WELLINGTON, FL – March 18, 2013 – Grand Champions Polo Club is helping to develop and promote youth polo throughout the year by sponsoring and hosting several tournaments.
Grand Champions is the title sponsor of two Polo Training Foundation Youth Player Program events in March and April.
The first event is on Friday, March 22, at International Polo Club Palm Beach at 4 p.m. The Grand Champions Cup will feature advanced level players, ages 16-21.
On Friday, April 19th, Grand Champions will also host the Santa Rita Cup, also at IPC.
In the Grand Champions Cup, sixteen players will compete on four teams. The teams will play two chukkers apiece to determine the final and consolation round teams.
Players are Marcus Alberdi, Enrique Barco, Michael Bellissimo, Wesley Bryan, Juancito Bollini, Matias Sosa, Chase Schwartz, Jared Zenni, Matt Coppola, Justin Daniels, Clemente Devrient, Wesley Finlayson, Tomas Alberdi, Lauren Biddle, Mili Galindo and Jonny Lavine.
Youth polo will be in the spotlight once again on Monday, March 25th when Grand Champions Polo Club plays host to the annual Buzz Welker Memorial Tournament.
Many of the players entered are the next generation of sons and daughters of current men and women polo players.
“The kids are amazing,” said Piaget player-sponsor Melissa Ganzi, co-host of the event with her husband, Marc. Both are team captains of pro teams Piaget and Audi, respectively.
The tournament is named in honor of Buzz Welker, a former polo player who shared his love for the game with anyone who would listen, from experienced to novice players.
Before his life ended, Welker played in 16 countries and played with several celebrities including Prince Charles, the Sultan of Brunei and Tommy Lee Jones.
Welker died from an aggressive form of cancer on Nov. 27, 2006 at age 69. He was the founder and leader of the Franklin Polo Association and headed major polo clubs in Texas, Florida and Dominican Republic.
The tournament begins 3 p.m. Trophies will be awarded at 6:30 p.m.
Advanced players will compete first followed by intermediate and lower levels. There will also be a walk-trot and lead-line for young children to end the day at 6 p.m.
Those entered include: Agustin, Hope and Lucas Arellano; Blake Ashcroft; Mia, Miguelito and Tonia Astrada; Benjamin, Joaquin and Santiago Avendano; Jacobo Bacariza; Nikola and Sasha Bahlsen; River Blake; Santos Bollini; Malia Bryan; Adolfito and Mia Cambiaso; Jacqui Casey; Javier and Maria Celis; Matteo and Pierre Chaux; Brandon Cochrane; Matt Cohen; Benjamin, Justin and Landen Daniels; Anthony Devrient; Lucas and Nicolas Escobar; Buhl and Elizabeth Fenner; Oliver Firestone; Grant and Riley Ganzi; Bryce Gardiner; Carl Gittens Jr.; Bryce Gardiner; Richard Gollel; Matias Gonzalez; Christos and Santino Magrini; Carlos Martinez; Jack McLean; Olivia, Segundo, Santos and Tincho Merlos; Josh Odrich; Benjamin Quiroga; Lorenzo and Lucianna Ramirez; Finn Secunda; Donovan Stratemann; Boone Stribling Jr.; Alyssa Tranchilla; Cinderella and Malicia Von Faulkenhausen; Christian and Mackenzie Weisz.
Defending 2012 champions are: Division I, Mighty Mallets; Division II, Grand Champions I; Division III, County Line Feed; Division IV, Grand Champions II; Division V, The MorningLine; and Division VII: Tackeria II.
The Florida Junior Polo Program currently allows participation up through the age of 15. A new aspect of the program has added the Young Players Program for players ages 16-21, an age group that has been overlooked in the past. During the 2013 season, the PTF Young Players Program will have one tournament game a month.
BUZZ WELKER MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
Where: Grand Champions Polo Club, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road.
When: Monday, March 25, 2013.
Time: 3:00-6:30 p.m.
Information: Call 561-753-3389. Free admission. There are great field side views for tournament action. Please provide your own chair. Dogs should be on leashes. Everyone is welcome to watch polo’s future players.
Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
OCALA, FL (March 18, 2013) – Andre Thieme didn’t think it was Contanga 3’s day when they were one of nine pairs to return to jump off yesterday in the $100,000 Sullivan GMC Truck Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group, at HITS Ocala. “I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to be fast enough, but when everyone started having rails, I reconsidered,” he said. “I am very happy with my horse’s performance.”
