Lausanne (SUI), 17 February 2015 – The world’s best 20 male, female and pas-de-deux athletes from seven nations will be flying high to impress at the FEI World Cup™ Vaulting 2014/15 Final at Fest der Pferde in Graz (AUT) this weekend (19-22 February).
Pedal to the ‘medal’
Reigning champion Anna Cavallaro (ITA), responsible for inspiring many girls in Italy to take up vaulting, is seeking to score an FEI World Cup™ Vaulting hat-trick in Graz.
But the competition will be strong, especially from the youngest athlete in the Final, 19-year-old Lisa Wild (AUT) with her famous back flip, who will be putting the ‘pedal to the medal’ for the individual female honours, after her taste of glory at the Salzburg (AUT) and Munich (GER) qualifiers.
Great surprises can come up at the Final, where all athletes start from scratch on points, and very single movement in the one minute 20 seconds performance takes on a huge significance.
Swiss champion and businesswoman Simone Jäiser is only too aware of this, and after coming second in two qualifiers – the series opener in Munich (GER) and the third leg in Salzburg (AUT) – she finally vaulted onto the top of the podium with a brilliant performance in the last qualifier at Leipzig (GER).
“I’m aiming to show clear rounds in Graz and I have no doubts now that this will be possible,” said Jäiser confidently in Leipzig.
Kristina Boe (GER), Pascale Wagner (SUI) and Carola Sneekes (NED) will be also be contesting the Final.
Sky is the limit
FEI World Cup™ Vaulting champion Nicolas Andreani (FRA) will be a force to be reckoned with in Graz after effortless wins on two different horses during the series – Just a Kiss in Paris (FRA) and Ramazotti in Salzburg (AUT). The 31-year-old international star, known as “Nico” to his many fans, is aiming to end his glittering career on a high at this Final.
Also on the hunt for the title are the brothers Viktor and Thomas Brüsewitz (GER). While Viktor, world number three, won the opening qualifier in Munich (GER), his brother claimed victory at the last leg at Leipzig.
Lukas Klouda (CZE), Julian Wilfling (GER) and Lukas Heppler (SUI) complete the line-up.
Pas-de-Deux
Austria’s Jasmin Lindner & Lukas Wacha (AUT), FEI World Cup™ Vaulting champions and gold medallists at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014, will be striving to keep hold of their title at this Final after finishing second at the Munich and Salzburg qualifiers. The competition is expected to be very tight, with Germany’s Gera Marie Grün and Justin Van Gerven and The Netherlands’ Carola & Esther Sneekes qualifying for this Final with the same number of victories and points.
Ground Jury President Helma Schwarzmann (GER), Foreign Judge Gaby Benz (ITA), and Jury members Doris Knotter (AUT) and Jochen Schilffarth (GER) have a huge job on their hands with this stellar line-up.
Let the FEI World Cup™ Vaulting Final begin, and the #WorldCupVaulting crowds go wild!
Brooke Kemper pilots Classified over the CWD oxer on their way to the win in yesterday’s $35,000 CWD Grand Prix.
Brooke Kemper of Culpeper, Virginia and her own Classified won yesterday’s $35,000 CWD Grand Prix, presented by Nutrena, on the world class turf grand prix field before delighted crowds at the Harrison County Equestrian Center and Fairgrounds in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Designing the course was world renowned Leopoldo Palacios of Caracas, Venezuela. Palacios is one of the most highly respected course designers in the world of showjumping as well as a course director of FEI, a co-founder of the Aachen School of Equestrian Arts and produces master plans for equestrian venues. He has been involved with show jumping and the equestrian sport as a whole to the Olympic level and has held the position of Second Vice President of the FEI.
“The grass turf field here is fantastic,” commented Palacios. “It’s big and really nice. I had a super time designing for everyone,” he said.
“These types of rings are great for the jumpers,” said Palacios. “The horses jumped really well so I designed according to the specs and I knew these horses and riders could handle it,” he added.
Six returned for the jump off and Andy Kocher of Lake St. Louis, Missouri was first to go with Michael Rosenberg’s Crown Joker. Although the pair went clean in their first round in a time of 83.439 seconds, eight jump faults in a time of 57.311 seconds would see them finish in sixth place overall.
Kyle Timm of Apex, North Carolina and Apex Equestrian Center’s Calida 55 followed Kocher in the jump off. Timm and Calida 55 finished clean in a time of 45.344 seconds and set the new time to beat.
Kocher returned, this time in the irons of Emanuel Andrade’s Tiny Tim. Four jump faults in a time of 47.655 would see them finish in fifth place overall.
Holly Shepherd of Grand Bay, Alabama and Loretta Patterson’s Triompf followed and turned in a clean round in 48.187 seconds which would see them finish in fourth place overall.
Timm returned to the arena, this time aboard Apex Equestrian Center’s Platinum. Timm finished clean in a time of 46.790 seconds, which put him in first and second place with one left to go.
Brooke Kemper of Culpeper, Virginia was last to go in the irons of her own Classified. While Classified and Kemper won the opening week’s $5,000 Horseflight Open Welcome, according to Kemper, prior to that Classified had not shown since November.
The crowds of spectators had all eyes on Kemper and Classified as she entered the competition arena. Kemper put the gas on and turned in a lightning fast, clean round complete with hairpin turns in a time of 44.213 seconds and took the lead. Timm finished with second and third places on Calida 55 and Platinum, respectively.
Penny Brennan of Ocala, Florida and her own Sun Tzu finished in seventh place, Natalie Geller of Canton, Georgia and Charming Z finished in eighth, Jordan Gilchrist of Flower Mound, Texas and Anna Beth Athey’s Balizo finished in ninth, and Holly Shepherd and Dejan Krunic’s Belle Clara DKS finished in tenth place.
“I felt like I was really fast,” commented Kemper “I turned back really fast, and I was fast across the ground,” she said.
Course designer Leopoldo Palacios commented, “She made those turns really tight. The other guy [Timm] who finished second and third was a very good rider. I believe she knew that she had to take those turns to get the win. This was a very nice competition,” he said.
Kemper commented, “I thought Leopoldo designed a really nice course. Obviously I am going to say that I liked it because I won,” she laughed. “No one came out of the ring saying that was a bad course,” she continued. “It was very fair; all of the horses jumped around; no horse struggled,” she said.
“It’s a real advantage for me to be able to show on the grass turf field in the Welcomes each week,” said Kemper. “I know how it rides and feels which really helps me improve each week in the grand prix,” she added.
“I wanted to add that I really enjoy coming to these Classic shows. It is so nice to see the community come out to watch and see crowds in the stands and we really get into it when we have that sort of audience,” she said. “And, the livestream is great,” she continued. “My customers who aren’t here can watch from home.”
Kemper has owned Classified, a.k.a. ‘Chandler’ since he was four. “He is a bit of a pet,” said Kemper. “He loves to eat anything and everything all of the time,” she laughed.
The Classic and Gulf Coast Classic Companies are USHJA’s Members Choice Award winners, recognized for producing top quality show jumping events in the United States. Together, they offer the best exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events each winter. Please visit them on the web at www.ClassicCompany.com or call them at 843.768.5503.
All sponsorship, marketing and press inquiries should be directed to Lisa Engel, Sponsorship, Marketing and Public Relations Director, at lisa@classiccompany.com.
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See you at the ring,
Bob Bell
The Classic Company, Ltd. www.ClassicCompany.com
Phone/FAX: (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311 Johns Island SC 29457
Ocala, Florida (February 15, 2015): Five days of FEI jumping classes boasting over $400,000 in prize money came to a close today at HITS Ocala CSIO4*, but not without a nail-biting finish in the $150,000 FEI Ocala Grand Prix. Laura Kraut of Wellington, Florida, aboard Cedric, owned by Cherry Knoll Farm, cruised through the jump-off besting six to take home the blue ribbon and this week’s largest individual purse.
Featuring 15 efforts set at an impressive 1.60m, a field of 40 took on the course designed by Martin Otto of Muenster, Germany. The first seven to go left the ring with faults until Juan Pablo Bentacourt of Colombia, aboard Troya Retiro, co-owned with Daniela Grana, took center stage. It was smooth sailing for the pair who finished with the first clean round of the day.
Bentacourt remained uncontested throughout the first half of the order but that changed when Mexican FEI Nations Cup™ rider Sofia Larrea and Aplicatia, owned by Andres Gonzalez, jumped their way to a clean round securing a jump-off. A lucky streak was on for Mexico, as the country’s number one ranked rider since 2010, Nicolas Pizarro and his own Barbaro followed with a clear trip.
2014 Great American $1 Million Grand Prix winner Andre Thieme of Germany riding his own Conthendrix challenged the Latin riders with a clean round making it four for the jump-off. Next up was FEI Nation’s Cup™ Irish team rider, Kevin Babington, of Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania, and Shorapur LLC’s Shorapur who got the job done bringing the jump-off count to five.
