Three days of live coverage from the Southern Pines Horse Trials at the Carolina Horse Park at Five Points. Chris provides coverage of the second day of the event. Take a listen….
Eventing Radio Episode 129 by Bit of Britain – Show Notes and Links:
Thank You: Thank you to the organizers of the Southern Pines Horse Trials for inviting us to cover the event live. Tune in live on Saturday and Sunday from 5 – 6 pm Eastern.
News: The Eventing Radio Show and HORSES IN THE MORNING show will be live from Rolex Kentucky 3DE: April 27 – May 1, 2011.
CORNELISSEN AND PARZIVAL SCOOP THEIR FIFTH VICTORY AT ‘S-HERTOGENBOSCH by Louise Parkes
The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival secured their fifth victory of the season when coming out on top at the last qualifying leg of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands this afternoon. They now look sure-fire favourites to scoop the title at the final which takes place in Leipzig, Germany from 27 April to 1 May, and the Dutch rider said today, “Yes, we’re in pretty good shape!”
Germany’s Isabell Werth and Warum Nicht produced a wonderful test, but still had to settle for runner-up spot ahead of Dutchman Hans Peter Minderhoud whose mare, Exquis Nadine, was really on her toes. And fourth place went to Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and Responsible whose star has been steadily rising throughout the current season.
SET THE STANDARD Catherine Haddad led the way at the halfway stage having set the standard with a score of 74.10 from the flashy chestnut Winymaro who seems to thrive in front of an audience. And the American rider was smiling broadly as she left the arena to the strains of the crowd singing “Happy Birthday” in celebration of her 47th year. Her score was immediately overtaken as the action re-started however, although Great Britain’s Richard Davison had to work hard for his mark of 77.025. His 12 year old gelding, Artemis, decided some of the greenery surrounding the arena was extremely suspicious and never fully settled throughout his test.
Three days of live coverage from the Southern Pines Horse Trials at the Carolina Horse Park at Five Points. Chris provides coverage today of the early rounds of the event. Take a listen….
Eventing Radio Episode 128 by Bit of Britain – Show Notes and Links:
Thank You: Thank you to the organizers of the Southern Pines Horse Trials for inviting us to cover the event live. Tune in live on Saturday and Sunday from 5 – 6 pm Eastern.
News: The Eventing Radio Show and HORSES IN THE MORNING show will be live from Rolex Kentucky 3DE: April 27 – May 1, 2011.
Wellington, FL – March 25, 2011 – The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival continued today with 12 rings of competition. The featured division in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring was the Camping World Adult Amateur 51 & Over Hunters Section A. Mary Katherine Shaughnessy of Wellington, FL, and King Lear, owned by Shamrock Ventures, rode to the championship.
Shaughnessy’s Shamrock Ventures purchased King Lear, a fifteen-year-old Trakehner gelding by Induc, last year. “He is really, really perfect! He never does anything wrong. I’d say that he has changed my life,” said Shaughnessy with a smile.
It has been a very special week for Shaughnessy. Not only was she champion during the same week that is sponsored by FTI Consulting, Inc. (her husband Dennis is the Chairman), but she also became a first-time grandmother two days ago. “I would like to add that I became a grandmother two days ago. My first grandchild! Her name is Avery. It’s been a big week!” beamed Shaughnessy.
Wellington, FL – March 25, 2011 – The highlight class today in the International Arena at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) was the $31,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic. Kent Farrington (USA) and Up Chiqui, owned by Farrington, Alex Boone, and William Dobbs, was the fastest through the timers for victory.
Week 11 of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival is sponsored by FTI Consulting Inc., and the week’s remaining feature events include the final Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday at 2:30 p.m., and the feature event of the circuit, the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix on Saturday. Gates open at 6 p.m. The event will also be webcast live on the USEF Network, seen here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/FTIGrandPrix2011/.
Guilherme Jorge of Brazil is the course designer in the International Arena this week. The class was a speed format against the clock, and 41 of 13 entries were clear to lead the top of the ribbons. Farrington had the fastest time of the day in 61.38 seconds for the win. Ben Maher (GBR) and Lindsay Cook’s Oscar came the closest to that speedy time in 62.36 seconds for second place. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Little Emir crossed the timers in 63.21 seconds for third place.