Mexico’s Florencio Hernandez built the track that 48 pairs rode on Sunday, which included 14 obstacles with three double combinations. In front of a packed VIP tent and exuberant crowd that stacked the grandstands at HITS Ocala for the richest class of the season, Thieme was first to return to the short course. He and Contanga 3 finished in 50.51 seconds, topping one of the largest grand prix fields HITS Ocala has ever seen.
Thieme was crowned Pfizer Million champion in 2011 after riding Aragon Rouet to a historic victory. Thieme knows good horses after he and Aragon Rouet rode to the richest prize in show jumping over one of the most difficult courses he will ever face, but he admits that Contanga 3 is rapidly becoming one of the best horses he has ever ridden. “She is young, but very experienced,” he said of the nine-year-old mare. “She has had a very successful winter and I am so surprised at how far she has come.”
While Thieme considers whether the Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix in Saugerties September 8 is in the mare’s future, he admits that she will need some more development. “I know that course. I know how hard it is,” he said. “I will only bring her if she is absolutely ready and, with as scopey as she is, she might be ready in six months.”
In the jump-off, the only rider to challenge with another clear round was Aaron Vale of Morriston, Florida. After winning Thursday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, Vale and Zippo II, owned by 2VR Showjumpers, were fifth to go in the second-round order and were just over a second shy of the win with a time of 51.73 seconds.
“My horse jumped great today. I just never quite found a rhythm in the jump-off,” Vale remarked. He has seen much success in the big money at HITS Ocala and was also second in last year’s $100,000 grand prix.
Third went to Megan Wexler of Reddick, Florida and Procedure, Inc.’s Cadence. They were the fastest in the jump-off with a time of 48.72 seconds, but picked up a heartbreak rail at the final fence, the plank coming home, for four faults. Wexler, however, wasn’t the only one to find trouble at the plank. The diabolical fence also ruined clear rounds for Callie Morgan Smith of Bernardsville, New Jersey on Captain Krutzmann and Thieme with Seth Vallhonrat’s Catharina 9.
Thieme had four horses in the grand prix and made it to the jump-off with three, finishing fourth on Catharina 9 with a four-fault, 51.48-second round. He was also seventh on Quanshbob and finished out of the money with Klitschko. Thieme owns both horses.
Capping the top five, 17-year-old Michael Hughes piloted Christina Fried’s MacArthur to a time of 51.66 seconds with one rail down.
Thieme will return to Germany after a successful winter circuit and, and after some well-deserved time off, will again join the German Nations Cup Team. “I have had a great season in the states, but I miss my family and can’t wait to get back to them,” said Thieme who will make the trip back to Europe, $30,000 first-place check in hand, where his wife and six-year-old son wait.
This year’s event is the second consecutive season that Sullivan Buick GMC has sponsored the richest grand prix of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, making it possible for HITS to deliver significant prize money to East Coast competitors.
The $100,000 Sullivan GMC Truck Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group, wrapped up the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit on a high note as attention now turns north and riders take aim at qualifying for the Zoetis Million. The coveted million dollar class will take place during HITS Championship Weekend September 6-8 and will welcome some of the world’s most accomplished riders for the fourth-annual event.
Audi 8-goaler Nico Pieres goes for the neck shot. Photos – Alex Pacheco.
WELLINGTON, FL – March 18, 2013 — Audi played well against Zacara, but not well enough to remain alive in the USPA Piaget Gold Cup.
The Grand Champions Polo Club-based Audi, down by five goals early in the game, roared back to tie the game only to lose, 16-10, in one of five USPA Piaget Gold Cup games Sunday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
It was Audi’s second loss of the 11-team tournament, finishing 2-2 in its bracket.
Audi defeated Zorzal and C. V. Whitney champion Alegria during the tournament. Other bracket members Mt. Brilliant and Coca Cola finished winless at 0-4.
Audi will compete in the subsidiary Butler Handicap Cap semifinals on Thursday against an opponent still to be announced. The game is scheduled for noon. The final is Sunday.
Team captain Marc Ganzi returned to the Audi lineup after missing three games nursing a broken thumb and knee injury.
Audi team captain Marc Ganzi returns to the lineup after missing three games nursing a broken thumb
“It was just a series of unfortunate events in the game,” Ganzi said. “Once again it’s the second game in a row where we felt like we played really well from the field.
“We outshot the other team and statistically our time of possession and throw-ins were in our favor but the scoreboard wasn’t in our favor again. It continues to be a little frustrating.
“We played a good tournament,” Ganzi said. “There’s nothing to be ashamed about with our performance. From the field we are playing pretty good polo. We have a couple of things to fix in terms of our heads a little bit and get our heads focused on polo and not worry about the third parties that can affect the game.”
