The first week of the FTI WEF is sponsored by Surpass. The second week of the FTI WEF runs from Wednesday, January 18, through Sunday, January 22, and is sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty. The 2012 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and they will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit.
Upcoming Events for Week Two – Don’t Miss These Exciting and Fun Activities!
The Ride & Learn Series is composed of weekly mounted riding clinics that will be conducted by some of the most well-known and experienced professionals in the business. The cost to ride in the clinic is $125, and auditing is free. These clinics will take place every Tuesday, beginning the second week of the FTI WEF with a clinic by Patricia Griffith in the International Arena on January 17. Space to ride in the clinics is limited, so contact Rosemary Bertin at 561-371-9598 cubbybertin@comcast.net to join in.
The Lunch & Learn Series, presented by World Development Group, will begin this week on Thursday, January 19, at The Wellington Club. Admission is free and lunch is provided. No prior equestrian knowledge is required to attend the events. This week’s class is “Balanced Equestrian Strength Training (BEST)” by Nicholas Tortora and is sponsored by Vita Flex. Every attendee at the Lunch & Learn Series will be entered to win a grand prize.
Women in Business Presents “Lunch with Katherine Bellissimo” on Wednesday, January 18 at The Wellington Club. The seminar is presented by the Palms West Community Foundation. For more information, visit www.palmswest.com.
The PRO DerbyCross Calcutta Welcome Reception will be held at The White Horse Tavern at The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on January 19 at 6:30 p.m. The PRO DerbyCross Team Competition takes place at the International Arena at the PBIEC on January 20 at 7 p.m. Tickets for both the Calcutta Welcome Reception and the PRO DerbyCross Patron’s Marquee are available and general admission is free.
Proceeds from the PRO DerbyCross Team Competition benefit Operation Homefront, which is the Official Charitable Partner of the Professional Riders Organization. Operation Homefront provides emergency financial relief for U.S. Service Members and their families in times of need as well as Wounded Warriors during their recovery and transition. Equestrian Sport Productions and the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival will be hosting hot dogs and beer for 100 of our local U.S. Service Members and their families Friday, January 20, at 5:30 p.m. at the Suncoast Pavillion adjacent to the International Arena.
The 2nd Annual Vinceremos “Buck Off” mechanical bull riding contest will take place on Thursday, January 19, at 6:30 p.m. at The Gallery. The event benefits the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center, is hosted by Mark and Katherine Bellissimo, and is sponsored by Palm Beach Equine Clinic and the Floridian Community Bank. Admission is free, practice rides are $10, and there is a $100 fee per team of four riders. The winners of each event will challenge the 2011 champions on February 10 at the Vinceremos Dinner and Auction.
The Polo for Pedro Annual Celebrity Bartending Challenge returns this year on Saturday, January 21, from 6-9 p.m. at The Gallery. Cheer on your favorite equestrians as they battle for the coveted Best Bartender Title. Team Kris Kampsen will once again challenge Team Marley Goodman. Prizes for top tippers. Every penny raised goes toward building a new children’s center at the YMCA of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach. Honorary Chairs Jonathan Cameron-Hayes and Arvo Katajisto and Vice Chairs Kris Kampsen, Nic Roldan and Marley Goodman welcome everyone with free admission. For more information, please contact Mary Turnbull, YMCA of the Palm Beaches at 561 968 9622 ext. 229.
Farnam will present a highlight of different equestrian disciplines on Saturday, January 21 before the opening ceremonies for the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix. The festivities will include a team of driving miniatures horses, as well as dressage, reining, and jumping exhibitions.
Author Jeff Papows, PhD will sign copies of his critically acclaimed book Unbridled Passion: Show Jumping’s Greatest Horses and Riders (Acanthus Publishing, 2011) in the Tiki Hut on Saturday, January 21, from 4:30 until 6 p.m. A portion of the book sale proceeds will be donated to the Children’s Wish Foundation International, Inc. The book signing will be attended by numerous superstars of the sport. In addition to the author, attendees will have an opportunity to obtain the autographs from many of the elite athletes who are showcased in Papows’ book.