Kraut and her 17-year-old grey were 34th to go and in a fault free trip the pair was back on their A-game.
“Cedric was more like he normally is. He was on form and I felt as confident as I could feel,” said Kraut. “I’m not going to lie I was shaken up from the other day – it was out of character for him to misjudge a triple. I was relieved it was a one to a one today so he couldn’t miscount. I’m so pleased and lucky to have him.”
“He’s a veteran. That horse knows how to get out of jail. He came out today and made up for the other day,” Kraut continued.
Riding for Gotham Enterpizes, Georgina Bloomberg of New York, New York, with her FEI Nations Cup™ superstar mount, Juvina, made it two-in-row for the U.S. riders with a clear trip to lock in the seventh jump-off spot.
Betancourt was first to return for the abbreviated jump off course and succumbed to two downed rails for a total of eight faults in a time of 41.03. Larrea was next, but she and her 10-year-old grey had one down rail for four faults with a time of 40.26. The race for a podium finish was on as Pizarro sped through the seven efforts clean setting a time to beat of 39.67. Ready to one-up Pizarro, Thieme did just that with a clean round in a time of 37.64.
Spectators were on the edge of their seats when Babington and his Nations Cup mount entered the ring. The pair cleared the course in a time of 36.45, one full second faster than Thieme.
“She’s unbelievably careful and I’m very pleased with her today,” said Babington of Shorapur. “Even though she jumped a double clean round in the Nations Cup there were a few sticky moments. I went to a much softer bit today and I still had plenty of control. She’s on track for where I want her to be.”
The crowd went silent as Kraut navigated her way through the ring and upon the final obstacle, with zero faults in her tracks she flew through the timers clocking in at 36.04 to take the top spot bumping Babington to second and Thieme to third.
“I didn’t think I had it. The seven from 1 to 2 was so forward. I cringed when he left the ground because I thought he was going to hook it behind. It was my lucky day,” said Kraut.
“I thought this weekend was brilliant. The Nations Cup Friday was absolutely perfect. The footing was great,” added Kraut. “I thought the jumps were beautiful. Each day was great. We really enjoyed ourselves as a team.”
The pressure was on for Bloomberg who was the final competitor of the day. Smooth at the start the pair soon faced a down rail for four faults in a time of 42.25 for fifth place.
“It was a great weekend for HITS. We’ll run 80 Grand Prix this year, and we run the three biggest prize money classes in the United States – but I still think we needed to make a statement with the Nations Cup this week. And I think we accomplished that,” said HITS President and CEO Tom Struzzieri. “It was a great success for us and it was wonderful to have this group of horses and riders here. Hopefully we’ll put the pieces together to be able to do it again.”
Remy Muller and Nico Pieres. Photos: Liz Lamont Images/Phelps Media Group.
Wellington, Florida – February 15, 2015 – Lucchese broke Orchard Hill’s undefeated record in the Ylvisaker Cup quarterfinals Sunday on Engel & Völkers field at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. Lucchese won 10-7, and its number three player, Nico Pieres, went home with awards for MVP and best-playing pony (“Footsie”). Lucchese advances to the semifinals Wednesday, playing Valiente at 3 p.m.
If anyone could describe the game in a nutshell, it was Lucchese patron John Muse. He walked into the tent afterward, smiling and shaking his head as he said, “What a war!”
That elicited laughter and head nodding from Magoo Laprida and Pieres, a pair of 8-goal powerhouses who propelled Lucchese into a commanding and sustained lead that was dotted with a couple of ties. Lucchese established its dominance in the opening moments of the game, when Pieres slammed in a 60-yard penalty shot to score. In a foreshadowing of things to come, his brother, Facundo Pieres, mirrored his exact move, making the next goal on the same yardage.
There was a lot of Pieres-on-Pieres play throughout the match, as is often the case when the fraternal dynamos play on opposing teams. Each accounted for several 100-yard-plus shots, not surprising for a 10-goaler (Facundo) and an 8-goaler (Nico) whose last names are both Pieres.
Facundo Pieres, superb at faking out his defenders, baited them every so often with some cat-and-mouse play. Just when they were lulled into a sense of security, he’d snap back into full-on forward motion and scamper down the field to score. Nico Pieres made his own slick moves, scoring on an unbelievably gymnastic play in the second chukker. He reached back, took the ball on the bounce and pounded it into goal from five-and-a-half feet off the ground.
Laprida also put in some fancy footwork, charging across the centerline with the ball. Steve Van Andel swiped it for all of a millisecond, only to have Laprida snatch it back. Laprida gave a swarm of defenders the slip as he swatted the ball down the field to score. He was hustled again and again by Orchard Hill, determined to make him work for every goal he made.
Then it was a flashback with one Pieres goal after another (insert whichever first name you like). The brothers mixed it up big time, each scoring in five chukkers. In the top of the second half, Nico Pieres worked in tandem with Andres Weisz, who backhanded a shot to him. Fending off two or three Orchard Hill players at any given time, Nico Pieres kept a bouncing ball going as he tap-tapped it in the air. After a whistle, he took a 60-yard penalty shot. Seeing that the ball wasn’t going to go in, Weisz stepped in and angled it over to Laprida, who in turn passed it back to Nico Pieres. He scored, bringing the tally to 8-5 for Lucchese.
An undaunted Orchard Hill kept knocking on the door. In the fifth chukker, Facundo Pieres converted from 30 yards, tightening the gap to 8-6. Then Nico Pieres pulled out in front at warp speed, all the while being chased down by his brother. Facundo Pieres couldn’t stop him, though. Nico Pieres scored, giving Lucchese a three-point lead. Two more goals in the final chukker (one each by Facundo Pieres and Weisz) brought the final score to 10-7 for Lucchese.
“The four of us played a good game. We had to,” said Laprida, noting Orchard Hill’s unblemished record. “And they have Facundo, which is always something (to deal with).”
Nico Pieres had a 100 percent scoring record in the game, shooting 70 percent above the tournament average. “We played a really good game and we controlled them, and the four of us had a win,” he said. He called it a tough game, noting that Orchard Hill won the last tournament (the Joe Barry Cup) and was undefeated since the start of the season. “For us it was like (playing) a final. Luckily we made it.”
Cambiaso Leads Valiente to 13-7 Win over Casablanca
In a solid 13-7 victory, Valiente bested Casablanca at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) in Sunday’s quarterfinals of the Ylvisaker Cup. Both teams came to the game with a 2-1 tournament record.
In his much-anticipated season debut at IPC, Adolfo Cambiaso – the number one player in the world – was the high scorer for Valiente, to no one’s surprise. He contributed five of the team’s 13 goals and helped Santi Torres make four. In a tango on horseback, the pair controlled the field for the majority of the game. Mapping out a strategy, they engaged in private powwows on the field at critical moments when the clock was stopped. The result was a calculated series of chess-like moves that kept Casablanca guessing from one play to the next.
Juan Bollini and Adolfo Cambiaso
Sunday was Cambiaso’s first game since winning the Argentine Polo Open Championship in Palermo two months ago. He said he asked Sapo Caset to let him play today to get in the rhythm before the 26-goal tournaments at IPC start in less than two weeks.
Casablanca started the game with two automatic points to compensate for its 18-goal handicap in the 20-goal tournament. The match began slowly, with neither team scoring in the first chukker.
Although he slammed in four goals in the next two chukkers, Cambiaso was his own hardest critic. “I was really slow in the first three chukkers,” he said. “Then I improved, and the team improved. In the last chukker I improved more – but I can do better.”
Cambiaso had been slated to play earlier in the tournament but said he subbed out because he had a physical issue. There was no evidence of that to be seen in his play Sunday. He stormed into the second chukker, making two consecutive goals to tie the score 3-all. Grant Ganzi swooped in during the final seconds of the chukker to break the tie, bringing Valiente to a one-point lead. In a multiple scramble, Tommy Beresford repeatedly kept Mark Tomlinson away from Cambiaso, who intercepted the ball. Cambiaso sent it on to Beresford, who made the only goal of the third chukker, retying the game 4-4.
The second half opened with a series of shots on goal by both teams, all going wide. Torres tiptoed around defender Juan Bollini to bring Valiente into a one-point lead. Then Torres and Cambiaso resumed their dance, resulting in a slapshot from 20 yards out by Torres, who ran it in to score.
That’s when Valiente shifted into high gear, clenching the lead between its teeth and never letting go. Valiente stopped Casablanca in its tracks in the fourth, keeping it scoreless throughout the chukker. Cambiaso galloped in to steal the ball at midfield and run it through the goalposts, scoring with just 55 seconds left in the fourth.
