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Wilhelm Genn and Bugatti Win $25,000 Sergio Grasso Holiday Finale Grand Prix

Wilhelm Genn and Bugatti. Mancini Photos.

Wellington, FL – January 5, 2015 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) concluded it 2014-15 Holiday Series this week with Holiday Finale competition on December 31 – January 4, 2015, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. Thursday featured the $10,000 Equiline Open Stake with a win for Aaron Vale and Quidam’s Good Luck. Sunday highlighted the $25,000 Sergio Grasso Holiday Finale Grand Prix with victory for Wilhelm Genn and Bugatti.

Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY set the track for Saturday night’s grand prix competition under the lights with 32 entries and five clear rounds to jump-off. Alexander Zetterman was first to jump-off aboard Springfield Showjumpers’ Zidane and cleared the track in 46.95 seconds to eventually place second. Sarah Wayda and her horse Faroukh jumped next and went clear in 48.37 seconds for third place honors. Wilhelm Genn and Eduardo Leon’s Bugatti followed with the winning clear round in 45.11 seconds. Sophie Simpson and Simpson Showjumping, Inc.’s Why Not were faster in 42.12 seconds, but dropped a rail on course to finish fourth, and Michael Dorman and Wyndmont’s Valinski S made it to the jump-off, but retired after trouble at the first fence.

Class winner, Bugatti, is an eight-year-old KWPN gelding (Heartbreaker x Pilot) that Wilhelm Genn has brought along since his four-year-old year. Saturday night was the horse’s first time showing outside under the lights and a great step in his development, according to his rider.

“The first grand prix here he was a little nervous and then he settled, and then the last grand prixs he jumped clean and was third and seventh, but those were daytime,” Genn explained. “He felt really good. He still has a very young mind, but he is getting better and better and better. His body is a little slow, but his mind is very active, so I am just trying to figure out how to connect that all. Even tonight, I felt that he was really ready and I was very excited to do him in this class, but you never know.”

“He is a very careful jumper and he can still get very green at moments, so I wasn’t sure what was going to happen,” Genn detailed. “He was a little nervous in the first round. He was very excited, and he was fascinated with the jumbo-tron. Every time I went by he just kept staring, and I couldn’t get his head over. He was very playful in the warm-up. He laid down all morning and that was a good sign. My horse Happy used to do that. If she laid down on grand prix day, it was a good sign, and he has started to do that too. He won one other grand prix this summer, and he laid down also on the same day. It’s just little things like that. In the jump-off he felt amazing. He felt green in the first round, just insecure, but in the jump-off he felt super.”

Detailing his round in the short course and where he made the time over Zetterman, Genn stated, “I did six strides to the combination, and that was it. From the beginning, I thought the winner was going to do six there; I just didn’t know I was going to be the one. I was not sure if I could do the six because you never know where Bugatti is going to be on the next stride because he is still so inexperienced, but I told myself if I kept the oxer going forward out of the turn, I could keep going in six and it worked out.”

Commenting on the course, Genn noted, “I thought it was a beautiful course, especially for a younger horse to move up. The jumps were a nice height. They weren’t too big, because you have the lights as a factor, and you probably had a lot of younger horses in tonight and some younger riders. I was very happy when I walked it. I wasn’t sure if I was going to get a piece, but I loved it for my horses. Anthony built beautifully all week.”

Genn plans to stay in Wellington through April to compete at the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival, which begins on Wednesday. He is excited to develop his horses throughout the circuit.

“My plan is to now scale it back a little bit with the two young horses, Bugatti and the mare, Welcome Cor,” he stated. “They have done very well, and I don’t want to overwhelm them. They will take a little break and then do some 1.45m and 1.50m classes, then maybe some of the Thursday or Friday grand prixs and then go from there. They are very young still, and I like to produce them so they last for a long time.”

Earlier in the week, the $10,000 Equiline Open Stake was held on Thursday with a win for Aaron Vale and Quidam’s Good Luck, owned by Troy Glaus. Thirty-eight entries showed in round one, with 19 clear rounds to advance to the jump-off, and ten double clear rounds. Vale and Quidam’s Good Luck completed the fastest double clear in 37.01 seconds for the win. Todd Minikus took second and third place honors, riding Carl Brem’s Cordonos through the timers in 37.77 seconds, and finishing in 38.62 seconds aboard Two Swan’s Farm’s Arino du Rouet.

The Holiday Finale concluded ESP’s 2014-15 Holiday Horse Show Series as the Palm beach International Equestrian Center prepares for the start of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) this week. The 12-week WEF circuit begins on Wednesday, January 7, and continues through March 29, 2015. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com
803.240.7488

Casablanca Rallies in Second Half to Claim Herbie Pennell Cup

Polito Pieres in one of his many runs down field. Photos: Liz Lamont Images/Phelps Media Group.

Coca-Cola Claims Overtime Victory in Consolation Match

Wellington, FL – January 4, 2015 – The sidelines of the pristine Engel & Völkers field were filled to capacity with enthusiastic spectators as players mounted for the final of the Herbie Pennell Cup between the Casablanca and Villa del Lago teams. The Herbie Pennell Cup is one of three 20-goal tournaments held at the International Polo Club Palm Beach during the winter season. Villa del Lago overcame Lechuza Caracas in the semifinal to secure their position in today’s match. Casablanca, a strong team brimming with young talent, swiftly defeated Coca-Cola on Friday. Both teams are coming off strong semifinal wins, arrived to the field confident in their abilities to control the final Sunday game.

Polito Pieres, recently raised to a 10-goal rating in Argentina, started off the game on a flashy note. Pieres showed off for the crowd as he dribbled the ball in the air and through the goal posts. Roldan battled his way through a crowd of horses and popped the ball through the air to add two consecutive goals to the Casablanca tally. Pieres quickly answered back, scoring two more goals for the Villa del Lago team. The first chukker ended with Villa del Lago on top 3-2.

Miguel Novillo Astrada fought back for the Casablanca team and took advantage of a foul called against Villa del Lago, easily shooting a penalty three through the uprights. Agustin Obregon wowed the audience with a difficult, deep neck shot through the goal followed by two more goals, one by Pieres and another by Obregon to bring Villa del Lago up by three goals, 6-3 to end the 2nd chukker.

Villa del Lago played a strong, offensive third chukker to push the team further ahead. Three goals scored by Villa del Lago and two goals scored by Casablanca, kept Villa del Lago in the lead 9-5 at half.

Casablanca, down by four goals, had to make their move in order to stay in the game. Roldan and M. Novillo Astrada did just that, scoring a combined three goals. The Casablanca team made its comeback run as players streaked up and down the field putting Casablanca within one goal, 9-8.

A right-of-way infraction gave Casablanca an open goal shot from the 30-yard line. Roldan tapped the team’s ninth goal of the game through to tie the score. A similar foul called against Casablanca put Villa del Lago at the advantage, giving Pieres an easy goal from the 30-yard mark. Novillo Astrada sailed through a pack of players to add a third goal to the Casablanca tally for the 5th chukker, once again tying the score 10-10.

