Tag Archives: equestrian competitions

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, Polo, Revolution Sports

Ellerstina & La Dolfina Through to Argentine Open Final 2012

Leave a comment
Adolfo Cambiaso - La Dolfina, winners of the Argentine Open Semi Final. Photo courtesy of POLOLINE

FIRST SEMI FINAL – La Dolfina beat Pilara Piaget in the first Semi Final of the Argentine Open, Saturday 1st December 2012.

The much anticipated Argentine Open Semi Final between Piaget Pilara and La Dolfina on the Number 1 field at Palermo kicked off on Saturday 1st December with La Dolfina scoring early and taking the first lead of the game.  At the end of the opening chukka Pilara Piaget trailed by a single goal, 2-1.

Three unanswered goals by La Dolfina in the second chukka left Pilara Piaget trailing 5-1 after the second period. After three chukkas, La Dolfina lead a despondent Pilar Piaget team, 8-2. A persistent Pilara Piaget regrouped for the fourth chukka, outscoring La Dolfina for the first time, 3-1, and cutting the lead to four goals, 9-5 to end the first four chukkas of play.

Continue reading Ellerstina & La Dolfina Through to Argentine Open Final 2012 →

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, More/Other, USEF

US Riders Ready to Compete at Saddle Seat World Cup

Leave a comment
The U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup team in South Africa (R. Millin)

Parys, South Africa – Ten riders and four coaches will represent the U.S. at the Saddle Seat World Cup in Parys, South Africa on December 5-8. The team, made up of two sections, Three-Gaited and Five-Gaited, will compete against four other countries as they vie for top honors in saddle seat equitation.

The Three-Gaited section is made up of team members Brooke Boyer (Johnston, IA), Emily Chapman (Tucson, AZ), Brooke Jacobs (Georgetown, KY), Alexandra Lawson (North Salem, IN), and team captain Abigail Muturx (St. Louis, MO). Jacobs is a five-time member of the U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup team and was the 2011 UPHA Adult Challenge Cup Grand Champion. Mutrux, the 2012 USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final Reserve Champion, was a member of the 2010 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Three-Gaited section. Lawson was the 2011 USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final Champion while Boyer and Chapman have had several top ten placings at major competitions. The traveling alternate for the Three-Gaited section, Kristen Smith (Crestwood, KY), was the 2012 USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final Champion. This experienced group is coached by Kristen Cater (Dunbarton, NH) and Cindy Mugnier (Belchertown, MA).

Continue reading US Riders Ready to Compete at Saddle Seat World Cup →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation

Kennzo and Molly Ashe Win $20,000 Holiday & Horses USHJA International Hunter Derby

Leave a comment
Molly Ashe and Kennzo © ManciniPhotos

Wellington, FL – December 2, 2012 – Kristen Abbatiello-Neff’s Kennzo and Molly Ashe jumped their way to victory in two rounds of competition in the $20,000 Holiday and Horses USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Dietrich Insurance, on Sunday, December 2, 2012. Concluding the week-long competition, the class was held in the spacious International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center with a beautifully designed course set by Skip Bailey, of Wellington, FL.

The class was judged by two panels, including Danny Robertshaw and Scott Williamson on panel one and Robert Bielefeld and Julie Winkel on panel two. For their victory, Kennzo and Molly Ashe earned the high scores in both the classic round and the handy round for the winning overall total. The pair scored a 175 in round one and a 201 in round two for a two round total of 376.

Continue reading Kennzo and Molly Ashe Win $20,000 Holiday & Horses USHJA International Hunter Derby →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI

Werner Ulrich Starts Off His FEI World Cup Driving Season with a Victory in Stockholm

Leave a comment
Werner Ulrich (SUI) started off his FEI World Cup Driving 2012/13 season with a victory in Stockholm (SWE) ©Anna Aalto/FEI.

Stockholm (SWE), 3 December 2012 – Werner Ulrich (SUI) got off to a flying start in the FEI World Cup Driving 2012/13 season when he won the series’ fourth leg held in Stockholm (SWE) on Sunday 2 December evening. Runner-up Tomas Eriksson (SWE) made up for his two knockdowns in the first round with a great performance in the Winning Round. Georg von Stein (GER) finished in third place.