The fifth chukker opened and ended with a three-point spread. It started 7-4 for Valiente and ended 9-6, owing to one goal each by Beresford and Peke Gonzales (who scored again in the final chukker). Tomlinson also scored in the sixth, but the Cambiaso-Torres machine contributed three more goals, ending the game 13-7 for Valiente.
Fifteen-year-old Gonzales played an amazing game for a player of any age. It was his first game with Cambiaso, an event he called very exciting, adding, “But it was also a lot of pressure.”
Gonzales played such a determined and powerful game that announcer, Gus Whitelaw referred to it as “lights-out polo.”
Torres called Cambiaso a good teammate, adding that he “gives you a lot of confidence. I love playing with him or Sapo. They’re both great guys.”
Valiente advances to the semifinals Wednesday, playing Lucchese at 3 p.m.
Villa del Lago Victorious over Enigma in Highest Scoring Game of the Ylvisaker Cup
Team Enigma battled back from an 11-5 fourth chukker deficit to tie it up in the sixth to 15-all. This was Enigma’s fourth sudden death overtime period in the Ylvisaker Cup tournament, but this time the other team emerged as the victors in a dramatic overtime run to goal from Villa del Lago’s deadly duo of Polito Pieres and Julian de Lusarreta. The overtime goal by de Lusarreta made the final score 16-15 in favor of Villa del Lago.
“We got lucky on that last play,” said de Lusarreta about his game winning cut shot to goal that clinched the win.
The 6-goaler, de Lusarreta backed up the flashy ball handler Pieres, as they had done successfully throughout the game, and when Enigma’s Jeff Hall made the defensive play on Pieres, de Lusarreta followed and shot to goal with authority to send Villa del Lago into the Ylvisaker semifinals.
Although the game went through swings in scoring during the second half, the first half was fairly even between the two teams. In the first chukker, the play was a bit choppy, as the players were testing each other. Villa Del Lago got on the board first with a penalty two conversion. Jerome Wirth of Enigma retaliated by following up on a Carlucho Arellano steal. The first chukker ended two all.
In the second, the play started to open up. The Enigma players were swarming Villa Del Lago superstar Pieres, but his support crew of Augustine Obregon and de Lusaretta did a fine job backing him up and took full advantage of the coverage difference to score three goals between them compared to Enigma’s sole field goal in the chukker. Pieres fought through the Enigma defense in the third chukker for two more goals, but Hall and Arellano countered for Enigma.
The fourth chukker was Polito, Polito, Polito. The 9 goal player is rated 10 goals in Argentina, and he showed that form in the fourth chukker. When the dust settled, Villa del Lago was up 11 to 5 on four unanswered goals in the fourth chukker, two by Pieres, another by de Lusarreta, and another from Obregon.
The Enigma players had seen this movie before in other games this tournament, and true to script, they did not back down from a big goal deficit. They came out fighting in the fifth chukker. Hall tallied two field goals, Matias MacDonough added one and Arellano two more, compared to only two goals for Villa del Lago. Momentum was swinging in favor of Enigma heading into the sixth chukker, as they had closed to within three goals of Villa del Lago.
The two teams combined for an offensive blizzard of seven goals in seven and a half minutes of the sixth chukker. First Pieres made a penalty two. Enigma then got a penalty one, but Pieres won the ensuing lineup and ran 290 yards to put Villa del Lago up 15-11 with four minutes and change remaining, a seemingly insurmountable lead. But once again, the Enigma players gritted their teeth and hustled some more. Arellano in particular, was essential to the comeback, scoring two penalty 3 conversions, sending a perfect pass to Jerome Wirth for a Wirth goal, and scoring a key one-time shot to goal to tie the score 15-15 with just seconds left in the chukker.
Would Enigma get their third overtime victory of the tournament? Not if Pieres had his way. Pieres immediately won the lineup to start the overtime chukker and ran towards goal at a high rate of speed with Hall in hot pursuit. Hall made the defensive hook, but de Lusarreta hit the unguarded ball with precision straight through the goal and gave Villa del Lago the victory, 16-15.
“We were playing good in the first half and the fourth chukker, but then I made some bad decisions in the fifth and sixth chukkers and Polito could not get the ball like before, said de Lusarreta about the dramatic swings in scoring. “Between the sixth chukker and overtime, the only thing we said was, ‘Let’s win, no matter what, no matter how, forget the fifth and sixth chukkers and play like the first half.'”
Villa del Lago progresses on to the semifinals on Wednesday February 25 at International Polo Club against Coca-Cola.
Coca-Cola over Audi 14-8
Coca-Cola defeated Audi 14-8 in the quarterfinals of the Ylvisaker Cup to advance to the semi-finals on Wednesday.
The match started with several goal attempts by both teams that went wide. Ultimately Julio Arellano converted for Coca-Cola to put the first point on the board. Sugar Erskine followed up with a long pass to Mason Wroe, giving Coca-Cola a two-point lead. Nic Roldan scored on a penalty conversion to make the score 2-1 at the end of the first chukker.
Arellano converted again at the top of the second chukker. Freddie Mannix worked hard, dodging defenders to score and bring Audi within one point of Coca-Cola. Wroe made a strong defensive play, blocking the defenders so Arellano could make an open backshot to Erskine, who was on the run toward goal. He scored, making the tally 4-2. Wroe followed up with a stellar cutshot from over 100 yards out to score.
Coca-Cola patrona Gillian Johnston sent a strong pass to Erskine for another goal, putting the team firmly in the lead 6-2. Lucas Lalor took off on a breakaway to tap the ball in for a goal in the last few seconds of the chukker. Erskine made good use of Coca-Cola’s signature passing game. He sent a pass to Wroe, who was in motion and scored 7-3. It was power polo at its best, as both teams fought to take control of the game. Lalor shot a pass to Marc Ganzi, who sent it down to Roldan for a goal, ending the half 7-4.
Arellano continued his strong penalty conversion string in the second half, starting out with a conversion for Coca-Cola. Mannix took advantage of a broken play, turning defense into offense to drive in a goal for Audi. Roldan hit a pass to Mannix, who tapped in another goal to close the gap to 8-6. Roldan took off on a breakaway to bring Audi within one goal at the end of the fourth chukker.
Arellano took the ball in from the knock-in, sending a long pass up the field to Erskine, who was in motion anticipating the pass. Erskine left the ball behind and was backed up by Arellano for the goal. Erskine followed up with another goal, making the score 10-7 in favor of Coca-Cola. Erskine continued his blazing speed as he took off on a run. He shot the ball to Johnston, who made an open backshot to Wroe, who tapped it in for a goal.
Roldan picked up the ball from Lalor, driving it in and making the score 11-8. Arellano made an impressive cutshot to score, followed up immediately by another goal from Erskine, ending the fifth chukker 13-8. After two technicals were called, Roldan was benched with a minute left in regulation play. Arellano converted a penalty, giving Coca-Cola a 14-8 victory.
Erskine credited Audi for its vigorous play throughout the match. “That was a rough game, and we knew it would be,” he said. “We got away a little bit at the beginning, but they came right back.”
Wroe said his team’s work on the field exemplified the Coca-Cola style of play. “Overall the game went our way,” he said. “Our motto is ‘simple and disciplined.’ Everybody does their job, their one-fourth part, and it makes it easier.”
Coca-Cola came into Sunday’s game undefeated 3-0. It will play Villa del Lago in the semifinals Wednesday at 1 p.m.
International Polo Club Palm Beach Fast Facts
What: Created by players for players, the International Polo Club Palm Beach was born out of the dream to build a facility to showcase the incredible skills of the ponies and players that dominate the sport.
Members and guests enjoy panoramic views of the action from field side box seats or lawn and terrace seating. Sponsors and fans convene at The Winners Circle to congratulate the players during the awards presentation following the games.
Gourmet brunches, après polo celebrations and the prerequisite charitable events will take place in The Pavilion, designed to accommodate large parties, corporate clients, as well as family and friends.
