenheim International Horse Trials →

Competitions, Events, Pan American Games, Show Jumping, USEF

USEF Names Show Jumping Team for 2011 Pan American Games

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Gladstone, NJ – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has recommended the following athlete/horse combinations to the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to represent the United States on the U.S. Show Jumping Team at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The USOC will make the following entry of athlete/horse combinations today (they are named in ranked order):

Beezie Madden (Cazenovia, NY) will ride Coral Reef Ranch’s Coral Reef Via Volo

McLain Ward (Brewster, NY) will ride Grant Road Partners LLC’s Antares F

Christine McCrea (East Windsor, CT) will ride Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables’ Romantovich Take One

Laura Kraut (Wellington, FL) will ride Happy Hill Farm’s Cedric

Lauren Hough (Wellington, FL) will be the travelling reserve with Laura and Meredith Mateo’s Quick Study

The following four athlete/horse combinations have been named as ranked substitutes and will be submitted as part of the Nominated Entry:

Margie Engle (Wellington, FL) with Garber, Griese, Hidden Creek Farm and Gladewinds Farm’s Indigo

Kent Farrington (Chicago, IL) with RCG Farm’s Uceko

Mario Deslauriers (New York, NY) with Jane F. Clark’s Urico

Kirsten Coe (Johnston, SC) with Ilan Ferder’s Tristan

Kate Levy (Wellington, FL) with Kate Levy LLC’s Vent du Nord

The 2011 Pan American Games will run October 14-30, 2011 in Guadalajara; more information about the Games is available here: http://www.guadalajara2011.org.mx/ENG/01_inicio/.

Follow the USEF Riders on the USEF Network: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2011PanAmGames/.

Competitions, Dressage, Events, Pan American Games, USEF

USEF Names Dressage Team for the 2011 Pan American Games

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Gladstone, NJ – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has recommended the following athlete/horse combinations to the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to represent the United States on the U.S. Dressage Team at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The USOC will make the following entry of athlete/horse combinations on Monday (they are named in ranked order):

1. Steffen Peters will ride Jen and Bruce Hlavacek’s Weltino’s Magic

2. Heather Blitz will ride her own Paragon

3. Dr. Cesar Parra will ride Michael and Sarah Davis’ Grandioso

4. Marissa Festerling will ride her own Big Tyme

The following four athlete/horse combinations have been named as ranked substitutes and will be submitted as part of the Nominated Entry:

5. Endel Ots will ride Kristin Cooper’s Toscano

6. Shawna Harding will ride her own Rigo

7. Heather Mason will ride her own Warsteiner

8. Lisa Wilcox will ride Horses Unlimited’s Pikko del Cerro HU

The 2011 Pan American Games will run October 14-30, 2011 in Guadalajara; more information about the Games is available here: http://www.guadalajara2011.org.mx/ENG/01_inicio/.

Follow the USEF Riders on the USEF Network: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2011PanAmGames/.

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF, USEF

Weltino’s Magic Sweeps USEF National Intermediaire I Dressage Championships

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Steffen Peters and Weltino's Magic. Photo: SusanJStickle.com

Gladstone, NJ – The top three placings in the Intermediaire I National Dressage Championship never changed throughout the week at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm Dressage Festival of Championship and Steffen Peters dominated with Weltino’s Magic finishing on a three day average of 78.661%.

Riding for Jen Hlavacek, Peters owned the Dick and Jane Brown Arena this morning, and to music by Seven and Five, he showed off the 9-year-old Westphalian gelding’s strengths and was rewarded with a freestyle score of 81.250%. This was the only score over 80 in this division all weekend.

“It is fairly new,” said Peters about his Freestyle. “I’ve only done three freestyles with Magic. The music is by a group called Seven and Five, it’s not too dramatic but it’s not too much like elevator music. It was fun, there are some days where it is a little more work with Magic, but today it was fun.”