It came down to the wire in the sixth chukker as both teams battled for control of the ball. Novillo Astrada was the first to put the ball through the goal giving Casablanca the edge. A second goal by Roldan aided in their offensive effort and kept their momentum rolling. With their lead now gone, Pieres was forced to turn on the magic and crushed a shot through the goal. An end of the chukker score by Roldan ended the game with Casablanca on top 13-11.

After a tough game, the players were presented with awards by Herbie Pennell’s son, Bob Pennell. The horses in polo are considered to be athletes and are judged throughout the game for their ability. Paulina, a mare owned and ridden by Novillo Astrada was named Best Playing Pony. Novillo Astrada was awarded Most Valuable Player.

Grant Ganzi and Juancito Bollini, the young duo of the Casablanca team have been playing together since they were children. Ganzi described, “Playing with my best friend is incredible; there isn’t anything better,” Ganzi said. “The chemistry between us on the field is just there.”

Roldan has played with Bollini and Ganzi over the past few years and has been a guiding force in their polo careers. Playing with highly-ranked players like Novillo Astrada and Roldan in 20-goal play is likely to advance their skill.

Following the game Roldan discussed his team’s comeback strategy.

“The first few chukkers we were light; every time we hit the ball we gave it to the other team,” he said. “We finally sent someone to Polito and figured it out.”

The Coca-Cola team pulled off their first victory of the season in the Herbie Pennell Consolation Final against Lechuza held at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

“It sure feels better to win,” chuckled Kris Kampsen as he pulled his boots off after the game.

Juan Martin Nero and Julio Arellano with Kris Kampsen close behind
Juan Martin Nero and Julio Arellano with Kris Kampsen close behind

After a tough loss to Casablanca on Friday, Coca-Cola revisited their game strategy and arrived to the field ready to bring home a win. The Coca-Cola team is unique in that every member is considered to be an American player. Team sponsor, Gillian Johnston, is one of only two female patrons playing at the high goal level.

Juan Martin Nero, a strong captain of the Lechuza team, just arrived from Argentina where he won all three major tournaments. His innate skill with the ball is a treat for spectators to watch.

The consolation match began with the score bouncing back and forth for the first two chukkers. Johnston, playing the number one position, put two goals on the board for her team in addition to a goal each by Julio Arellano and Kampsen. Nero and Marcos Alberdi led the scoring initiative for the Lechuza team. Teams were tied at 4 goals apiece at the end of the second chukker.

Lechuza charged through the third chukker, scoring four goals. Nero sank a penalty-four shot through the goal and added an additional tally from the field. Team sponsor, Victor Vargas, and Martin Espain each added a goal to push Lechuza up 8-4.

Coca-Cola reorganized their offensive attack, scoring three goals in the fourth chukker. Nero easily converted a penalty four from the 60 yard line to keep Lechuza in the lead 9-7.

Vargas tore down the field to start chukker five with another goal for the Lechuza team. A penalty in favor of Lechuza pushed the team further ahead. However, an infraction called against Lechuza allowed Arellano to tap the ball through the goal from the 30-yard mark. A miscued shot was called a safety giving Coca-Cola a penalty six. Coca-Cola hung on at the end of the fifth chukker down by two goals, 9-11.

With seven minutes and thirty seconds remaining in regulation time, Arellano stole the ball and added the 10th tally to the Coca-Cola score. On a clutch play, Wroe scored the 11th goal to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Johnston scored the winning overtime goal on a long pass from Arellano to end the game 12-11. Her scoring efforts were acknowledged with the Most Valuable Player Award. Torta, played by Kampsen, owned by Sugar Erskine, was named Best Playing Pony.

“It was a very tough game,” said Kampsen. “Lechuza had a very good third chukker. We had to fight back from that. Julio gave us a great pep talk at the half and Sugar was really helpful coaching from the side. We stayed hungry and true to our game plan and we ended playing the game the way we wanted.”

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

Website:
www.internationalpoloclub.com

For Tickets:
http://internationalpoloclub.ticketleap.com/

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

Management:
John Wash – President of Club Operations
jwash@internationalpoloclub.com
561-282-5353

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Laura Kraut and Cedric Win $125,000 Trump Invitational Grand Prix

Laura Kraut and Cedric. Photos © Sportfot.

Sophie Simpson and HC Woopy 14 Top $5,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Class

Palm Beach, FL – January 4, 2015 – Show jumping superstars Laura Kraut (USA) and Cedric jumped to the top of an exciting competition Sunday afternoon in the $125,000 Trump Invitational Grand Prix, presented by Rolex. Held at Donald Trump’s scenic estate, The Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, FL, the third annual event featured international show jumping at its best with top finishes for Kraut, Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Brianne Goutal (USA).

Anthony D’Ambrosio, of Red Hook, NY, set the course for Sunday’s competition, which featured 35 horses and riders jumping in a one-of-a-kind setting. With the backdrop of blue skies, palm trees, and sunshine on Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway, the course saw 13 clear rounds that led to an exciting jump-off with seven double clear entries and a race to the finish.

Callan Solem (USA) and the Torlando Group’s VDL Torlando were the first pair to clear the jump-off course without fault and finished seventh in 43.10 seconds. Alexander Zetterman (SWE) and his own Flecu were faster in 41.83 seconds to place sixth. Margie Engle (USA) and Griese, Garber, Hidden Creek and Gladewinds’ Indigo took the lead in 40.74 seconds to eventually place fourth, and Beezie Madden (USA) and Abigail Wexner’s Vanilla followed with the fifth place round in 41.48 seconds.

The final four riders were some of the fastest in the world and fought hard for a win in the prestigious competition where the option of a very tight inside turn and a gallop to the final fence was the final deciding factor. Darragh Kenny made that turn with Oakland Venture LLC’s Fantasy and was fast and clear in 40.12 seconds to take over the lead from Engle, but he eventually settled for second place. Brianne Goutal (USA) and Remarkable Farms LP’s Ballade van het Indihof were next, and did their best to catch the pair. They stopped the clock in 40.62 seconds to take third place. It was down to the final two.

Back-to-back Trump Invitational winner, Kent Farrington (USA), returned to defend his title after winning the inaugural event in 2013 with Amalaya Investment’s Dynamo and also topping the class in 2014 with Robin Parsky’s Blue Angel, but today was not his day. Farrington opted for a very fast outside turn to the last fence with Blue Angel and slipped in the turn, then had a rail down at the final jump. The pair’s time of 36.31 seconds would have given Farrington his third straight win in the competition, but the unfortunate rail put them in ninth place. Last to go, Laura Kraut and Cherry Knoll Farm, Inc.’s Cedric took the inside turn and came through the timers in 39.96 seconds, just ahead of Kenny and Fantasy, to earn a big win.

Kraut and Cedric, a 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Chambertin x Carolus Z), have had a long and illustrious partnership that includes team gold in the 2008 Olympic Games and many grand prix victories over the years. Most recently, they topped the $50,000 Holiday& Horses Grand Prix CSI-W 2* at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in November, but this was a class they had not yet conquered.

“I could not be more pleased with him,” Kraut stated in the press conference. “He is 17 years old, but he feels better than ever. He won his last outing a month ago out in Wellington and he has hardly jumped a fence until today. I gave him a little jump on Wednesday and then he came today and he feels great. I thought this would be a good event for him. I targeted him for this, and he came through. He is just an amazing horse, and we have such a relationship now. I feel like I can call on him, and he is there.”