Featured Highlights:
Herbie Pennell Cup – 20 Goal
Jan. 1-4, 2015
Joe Barry Memorial Cup – 20 Goal
Jan. 4-25, 2015
Ylvisaker Cup – 20 Goal
Jan. 28 – February 22, 2015
Iglehart Cup – 20 Goal
Feb. 28 – March 8, 2015
USPA C. V. Whitney Cup – 26 Goal
Feb. 15 – March 1, 2015
Piaget USPA Gold Cup® – 26 Goal
March 4-22, 2015
111th Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championship® – 26 Goal
March 25 – April 19, 2015
Directions:
From the Turnpike:
Take the Lake Worth Exit
Head west on FL-802 W/Lake Worth Rd toward Hooks Rd
Continue to follow Lake Worth Rd (3.9 miles)
Turn right onto 120th Ave S
Destination will be ahead on the left (0.4 miles)
From I-95:
Exit Forest Hill Blvd, head West
Make Left turn onto 441/St Rd 7
Make Right turn onto Lake Worth Rd
Make Right turn onto 120th Ave S
Destination on Left
Information:
3667 120th Ave S, Wellington, FL 33414
International Polo Club Palm Beach: 561-204-5687
Mallet Grille: 561-282-5340
Spa & Fitness Center: 561-282-5288
Tennis Pro Shop: 561-795-7228
Polo Operations Office: 561-282-5283
Polo Hotline: 561-282-5290
Hotels:
Hampton Inn & Suites – (561) 472-9696 – Approximately 2 miles
Hampton Inn – (561) 472-5980 – Approximately 4 miles
Four Seasons Resort – (561) 582-2800 – Approximately 9 miles
The Breakers – (561) 655-6611 – Approximately 9 miles
Kimpton Tideline Ocean Resort & Spa – (561) 540-6440 – Approximately 9 miles
Ocala, Florida (February 14, 2015): FEI jumper classes continued at HITS Ocala CSIO4* as Marion County’s Haley Waters aboard Qurint, owned by Chuck and Dana Waters, took the $34,000 FEI HITS Jumper Classic on Saturday, February 14. The pair captured first place after Waters strategically left out a stride to the combination allowing her to fly through the course one full second faster than the runner up.
Attracting thirty-four competitors, the Jumper Classic course designed by Martin Otto of Muenster, Germany hosted 16 efforts set at 1.45m. Third in the order, champions of the $34,000 FEI Thursday Prix on February 12, Alex Granato and his own Gangsta chased the clock with hopes of taking home yet another FEI win from HITS Ocala CSIO4*. Free of faults in a time of 65.71, the pair was well on their way.
“Our win earlier in the week was a nice build up for today and this will finish his week,” said Granato. “Today there were a lot more options on the strides down the lines. If you wanted to leave out or if you knew your horse better and needed to add in, you could. For him, I had to stay slow down the line.”
Devin Ryan on Cooper, owned by Mevr. W.G.M. Veldman, and Molly Ashe riding Louisburg Farm’s Balous Day Date both had clean rounds, although their times were not enough to top Granato. Having watched the eight previous riders closely, Waters zipped through the obstacles leaving out a stride to the combination giving her a fast finish of 64.01 and setting the Great American Time to Beat.
“I think today she [Qurint] was just really ready to go and excited to take me to the jumps so the leave outs were easy,” said Waters. “I did five to the wall and five to the Purina and six to the Edge Brewing and I just went as fast as I could to the last jump and I got lucky.”
“I went fast but there were so many other good riders going after me. I thought it would just be lucky if I stayed up there,” continued Waters.
Entering the ring 23rd, Andre Rodriguez of Wellington, Florida aboard Arao Enterprises LLC’s Cabalito was next to give the leaders a run for their money. Ending just shy of the top two, Rodriguez went clean in a time of 65.95 to secure third place.
“I was going after Alex. I’m riding the same horse in the Grand Prix so I tried to be as quick as possible and go after Alex’s time,” said Rodriguez.
“The effort put into this show is really amazing. It’s pleasant to come to a show like this where the organization is trying to please horses and riders,” added Rodriguez. “They are really thinking about the footing, starting at the right times and the warmup is nice. Everyone that has come here really appreciates it.”
Fresh off his teams win in the FEI Nations Cup, Ireland’s Kevin Babington riding Mark Q, co-owned with Deirdre Bourns, was next in the lineup. Clear in a time of 66.08, Babington added a fourth place finish to his already impressive list of accomplishments this week. Fifth went to Ashe and Balous Day Date who finished clear in a time of 67.76.
Zetterman and Flecu Top 1.50m; Garza and Lucca Toni Win Under 25 Speed; Classics for Adult, Amateur-Owner and Junior Hunters Highlight Final Day of WCHR Week
Wellington, FL – February 15, 2015 – Week six of the Winter Equestrian Festival, sponsored by Salamander Hotels & Resorts, concluded on Sunday with jumper action featured on the beautiful grass field at The Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). The $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix speed class, presented by EnTrust Capital, the $34,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic, and the $50,000 Equestrian Sotheby’s Jumper Derby were the day’s highlight events.
Course designer Richard Jeffery (GBR) saw 16 entries jump his course in the $50,000 Equestrian Sotheby’s Jumper Derby with a win for Adam Prudent (FRA) aboard Patrick Flin and Plain Bay Sales’ Vasco. The class featured 20 numbered obstacles, including the derby bank, table bank, open water, devil’s dyke and more. The number of challenging natural obstacles along with the length of the course tests the stamina of both horse and rider.
Held in a faults converted format, Prudent and Vasco finished their course with four faults in 134.22 seconds to win on 138.22. Chris Sorensen (CAN) and Wriomf had two rails down and finished second with a 144.54 total. Andrew Ramsay (USA) and Shalanno Farms LLC’s Woitcek placed third with two rails to bring their total time to 151.56 seconds.
“It is one of my first big wins here at WEF. It was such a pleasure coming here and showing on the grass,” Prudent said following his win. “It is always amazing showing on grass, and the horse loves it. It was fun. Derbies are fun, and I had a great time.”
Prudent (25) has had Vasco, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding (Andiamo x Clinton), for a year and a half and mostly competes the gelding in speed classes here at WEF.
“I have been showing this horse throughout the summer in the bigger classes. He does have the ability to do big grand prixs, but I decided to put him in the lower classes for the beginning of season and by the end of season I will pop him back up into some bigger competitions,” Prudent said of his mount. “I have done a few derbies, but this is one of the bigger derbies that I have done and he has done one derby previously.”
Riding with a broken finger made Prudent’s job a little harder, but as he explained, the class is great experience for any rider.
He said, “I am young in the sport and I don’t have that much experience yet, so it is always fun to do derbies and bigger courses. It is great experience.” As for his strategy on course, the rider explained, “You have to try to be as fast as you can between the jumps. You have to have your course plan, and you have to have a fast horse that leaves the rails up.”
With the biggest win of his career, Prudent left the derby field happy with a great afternoon and a nice round for his horse.
It feels good. It was a great day,” he acknowledged. “My horse was amazing. He performed very well, and it is a pleasure to win.”
For Chris Sorensen, his mount Wriomf has been preparing for this class and put in a great performance to land her rider in second place. Sorensen has had the mare for about two years and has great derby experience.
“She is probably one of the more experienced derby horses here,” Sorensen explained. “She did the big derbies in Spruce Meadows, and she did the big derbies in Aachen this summer. This is something she is very good at. We came and hoped to win, but Adam was fantastic today. She was very good. That mare is very brave and experienced at that kind of competition.”
Knowing the test of endurance for horse and rider, Sorensen and his mount both worked on their fitness to get ready for the class.
“They are getting fatigued by the end for sure, but she has done specific training for this,” Sorensen detailed. “She did gallop sets and a little more endurance than normal in the weeks leading up to this. Personally, they send me to the gym every morning. I was on a special program last month.”
“We really were aiming her at this specific class,” Sorensen continued. “It is great prize money, and it is really fantastic experience and exposure for us, for our sponsors, and for our customers to come watch. Everybody is excited for this day. It is fun, and it is a beautiful day in the sun. The obstacles they have here are equal to all those that I have seen in the world. It is a very fun class for us to focus on, but at the end of the class no matter how hard you prepare, those horses are tired. They are fighting to concentrate, they are fighting to jump, the lactic acid is pumping, and you start to test the heart of the horse.”
“I think these kinds of competitions are important,” Sorensen added. “It is good that the horse show supports them. They are great for spectators, they are exciting, and it is great to have a good sponsor. That is really important.”
Third place finisher, Andrew Ramsay, also has some experience in derby classes with his mount, Woitcek, and was happy to finish in the top three with his mount on Sunday.
“This is my fourth derby. My first one was with this horse about three years ago at Eindhoven,” Ramsay stated. “He is a good boy. I had never jumped a natural until he did his first derby, and he just picked right up and did it. He was brave, and it was quite easy.”
“To be honest, I didn’t really prepare specifically for the derby here,” Ramsay explained. “I was just working on riding and keeping him fit. He came out and I had confidence that he is a player and he wants to do his job. I think I had more hesitation than he did. He was good to me today, and I am happy to be up here.”
Representing Equestrian Sotheby’s, Ryan Beckett spoke about his company’s sponsorship of the class and the day’s great competition.
“Two years ago we sat down, and we wanted to do something that differentiated ourselves. That kind of mirrors our philosophy in business as well,” Beckett noted. “It is something that, even for the lay person, is fun to watch. It is different. When you have guys like these three gentlemen that really put their best forward, and hearing that Chris had the horse specifically for this class, as a sponsor it is a good thing to hear that it is starting to get traction. When we put our heads together, this is something that we thought was unique and it is fun. It is something that we would like to continue going forward, to enjoy growing with it.”