Copies of Papows’ book will be available for sale throughout the weekend (Jan. 20-22) at the FTI WEF Boutique, which is located directly behind the Tiki Hut, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Saturday during the night class, and on Sunday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Books will also be available on site at Hadfields. Copies of the book may also be purchased on the author’s web site at www.UnbridledPassion.net.
The Bank of America Family Festival will kick off festivities on Saturday, January 21 at 6 p.m. inside the spectator entrance. Families are invited to come and watch the $30,000 Surpass Grand Prix and spend time having fun with a bounce house, petting zoo, pony rides, face painters, balloon artist, street performers, and more. Jeff Medina will be playing live island reggae music too, so bring your dancing shoes!
Week One Wrap-Up: Beezie Madden and Simon Take First “Saturday Night Lights” Victory in $30,000 Surpass Grand Prix
Olympic gold medalist Beezie Madden (USA) and new mount Simon, owned by Abigail Wexner, took home the blue ribbon in Saturday night’s $30,000 Surpass Grand Prix. Nick Skelton (GBR) and Beverley Widdowson’s Unique finished second, while Cian O’Connor (IRL) rode Blue Loyd, owned by Ashkirk Ltd and Cian O’Connor, to third place.
The class was sponsored by Surpass, a product Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI). Amanda McAvoy, Sr. Brand Manager of the Equine Division at BIVI, was present to awards the prizes for tonight’s class, and spoke on behalf of her company. “We are ecstatic to be a part of this and feel very fortunate to be able to be the sponsor of the first week of the event,” McAvoy said. “It is pretty neat to sit here with these riders. We really appreciate the partnership that we have with the FTI WEF and we are very thankful that we are able to be here.”
The course designer in the International Arena was Steve Stephens of Palmetto, FL. There were 36 entries in the class, and seven were clear in the first round. Although they do not have fast jump-off experience together, Madden and Simon were able to speed easily around the course and set the winning time at 40.764 seconds.
Simon, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding (Mr. Blue x Polydox), owned by Abigail Wexner, is a new horse for Madden, previously ridden by Jeroen Dubbeldam, and purchased just over a month ago. “We just got Simon six or eight weeks ago,” Madden stated. “He has been very successful with Jeroen. He was third in the World Cup Finals last year and he won the CN Grand Prix in Calgary the year before. He has been very good in Nations Cups for the Dutch team and this is actually the first grand prix that I have done with him.”
“I didn’t really know what to expect,” Madden said of going into the jump-off tonight. “That was the first time that I have tried to go fast with him. He has a history of being a fast horse, so I tried to just give him a good look and take a shot.”
Jumper Results: Wednesday through Sunday
Olympian Cian O’Connor (IRL) scored the first win of the season on Wednesday with Everything, owned by Abdulla Humaid Al Muhairi, in the G&C Farm 1.45m Jumpers. Nick Skelton (GBR) and Unique (2001 KWPN gelding by Indoctro x Voltaire), owned by Beverley Widdowson, set the time to beat at 61.196 seconds. Skelton’s time would hold up for second place. Scott Brash (GBR) and Intertoy Z (1999 Zangersheide gelding by Interadel x Centauer) placed third with a quick, clear round in 62.918 seconds. With Everything, O’Connor decided to change his route on course from his first time around, and it helped him stop the timers in 60.510 seconds for the win.
Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward (USA) was able to beat a field of 39 competitors to take the first round victory in the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series at the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. He and Oh’ D Eole triumphed in the jump-off over Charlie Jayne (USA) on Chill R Z and Darragh Kerins (IRL) with Hot Wheels. Thursday’s grand prix marked the start of an exciting show jumping season, where riders will compete over 12 weeks to win bonus money in the $100,000 FTI Consulting Rider Challenge.
McLain Ward (USA) made it two wins in a row on Friday, this time with Louisburg Farm’s Esplanade 7 in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Jumpers. He guided Esplanade 7 to victory in a jump-off time of 38.883 seconds over 60 other entries in the class. Second place went to Darragh Kenny (IRL) on Obelix, owned by Missy Clark and North Run, who finished in 40.464 seconds. Hillary Dobbs (USA) and The Dobbs Group’s Udento VDL were third in 40.516 seconds.