Heading into the jump-off after seeing Farrington have a rail, Kraut admitted, “Did I breathe easier? Well yes, because Kent is so hard to beat, but I had not seen Darragh and Darragh can be equally fast, so I knew I had my work cut out for me. Actually, when I went through the timers I didn’t think that I had won. Cedric jumped so high through the double that it took me a second to get through that. I was quite relieved when they said I had won.”

“I was a little worried because I knew I had to add a stride down the line, the only line in the course; I had to do six and everyone else did five,” Kraut explained. “I thought I could just make up for it by continuing running everywhere, and he was jumping so high that I didn’t think I would have a fence down. I was fortunate that I watched Kent go before me. Beezie Madden also volunteered that she went around the Rolex clock and she slipped, so when I was in the air over that I thought that if I could just turn really short and pull him almost to a stop and turn, it was probably better than running right around. When you run that fast they are going to probably slip. It was perfect, he stood right up and he turned and went, so I think that is probably what did it.”

Following a great win and a beautiful day in Palm Beach, Kraut praised Donald Trump and Equestrian Sport Productions’ CEO Mark Bellissimo for putting on a fantastic event. With footing challenges in year one, Trump put up the money to redo the turf for the 2014 event. The new footing was put to the test with terrible rains in year two, but everything came together this time around.

“I was going to lead off with how amazing this event has evolved,” Kraut acknowledged. “Finally, on the third year, they got lucky. All of the conditions were perfect. It is probably the best grass footing in the world. I went last in the class and last in the jump-off, and I think I had ground as good as the first ones did. It was perfect. It was an absolutely great event.”

“We all look forward to coming here,” she continued. “It gives us something to shoot for after Christmas to start the year off and it was beautiful today. This is a special event. It is a beautiful location and the fact that Mark and Donald have put this together and put this on right here in Palm Beach, it is absolutely gorgeous. It is a prestigious event to try to win and I am very happy to win it.”

Bellissimo spoke about the day as well, declaring, “It was another great event. The weather could not have been more spectacular given what we experienced last year. I think this event has really grown in stature. Donald has been an amazing partner in this effort, and we have had a number of conversations about how we can take this to the next level. I think we are going to introduce something a little more innovative next year with more prize money. I want to thank Rolex for again being an amazing partner and stepping up to be the title sponsor here as well as the Tisbo family with Suncast, Land Rover, and Carol Sollak at Engel & Völkers. Without their help we could not make this happen. Congratulations to Laura. This is her third year here and the third time is the charm as they say. We are very proud of watching that effort. Margaret Duprey’s horse really rose to the occasion.”

Trump also praised the winner and was thrilled with another great event. “I want to congratulate the great champions,” he stated. “I know Laura really wanted to win this and now she has done it. What a great job you have done. It is bravery and it is talent and it is great horses. It was an honor and I want to congratulate Mark and his family for the fantastic job they do in putting the event on. Likewise, we have an excellent one in Central Park, so we have a couple of beauties.”

Darragh Kenny and Fantasy
Darragh Kenny and Fantasy

Trump and Bellissimo put on the first ever Central Park Horse Show in Trump Rink in New York City this September with great success, and look forward to the future of that event, where Kraut along with second and third place finishers Darragh Kenny and Brianne Goutal competed as well. On Sunday, Kenny guided his horse Fantasy to a great jump-off round that just got beat.

“My horse is a little bit greener and younger than Cedric, so I was fighting an uphill battle,” Kenny laughed after the class. “She is really talented and I really think a lot of her, but I knew that when I came out of the ring with Kent and Laura going after me, chances are one of them was going to beat me. It was a great class and this it the first year I have actually jumped this class, so it was really enjoyable. The footing is fantastic. The show is brilliant. Donald and Mark do an amazing job with it.”

Goutal also had an excellent round with her mare, Ballade van het Indihof, and praised the mare as well as Trump and Bellissimo’s efforts in the event.

“It was really special for me because I haven’t shown this horse in almost two years,” Goutal detailed. “She had some time off due to injuries and it is her first real grand prix back and for sure in the United States, she hasn’t been here in almost two years. I was absolutely thrilled with her. She is so amazing.”

“The venue is incredible,” Goutal continued. “In my opinion and I think most of our opinions, the Trump/Bellissimo team now has, if not the two best shows in the world, two of the best. Tropical venue wise, nothing compares to this one, especially with the footing upgrades and the prestige and everything that’s involved. The Central Park show, when you talk about an inner city show, we jump a lot during the year and over the summer in all these big places and in my opinion Central Park is incomparable to anywhere else as well. A huge thank you for those two.”

Net proceeds from the Trump Invitational benefit the 2015 Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments® (FTI GCC), which will be held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Saturday, February 7. The pro-am team competition, founded in 2010 by Mark and Katherine Bellissimo and their daughter, Paige, has distributed more than $6.2 million to more than 100 Palm Beach County charities over the past five years. In addition to 28 charities already selected to participate in this year’s competition, four more were selected during Sunday’s event, including CROS Ministries, Take Stock in Children Palm Beach, Gratitude House, and Leadership Palm Beach County.

Sophie Simpson and HC Woopy 14
Sophie Simpson and HC Woopy 14

Following the Trump Invitational, the future stars of show jumping took their turn in the spotlight. The brightest among them was Sophie Simpson, who guided Riffle Hitch Bloodstock’s HC Woopy 14 to best 13 invitational competitors in the $5,000 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Speed Class.

One of three to leave all rails in their cups and beat the clock, Simpson and her nine-year-old Holsteiner mare crossed the timers in 57.004 seconds. Jumping to second, Addison Geirkink piloted Tiffany, owned by Kadley Holdings, LLC, to a clear trip in 58.369 seconds. Keeping the only clear rounds in the top three, Joyce Green and her own Cassidy stopped the clock at 63.919 seconds for third.

A sale horse purchased by Simpson’s mother and trainer Nicole Shahinian-Simpson, HC Woopy 14 confirmed today that she is exactly where they want her to be. “We are in a good spot for the rest of the season,” said Simpson. “She is coming along quickly and always looking for the next jump. She’s becoming a real competitor and fighter – jumping clean and going fast.”

While far from a rookie in the show ring, Simpson jumped for the first time at the Trump Invitational this year and admits she has never experienced a horse show quite like it.

“I was lucky enough to come here and have this experience – it’s an odd process to only have one horse at a one-day horse show,” she said. “It’s different than what we are used to, but so good to have these kinds of classes that bring other types of people into the sport.”

Sweetening Simpson’s first week of 2015 even further, she participated in the George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session presented by the USHJA at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center just days prior to debuting at Mar-a-Lago. The experience served her well as she admits to hearing Morris’s voice reminding her “where are your feet and pick your hands up” while in the ring.

“I saw him [Morris] on the rail today and thanked him for the week,” recalled Simpson. “He said to me, ‘I watched your flatwork. It was very, very good,’ and I thought, okay – I had a successful week.”