Alexander Zetterman and Flecu Top $34,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic
The $34,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic was the second class of the day on Sunday with 22 entries jumping on the grass field at The Stadium at PBIEC. Five made it through to the jump-off, where Sweden’s Alexander Zetterman and Flecu were the winners.
Samuel Parot (CHI) and Carla TM were first to jump-off and finished fourth with their time of 41.30 seconds. Chris Ewanouski (USA) and Rosiano Farm’s Chicago 88 were next to return and jumped into third place with a time of 40.80 seconds. Katie Dinan (USA) followed with the second place time of 40.20 seconds aboard Grant Road Partners LLC’s Bijou de Balou. Up next, Jessica Springsteen (USA) had a great time in 38.37 seconds with Stone Hill Farm’s Lisona, but a rail at the last fence put the pair in fifth place. Zetterman and Flecu were last to go with the winning clear round in 37.78 seconds.
Alexander Zetterman and Flecu
Zetterman won the same class last year with his mount Cafino, whom he recently sold. This time it was Flecu’s turn to take the round of honor, and the 11-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Hip Hop x Flamingo) jumped a fantastic round to carry his rider to victory.
“He is the horse that I have had for the longest amount of time; I have had him since he was six,” Zetterman explained after the class. “He is a horse who kind of took a year or two longer to bring along, but I always felt that he has the ability to do great things in the big classes. It is a good age. He is 11 now. It is nice when you sell a good one that you are not completely gone.”
Last season, Flecu carried Zetterman to a win in the $50,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series Final, which was also held on the grass field at The Stadium, and the horse has since stepped up to the next level.
“He was great last year here on the grass,” Zetterman noted. “He has always had really good results on big grass fields like here and at Falsterbo at home. He really likes to cover ground, and once he starts getting momentum, he is very quick.”
“His style is quite special,” Zetterman detailed. “He is a very careful horse. He used to go up very high, and it took a while for him to learn how to go more across the jump. He has always had the scope, but he was always going up and now he is getting across. Careful-wise, he has always been super careful. I just really had to take my time with him in the small classes and never make him go too high. Now he is jumping more modest, and I am really happy with him. He is super consistent.”
Eugenio Garza and Lucca Toni Win $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix, presented by EnTrust Capital
Sunday’s events at The Stadium at PBIEC kicked off in the morning with the $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix speed event on the field. Sponsored by EnTrust Capital, the class was held in a faults converted format. Eugenio Garza (MEX) and El Milagro’s Lucca Toni were the winners with a clear round in the fastest time of 89.47 seconds. Catherine Tyree (USA) and Mary Tyree’s Free Style vh Polderhof finished second in 91.79 seconds. Mavis Spencer (USA) and Mike Collins’ Cornetiero were last to go and jumped into third with a clear round in 92.67 seconds.
Garza’s winning mount Lucca Toni is a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Lando x Caretano Z) that the rider has had for one year since last winter.
“He is a really, really nice horse. He covers a lot of ground, so we chose him for this class because it is a very open field and we knew we would have the chance to gallop a lot,” Garza detailed. “My trainer (Darragh Kenny) just said go in and have the same rhythm all the way through and just keep galloping. We were able to leave out strides where we could, and we made up some time in the short turns. The horse jumped amazing, I have to give it to him.”
Second place finisher Catherine Tyree is also at the one-year mark of riding her horse, Free Style vh Polderhof, since purchasing the mare from Stephex Stables at the end of circuit last year.
“This is the first time that I have ever asked her to jump a serious 1.45m course, and she was great,” Tyree said of her mount. “She is so quick across the ground, so naturally careful and incredibly brave, so I knew that she would be really game when I went in the ring. She was great at the bank. That is the first time that she has ever done it in her life, so I was really happy with her today.”
Mavis Spencer finished third with Cornetiero and was thrilled with the great result after not riding for three years.
“This is probably only my fifth class with him. I took three years off from riding,” Spencer noted. “I started working for Neil Jones in April, but I only started showing again in November. He is a really special horse. The feeling that he gives is unbelievable. He is so scopey and brave, which helps in a class like this. Especially after you haven’t ridden for so long, it helps to know that they are always behind you. I have to say, I have a really good team behind me and people who help me, but he was on form today. It was nice to go in the ring and get a good result like that after not showing for so long.”
“He has a bit of a special way of going and you sort of have to do it his way, so it took me a little while to figure him out,” Spencer added. “That is why I had not shown him so much, but I think we are really starting to get each other now and hopefully I can start jumping some bigger classes with him soon.”
The Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Series, presented by the Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte, will award a total of $170,000 in prize money throughout the circuit this year in seven events. It gives young riders a valuable stepping-stone from the junior and amateur ranks to the grand prix level. All three of Sunday’s top riders praised the series and thanked the sponsors for their generous support.
“I could not thank the sponsors enough, the Ziegler family and everyone,” Garza said after his win. “It is a really nice series to have. It kind of bridges a gap between the juniors and the pros, especially in Florida where the classes are very big. It is a very big step to have a series like this and to be able to compete with riders that are doing the same thing is one of the most important things that young riders like us can do. I think it is a great series, and I could not thank enough everyone who is behind it.”
“I think it is a really good stepping stone when you don’t necessarily have a horse that is ready to jump the really big classes and be competitive,” Spencer acknowledged. “It is nice to have this because the courses are big enough, they are tough enough, and the competition is obviously still at a very high level, but if you have one that isn’t really ready to go in and jump the bigger FEI classes, this is a really good place to start and be able to move up.”
Tyree added, “I think it is great how we have opportunities to jump in different venues with different class types. We have the team event week four, the faults converted today on the field, and then week nine we get to jump under the lights. It gives us a lot of opportunities, not only to bridge the gap between the high amateur level and the national level grand prixs, but we also get to test the waters in different formats that we are not used to.”
The next event in the series will be the $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Semi-Final presented by Kingsland Equestrian on Friday, March 6, during week nine. The $50,000 series final will be held week 11 on Sunday, March 22.
Classics for Adult, Amateur Owner and Junior Hunters Highlight the Final Day of World Champion Hunter Rider Week in the International Arena
On the final day of WCHR week, 73 horse and rider combinations came to compete in the Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic, held in the International Arena. After the first round, the riders with the top 24 scores came back in reverse order for a second course. At the end of the two rounds, Schaefer Raposa of Clinton, NY, and Lucille were crowned the winner of section A. Finishing behind Raposa in section A was Brooke Banks riding Brodeur and Caitlin Boyle with her own Iceman rounded out the top three.
This week was Lucille’s first show in the United States and the first time competing in the International Arena. The six-year-old mare was imported earlier this year from Europe by David Raposa and got to the WEF show grounds for the first time on Tuesday. “I flew in from school on Thursday night, and we debuted in the [E. R. Mische] Grand Hunter ring on Friday,” Raposa stated. “She [Lucille] was super brave and marched right around. My dad decided that we should do the classic, and today she was great!”
Returning from the first round in third place, Raposa earned a score of 86 in the second round to move into the top spot. “Going into the second round I thought to myself, ‘Okay, don’t chip the last jump,'” Raposa laughed. “She [Lucille] felt really nice and after the first few jumps, I knew she was on it and I just had to find my distances.”
The section B winner of the Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic went to Megan McCann, from Washington, D.C., riding Laura Flanagan’s horse, First Look. First Look remained consistent over both rounds earning scores of 84 and 84.5. Cynthia Sulzberger piloted Red Carpet to a second place finish in section B and Kimberly Maloomian and Urlala ended the day in third place.
McCann started showing First Look, an 11-year-old Warmblood gelding, two years ago after her sister stopped competing. Today was McCann’s first time in the International Arena, but she knew First Look was ready for the new environment. “I felt good. I knew when I went in for the first round that he felt really relaxed. We went in there, took a breath and he was great,” McCann noted.
Currently, McCann is flying down to Florida on weekends as much as she can to compete in the Adult Hunters. McCann balances working full time in commercial real estate while riding at a competitive level. Despite a busy schedule, McCann hopes to return to WEF at least a few more times during the second half of the circuit.
In the $5,000 Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Classic, Caroline Moran and her own Bacardi bested a field of 37 entries. A score of 89 in the first round advanced them to the top 12 where a 92 handily took the victory.
In a borrowed shadbelly – because she couldn’t find her own this morning – Moran took all the luck she could get to redeem a rough ride earlier in the week in the International Arena. “My horse [Bacardi] has been amazing all week, but I did not ride the best out here on Friday,” she said. “I wouldn’t have done the class except that I wanted to end on a good note, and I definitely accomplished that.”