Hillary Dobbs has returned to her winning ways as she and Marengo, owned by The Dobbs Group, took the top prize in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge. Dobbs and the well-known speedster Marengo took the win in 60.343 seconds over Nicolas Paillot and Olympic de Chamant, who finished in 62.428 seconds. Luis Larrazabal (VEN) and G&C Lepanto were third.
Earlier in the day, the $1,500 Griffis Group High Junior Jumper class was held. Sydney Shulman and Fit 3 took first place. In the $2,500 High Amateur-Owner Jumpers, Samantha Senft and Early Morning finished in the top spot. The winner of the $1,500 Adequan 7 Year Old Young Jumper qualifier was Ammy V, ridden by Marilyn Little-Meredith. Laura Chapot and Zealous won the $1,500 Adequan 8 Year Old Young Jumper qualifier.
On Saturday, Alexandra Vanderrest piloted Oxsona M to the win in the $15,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. Nathalie Mathers and Windline captured the win in the $1,500 Surpass Medium Amateur-Owner Jumpers. Licapo and Madeline Schaefer won the $1,500 Griffis Group High Junior Jumper class.
In the International Arena on Sunday, the $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic was the main event. Nick Skelton (GBR) continued his solid week of success and capped it with a win on Unique, owned by Beverley Widdowson. Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Wannahave, owned by The Wannahave Group, finished second, while Alexa Pessoa (USA) on Madison was third.
Hunter Results: Thursday through Sunday
Carrying on their winning ways from last year, Louise Serio and her talented mount Castle Rock swept the CWD Performance Working Hunter 3’6″ division with five first place ribbons. Bases Loaded, owned by Am Free, Inc. and ridden by Kelley Farmer, earned the reserve championship with four second place ribbons. Castle Rock is a 13-year-old KWPN gelding by Corland, owned by Bryan Baldwin of Brandon, FL.
Showing in the Eugene R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring on Friday, the Horseware Products Adult Amateur Hunter 3’3″ division presented championship honors. Twenty-three-year-old Allyson Blais, of Delray Beach, FL, guided her nine-year-old Warmblood gelding Camden Yards to the championship tricolor with 38 totals points to top the division. Horseware Products is the Official Horse Blanket/Clothing of the FTI WEF.
Blais and Camden Yards won both classes over fences on Thursday and returned to place first and third over fences and third under saddle today. The reserve championship was awarded to Margaret O’Meara and Coin Toss, owned by Woodland Way, Inc. The pair placed second, fifth, second and fourth over fences and also finished second under saddle for a total of 21 points.
Schaefer Raposa and Spandau earned a championship tricolor and Horseware Ireland cooler on Saturday in the Marley Goodman Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division. The pair finished first in both classes on Friday, and placed first and fourth over fences and third under saddle on Saturday. Spandau is a seven-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Quidam de Revel, owned by Visse Wedell of North Salem, NY, and trained by Lyman T. Whitehead. Also finishing with top ribbons this week, Huntington, shown by Kristen Lutz and owned by Stratford Stables, earned the reserve championship. The pair finished first, fourth, fifth and fifth over fences and won the under saddle.
The Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51 & Older Section B awarded championship honors to Debbie Kelly and Sheldon Cooper for the week. Quality Control and Margaret Taylor earned the championship in Section A yesterday.
For full results please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
The College Preparatory Invitational Hosts Second Event with Great Success
The second annual College Preparatory Invitational was a great success with 175 riders competing in four hunt seat and two dressage seat divisions. There were also five different scholarships awarded.
