Jessica Springsteen and Davendy S. Photos © Sportfot.
Reilly Gogul and Neon Star Victorious in USEF Pony Medal
Wellington, FL – February 20, 2015 – Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Stone Hill Farm’s Davendy S jumped to victory in the $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m speed class on Friday afternoon at the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Jumping in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), Springsteen jumped the fastest clear round out of 73 entries to beat out Andrew Ramsay (USA) and Welfare (2nd) and Lillie Keenan (USA) with Balance (3rd).
Suncast® is the title sponsor of week seven at WEF. Competition runs February 18-22 featuring the $372,000 Suncast® CSI 5* Grand Prix on Saturday, February 21, which will be live streamed at http://bit.ly/1vLyjbV. The $85,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic will be the highlight on Sunday morning and livestreamed at http://bit.ly/181N0m0. The 12-week WEF circuit continues through March 29, 2015, awarding over $8.2 million in prize money.
Steve Stephens (USA) set the speed track for Friday’s 1.45m competition with 23 clear rounds out of the 73 starters. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Cyklon 1083 set an early lead in 60.17 seconds, but eventually finished fifth. Springsteen and Davendy S pushed them out of the top spot with their time of 57.50 seconds. Ramsay and Shalanno Farms LLC’s Welfare jumped into second place in 58.84 seconds. Emanuel Andrade (VEN) and Nokia de Brekka took fourth in 60.16 seconds, and Lillie Keenan completed the class in third with a time of 60.10 seconds aboard Chansonette Farm LLC’s Balance.
Springsteen has jumped some of the fastest rounds in WEF’s international competition lately, but has had some mistakes that kept her out of the winner’s circle. She was happy to get the win on Friday with Davendy S or ‘Annie,’ her 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Pachat II).
“It is definitely nice to win. I am so happy,” Springsteen smiled. “A few weeks ago we would have won the WEF (Challenge Cup), and then I had the last rail yesterday and we would have won, so I am happy to finally get it right. I was going in the ring today and Nick (Skelton) was like, ‘Do not knock the last jump down.'”
“She is so fast and competitive and consistent,” Springsteen detailed. “I know exactly how she is going to be every time I go in the ring, which is really nice. She makes it easy for you. If you tell her to go, she wants to go, and she wants to win.”
“I had a pretty clear plan today,” the rider explained. “I was able to watch most of the class go, so I knew what I needed to do and that is always helpful. She is just such a fast horse across the ground and in the air. Even the other day, I added strides in a bunch of places and I still had the leading time. She is so quick on her own, so that is obviously a very helpful advantage.”
The unusually cold weather this week has had a lot of the horses feeling fresh, and Springsteen used that to her advantage as well.
“I don’t have to do anything with her in the morning, she is always so quiet and so good, but I think the weather definitely gives them a little extra energy. She felt really good today,” Springsteen noted. “She is really sweet, and she is very calm. She is perfect always, all around.”
Also showing in the International Arena on Friday, Georgina Bloomberg (USA) and Gotham Enterprizes LLC’s South Street won Section A of the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge in a California Split, with Laura Chapot (USA) and Mary Chapot’s Shooting Star on top in Section B.
Reilly Gogul and Neon Star Victorious in USEF Pony Medal
On Friday afternoon, Reilly Gogul, riding Shaun Clark’s pony, Neon Star, topped the USEF Pony Medal. Gogul gave Neon Star lots of her favorite treats, mints, after her winning round.
Second place honors went to Natalie Jayne riding Cleverist, owned by Daisy Farish. Tessa Brown and Land’s End Lady Slipper finished in the third spot, and Gwyneth Babington and Maranatha Poet rounded out the top four.
Gogul, the nine-year-old equestrian from Chagrin Falls, OH, won first place her first time doing the pony equitation. Last year Gogul did the Short Stirrup once during WEF, but was ready to move up this year with Neon Star. “She’s [Neon Star] perfect!” exclaimed Gogul.
Despite the cold weather today, Neon Star performed like a star. “We are from the cold, so she [Neon Star] was good with the cooler weather,” Gogul explained.
When Neon Star is not in the show ring, Gogul likes to spend lots of time with her pony. “I like to ride her [Neon Star] bareback after lessons,” Gogul stated. “And in the summer I like to graze her.”
Along with competing in the pony equitation, Neon Star shows in the Small Pony Hunter division. While Gogul has had success in the equitation, she prefers the hunters.
Riding for Gogul is a family affair. Gogul trains with her parents, Jeff and Keeley Gogul, who operate Flagship, LTD, out of Maypine Farm. “Riding with my mom is the best!” Gogul smiled.
Looking ahead to the future, Gogul is planning on sticking with riding and moving up in the junior ranks during future years.
Competition continues on Saturday with the $372,000 Suncast® Grand Prix CSI 5* featured in the International Arena in the evening. Equitation competition continues with the Taylor Harris Insurance Children’s Medal 14 and Under in Ring 8 during the day. For full results and more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Lauren Fisher and Maddy Stover for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
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