Weltino’s Magic was started by Peters’ wife Shannon, who rode him to reserve championship honors in the 2008 Markel/USEF National Young Horse Championships as a 6-year-old. He is a strong horse and Peters knows that managing that strength is a major part of his job.

“He’s a powerful horse and he can be once and a while a little strong,” said Peters. “I have to be careful that I break things up a little bit (in the freestyle)… The changes have become straighter that is why I did them down the center line and the trot work is stronger than the canter work which is why I put it at the end.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF, USEF

Peters Maintains His Lead in the Intermediaire I National Dressage Championship

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Steffen Peters and Weltino's Magic. Photo: SusanJStickle.com

Gladstone, NJ – The third day of the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions meant the second day of the USEF Intermediaire I National Dressage Championship. The results remained unchanged as Steffen Peters won his third class in a row taking the top spot in the Intermediaire I test on Weltino’s Magic with a score of 76.421%.

He fought back from a couple of mistakes early on and overcame a couple of misunderstandings to duplicate his win in yesterday’s Prix St. Georges.

“It wasn’t quite as easy,” said Peters. “There were a couple of misunderstandings. When I asked for the left half-pass he thought extended trot. In the two-tempis one of the changes felt short behind. Where I think we won it was with really good pirouettes and the walk.”

Peters explained that when things aren’t going to plan in the test, he tries not to let it distract him from the task at hand.

“He’s a pretty straightforward horse,” said Peters. “If I don’t screw up, he doesn’t screw up.”

The Intermediaire I Championship also serves as the USEF Selection Trials for the 2011 Pan American Games, and Peters, despite being an Olympic and World Championship veteran and medalist, has never ridden on a Pan American Team. He and Jen Hlavacek’s 9-year-old Westphalian gelding have been winning at a record pace not only on the West Coast but they also swept the small tour in Aachen this summer. Peters has been nearly invincible with this horse and with Ravel in the Grand Prix and lead a dressage resurrection in the United States.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Endurance Riding, Events, FEI, FEI

FEI Open European Endurance Championships 2011 – Florac (FRA)

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PHENOMENAL PONTON TAKES INDIVIDUAL TITLE WHILE FRANCE TOPS THE TEAMS by Louise Parkes

The phenomenal Spanish partnership of Maria Alvarez Ponton and Nobby added the FEI European Endurance Championships 2011 Individual title to their remarkable record when taking gold in Florac, France yesterday. Photo: FEI/Gilly Wheeler.

Lausanne (SUI), 11 September 2011 – Spain’s record-breaking partnership of Maria Alvarez Ponton and Nobby took their fourth Championship title in a row when putting in another phenomenal performance at the FEI European Endurance Championships 2011 in Florac, France yesterday.  And the host nation had plenty to celebrate too, as Virginie Atger, Julien Goachet, Sunny Demedy and Benedicte Santisteva claimed the team honours for France.

Concerns about the intense heat in the days leading up to the event dissipated when a cooling mist shrouded the mountainous course as the riders set off with a racing start at 4.30am.  And it was an extraordinary sight as their headlamps guided the 76 competitors from 17 countries through the darkness over the early stages of their 160 kms challenge.  Florac is recognised as one of the toughest Endurance tracks in the world, with a climb to 1,665 metres at its highest point, and a completion, let alone a victory here, is a coveted achievement in this most demanding of equestrian sports.

The track did not follow the modern “clover-leaf” formula often used in the sport today, in which the loops return to a central base during the course of the race.  In contrast, the six loops on the Florac track stretched out over fresh ground and, while helping maintain the interest of the horses throughout, this presented a significant logistical challenge to the hard-working support crews and officials.

THE STUFF OF LEGEND
Ponton and Nobby are already the stuff of legend however.  The Spanish rider and her little 148cms super-champ broke all previous records with their hat-trick that included the 2008 World title, 2009 European title and then their gold medal winning performance at last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, USA.  And, a year later, they have now raised the bar even higher with their fourth extraordinary success.

Continue reading FEI Open European Endurance Championships 2011 – Florac (FRA) →