Jumping to second behind Moran was Becky Gochman and David Gochman’s Touchdown, while Missy Luczak-Smith and her own Askaro rounded out the top three.
Moran rides and trains with Havens Schatt and gave credit where credit was due after her class. “Without the prep of Havens and my groom Danielle, there would have been no way this was possible. Havens and I bought Bacardi as pre-green horse, and she brought him up the ranks slowly so he would have confidence,” explained Moran. “I’ve been showing him at three or four horse shows a year, and I am actually still learning him.”
Moran admits that she retired from riding about seven years ago, but that Bacardi is slowly creeping her back into the sport. “If you can have a horse like this, it always stays fun,” she concluded.
The $5,000 Junior 3’3″ Classic capped WCHR week in the International Arena and saw 25 entries. Hannah Fuller was consistent on scores of 85 and 86 in the irons of Susan Fuller’s Alcado for the win. Sabrina Kalimian and Paige Mawson’s Latino were second with Raegan Rast and KOR, LLC’s Peter Pan finishing third.
A memorable trip for Fuller, her score of 86 marked the highest of her career. “I just wanted my second round to be as good as my first, so when I heard them say ’86’, I was really happy,” she said. “He [Alcado] is always usually pretty calm and doesn’t really look at much, so I wasn’t surprised that he was as good as he was,” she added.
The 2015 season marks Fuller’s second year with Alcado and she says she loves him for his classic style and appreciated the chance to ride in the International Arena at WEF. “The ring is so big it gives me a chance to show off his nice canter,” she said.
Fuller is 16 and currently a junior at Morristown-Beard school in New Jersey.
The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival will continue with its seventh week of competition, sponsored by Suncast®, on February 18-22, 2015, featuring CSI 5* jumper and “AA” hunter competition. The highlight event of week seven is the $372,000 Suncast® CSI 5* Grand Prix on Saturday, February 21.For full results and more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Holly Shepherd and Cascaron won the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.
The $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Brook Ledge and the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Tucci made for a double hunter header Friday.
Riders were treated to courses designed by Nancy Wallis of Lambertville, New Jersey in Hunter I which was resurfaced with Kruse Cushion Ride footing for this year’s circuit.
Twenty horse and rider teams tackled the course in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Brook Ledge. Renowned hunter rider, Holly Shepherd of Grand Bay, Alabama, won the top two honors with Margaret Camp’s Cascaron and Loretta Patterson’s Manchester, respectively.
Durgin Park, owned by Henrietta Hall and ridden by Sarah Invicta Williams of Santa Fe, New Mexico, took home the third place ribbon. Player, owned by Jeanne Pitre and ridden by Thomas Le Blanc of Folsom, Louisiana, took home the fourth place honors.
Tim Maddrix of Birmingham, Alabama rode LPF Woodford, owned by LPF, LLC, to the fifth place ribbon, while Andrew, owned by Code Four Show Stables, was piloted to the sixth place position by rider Guy Cambria of Middleburg, Virginia.
Seventh place was awarded to Rose Gold, owned by Oak Ledge Farm and ridden by Jason Berry of Verona, Virginia. Maddrix returned for the eighth place honors in the irons of Andy Kocher’s Cabriole while Shepherd followed with ninth aboard Debbie Holland’s Flamboyant.
Tenth place was awarded to Longstreet, owned by Barbara Risius and ridden by Shepherd, while eleventh place went to Isabel Coleman’s Antwerp, ridden by Livia Steffee of New Orleans, Louisiana. Zazou, owned by Nestledown Equine Services and ridden by Quinn Larimer of Smyrna, Georgia, wrapped up the class with twelfth place.
The $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Tucci saw fifteen horse and rider combinations compete in the main hunter ring and experience the newly installed Kruse Cushion Ride surface.
“The footing is excellent,” commented course designer, Nancy Wallis. “We’ve been hearing nothing but how excellent the new KCR footing is and how well the horses are performing with the new surface,” commented Gulf Coast Winter Classic Coordinator, Janet McCarroll.
Well-known professional rider Tim Maddrix of Birmingham, Alabama and Emily Joyner’s Ramsey won the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Tucci. The pair earned the highest scores in both the first and second rounds with 88 and 86, respectively, for a total winning score of 174.
Look Again, owned and ridden by Rebecca Baker of West Chester, Pennsylvania, followed with high scores and took home the second place honors with an overall score of 170.
Heather Geller of Akron, Ohio and her own Pommegranate turned in a first round effort with a score of 81 and handy round of 86.5 for a total 167.5, which would see them finish in third place overall.
Liddy Strickland of McDonough, Georgia piloted her own Judgement Call to the fourth place ribbon after turning in a first and second round score of 84 and 83, for an overall score of 167.
Amanda Forte of Glenmoore, Pennsylvania rode Rebecca Patterson’s Vecchia Murano to the fifth place ribbon after turning in first and second round scores of 84 and 82 for a total score of 166.
Sixth place was awarded to Maddrix and Frank Hernandez’ Rio’s Show Time and seventh place was awarded to Jordan Gilchrist of Flower Mound, Texas in the irons of Susan Moriconi’s Churchhill.
The Classic and Gulf Coast Classic Companies are USHJA’s Members Choice Award winners, recognized for producing top quality show jumping events in the United States. Together, they offer the best exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events each winter. Please visit them on the web at www.ClassicCompany.com or call them at 843.768.5503.
All sponsorship, marketing and press inquiries should be directed to Lisa Engel, Sponsorship, Marketing and Public Relations Director, at lisa@classiccompany.com.
Stay up to date: Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter!
See you at the ring,
Bob Bell
The Classic Company, Ltd. www.ClassicCompany.com
Phone/FAX: (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311 Johns Island SC 29457
Penny Brennan and her own Japan win the $15,000 Horseflight Open Welcome Week II.
Friday the 13th was anything but unlucky for Penny Brennan of Ocala, Florida and her own Japan and Sun Tzu.
World-renown course designer Leopoldo Palacios of Caracas, Venezuela designed a challenging course on the best turf field in the country and set a time allowed of 86 seconds. Palacios is one of the most highly respected course designers in the world of showjumping. Palacios is a course director of FEI; he is a co-founder of the Aachen School of Equestrian Arts and produces master plans for equestrian venues. He has been involved with show jumping and the equestrian sport as a whole to the Olympic level and has held the position of Second Vice President of the FEI.
First to go was Tiffany Cambria of Middleburg, Virginia on Varios, owned by Allie Rahman. The pair turned in a clean first round in a time of 80.809 seconds. They followed with a clear second round and set the time to beat at 47.987 seconds, well within the sixty seconds time allowed.
Brennan and Japan were the next pair to turn in a clean first round effort in a time of 75.159 seconds and finished their second round clean in a lightning fast time of 41.036 seconds.
Amanda Forte of Glenmoor, Pennsylvania followed Brennan with Cerulean Stables, LLC’s Rincoola Black Adder and turned in a clean first round effort in a time of 75.159 seconds. Forte had a heartbreak rail at the final fence and finished in a time of 47.814 seconds and four jump faults, which would see them finish in fifth overall.
Jason Berry of Verona, Virginia and Oak Ledge Farm’s Egano Van Kadal were next to challenge Brennan and finished their first round clean in a time of 84.982 seconds. However, eight jump faults in their second round with a time of 47.453 seconds would see the pair finish in sixth place.
Six trips later, Brooke Kemper of Culpeper, Virginia and her own Classified turned in the next clean first round effort in a time of 80.189 seconds. Four faults at the final fence in their second round in a time of 45.885 seconds would leave them with the fourth place ribbon.
Brennan returned with her second ride, her own Sun Tzu, and turned in double clean rounds in times of 74.965 seconds and 43.294 seconds, respectively.
Kyle Timm of Apex, North Carolina was the last to go with Apex Equestrian Center’s Calida 55. However, four faults and a time of 80.296 seconds in their first round would see the pair finish in tenth place overall.
Final results saw Brennan take the first two ribbons with her own Japan and Sun Tzu, respectively, followed by Cambria and Vios, Kemper and Classified, Forte and Rincoola Black Adder and Berry and Egano Van Kadal.
The Classic and Gulf Coast Classic Companies are USHJA’s Members Choice Award winners, recognized for producing top quality show jumping events in the United States. Together, they offer the best exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events each winter. Please visit them on the web at www.ClassicCompany.com or call them at 843.768.5503.
All sponsorship, marketing and press inquiries should be directed to Lisa Engel, Sponsorship, Marketing and Public Relations Director, at lisa@classiccompany.com.
Stay up to date: Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter!
