Eoin McMahon aboard Chacon 2. © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – January 21, 2022 – The 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) continued to host competition on the Derby Field at Equestrian Village on Friday, January 21, with the $37,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round Two CSI3* during WEF 2, sponsored by Hygain Feeds. In Thursday’s feature event, newcomer Eoin McMahon (IRL) experienced his first WEF victory as he and Chacon 2, owned by Beerbaum Stables, emerged unbeatable.

The Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup was the only event of the day held on the grass track and 58 top horse-and-rider combinations showed up to compete over Oscar Soberon’s (USA) first-round course. Halfway through, only nine pairings were set to advance to the jump-off, including the likes of Shane Sweetnam (IRL), Margie Engle (USA), and the previous day’s $37,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45m Classic winner, Daniel Coyle (IRL). By the first round’s end, six more entries had joined with a clear trip, making a total of 15 set to see their way around the short course.

Egypt’s Nayel Nassar was the first of the comeback field to execute a second clear round with Coronado, but Katie Dinan (USA) only allowed for a short reprieve before stealing the lead with Dijon Terdoorn Z. Daniel Coyle (IRL) continued the streak by knocking over three seconds off of Dinan’s time to land on 42.58 seconds with Oak Grove’s Carlyle.

Coyle ultimately finished out the event in the fourth-place position as Erynn Ballard (CAN), Samuel Hutton (GBR), and McMahon all continued to find areas to shave off time. As one of the final few on to the field, McMahon and Chacon 2 closed all possible gaps and crossed the timers in a blazing 40.29 seconds.

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