Seventeen-year-old Simpson is coming off one of her final years as a Junior rider and has already committed to ride for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks come Fall 2016. While being signed to a collegiate team two years in advance is an honor, Simpson humbly gave credit to her team. “I have found that it takes a team to get to the ring. I am very fortunate to have great horses and tons of people supporting and getting me to the ring day to day. I am so lucky,” she concluded.

Sunday’s event also served as a kick-off to the season for the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival. The 12-week circuit, held at the beautiful Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, begins this Wednesday, January 7, and runs through March 29, 2015. During week one, the $75,000 Battle of the Sexes will be held on Saturday, January 10, with gates opening at 6 p.m. The first grand prix of the circuit, featuring $30,000 in prize money, will be held on Sunday, January 11, at 2 p.m. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.

Lauren Fisher and Lindsay Brock for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com
803.240.7488

World Polo News/Escue Carves Out the Championship of the 2014 Tackeria Cup

Matias Gonzalez. Photos courtesy of Jennifer Poor.

The Tackeria Sponsors Young Player Tournament Hosted by International Polo Club Palm Beach

Wellington, FL – January 3, 2015 – On December 30, spectators lined both sides of the field at International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. Four teams of young players between the ages of 16-21 battled for the coveted Tackeria Cup. Clean, classic polo charged with the energy that teenagers possess, made for an afternoon of exciting polo.

The Tackeria Cup is the first tournament in the Polo Training Foundation’s Young Player Series. In 2012, the Polo Training Foundation began this program, with the support of Jimmy Newman and the International Polo Club Palm Beach. The program is designed for the graduates of the Junior Program who age out at 16 to continue to play with and amongst their peers.

In 2012, Santi Torres, goaler Wesley Bryan, A-rated Mary and Matt Collins won the first annual Tackeria Cup at Bellissimo Field. In 2013, Matt Coppola, Caroline Hardie, Lorenzo Merlotti and Trevor Niznik won the second annual Tackeria Cup at International Polo Club.

The draw for the 2014 Tackeria Cup resulted in the Casablanca Team, comprised of A.5-rated Benjamin Avendano, A.5-rated Santiago Avendano, 1.5 goaler Lorenzo Merlotti and 2-goaler Matias Gonzalez against the Tackeria Team of Brazil rated -1 Guilherme Maia, S (student)-rated J. P. Vasquez, A.5-rated Alejandro Gonzalez and 4-goaler Matthew Coppola in the first two-chukker game.

Long-time teammates, Coppola and Gonzalez, came out running and were quick to get two field goals on the board: first by Gonzalez and second by 16-year-old Vasquez. The Casablanca team fought back but could not sneak by Coppola, ending the first chukker at 2-0.

In the second chukker, the teams galloped back and forth until Coppola put a third goal on the scoreboard. Towards the end of the chukker, Casablanca finally scored with a field goal by Avendano, but Tackeria held the lead and advanced to the final with a first round score of 3-1.

The second qualifying game matched GJ Racing (A.5-rated Liam Lott, Pakistan-rated 3-goaler Isfandyar Pataudi, 2-goaler Kegan Walsh and 1.5-rated Wesley Bryan) against World Polo News (WPN)/Escue (0-goaler Jose Meirelles, Jr., A-rated Ayaan Quraeshi, A.5-rated Sloan Stefanakis and 3-goaler Wesley Finlayson).

Both teams battled back and forth trying to find a balance with their teammates. Finlayson’s conversion of a penalty 3 early in the chukker gave WPN/Escue a one-goal lead held until the end of the first chukker.

Kegan Walsh controls the ball
Kegan Walsh controls the ball

The second chukker WPN/Escue owned the field as Finlayson came back on the field with an organized team, making use of all players. The GJ Racing team fought to get a score on the board, but with Finlayson at back continuously shutting down any attempts at goal and clearing the ball to his teammates, WPN/Escue put 3 goals on the scoreboard, one by each Meirelles, Quraeshi and Stefanakis, while the GJ Racing team were left scoreless against the well-organized WPN/Escue team. At the end of the second chukker, up by 4 goals, WPN/Escue earned their ticket to the final against Tackeria.

The two consolation finalists took the field to determine third and fourth place. The Casablanca team appeared to be playing with a new strategy with the Avendano brothers defending and blocking so Merlotti could hit up to Gonzalez on run to goal. This approach resulted in an early goal for Casablanca to open the game 1-0. GJ Racing were picked up on the new Casablanca play and Bryan began covering Gonzalez man-to-man, preventing Gonzalez from breaking away.

The second chukker was back-to-back runs by both teams, neither side with a score, finishing with Casablanca 1-0.

The two finalist teams lined up for the final two chukkers of the day to determine the winner of the 2014 Tackeria Cup. The WPN/Escue team found their rhythm in the final chukker of their first game and was in top form with Meirelles scoring two goals to put them on top 2-0. A determined Tackeria team fought back with a strong offense and was rewarded towards the end of the first chukker with a goal by Coppola to bring the score to 2-1. Finlayson led his team covering man-to-man in the second and final chukker in an attempt to hold off the strong offense of the Tackeria Team.

Finally, with less than a minute on the clock, Vasquez and Gonzalez made a hole in the WPN/Escue defense, enabling Coppola to take off on a breakaway to score a goal, bringing the score to a tie 2-2.

With seconds before the 30-second horn, umpires Biddle and Onetto threw the ball in. The players scrambled, and WPN/Escue travelled with the ball straight to goal, but it was wide. At the end of regulation play, the score was tied 2-2.

The teams played a three-minute, rainbow-rule overtime chukker. If the tie wasn’t broken after the three minutes, they would proceed to a shoot-out.

In the rainbow rule, the ball is thrown in at midfield and the first team to hit the ball over their end line wins.

It’s often said that winning throw-ins will win you the game, and this is even more so with a rainbow rule overtime chukker. Umpires Biddle and Onetto lined up the eight players and threw the ball. Stefanakis, the 16-year-old from Texas, got control of the ball and ran flat out towards the corner near the end line, distancing himself from the opposing players. Coppola and Gonzalez were close behind but could not stop Stefanakis as he made one last hit, sealing the victory for his WPN/Escue as the 2014 Tackeria Cup Champions.

Rated at 0 goals and tying for top scorer of the day, Meirelles was named the Most Valuable Player. Finlayson received the Sportsmanship award. The Best Playing Pony award went to Coppola’s Mimosa, played in the final chukker of the day.

About The Tackeria

Founded by Tony Coppola in 1975, The Tackeria is the go-to source for equipment, supplies, fashion and gifts for the hunter/jumper, dressage and polo disciplines. It is located in Wellington, Florida, the apex of all things equestrian during the winter season.

With one of the most complete selections of equestrian equipment in the world, The Tackeria buyers find the best products made in the U.S. and import goods from all over Europe, the Far East and South America to create the best selection of quality items for customers. In addition, The Tackeria provides a wide range of services including in-house tack repair, engraving and embroidery as well as stall mat and kick pad installation.

The Tackeria is conveniently located on the corner of Pierson Rd. and South Shore at 13501 South Shore Blvd. in Wellington. It is adjacent to international competition at the Winter Equestrian Festival, Global Dressage Festival and the area’s many polo fields.

Now open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays through the season!

Carrie Wirth for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com

International Polo Club Palm Beach High-Goal Season Kicks Off with Herbie Pennell Cup

Kris Kampsen takes the ball down the boards.