See you at the ring,
Bob Bell
The Classic Company, Ltd. www.ClassicCompany.com
Phone/FAX: (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311 Johns Island SC 29457
Bull Run’s Eternal and Kristen Vanderveen Top $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m Speed
Wellington, FL – February 14, 2015 – World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition welcomed hunter riders to center stage Saturday evening under the lights of the International Arena at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). The country’s top professional, amateur, and junior hunter riders jumped for top honors in the $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Hunter Spectacular, where Victoria Colvin went one-two and notched her fourth consecutive win in the event. She piloted Ovation for Dr. Betsee Parker to his third straight WCHR win and took second with Parker’s Small Affair.
The hunters highlighted this week’s competition, which concludes on Sunday, February 16. All of Sunday’s jumper competition at The Stadium at PBIEC will be available live online. The $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix speed class, presented by EnTrust Capital, will begin at 8 am followed by the $34,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. Watch both classes at: http://bit.ly/1z64TGV. Sunday’s $50,000 Equestrian Sotheby’s Jumper Derby will begin at 2 pm at: http://bit.ly/1zu8q0x.
The historic hunter event returned to two rounds this year and welcomed 31 qualified entries with the top 12 returning over a handy test in round two. Scores were tallied from three panels, including judges Scott Fitton and Chance Arakelian on panel one, Mary Lisa Leffler and Scott Williamson on panel two, and Karen Healey and Jim Clapperton on panel three. First round scores were combined with handy scores for a two-round total and final score.
Colvin and Ovation first approached the course from the 26th position and jumped to the top of the leader board, returning in round two on a high score of 89.33. “I wasn’t sure he was going to be able to come back and win for a third time, but he went in and went right around and was perfect,” said Colvin who has been partnered with the 15-year-old Warmblood gelding throughout her near-end junior career. “The course wasn’t spooky, and I was confident that it was going to go well. He [Ovation] is more of an open and flowing horse and there weren’t any exact lines in the course, so it suited him.”
Sitting in the eighth position after round one, Brady Mitchell and Emily Perez’s Cassanto returned to post a 90 early in the handy round and take the lead. “I knew I had a lot to make up for, and I did what I could,” said Mitchell, referencing an all-or-nothing approach to the final hand-gallop fence of the second round. “Andre [Dignelli] gave me some great advice to let his nose out a little, and it changed his jump in the second round. I wanted to get a good prize and he’s a trustworthy horse, so I went for it.”
Representing Heritage Farm, Mitchell made a splash in his first year as a WCHR Hunter Spectacular competitor at WEF and his lead held until Colvin returned with Small Affair. Their 88.83 combined with an 87.33 from the first round gave them the advantage by less than a single point.
When Ovation returned in the final spot, Colvin had the class won, but still had the opportunity to keep not just one, but two streaks alive. “I knew Small Affair was on top, but I went tighter and handier on Ovation – I was a little faster to the hand gallop jump and when I landed I was confident that he was going to be on top,” she said.
Colvin’s confidence proved correct when judges scored their round a 90.08, which coupled with their 89.333 from round one handed them the win and bumped Small Affair to second.
Brady and Cassanto settled for third, but he was elated with the event as a whole. “I have been riding hunters for a long time and this is the class that every hunter rider wants to ride in and do well in. It feels special to be here under the lights where hunters have the opportunity to take over Saturday night,” he said. “I’m ecstatic to be third. Tori rode beautifully, and I’m happy to be third behind her. We kept it in the family tonight – Heritage Farm had a good night tonight being one-two-three.”
Purchased after a pre-green career with Shawn Casady, Cassanto also competes in the Junior Hunters with owner Perez.
Tara Metzner and Come Monday, owned by Davlyn Farms, Inc., capped the top four with scores of 85.66 and 89.16. In her third year participating in the WCHR Hunter Spectacular, Metzner made a significant improvement over last year’s 11th-place finish.
“She’s a brave, awesome horse so I knew there was nothing she was going to look at – she’s great in these conditions where things are more impressive, and I knew if I found the jumps she would give me all she’s got,” said Metzner of Come Monday.
“I keep moving up, so Tori better watch out next year,” she laughed.
Less than a point behind Metzner, Scott Stewart and Stephanie Danhakl’s First Light rounded out the top five.
For Colvin, her third consecutive win with Ovation was bittersweet knowing it would be their last together. Parker announced at the close of the Hunter Spectacular that the cherished gelding will retire at the Washington International Horse Show this fall. “It was a historic night for him [Ovation] – this will be the last time we ever see him in this ring,” she said. “He is the most decorated junior hunter in history, and it’s moving to see this magnificent horse go out winning.”
Colvin admits that saying goodbye to Ovation is difficult, but couldn’t imagine a junior career with a better horse. “I knew this year that it would be our last season together, and it’s very emotional because he’s such an amazing horse,” said Colvin. “To have been with him throughout my entire junior career is special.”
Junior Hunters Crowned in the International Arena, Amateur-Owner Champions Named
To start off Saturday morning competition in the International Arena, Daisy Farish rode Triton Ventures Farm’s Demarco to championship honors in the Charleigh’s Cookies Large Junior Hunter 15 and Under. The pair won the handy round yesterday and finished second in the stake class today.
Hidden Creek Farm’s Graffito was guided to reserve championship honors in the Large Junior Hunter 15 and Under by Emma Kurtz. Kurtz finished third and fifth over fences paired with a win in the under saddle.
This week was Farish’s first show with Demarco, but despite little practice time, Farish was ready to step into the show ring. “I was very confident walking in the arena because I knew he [Demarco] would be great. As long as I did my part, I knew that he would do his,” Farish commented.
Hunter competition continued with the Equestrian Sotheby’s International Realty Small Junior Hunter 15 and Under. Championship honors were awarded to Lilli Hymowitz ridding Rose Hill Farm’s Enjoy. The combination earned two seconds over fences paired with a win in the under saddle. Hymowitz explained, “He [Enjoy] has a really good personality and is always happy. He jumps great and acts the same at home as he does in the ring.”
Kurtz returned to the winner’s circle in the Small Junior Hunters 15 and Under after being named reserve champion with Southpointe Farm’s Entourage. The duo won two of the three over fences classes.
After the two younger Junior Hunter divisions crowned champions, the older Junior Hunters took up the spotlight. Tori Colvin and Small Affair, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, took home championship honors in the Antares Sellier France Large Junior Hunter 16-17. Small Affair topped two of the three over fences classes. The reserve championship was awarded to Stellar, ridden by Sophie Michaels and owned by Further Land Farm. Stellar was second and third over fences and topped the under saddle.
No stranger to the winner’s circle, Colvin was happy with how Small Affair went today. “He [Small Affair] loves this ring!” Colvin stated, “He is very alert. When it is a little spookier, he jumps much better and he felt great today.”
Colvin continued her winning streak in the EnTrust Capital Small Junior Hunter 16-17. Ovation, owned by Parker, topped two of the three over fences classes, along with the under saddle, with Colvin in the irons. All smiles, Colvin remarked on the different feel of having the hunters in the main ring. “I love having the hunters in the International arena. I ride my jumpers in the ring, and I always think that they should put hunters in here. Most hunters love the ring, and Ovation felt great today,” Colvin explained.
Vivian Yowan rode Saddle Ridge LLC’s horse, Ransom, to reserve championship honors in the EnTrust Capital Small Junior Hunter 16-17. Yowan and Ransom earned two seconds and third over fences.
Stephanie Danhakl dominated the Bainbridge Companies Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 division claiming both champion and reserve champion. Aboard her own Golden Rule, she was first and second over fences to take champion, while second under saddle and in the handy with her mare Starina B for reserve.
“I have had Golden Rule for just under a year and I’m the most confident on him out of all my horses – he finds the right distance every time,” said Danhakl. “I only got Starina B last week, so this is my second ride on her and she’s the opposite of Golden Rule. She’s much hotter, but I think we started to click this weekend.”
Danhakl admits that her expectations for WCHR week were blown away. “This is my third week back after three months off with a broken collarbone, and it was exciting to come in and have such a great horse show,” she concluded.
In the Hunt Ltd. Amateur-Owner Hunter 36 & Over division, John Ingram and his own Airport 48 held the top spot after winning both the handy and stake before placing third under saddle.
Airport came to Ingram’s barn destined to be an equitation mount after leaving a career in the jumper ring behind, but has found a starring role in the hunter ring. “He’s a pleasant surprise,” said Ingram. “He’s done the jumpers, derbies, now the amateurs, and he just gets better and better. We got him a year ago, and this was the perfect weekend for it all to come together.”
The reserve championship was awarded to Becky Gochman and David Gochman’s Last Call with a blue under saddle and second in the stake.
Kristen Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Eternal Top $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m Speed
While hunter competition took main stage across the street, jumper action continued in the International Ring at The Stadium at PBIEC on Saturday afternoon with a $34,000 1.45m speed class, sponsored by Spy Coast Farm. Richard Jeffery (GBR) set the track for 33 entries and saw 12 clear rounds. Early in the order, Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and Bull Run’s Eternal set the winning pace at 60.98 seconds and held on for the win. Peter Leone (USA) and My Pleasure finished second in 63.16 seconds. Harrie Smolders (NED) and Exquis Walnut de Muze were third in 63.39 seconds.