Wellington, FL – March 24, 2011 – Last night, the world famous Player’s Club hosted the grand finale of Dressage under the Stars, where at the end of the evening, Jim “Batman” Kofford was crowned the series champion. During the evening, the winners from the previous weeks returned to compete for the 2011 championship including Chris Von Martels, Jim Kofford, Marcia Kulak, Dottie Morkis, and Emily Kannenstine. Judges for this week included Todd Flettrich, Ashley Holzer and Kelly Klein and the event was sponsored by Carol Cohen’s Two Swans Farm, the Dutta Corp. and Phelps Media Group.
Jim Kofford rode his Grand Prix mount, Rhett, as “Batman,” to the $2,500 cash top prize after completing two thrilling performances. This is third year of the Wednesday night weekly event, held at the Players Club during the Palm Beach winter circuit.
“I am so excited to win,” Kofford stated after his performance still wearing his Batman mask. “This is a great horse who loved this rowdy crowd and really got into it. The second round was actually really fun to do and this whole event is great. This horse is 11 years old and I think it was great practice for him, in a fun and relaxing environment. Plus, under the lights adds another element for the horses and provided a great atmosphere to compete.”
Wellington, FL – March 24, 2011 – The final round of the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series was held on Thursday afternoon with a victory for Beezie Madden (USA) and Abigail Wexner’s Danny Boy at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.
Week 11 of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival is sponsored by FTI Consulting Inc. The week’s feature events will include the final Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday at 2:30 p.m., and the feature event of the circuit, the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix on Saturday. Gates open at 6 p.m. The event will also be webcast live on the USEF Network, seen here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/FTIGrandPrix2011/.
Guilherme Jorge of Brazil is the course designer in the International Arena this week. A total of 41 competitors showed over the first round course and 11 qualified for the jump-off. With one competitor choosing not to return, ten jumped off against the clock.
Great Britain’s Nick Skelton and Big Star, owned by Beverly and Gary Widdowson, were first to attempt the short course and jumped clear in 40.48 seconds to blaze the leading time. Eight rounds followed but no one was able to jump without fault until the final competitors entered the ring.
Lausanne (SUI), 24 March 2011 – The FEI Bureau has awarded the 2012 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final to ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED). This major event, which will be held in conjunction with the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final, will take place from 18 to 22 April 2012.
This weekend, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, located in the southern Netherlands, will play host to the last qualifiers of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping and the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage for the 2010/2011 season.
Both competitions will be broadcast LIVE on the official FEI online video platform FEI TV on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March.
Del Mar, CA (March 23, 2011) – Canadian Para-Equestrian Team member Lauren Barwick dominated the Grade II division at the 2011 Dressage Affaire at the Del Mar Horsepark during the CPED13* Para-Equestrian Dressage competition, riding away with the blue ribbon on Off To Paris and the red on Ferdonia 2 in the Individual Test. Barwick also took home top honors in the Freestyle, riding Ferdonia 2 to first place with a high score of 75.167% and earning second on Off To Paris with a 73.333.
Barwick’s success in the Para-Dressage spotlight has been aided by mentor and coach Pat Parelli, founder of Parelli Natural Horsemanship, Inc. Barwick is a Senior Protégé and mentor in the Parelli Natural Horsemanship’s Mastery Program.
“Lauren is an outstanding horsewoman and has the ability to easily connect with her horses,” Parelli said. “At the Dressage Affaire in Del Mar, Lauren had only been riding Off to Paris and Ferdonia for 10 days so it was quite an accomplishment to win first and second in both classes. Lauren knows that building a relationship and developing a great partnership with each horse is paramount, and she is dedicated to putting the horse’s needs first which shows each time she rides.”
OCALA, FL (March 22, 2011) — Sunday’s $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group, was not only the season finale to the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, but also the 36th Grand Prix of the 2011 HITS Show Season, which marked the virtual mid-way point for the qualifying period for this year’s Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. Kent Farrington felt the need for speed, when he and Iron Horse Farm’s Top Gun captured the win, to conclude the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit.
“Yesterday was an extraordinary finish to the Ocala Winter Circuit,” said Tom Struzzieri, HITS President and CEO. “Similar to our shows in Thermal, we’ve been blessed with some incredible weather in Ocala this season, which always adds to the enjoyment of the show. I’m very pleased that we had the opportunity to welcome so many new faces this year, which helped contribute to some really exciting competition. I was particularly impressed by the number of exhibitors that participated in, and the number of spectators that came out to watch, our Parade of Champions ceremony. Those riders should be proud of their accomplishments, and it was very nice to see the community from both within and outside the horse show acknowledge their efforts.”