Wellington, FL – January 2, 2015 – International Polo Club Palm Beach’s signature palm trees and lush, manicured fields provided the perfect backdrop for the first high-goal games of the 2015 season. The first match between Casablanca and Coca-Cola demonstrated the strength of the young Casablanca players. In the second face-off of the day, Villa del Lago pulled out a win over the Lechuza Caracas team.

The Casablanca team, 1-golaer Grant Ganzi, 8-goaler Nic Roldan, 9-goaler Martin Novillo Astrada, and 2-goaler Juancito Bollini, proved to be a force on the field in their first match against Coca-Cola. The Coca-Cola 20-goal team includes 2-goaler Gillian Johnston, 6-goaler Sugar Erskine, 8-goaler Julio Arellano, and 4-goaler Mason Wroe. Erskine was forced to sit out the Herbie Pennell Cup due to an injury and was replaced by Kris Kampsen, rated 6 goals.

Roldan, one of the highest rated American players, got the ball rolling with the first goal of the game. Teammate Bollini added another score to the Casablanca tally. Coca-Cola was quick to answer back, and sent Kampsen streaking down the field to pop one through the goal posts. A foul committed close to the goal went in favor of Casablanca. Novillo Astrada converted the penalty two with ease. Each team scored once more to close out the chukker with Casablanca on top 4-2.

In an evenly matched second chukker, each team scored two goals. Roldan and Novillo Astrada each added a goal from the field for Casablanca. A goal by Kampsen and a penalty three shot by Arellano aided the offensive effort of the Coca-Cola team. Casablanca maintained their two-goal lead, 6-4, at the end of the 2nd chukker.

Two costly fouls in the third chukker increased Casablanca’s lead to 4 goals, 8-4.

After sitting down for halftime, players from both teams remounted, looking to bring home the first win of the season for their team. A safety called against Casablanca gave Coca-Cola the opportunity to score. Arellano lofted the ball high through the air, adding the goal number 5 for the Coca-Cola team. A foul against Coca-Cola proved to be costly as Novillo Astrada easily sunk the penalty four shot for a goal. The fourth chukker ended with Casablanca in the lead 9-5.

Casablanca came to the field with confidence and dominated the fifth chukker. Bollini, Novillo Astrada and Roldan each added a goal to further their lead to 12-5.

Coca-Cola scored the first goal of the sixth chukker on a penalty shot. Casablanca left nothing to chance, scoring two more goals to end the game up 14-6.

“We all executed as we planned and that’s a very big advantage,” said Ganzi. “That’s how you really win a game.”

“We set up exactly what we wanted to do and we were able to execute that,” agreed Bollini.

Ganzi said that the team started practicing five days ago to prepare for their first outing. Roldan began playing with Novillo Astrada recently in Aspen, adding to the fluidity of their teamwork.

“It is always important to start off the season like this,” Roldan said. “It is the first game and it sets the tone for the rest of the season. Grant and Juancito just had the best games of their lives in high-goal. I’m getting to know Miguel so it was really fun. He makes it really easy on the field.”

Juan Martin Nero at the boards
Juan Martin Nero at the boards

The outcome of a tight game between Lechuza (1-goaler Victor Vargas, 3-goaler Marcos Alberdi, 10-goaler Juan Martin Nero, 6-goaler Martin Espain) and Villa del Lago (A-rated Jim Zenni, 6-goaler Julian de Lusaretta, 9-goaler Polito Pieres, 5-goaler Augustin Obregon) determined who would play against Casablanca in the Herbie Pennell Cup Final. With Nero just coming off an Argentine Open win and Pieres rating raised to 10 goals in Argentina, the players were fired up for the start of the Wellington season.

The game was an even match from the first bowl in. Espain snagged the first opportunity to score. Obregons flicked the ball through the uprights to tie the score 1-1.

The second chukker began with players looking to gain an advantage for their team. Nero expertly converted a penalty goal to bring Lechuza up by one goal. Obregon ran down the field, scoring his second goal of the day on a fast pony. Pieres, who just arrived from Argentina this morning, added a goal of his own to put Villa del Lago on top 3-2.

Villa del Lago pushed forward on the attack to widen their lead in the third chukker. Obregon easily scored again, followed by a penalty goal and a field goal by Pieres to end 6-2.

A right of way violation near the goalmouth gave Nero another easy shot from the penalty line. He tapped the ball through to widen their lead. Six-goaler, Lusaretta, picked up a loose ball on the run and tapped one through for Lechuza to put them back in the hunt. Nero and Pieres each scored a goal from the field to close out the fourth chukker 8-4

Nero streaked through the fifth chukker scoring two goals. A third goal by Alberdi brought Lechuza to within one goal of Villa del Lago.

Pieres and Nero
Pieres and Nero

In the crucial sixth chukker, players raced up and down the pitch looking to secure their win. Lusaretta drilled a ball through the goal to give Villa del Lago a slight advantage. Nero answered back, stealing the ball and running across the field to add another goal to Lechuza tally. A final goal by Pieres sealed the deal for the Villa del Lago team, winning the match 10-8.

“They had Juan Martin Nero, one of the best players in the world,” said Pieres. “He scored those two goals to come back in the game but luckily, we scored and we won the game.”

Obregon agreed and commented on how great he thought the horses played.

“For now I am looking forward to hopefully winning on Sunday,” Obregon said.

Villa del Lago will face off against Casablanca on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Herbie Pennell Cup Final. A consolation match between Coca-Cola and Lechuza will be held on Sunday at 10 a.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

Website:
www.internationalpoloclub.com

For Tickets:
http://internationalpoloclub.ticketleap.com/

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

Management:
John Wash – President of Club Operations
jwash@internationalpoloclub.com
561-282-5353

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

High-Goal Winter Polo Season Opening Day Features Star Power and Horsepower

Photo: David Lominska.

Wellington, FL – December 30, 2014 – On Sunday, January 4, the drama and excitement of the high-goal polo season kicks off at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. For 16 weeks, the world’s finest polo players and their ponies storm into Wellington, where 12, 20-goal teams and eight, 26-goal teams go head-to-head in the greatest athletic and equine polo matchups on Earth.

Opening Day features a luxurious marathon of culinary masterpieces and nonstop adrenaline. From 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Supercar will be kicking off their fifth annual Supercar Week with a display of high-end, high-performance, and high-octane vehicles lined up at the entrance to The Pavilion. Sunday Brunch at The Pavilion begins at 2 p.m., offering more than 80 delectable, gastronomic selections, entertainment, and spirited beverages.

Renowned Broadway stars and sisters, Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway, will perform the National Anthem. Actress Tatum O’Neal, the youngest person ever to win an Academy Award, will do the ceremonial coin toss.

The afternoon highlight, the final match of the 20-goal Herbie Pennell Cup, starts at 3 p.m. on the Engel & Vӧlkers Field. Guests will enjoy the spectacle of thoroughbred horses charging down the field, the solid click of mallet on ball, the pop of champagne corks, and the excited revelry of thousands of spectators.