The atmosphere was electric in the Ericsson Globe Arena as thousands of enthusiastic spectators cheered the six four-in-hand drivers and especially the three home competitors. Swedish international course designer Dan Henriksson had designed a challenging course in the small arena which included many technical parts and fast lines.

In 2013, the Stockholm International Horse Show will be held in the Globe Arena for the last time. From 2014 onwards, the event will be known as the Sweden International Horse Show and will move to the Swedbank Arena in Solna, north of Stockholm.

Continue reading Werner Ulrich Starts Off His FEI World Cup Driving Season with a Victory in Stockholm →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI

Chardon Victorious over Exell in Third FEI World Cup Driving Leg in Budapest

Leave a comment
IJsbrand Chardon (NED) won the FEI World Cup Driving qualifier in Budapest (HUN) ©Rinaldo de Craen/FEI

Budapest (HUN), 2 December 2012 – The unexpected happened in Budapest (HUN) this afternoon as IJsbrand Chardon (NED) beat top favourite Boyd Exell (AUS) and won the third leg of the FEI World Cup Driving 2012/13. Exell finished in third place behind Chardon’s fellow Dutch driver Theo Timmerman.

The competition that took place in the Hungarian capital’s Papp Lászlo Sport arena was of the highest quality and was held in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd. Hungarian O-course designer Gábor Fintha had laid out a fast and technical course, which included the traditional spectacular fireworks coming on after the drivers had crossed the bridge.

Clear rounds
Despite the knockdowns in the previous FEI World Cup Driving events, today four-time world champion Chardon went clear in both rounds. He was competing in Budapest for the first time since 2007 when he had taken part in the World Cup test event driving the four-in-hand Lipizzaner horses borrowed from József Dobrovitz (HUN), which he would later buy. And exactly like five years ago, he was victorious over Exell.

Continue reading Chardon Victorious over Exell in Third FEI World Cup Driving Leg in Budapest →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, FEI, FEI

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven Triumphs on Home Turf at Stockholm

Leave a comment
Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello being presented with the Reem Acra Cup by Reem Acra representative Heather Schmidt. Photo: FEI/Peter Zachrisson.

Stockholm (SWE), 2 December 2012 – Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven set the crowd alight when claiming victory with her 10-year-old gelding, Don Auriello, at the fourth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2012/2013 series in her home town of Stockholm today.  And the host nation had further reason for celebration as Swedish riders clinched three of the top-five finishing spots.

Germany’s Kristina Sprehe and her handsome stallion, Desperados FRH, lined up second ahead of Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic HBC in third, while young Danish talent, Anna Kasprzak finished fourth with Donnperignon, pinning Sweden’s Minna Telde and Santana into fifth.

Today’s result is the perfect conclusion to a special week for Swedish equestrian sport. Last Thursday, the Swedish Equestrian Federation marked its centenary at a gala evening in Stockholm City Hall, with HM Queen Silvia as guest of honour.  And it was a particularly special occasion for dressage judge and honorary FEI Bureau Member Eric Lette who received a Lifetime Achievement Award.  Today Mr Lette announced that he is retiring from judging duties, but that he will remain in the sport in a supervisory capacity.  “I’m retiring because I want to give some younger judges a chance, and because I think it is better for the sport if we don’t have too many older judges still in place,” he pointed out.  And he was delighted to be in a position, for once, to express his pleasure at the success of riders from his own country.  “I was really happy to see two Swedish riders on the podium today!” he pointed out.

Continue reading Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven Triumphs on Home Turf at Stockholm →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Katie Dinan Victorious in $50,000 Holiday & Horses FEI World Cup Qualifier

Leave a comment
Katie Dinan and Nougat du Vallet © ManciniPhotos

Wellington, FL – December 1, 2012 – Nineteen-year-old Katie Dinan (USA) and Grant Road Partners’ Nougat Du Vallet earned an exciting victory in Saturday night’s $50,000 Holiday and Horses FEI World Cup Grand Prix at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. American riders took top four honors in the eleven horse jump-off. Dinan beat Todd Minikus and Macoemba and Margie Engle and Royce, who finished second and third respectively.

