Tag Archives: equestrian competitions

Gold Coast Opener Grand Prix CDI-W Provides Preview of World Dressage Masters Competitors

Cesar Parra praises Van The Man

Wellington, FL – January 18, 2013 – Today’s Gold Coast Opener Grand Prix CDI-W showcased horses and riders preparing for next weekend’s World Dressage Masters (WDM) CDI5* Palm Beach, and the WDM competitors certainly displayed their dominance. WDM entrants swept all six ribbons in the Grand Prix, with all but one riding the horses they will compete next weekend.

And if the results from today are a predictor, it seems that Sweden will be a force to be reckoned with. Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic posted 72.723% to steal the win at the last moment from fellow Swedish Olympic teammate Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven aboard Divertimento, whose 71.170% was the leading score until the final ride. At WDM, Kittel will try to duplicate today’s success on Watermill Scandic, while Vilhelmson-Silfven will switch to her Olympic mount, Don Auriello.

The chilly weather at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Wellington, site of both the Gold Coast Opener and WDM, had a few horses on edge in the warm-up, including Watermill Scandic. But most held it together once they entered the ring. Kittel was full of praise for the venue. “The whole place is lovely!” he exclaimed, adding that he would happily show there every weekend if it were “just a bit closer” to his home in Sweden.

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Watershed Win for Langehanenberg as She Pips Double-Champion Cornelissen in Amsterdam

Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW receiving the Reem Acra Trophy from Heather Schmidt of Reem Acra. Photo: FEI/Arnd Bronkhorst

Amsterdam (NED), 19 January 2013 – Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW pipped defending double-champions Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival at the sixth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League in Amsterdam (NED) today. There were eight Dutch competitors amongst the start-list of 15, but Germany claimed two of the top-three placings when Isabell Werth and Don Johnson slotted into third ahead of Italy’s Valentina Truppa and Fixdesign Eremo del Castegno in fourth.

Langehanenberg’s form in recent months had suggested that it would not be long before she and her lovely stallion would find the key to finishing ahead of the Dutch duo who have dominated the prestigious indoor series over the last few years.  At last year’s Final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) where Cornelissen came out on top for the second successive season, Ground Jury President, Great Britain’s Stephen Clarke, told the German rider that she had only a little more polish to find in order to improve from runner-up position, and Langehanenberg has worked hard to bridge that gap ever since.

Continue reading Watershed Win for Langehanenberg as She Pips Double-Champion Cornelissen in Amsterdam

McLain Ward and Super Trooper de Ness Triumph in $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Jumpers

Iceman and Laurie Stevens Take Home Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51 & Older Championship for Second Consecutive Week

McLain Ward and Super Trooper de Ness. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 18, 2013 – Week two of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued on Friday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) with a win for McLain Ward and Grant Road Partners’ Super Trooper de Ness in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class. Laura Chapot and Bradberry won the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m speed class and Laurie Stevens and Iceman took home their second championship of the circuit in the Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51 & Over division.

The second week of FTI WEF competition, sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty, will run January 16-20. Highlight events include the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty CSI2* Grand Prix on Saturday evening and the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic on Sunday afternoon. The 2013 FTI WEF circuit runs through March 31 featuring 12 weeks of world-class competition.

Continue reading McLain Ward and Super Trooper de Ness Triumph in $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Jumpers

Vale and Fenney Ride for the Upper Hand during First Day at HITS Ocala

©ESI Photography. Aaron Vale traded the lead with Tracy Fenney several times during today’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix.

OCALA, FL (January 17, 2013) – The first grand prix of the season at HITS Ocala took place this afternoon as Aaron Vale of Morriston, FL and Flower Mound, TX’s Tracy Fenney put on quite a show during the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. It was Vale who piloted Amen Corner Farm, LLC’s Palm Sunday to the winner’s circle for their first victory of the season.

Vale, a native of Dallas, Texas, committed SmartPak user and HITS Ocala regular, showed three horses in today’s class and made it to the 14-horse jump-off with all of them. It was Palm Sunday, however, who was able to execute a tricky inside turn to the second fence in the jump-off, a skinny vertical next to the water.

“There were plenty of distractions and reasons why that turn wasn’t attractive, but if we had any chance of beating Tracy, that was going to be where it would happen,” said Vale.

And happen it did as Vale posted the winning time of 36.18 seconds. Fenney and MTM Farm’s MTM Timon were just fractions behind, but settled for second in 36.66 seconds.

Continue reading Vale and Fenney Ride for the Upper Hand during First Day at HITS Ocala

Laura Kraut and Jubilee d’Ouilly Top $33,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 2

Ivory Coast and Peter Pletcher Triumph in Second Year Green Working Hunter Division

Laura Kraut and Jubilee d'Ouilly. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 17, 2013 – Laura Kraut and Jubilee d’Ouilly jumped to victory in the $33,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 on Thursday afternoon at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) in an exciting jump-off of top competitors. Last to go in a 24-horse tie breaker with McLain Ward holding the first and second positions, Kraut and Jubilee shaved fractions off of the leading time to win in a dramatic finish.

The second week of FTI WEF competition, sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty, will run January 16-20. Highlight events include the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty CSI2* Grand Prix on Saturday evening and the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic on Sunday afternoon. The 2013 FTI WEF runs through March 31 featuring 12 weeks of world-class competition.