John Wash, International Polo Club (IPC) president, promises that 2015 will be the best polo season ever. “Every year, we have been able to take the entire polo experience up a notch,” said Wash. “Our executive team puts in long days brainstorming new ideas and juggling the hundreds of details that go into making IPC the world’s premier polo destination.

“We couldn’t be more proud to be the home of the most prestigious tournaments in North America: the USPA C. V. Whitney Cup, the Piaget USPA Gold Cup, and the U.S. Open Polo Championship.”

Sunday polo tickets start at $10 for general admission and go up to $120 for box seating. Sunday Brunch at The Pavilion during January – February is $100, and the Reception Pass is $55. For March – April, pricing increases to $120 for Sunday Brunch, and $65 for the Reception Pass. The Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brunch (for two) is priced at $300 for January – February, and increases to $330 during March – April. Advance ticketing and reservations are highly recommended, and are available for purchase online at InternationalPoloClub.com.

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

Website:
www.internationalpoloclub.com

For Tickets:
http://internationalpoloclub.ticketleap.com/

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

Management:
John Wash – President of Club Operations
jwash@internationalpoloclub.com
561-282-5353

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Third Annual Trump Invitational, Presented by Rolex, at The Mar-a-Lago Club This Weekend

Last year’s Trump Invitational Grand Prix winners Kent Farrington and Blue Angel. Photo © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – December 30, 2014 – The third annual Trump Invitational, presented by Rolex, will be held on Sunday, January 4, 2015, at the beautiful Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, FL. In addition to world-class show jumping alongside the Intracoastal Waterway, there will be a red carpet entrance, Perrier-Jouët champagne, and a poolside Welcome Reception presented by Suncast® and Carol Sollak PA of Engel & Völkers. A VIP experience borders the ring and looks out over the water, making the Trump Invitational one of the most unique show jumping events in the world. Several luxury items will also be featured in this year’s live auction.

The $125,000 Trump Invitational Grand Prix will showcase 35 of the world’s top riders in an FEI world ranking competition, including World Number Two Kent Farrington, two-time Olympic gold medalists Beezie Madden and McLain Ward, Olympic gold medalist Laura Kraut, top show jumper Georgina Bloomberg, and up-and-coming star Jessica Springsteen.

The co-chairpersons for the event are Paige Bellissimo, Ivanka Trump, and Georgina Bloomberg.

The event will benefit the 2015 Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments®, which has raised over $6.2 million dollars over the last five years for more than 100 Palm Beach County charities. It will also serve as the kickoff party for the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival, the 12-week circuit that runs at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on January 7 – March 29, 2015.

The Trump Invitational is the only equestrian event ever to be held on Palm Beach Island and is hosted at The Mar-a-Lago Club, the former Marjorie Merriweather Post Estate built in 1924 and purchased and restored by Donald Trump in 1985. It is one of the most magnificent mansions in the world, is in the national register of historic places, and is a designated U.S National Landmark.

Rolex returns as the presenting sponsor, and additional sponsors include Suncast®, Land Rover, Carol Sollak PA of Engel & Völkers, Perrier-Jouët, Rosenbaum Mollengarden, PLLC, and Horseshoe Trail Farm.

Following the grand prix is a special invitational junior/amateur jumper class that will highlight some of the top junior and amateur riders in the sport.

For table information, please contact Kathleen LaMour at kathleen@equestriansport.com or call 561-784-1106.

To watch a video about the Trump Invitational, presented by Rolex, click here: https://vimeo.com/86656450.

Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com
803.240.7488

Fabulous Victory for Koos de Ronde in Mechelen

Koos de Ronde (NED) on his way to his fifth victory in Mechelen. (Photo Dirk Caremans/FEI).

Mechelen (BEL), 31 December 2014 – Koos de Ronde produced an excellent performance late on Monday evening to win the FEI World Cup™ Driving at the Nekkerhal in Mechelen, Belgium for the fifth time in his career. Sweden’s Fredrik Persson drove with enormous skill to finish second ahead of Germany’s Georg von Stein whose team is finally coming together. Top favourite, Boyd Exell from Australia, knocked four balls down to line up in sixth place.

Fantastic atmosphere
De Ronde was the last man to compete in the Winning Round, in which the Top Three drivers started from scratch for the first time. He felt the pressure after Fredrik Persson had driven a clear round to beat De Ronde’s time of the first round by two seconds. The team gold medallist of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy decided to go for it and drove at full risk. He knew exactly where he was able to make up some time and drove his team fast, fluently and faultlessly through the course, cheered by the many enthusiastic spectators in Mechelen who created a fantastic atmosphere.

De Ronde, who also topped the line-up at the Belgian fixture in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012, finished four seconds faster than Persson. He started with a wild card, and therefore did not earn World Cup points, but with one more leg to go in Leipzig, he is lying fifth in the standings and it seems very likely that he will be amongst the Top Six drivers for the Final.

Top three plan
Another brilliant round was put down by Fredrik Persson. The driving teacher at the National Equestrian school in Flyinge, Sweden grew in the competition with his team of older horses who worked together in perfect harmony. After some hiccups on the first day, and one ball in the first round, Persson took full advantage of the new system and put the pressure on De Ronde by driving a fast and clear Winning Round, which took place over the same course.

Perssons’s goal was a place in the top three in Mechelen to secure his starting ticket for the Final in Bordeaux, and his plan worked. Because de Ronde was competing on a wild card, Persson picked up ten points and is now lying second in the standings.

Happy man in Mechelen
Georg von Stein was a very happy man in Mechelen. He was second to go in the first round and drove clear but not very fast. He had not expected to qualify for the Winning Round, but after his compatriot, Christoph Sandmann, had one knock-down, Theo Timmerman (NED) collected two faults and Boyd Exell left the arena with an uncharacteristic 20 penalty seconds, Von Stein was back in the game.

His four-in-hand with two new leader horses, which he has been driving since the start of this season, did a great job and Georg could drive them at high speed through the course. The experience they gained at the previous competitions is paying off. Unfortunately Georg made one mistake himself and one horse hit a ball, which resulted in third place. Georg was nevertheless a very happy man in Mechelen.

Five-time FEI World Cup Driving™ champion, Boyd Exell, who has been busy moving his horses and his home to Valkenswaard in the Netherlands in the past days, was unable to focus as he normally would and finished sixth in Mechelen after knocking down four balls.

World Cup debut
It was the first time that Dutch international Level 4 Course Designer Jeroen Houterman designed the course in Mechelen and the drivers were all very pleased with his track, which included several cones gates, a bridge and three marathon-type obstacles.

After the first day, some small changes were made to make the course even more fluent and this worked very well. The course was nice to watch for the spectators. Houterman himself was happy as well: “I will always keep learning; there are always small things to improve, but I am very pleased.”

New format
The new format in which the Top Three drivers start from scratch in the Winning Round was a huge success. This option was introduced into the FEI World Cup™ Driving rules this year and it was the first time that an organiser made use of it. It offered an equal opportunity for all three drivers, which resulted in a very exciting competition that was much appreciated by the fantastic crowd in Mechelen.

Quotes:
Koos de Ronde (NED): “I decided to go for it and drove at full risk. Everything came together and it was fantastic. This is the best way to win, being the last man in and then drive clear! The good feeling I had with this team in Budapest was back again after my somewhat disappointing results in London Olympia, and I am ready for the Final now!’