Ganzi played well despite still nursing injuries.
“It feels great to be back,” Ganzi said. “I’m not 100 percent but I’m on the field trying to help my team as much as possible. It felt pretty good out there. I made some good plays and made maybe one or two dumb plays.”
Audi fell behind early. Zacara outscored them in the opening two chukkers, 6-2, and were trailing 7-2 early in the third chukker before Audi started chipping away at the lead.
Audi’s Nico Pieres scored four goals, all on penalty shots in the third and fourth chukkers. Jeff Hall tied the game at 8-8 with 3:11 left in the fourth chukker enabling Audi to outscore Zacara, 3-0, in the fourth.
“At that moment we were not that good, mistakes and penalties, and they were playing well,” said Zacara’s Facundo Pieres, playing against his brothers Gonzalito and Nico, all former teammates with Ganzi on the 2009 U.S. Open champion team. Pieres scored a game-high eight goals.
“I think because we were winning so good we started making mistakes and they started coming back,” Pieres said.
Zacara team captain Lyndon Lea injured his hip in the fourth chukker and was replaced by 14-year-old Matias Gonzalez, a Polo Park Middle School eighth grader.
“My leg got caught and got pulled backwards,” Lea said. “I tried to get back on but I couldn’t ride or use the right side of my body so I couldn’t stop the horse.”
The 20-minute injury timeout seemed to stall Audi’s momentum and rhythm in the fifth chukker when Zacara regained its composure and outscored them 5-1.
“It’s unfortunate that Lyndon got hurt,” Ganzi said. “He tried to play again and couldn’t come back. That was bad luck. Lyndon is a fierce competitor and friend. You never want to see a friend not be able to finish a game.
Nico Pieres hits the ball in mid-air on a neck shot to his brother Gonzalito Pieres
“We had a 20-minute wait. I think it hurt a little bit. Sitting on the side for an extended period doesn’t really help the team that much. We had a bit of bad luck in the fifth; we missed a couple of goals and made a couple of goals. We had a very, very tough call at the end of the fifth chukker that was very frustrating.
“Two of their players collide and our guy is coming from behind and has the line. I don’t understand how it’s not a foul so it’s a bit frustrating. Our guy is going the other way and it’s a chance for us to get the game back to within two goals going into the sixth. But instead your focus in the sixth chukker is thinking whether or not you have the line. You are very tentative and frustrated. The game got out of hand for us.”
“We knew as soon as we did a couple of things good that we had our chances,” Pieres said. “It is a huge win because we are in the semifinals and this is what we wanted. I think we had three good games except for one chukker in this game.
“It’s always hard to play against my brothers, not because they are good players but because they are my brothers,” Pieres added.
The victory earned Zacara (3-0), one of only three undefeated teams remaining, a berth in Wednesday’s semifinals, joining Lechuza Caracas (3-0), Alegria (2-1) and defending champion Valiente (3-0).
In Wednesday’s semifinals, Lechuza Caracas plays Zacara at 2 p.m. and Valiente will meet Alegria at 4 p.m. The winners advance to Sunday’s championship for the second jewel of U.S. polo’s Triple Crown.
“I am delighted that we won,” Lea said. “The team is playing well. Audi is a very good team. We have some moments where we go blank but the team when it’s playing well can beat anybody.”
Added Ganzi: “They are a good team. Mike Azzaro is playing well above his handicap and with confidence. That team has a ton of confidence.”
It was the second time during the 26-goal season a team called upon a teenager to sub for an injured player. Wellington High senior Juancito Bollini played three games for Ganzi.
“Hopefully, organizations like Zacara will give young players like Matias and Juancito and a ton of good kids coming up in Wellington the chance to play,” Ganzi said. “It’s the only way these guys are going to get good.”
In the other four Sunday games, ERG edged Grand Champions Polo Club-based Piaget, 7-6, in the main stadium game; Lechuza Caracas defeated Orchard Hill, 13-11; Zorzal beat Coca-Cola, 12-11, in overtime and Alegria topped Mt. Brilliant, 7-5.
Alegria earned its berth into the semifinals in a shootout after the main stadium game. Alegria won its first shootout with Zorzal, 7-6, to advance into the semifinal qualifier shootout.
Alegria and ERG then tied in the first round of the semifinal qualifier shootout, 4-4. Alegria won in sudden death when Julian Mannix scored the winning shot.
BUTLER HANDICAP AUDI SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 21: Semifinal, Audi vs. TBA, noon; Maserati U.S. Open draw.