More than 4,000 spectators were at PBIEC tonight to partake in an evening full of activities, including watching the FEI World Cup Qualifier and the drawings of charities for the 2013 FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge, as well as the Wellington Chamber of Commerce WinterFest sponsored by International Polo Club Palm Beach, The Wellness Experience, Equestrian Sport Productions/PBIEC and LED Source.

Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY, set the course for the 41 entries in Saturday night’s class with eleven returning for the jump-off and four of those entries completing double clear rounds.

Continue reading Katie Dinan Victorious in $50,000 Holiday & Horses FEI World Cup Qualifier →

Community/Charity, Competitions, Events, Show Jumping

Mark Bellissimo and Donald Trump Announce First Annual $100,000 Trump Invitational to Benefit Great Charity Challenge

Leave a comment

Wellington, FL – November 30, 2012 – Mark Bellissimo and Donald Trump are pleased to announce that they will host the first annual $100,000 Trump Invitational to benefit the 2013 FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments (FTI GCC). A FEI-rated show jumping event, it will be held on the grounds of the stunning Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, FL, on Sunday, January 6, 2013, at 12 p.m.

Mar-a-Lago, the former Marjorie Merriweather Post Estate purchased and restored by Trump in 1985, is one of the most spectacular mansions in the world and in the national register of historic places and a designated U.S National Landmark. It will be the first ever equestrian event held on Palm Beach Island and will serve as an exciting kick-off to the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, the 12-week circuit that runs at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on January 9 – March 31, 2013.

Continue reading Mark Bellissimo and Donald Trump Announce First Annual $100,000 Trump Invitational to Benefit Great Charity Challenge →

Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

The Race to Qualify for the AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix Underway

Leave a comment
Rusty Stewart and Bristol on their way to one of three wins during early qualifying in the $50,000 Showpark World Cup Grand Prix. Amy McCool Photography

THERMAL, CA (November 30, 2012) – It’s on! Now that the preliminary AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix qualifiers at Blenheim EquiSports, Jump Del Mar, Sacramento International and Langer Equestrian Group shows have concluded, it is clear that the HITS Desert Circuit is in for an exciting and competitive season as final qualifying continues. After ten qualifying grand prix, which took place between August and November, Rusty Stewart and his 10-year-old gelding Bristol, owned by Grey Fox Farm, produced three wins and sit atop the preliminary AIG Thermal Million Rider Rankings with $37,000 in accumulated prize money.

Stewart pinned the AIG Thermal Million as a definite on his 2013 winter schedule with Bristol, who is Stewart’s first homebred colt and a testament to the Grey Fox Farm breeding program.

“He has been amazing during these last few shows,” said Stewart of his mount. “We brought him along from a baby with great success and he’s a great horse with a terrific personality. He was fifth in the FEI World Cup Standings for the West Coast, and I’m looking forward to continued success with him this season, right up to the [AIG] Thermal Million!”

Continue reading The Race to Qualify for the AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix Underway →

Community/Charity, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Mark Bluman and G&C Blue Win $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic at Holiday and Horses

Leave a comment
Mark Bluman and G&C Blue © ManciniPhotos

Wellington, FL – November 30, 2012 – Mark Bluman (COL) and Gustavo Mirabal’s G&C Blue earned an exciting victory in Friday’s $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic at Equestrian Sport Production’s Holiday and Horses competition. With their first win in a ROLEX FEI World Ranking Class, the pair beat out Lauren Hough (USA) and Ohlala with a lightning fast round. G&C Sacramento, owned by Anabel Simon and ridden by Luis Larrazabal (VEN), finished third.

The Holiday and Horses show continues through December 2 and is rated CSI 2*-W, Jumper 5*, and “AA”. The highlight event will be the $50,000 Holiday and Horses Grand Prix, a FEI World Cup qualifier, held on Saturday evening. The class will be streamed live on the USEF Network beginning at 5:30 p.m. The feature class on Sunday is the $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.

Held in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, the $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic featured 34 horse and rider combinations jumping a speed course set by Anthony D’Ambrosio, of Red Hook NY. Bluman had the fastest of eight clear rounds with G&C Blue in a time of 63.13 seconds.

Continue reading Mark Bluman and G&C Blue Win $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic at Holiday and Horses →