Fredrik Persson (SWE): “I was second to go in and I knew that Georg had two knockdowns. I wanted to go for it, but I wanted to drive clean as well. The feeling of my horses was so good, they developed throughout the competition. They went so much easier than on the first day. I am so happy with them and with the team of people that are with me; it make me feel very confident.”

Georg von Stein (GER): “My two new leader horses have really proven themselves in Mechelen. They have showed that they have a lot of quality in them, they are so fast. I am so pleased with my results in Mechelen; I don’t actually care that I won’t be in the Final. My horses gave me much satisfaction and next season they will be even better!”

Results in detail can be viewed here.

The 2014/2015 FEI World Cup™ Driving series now moves on to Leipzig (GER) on Sunday, 18 January 2015.

The FEI World Cup™ Driving competition in Leipzig will be broadcast live on FEI TV, the FEI’s official video platform, on 18 January at 12.05 CET.

For information on Leipzig, go to www.partner-pferd.de or contact Press Officer Andreas Kerstan, andreas.kerstan@comtainment.de, +49 4307 827970.

By Cindy Timmer

Media contact:

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Press Relations
malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 33

At Mechelen:
Edith de Reys
edith.dereys@skynet.be
+32 475 659 281

Qlassic Victory for Delestre at Longines Leg in Mechelen

The French partnership of Simon Delestre and the stallion Qlassic Bois Margot produced a devastating turn of speed to win today’s eighth leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2014/2015 Western European League at Mechelen in Belgium. (FEI/Dirk Caremans)

Mechelen (BEL), 30 December 2014 – Simon Delestre produced a devastating turn of speed from the stallion Qlassic Bois Margot to clinch victory at the eighth leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2014 Western European League at Mechelen, Belgium today. Last to go in an intriguing nine-horse jump-off, the 33-year-old Frenchman shattered the early target set by Britain’s Joe Clee to scoop maximum points and set himself firmly on the path to the series Final in Las Vegas, USA next April.

The first-round course set by Belgian course designer, Lucien Somers, presented a tough test for the 39 starters, with the double at fence seven and the triple combination at fence 12 proving particularly influential. “The triple was very difficult – the double of oxers with one stride followed by a vertical at the end of the course meant you needed a fit horse with a lot of scope today,” Delestre commented afterwards.

First to go

Clee really threw down the gauntlet when first to go in the jump-off with the 10-year-old stallion Utamaro d’Ecaussines who gave it everything he had to set a strong target in 32.42 seconds. And the 36-year-old rider who is married to the youngest daughter of the late Eric Wauters, in whose memory the popular Belgian fixture is staged, then had to stand back and watch the rest try to better that.

America’s Lucy Davis and Barron lost their chance at the very first fence, but Sweden’s Douglas Lindelow left all the timber intact when steering Casello home in 35.07, and he wouldn’t regret being a little cautious when this eventually proved good enough for third place.

The packed stadium of spectators gasped with dismay when the first of the two Belgian contenders, Judy-Ann Melchior and her grey mare Cold as Ice Z, also fell afoul of the opening vertical, but they were gripping their seats with excitement as Jos Verlooy galloped down to the last well up on the clock with the 11-year-old gelding Domino. One of the new wave of super-talented young Belgians blazing a trail on the international circuit right now, the rider who turned 19 just two weeks ago decided to take a stride out to the final oxer, however, and paid the price as it came crashing down for four faults in 34.60 seconds. He couldn’t forgive himself afterwards. “I made a terrible mistake and I’m so disappointed. I will never get the chance to win a competition like this again!” he insisted, but of course a young man of his calibre has a great future ahead of him.

Could be beaten

He had shown that Clee’s target time could be beaten, and although French stars Kevin Staut (Qurack de Falaise HDC) and Roger Yves Bost (Nippon d’Elle) each left a fence on the floor, and Germany’s Christian Ahlmann played the percentage game with a safe but slow clear from Cornado ll which would earn them fourth place in the final analysis, Delestre and his black stallion never looked like they were ready to compromise.

The precision of their opening round suggested they are a pair right on form, and when the Frenchman asked for a colossal effort at the last, the horse never flinched, galloping through the timers more than two seconds faster than Clee to put the result beyond doubt.

Tried to do my best

“I thought Joe was very quick and I wasn’t sure I could do a better time but I tried my best without going crazy. It was a good jump-off track for my horse; we could take one stride out in every line and he’s always very quick, but I was sure to be careful because twice before in the qualifiers this season I have been really fast but picked up four faults!” said Delestre afterwards.

The pair has had a busy and super-successful year, with the team silver medal at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy followed by a second-place finish at the Global Champions Tour in Vienna, fifth at the Longines qualifier in Lyon (FRA) and 12th at Stuttgart, “and now we won – I’m really so happy with him!” Delestre said of his horse. “He will do Basel (SUI) and Bordeaux (FRA) and then go breeding for seven weeks. Last year he covered about 300 mares; he is a great stallion for the French mares with a fantastic bloodline,” he added.

Very special

Talking about his stallion, he continued, “Qlassic is special in many ways; he’s full of energy, but not stupid energy, and he’s usually very careful. He can be sensitive sometimes if things are not going well, but we understand each other. He’s best when he’s been jumping over a few days. On Thursday we jumped a class, and then we went in a jump-off but we went slowly. He needs a few times in the ring to be happy, and today he was really ready!” he added.

With 37 points the Frenchman has now moved up to eighth place on the Western European league leaderboard and is already planning his trip to the Longines Final. However, he’s not sure which horse he will take. “I will think about it closer to the time. It’s a very small ring there for a horse like Qlassic, so I might take Ryan (Ryan des Hayettes) instead,” he pointed out this evening.

For further information on the eighth leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2014/2015 Western European League at Mechelen, Belgium, check out website www.jumping-mechelen.com or contact Press Officer Edith de Reys, Email edith.dereys@skynet.be, Tel +32 475 659281.

The next leg takes place in Leipzig, Germany on Sunday 18 January 2015. For all information on the German fixture, visit website www.engarde.de or contact Press Officer Andreas Kerstan, Email andreas.Kerstan@comtainment.de, Tel +49 177 75 32 624.

Full result here.

Facts and Figures:

Mechelen in Belgium presented Round 8 of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2014/2015 Western European League today.

This is the 34th edition of the fixture created by the late Eric Wauters whose family continues to be deeply involved in the staging of the event.

9 horse-and-rider combinations qualified for the second-round jump-off against the clock including two from both Belgium and France.

4 produced double-clear performances.

Course designer was Belgium’s Lucien Somers.

Winner was 33-year-old Frenchman Simon Delestre partnering Qlassic Bois Margot, the 10-year-old stallion with which he helped the host nation claim team silver at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy.

Quotes:

Sweden’s Douglas Lindelow, who took the Leading Rider of the Show award – “The oxers were quite big but they suited the capacity of my horse. The short distances were difficult for him in the first round but he was great in the jump-off. Sweden only has two places at the (Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping) Final so I am hoping for more invitations to the qualifiers so that I can get to Las Vegas. I’m the leading Swedish rider in the standings right now so I’m hoping I can get there!”