The scholarship winners were:
High Point Hunt Seat Rider: Barclay Powell, Gainesville, FL, Class of 2014
Reserve High Point Hunt Seat Rider: Taylor Leigh, Northport, FL, Class of 2013
High Point Dressage Rider: Rachel Robinson, Orlando, FL, Class of 2014
Reserve High Point Dressage Rider: Alexandra Antonicelli, Jersey Shore, PA, Class of 2013
Horsemanship Test Winner: Madison Specht, Winter Garden, FL, Class of 2015
Horsemanship Test Runner-Up: Amy Blazej, Windham, VT, Class of 2012
Community Service Award: Natasha Walters, Paoli, PA, Class of 2016
Essay Winner: Cassie Crotty, Coral Gables, FL, Class of 2015
Essay Runner-Up: Lauren Abunassar, Gettysburg, PA, Class of 2013
Best Performance Hunt Seat Horse: Cumberland Blues, owned by Wall Street Farm
Best Performance Dressage Horse: Godiva Degordios, owned by Melanie Peterson
The winners in the Open Flat Hunt Seat classes were:
Emily Rhodes, Sag Harbor, NY, Class of 2012, on Harley
Kendall Pedigo, Vancouver, WA, Class of 2014, on Mont Sciricco
Hannah Huntington, Beverly Hills, FL, Class of 2013, on Iris
Marielle Golden, Boca Raton, FL, Class of 2012, on Felix
The winners in the Open Hunt Seat Equitation Over Fences were:
Victoria Cribb, Jupiter, FL, Class of 2012, on Churro
Samantha Van Winter, East Greenwich, RI, Class of 2014, on Frangelico
Hannah Huntington, Beverly Hills, FL, Class of 2013, on Jr. Mint
Lauren Schmeiske, Punta Gorda, FL, Class of 2013, on Mont Sciricco
The winners in the Intermediate Flat Hunt Seat classes were:
Carlin Counter, Winter Haven, FL, Class of 2013 on Avoline
Meg Phippin, Owings Mills, MD, Class of 2013, on Athena
Emilee Smigel, Loxahatchee Groves, FL, Class of 2015, on Twilight
Jacqueline Sewell, Sarasota, FL, Class of 2014, on Duchess
The winners in the Intermediate Hunt Seat Over Fences were:
Olivia Easton, Key Biscayne, FL, Class of 2016, on Callaway
Meredith Denny, Knoxville, TN, Class of 2013, on Hugo
The winners in the Limit Flat Hunt Seat classes were:
Sarah Jansen, Chester Springs, PA, Class of 2013, on My Heartbreaker
Barclay Powell, Gainesville, FL, Class of 2014, on Confetti
Veronica Llewellyn, Wadsworth, OH, Class of 2013, on Brandy
Taylor Leigh, Northport, FL, Class of 2013, on Peter Pan
The winners in the Limit Hunt Seat Over Fences classes were:
Brittany Kriegstein, Huntington, NY, Class of 2013, on Cumberland Blues
Barclay Powell, Gainesville, FL, Class of 2014, on Peter Pan
Ofelia Del Principe, New York, NY, Class of 2013, on Joey
Taylor Leigh, Northport, FL, Class of 2013, on Seminole
The winners of the Novice Flat Hunt Seat classes were:
Armine Mencia, Wellington, FL, Class of 2016, on Bella
Melissa Kerr, Granville, OH, Class of 2014, on Reason
Victoria Convey, Coral Gables, FL, Class of 2013, on Jesse
The winners of the Novice Hunt Seat Over Fences classes were:
Gabriella Hurtado, Pinecrest, FL, Class of 2015, on Sonny
Bayley Morton, Guilford, CT, Class of 2013, Walk the Line
Victoria Convey, Coral Gables, FL, Class of 2013, on Joey
The winner of the Dressage Seat Equitation class was Rachel Robinson of Orlando, FL, Class of 2014, on Godiva Degordios. Alexandra Antonicelli of Jersey Shore, PA, Class of 2013, rode Harley to the win in the second Dressage Seat Equitation class. The winner of the Alumni class was Lauren Hill, who attended North Carolina State.
For more information on the College Preparatory Invitational, please visit www.collegeprepinvitational.com.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 11 through April 1. The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $6 million in prize money will be awarded.
About FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 3,800 employees located in 23 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.4 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2010. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.
Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.
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