Bull Run’s Eternal is a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Toulon x Mellinor) that Vanderveen has ridden for almost two years. Vanderveen has had a lot of great results with Eternal and spoke about how she used her experience with the horse to her advantage in Saturday’s round.
“Everything we have is for sale and most of them get sold right away. They do well in one class and then they’re gone, but we have been able to keep him for a couple of years, so I really know him. I can pull him out and we’re on it,” Vanderveen stated. “He is really a gamer. In the ring, he knows his job and he is super-fast. For being such a big horse, he is shockingly fast. He has a really big step, so I kind of went with that advantage today because there were not a lot of inside turns that you could do. In the ring, I am really able to use his stride to his advantage.”
“At home, he is like a pony,” Vanderveen laughed. “He is quiet. He can go on the long rein, and he is really easy. You would never guess he is any high athlete at home; he is just like one of the school horses.”
Going early in the order, Vanderveen was a bit unsure of her plan with the big gelding, but relied on her horse’s big stride to get a fast round.
“I was actually a little bit nervous,” she admitted. “I normally don’t ask the other riders their plans, but the lines were a little questionable, whether you could leave out an extra step or not. I had asked a couple of people who said it was absolutely not a smart move. I ended up just going with my gut because I do know him pretty well. I’m glad I didn’t watch the ones before me because nobody else really did the numbers I was thinking. I think at the end that really is what was able to keep our forward rhythm the whole way around.”
Also competing on Saturday, Richard Neal (22) of Pasadena, CA rode Quadam to the win in the $10,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Series Welcome, presented by EnTrust Capital. The class was a speed format, and Neal and Quadam were the fastest of 18 clear rounds in a time of 64.205 seconds for victory. Sarah Bagworth and Goldfinger VD Hengstenpoel were second in 64.53 seconds, while Jessica Springsteen rode Zero to third in 64.627 seconds. There were 60 entries in the Welcome, the fourth class of the popular Series.
While Neal has shown at WEF for four years, this is his first time competing in the Series. “I love it. As far as I’m concerned, it’s just perfect for what I’d like to do for myself and for my horse. It’s a fantastic series,” he stated.
Neal has ridden the nine-year-old Hanoverian stallion by Quite Easy I x Stakkato for a year. “We bought him in Europe off a video tape that Leslie (Howard) sent me,” he smiled. “He’s an up-and-coming 1.50m horse. We jumped our first 1.45m last year. Getting him out in this division early in the season, he’s showing us quite some promise. I think I’m going to have a long and successful relationship with him.”
Week six of the Winter Equestrian Festival, sponsored by Salamander Hotels & Resorts, concludes on Sunday at The Stadium at PBIEC with the $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix speed class, presented by EnTrust Capital, at 8 am, followed by the $34,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic, and then the $50,000 Equestrian Sotheby’s Jumper Derby, which starts at 2 pm.
WCHR week concludes tomorrow with the Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Classic and WCHR Amateur Owner Junior 3’3″ Hunter Classic in the International Arena.
For full results and more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Hilario Ulloa, Facundo Pieres and Polito Pieres. Photo: Liz Lamont Images/Phelps Media Group.
Nespresso 40-Goal Challenge Raises $350,000 for Polo Players Support Group
Wellington, FL – November 14, 2015 – EFG Bank defeated Equus & Co. 11-9 in Saturday’s 2015 Nespresso 40-Goal Challenge at the International Polo Club Palm Beach on the Engel and Völkers field. The benefit event brought in nearly $350,000 for the Polo Players Support Group, which provides financial assistance to polo players and grooms with serious illnesses or injuries. Sapo Caset was named MVP, Polito Pieres won the long shot award and Juan Martin Nero’s third-chukker mount was named Best Playing Pony.
The pre-game exhibition, Bright’s Creek Future 10s, featured players 10 to 14 years old in a level of play that was astounding. Many players hailed from generations of polo greats, among them Adolfo Cambiaso Jr. and Mia Cambiaso (Adolfo Cambiaso’s children), Mia Novillo Astrada (Miguel Novillo Astrada’s daughter), and Lucas Criado Jr. (Lucas Criado’s son).
It’s a rare day in polo when all eight players score – and even more rare when everyone on the field is one of the top players in the world. The Nespresso 40-Goal Challenge featured the “Top Guns” of the sport, 9 and 10-goal players who made polo look like performance art. With smooth-as-silk play and some of the longest shots ever hit, it was a fast, wide open game that showcased the highest level of polo played anywhere in the world.
MVP Sapo Caset made the first goal of the day. Juan Martin Nero followed up with a huge hit from outside the 2-point line – with Polito Pieres running interference for him all the way – to bring the score to 3-0 for EFG Bank. On a sustained roll, Caset slapped in two more goals in the second chukker. Cousins Facundo Pieres and Polito Pieres, playing for opposing teams, each scored, ending the chukker 6-1, with EFG Bank still in the lead.
By the end of the first half, however, Equus & Co. had turned the tables. It added five points to the board in the third chukker, tying the game 6-all. Three of Equus’s points in the third came from Facundo Pieres, who made a field goal and a 2-pointer. His brother, Gonzalito Pieres, and Pelon Sterling each scored from the field.
EFG Bank, surprisingly scoreless in the third and fourth chukkers, lost its early lead. The only goals in the fourth were two slammed in by Gonzalito Pieres, bringing Equus & Co. into a two-point lead (8-6).
The fifth chukker was a reverse replay of the fourth. This time Equus & Co. was scoreless, allowing EFG Bank to rack up five points and regain the lead. Nero made a 2-pointer, with one from the field each by Caset and Hilario Ulloa (subbing for Adolfo Cambiaso, who is expected to play for Valiente in Sunday’s semifinals).
The final chukker opened with EFG leading 11-8. EFG didn’t score again in the game, and a goal by Miguel Astrada tightened the gap to 11-9 at the final horn.
“The game was harder fought and faster paced than other exhibitions we have done,” said Dave Offen, president of the Polo Players Support Group. He added that he thought the players put in an extra effort because the game was played in honor of deceased polo greats Carlos Gracida and Javier Novillo Astrada.
Caset agreed. “It was harder this year than last year, and we ran a lot. The speed is much faster in a 40-goal game – it’s like playing the Campeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo (Argentine Polo Open Championship).”
Hilario Ulloa said he found it a real pleasure. “I’m not 10 goals yet,” he said. “And to be invited to play here is a lot of fun and a nice opportunity to play with these guys. It’s also nice to feel you’re helping someone by playing this exhibition.”
Polito Pieres said that in exhibition matches the players try to start out slowly and get more competitive as the game goes on. With humor, he added, “I was happy to win the long shot award because I wasn’t sure how long my shot was!” (Officials confirmed it was well over 100 yards.)
Hall of Famer Memo Gracida, who has been a supporter of the event every year, bowled in the ceremonial opening ball. “It was so great to see these players, who have such ability, playing for a great event,” he said. “It’s a sad moment for me because the game is in memory of my brother, Carlos, and Javier Novillo Astrada, but it’s a great tribute to the game and all the players. Everyone enjoyed it, the players and the spectators.”
Offen expressed his gratitude to the sponsors, the teams and the players (all of whom donated their time). In addition to title sponsor Nespresso, support was provided by sponsors Bright’s Creek (for the children’s game); Lucchese (best-playing pony award) and Grey Goose (long shot of the day award). The highlights of the silent auction were: an IPC membership; a Tread 1 Timepiece by Devon, and a day of fishing on the vessel “Miss Budweiser.”
The action continues Sunday at IPC with four games in the semifinals of the Ylvisaker Cup. Two games take place at 10 a.m.: Coca-Cola vs. Audi and Villa del Lago vs. Enigma. Casablanca takes on Valiente at noon, and Lucchese plays Orchard Hill at 3 p.m.
NESPRESSO 40 GOAL CHALLENGE FAST FACTS:
WHAT: 2015 Nespresso 40 Goal Challenge. This year’s game will be dedicated to the memories of Carlos Gracida and Javier Novillo Astrada.
WHERE: International Polo Club Palm Beach
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 14, 3:00 pm Bright’s Creek “Future 10s” and 3:15 NESPRESSO 40 Goal Challenge, followed by dinner & auction.
WHY: To help those members of our polo family who have suffered a serious injury or illness and need some help to get back on their feet.
Due to the generosity of people like you, the Polo Players Support Group has awarded over $1.5 million in assistance grants to 53 and counting different players and grooms who suffered a serious injury or illness.
Darlene Ricker for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