Joe Clee GBR – “This was my first World Cup of the season so to finish second was great!”

Joe Clee GBR – “I’d love to go to Las Vegas but we also have the European Championships to think about next year so even if I do qualify for the Final we will have to have a discussion about whether it will be right for my horse to go.”

Joe Clee GBR, joking about Simon Delestre’s victory which pinned him back into runner-up spot – “Last year in the Small Grand Prix Simon also beat me, so I don’t think we should send him an invitation next year!”

Full standings here.

Longines Live Timing Jumping application: available free for download from The App Store (iPhone) & Android Markets. Combining precision and performance, this is a detailed and exclusive application designed especially for Jumping fans – follow live results, see latest Longines Rankings, view competition schedules, obtain exclusive information and alerts on your favorite riders and get all the latest FEI news.

Rider biographies: view online and download from http://fei.org/fei/your-role/media/biographies.

Longines has been based at Saint-Imier (SUI) since 1832. Its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. It has generations of experience as the official timekeeper at world championships and as a partner of international sports federations.

Longines’ passion for equestrian sports began in 1878, when it produced a chronograph engraved with a jockey and its mount. Over the years, the brand has built strong and long-lasting links with equestrian sports. In 1912, Longines was proud to partner with its first Jumping event, the Grande Concurso Hippico Internacional, in Portugal.

Today, Longines’ involvement in equestrianism includes Jumping, Endurance and flat racing.

Longines is a member of The Swatch Group S.A., the world’s leading manufacturer of horological products. With an excellent reputation for creating refined timepieces, the brand, whose emblem is the winged hourglass, has outlets in over 130 countries.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Mechelen:

Edith de Reys
Email: edith.dereys@skynet.be
Tel: +32 475 659 281

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Pensacola – Call for Stalls

Saturday night grand prix action under the covered arena.

Entries are coming in, but did you call for stalls? The Gulf Coast Winter Classic in Pensacola, Florida starts January 7th and kicks off three weeks of top show jumping competition along the Gulf of Mexico.

For those who are still deciding what classes they want to do, what horses they want to bring and all the details for the best three weeks of January shows out there, the Classic Company asks that you CALL FOR STALLS! “We want to deliver the best show experience to our competitors so we want to be prepared for everyone. Planning stabling is key and so we want everyone who has not yet reserved a stall to call 843.768.5503 and reserve them now,” said Bob Bell, President of Classic Company.

For those still on the fence, the prize lists are online and entering could not be easier! Just go to Classic Company’s service partner horseshowsonline.com and enter your entire barn for NO ADDITIONAL FEES!

All online entries for the next week will be accepted at no additional fee if you use horseshowsonline.com. It is easy, safe and the fastest way to enter. Save yourself the headache of rushing to the post office during the holidays; go to horseshowsonline.com.

It’s Perfect in Pensacola!

The Escambia County Equestrian Center is home to the Gulf Coast Winter Classics in Pensacola for three weeks and offers a huge covered arena, beautiful outdoor competition arenas, plenty of stabling in permanent barns with large stalls, indoor wash racks, and roomy aisles. On-site RV pads with water and electric hook up are available and scenic riding trails are also a part of the equestrian center.

Top hotels are just minutes from the show grounds offering plenty of lodging choices for those with and without pets.

World class shopping and dining on the Gulf of Mexico, just a fifteen minute drive from the show grounds, make for great Mondays for everyone in your barn!

Week I of the Saturday night grand prix schedule kicks off with a $10,000 Jumper Classic, Week II offers the $5,000 Horseflight Open Welcome, the $25,000 Nutrena Grand Prix, and Week III wraps up Pensacola with the $25,000 EMO Grand Prix. There are Derby classes each week and a $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Week II. There will be a complimentary Wild West Show Week III to close out this year’s Pensacola shows.

Partner hotel The Red Roof Inn offers special rates for those showing in Pensacola. Red Roof Inn is a pet-friendly hotel in close proximity to the show grounds that offers complimentary Internet access, breakfasts and parking. Select rooms offer microwaves and mini-fridges. Coin laundry is available. Book your rooms early and remember to mention that you are showing at the Gulf Coast Classic Pensacola shows.

“I’ve stayed at Red Roof Inn Pensacola and it is a wonderful place to come home to after a long day at the show. The rooms are immaculate, the staff is professional and nice, and they are pet friendly, which works for me and my dog Ellie,” commented Bell.

Make sure to book your room early and mention that you are showing at the Gulf Coast Classic Pensacola shows!

On Deck! Gulf Coast Winter Classics

The secret is out! Gulfport, Mississippi is THE place to show! With more than a million in prize money and awards, the best footing in the show world and the best management staff, as well as its Mississippi Gulf Coast location complete with beachfront hotels and condos and some of the best seafood and fishing in the country, and you have a winner!

This year the Gulf Coast Winter Classics offer six consecutive weeks of grand prix, hunter derbies, meter 1.20, 1.40 AND 1.30 jumper classes. Each week features the Horseflight Open Welcome as well as classics for everyone! “We’ve already had a lot of commitments that barns would be heading to show with us this year and we’re excited to introduce them to the Gulf!” said Bell.

Grand Prix rider Trapp O'Neil from Magnolia, Texas shows all six weeks of AA competition on the Gulf.
Grand Prix rider Trapp O’Neil from Magnolia, Texas shows all six weeks of AA competition on the Gulf.

The Gulf Coast Classics start on February 4 and run through March 15th – that’s right! Its Mardi Gras season. Only an hour from New Orleans – what a great way to spend your Mondays. Let the good times roll!

608 permanent stalls and more than 500 tent stalls are available. Strict bio-security measures have always made these show grounds a safe haven for all horses. Complimentary riders’ lounges at the jumper and hunter rings, VIP service and tables offer a full cash bar and delightful meals and snacks Thursday through Sundays.

More than 130 RV spots complete with electric and water hooks ups are available as well as partnerships with world-class hotels located just a short drive from the show grounds. The Residence Inn by Marriott and the Hilton Garden Inn are a 10 minute drive to the show grounds and adjacent to the Biloxi International Airport. The Residence Inn by Marriott is pet-friendly and offers special exhibitor rates in addition to the Manager’s Reception three times a week and a complimentary hot breakfast every day! Click here to book your room at the discounted rate.

The Hilton Garden Inn is located next door to the Residence Inn by Marriott and offers an onsite restaurant and bar, complimentary WiFi, fitness center and outdoor pool and special discount rates for those showing at the Gulf Coast Winter Classics! A mile from the airport and just ten minutes from the show grounds, the Hilton Garden Inn is looking forward to providing you blue ribbon service while in Gulfport.

Exhibitor parties take place every week either on-site or at local world class casinos and restaurants. These are fun for the whole family!

The best news? The Gulf Coast Classic offers the best showing experience for a fraction of the cost of the other shows. Better footing, world renown course designers, a fun coastal town with world class shopping and dining, an airport just 15 miles away – what are you waiting for?

Join the Gulf Coast Classic on the Gulf of Mexico this winter and discover your new favorite show!

The Gulf Coast Classic Company and the Classic Company is a USHJA’s Members Choice Award winner, 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 at www.gulfcoastclassiccompany.com and 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