Continue reading Laura Kraut and Jubilee d’Ouilly Top $33,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 2

Caroline Roffman and Her Highness Rule at Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge 1

Caroline Roffman and Her Highness O. (Photo courtesy of Al Guden)

Wellington, FL (January 17, 2012) – Dressage rider and trainer Caroline Roffman of Lionshare Dressage, and her beautiful black mare, Her Highness O, dominated during the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge I, taking firsts in both the FEI Prix St Georges Open under judge Gary Rockwell and FEI Intermediaire 1, judged by Natalie Lamping.  Roffman and Her Highness scored a 72.368% to win the Prix St Georges and then the following day enjoyed a decisive win in the Intermediaire 1 with a score of 74.211%.  Roffman shared that this was the mare’s first time show at this level.

“She came to me to be sold as a 7-year-old brood mare who had only been lightly ridden as a 3-year-old,” Roffman explains about the now 9-year-old Hanoverian. “I soon realized what a special horse she is, and I became part owner.”  Roffman describes the 16.2 mare by Hohenstein and out of Weltmeyer, as a great talent, and notes it is her exceptional character that sets her regally above other horses. “Her heart is what actually makes her special,” she says, “She works to please you always.”  Now a full owner, Roffman plans to take Her Highness to even higher levels.  “I’d like to thank Jennifer Lind of Wolkentanzer Farm in California, Her Highness’s former owner and breeder, for the opportunity to work with such a talented horse.”

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Audi Knocks Off Defending Champion Coca-Cola in Joe Barry Memorial Cup

Audi's Marc Ganzi beats Coca-Cola's Tommy Collingwood for the ball. Photo by Alex Pacheco

WELLINGTON, FL – January 16, 2013 – Audi went back to basics in the Joe Barry Memorial Cup on Wednesday and pulled off a stunning 17-11 rout of defending champion Coca-Cola at the Jan Pamela Polo Field.

Audi bounced back from Sunday’s first-ever 12-7 season-opening loss to Orchard Hill in a big way behind a complete team effort led by 8-goaler and Cardinal Newman High School graduate Nic Roldan.

Roldan scored a game-high eleven goals, including four in the final chukker.

Audi, one of the top teams in the 20- and 26-goal tournaments this season at International Polo Club Palm Beach, is back in contention for the title after returning to its aggressive style of play.

“We used all four guys and spread the field and that’s the way we usually play,” said Marc Ganzi, player-sponsor for Audi, the 2009 U.S. Open champion and 2012 USPA National 20-Goal and USPA North American Cup tournament winners.

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One Dashing Eagle Named World Champion

Q-Racing Journal, January 16, 2013 – Freshman colt One Dashing Eagle is the 2012 World Champion Racing American Quarter Horse. He also is the champion 2-year-old and champion 2-year-old colt.

Owned by Jose and Gustavo De La Torre with Jorge Carmona’s San Gregorio Racing Stable of Norco, California, One Dashing Eagle made history by winning three million-dollar futurities and setting a single-season earnings record of $2,079,065. He won six of seven races, including the $2.4 million All American Futurity (G1), $1,073,000 Golden State Million Futurity (G1) and $1,001,000 Ed Burke Million Futurity (G1). One Dashing Eagle joins a select group of 10 horses chosen as world champion in their freshman year, with the most recent being Stolis Winner in 2008.

Bred by American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame members Allred Bros. of Mesa, Arizona, One Dashing Eagle is by champion and leading freshman sire One Famous Eagle and out of the First Down Dash mare One Sweet Dash. His trainers include Jose and Ugo De La Torre and Eloy Navarro, and his jockeys include Ramon Sanchez and Adrian Loza.

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$175,000 Invitational Grand Prix Series Continues at The Ridge at Wellington

Kevin Babbington and Mark Q contesting The Ridge's first class

Wellington, FL – January 17, 2013 – The second session of the 11-week $175,000 Invitational Grand Prix Series at the Ridge at Wellington takes place on Friday, January 18, 2013. The 1.40m Grand Prix is the highlight of the season for Level 2 Jumpers, with $15,000 offered in prize money each Friday throughout the series.

Any members of the media that require special interviews of any special assistance, or wish to cover this event, please contact Phelps Media Group, Inc. International.

Mason Phelps – (561) 371-0118
Kendall Bierer – (561) 309-9873

The 1.40m Invitational Series allows riders the chance to compete on a horse they would not normally ride at the Wellington Equestrian Festival (WEF), or reserve a time to show their favorite mount after their simultaneous activities at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. With the additional higher stakes, this series is sure to become a hit for the winter season.

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Conor Swail and Carlotta Singular Win $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumpers

Conor Swail and Carlotta Singular. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 16, 2013 – The second week of competition at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) kicked off on Wednesday, January 16, with a win for Conor Swail (IRL) and Carlotta Singular in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumpers at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

The second week of FTI WEF competition, sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty, will run January 16-20. Highlight events include the $33,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 on Thursday afternoon, the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty CSI2* Grand Prix on Saturday evening, and the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic on Sunday afternoon. The 2013 FTI WEF runs through March 31 featuring 12 weeks of world-class competition.

Luc Musette of Belgium is the course designer in the International Arena for week two jumper competition. In the first class of the week, 24 entries showed in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class. Only six entries were able to clear the course without fault, and the fastest clear round belonged to Ireland’s Conor Swail and his mount Carlotta Singular, owned by Susan Grange. The pair was first to go in the class and set an unbeatable pace at 61.578 seconds.

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