Sunday, March 24: Butler Handicap Final, noon; USPA Piaget Gold Cup Final, 3 p.m.
Thursday, March 28: U.S. Open begins, schedule, pairings to be announced.
AUDI/PIAGET TOURNAMENT LINEUP
March 28 – April 21, 109th Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championship
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: On the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington.
INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch polo during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League Tournament.
Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Davis, McKean, and Derr Win Inaugural Florida Youth Championships; Jordan Is High Point Rider at Para-Equestrian
Wellington, FL – March 17, 2013 – The WEF Dressage Classic, CDI 3* presented by Today’s Equestrian & Fellows wrapped up competition today at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. The highlight class was the FEI Intermediaire-1 Freestyle, with Caroline Roffman (USA) and Her Highness O taking the top prize. The Florida Youth Championships presented by Dressage4kids and sponsored by PanaCavallo wrapped up with awards in four divisions, and the Para-Equestrian competition had their presentations to honor the top teams and individuals. The Adequan Global Dressage Festival continues next with the Wellington CDI 5* presented by Diamante Farms on April 4-7, 2013.
For the FEI Intermediaire-1 Freestyle, there were seven entries. Winning the class with a score of 75.125% was Roffman and Her Highness O, a 10-year-old Hanoverian mare by Hohenstein x Weltmeyer. Second place went to Christilot Boylen (CAN) and Dio Mio with a score of 74.650%, while Kimberly Herslow (USA) and Rosmarin were third with 73.125%.
Roffman, who owns and runs Lionshare Dressage in Wellington, FL, with Endel Ots, has owned Her Highness O for three years. She found the mare after her career as a broodmare. Despite little knowledge under saddle, she thought the mare was “pretty special,” and developed her with then co-owner Jennifer Lind. She purchased her outright this past August. “I have to thank Jennifer Lind for letting me do that. She made it possible,” Roffman said. The pair won the Developing Horse championship last year. This is only their third CDI international small tour and it was their first freestyle together.
Roffman remarked, “I have to say thank you to Terri Gallo because that freestyle is five years old and it works with every horse. All my stars fell and aligned today because it was not exactly the most well-prepared test! It’s a really great mare and I’m very lucky to have her.”
Despite her small stature at 16 hands and Roffman’s height at six feet, they work well together when Her Highness O enters the show ring. “She’s very small, (but) she will never let you know that. She is true to her name. She thinks she’s queen and everyone should bow to her. When you tack her up, it’s like she has an alter ego. She has a lot of pride. I think she’s happy not be a brood mare anymore. I think she really likes being a show horse and wants to be treated a certain way. Her character is awesome,” Roffman described.
While the canter is noted as a slight weakness for Her Highness O by Roffman, today’s freestyle helped. “It’s not a bad canter, but she gets a little tense. Teaching her changes was difficult because she was so hot. Surprisingly today, the changes on a bent line actually helped. I think she was wondering where we were going. It was really a freestyle today!” Roffman smiled.
Roffman believes that Her Highness O has the capability to do the Large Tour test. “Her best qualities are piaffe and passage. I believe in her a lot. What she may not have in talent, she’ll make up for in heart,” she explained. “She wants it as much as I do. She doesn’t like being second in the awards ceremony.”
Inaugural Florida Youth Championships Help Young Riders
The Florida Youth Championships presented by Dressage4kids and sponsored by PanaCavallo were a great success with winners in four divisions. The program is to help young dressage riders gain experience and education for the high performance levels.
The winner of the Brentina Cup class was Julie McKean of Camden, ME. She and Stelina had a total of 64.617. McKean has been riding Stelina for a year and a half, and they have had success in the Brentina Cup at the national championships, placing sixth. “I’m really excited because our partnership has come a long way. We’re riding with a new level of consistency,” she said.
McKean looked forward to competing in the classes at the AGDF. “I was really motivated to be in this particular CDI because I hadn’t ridden in front of a full panel of judges since Devon. I need to get my feet back in international waters! It was a confidence builder for me because we went in and put in a really steady test, pretty clean. We have to work on maintaining uphill balance and I feel that we did that.”
Fifteen-year-old Bebe Davis of Bedminster, NJ, captured two top prizes. She and Poldy 10 won the FEI Pony Division with a total of 67.763, while Rotano was tops in the FEI Junior Division on a total of 66.009. Davis and Poldy 10, who is 17 years old, are in their second season together in Florida. They won the national championship title in 2012 and were champions at Devon. “He’s my favorite pony; I love him so much. I brought him last minute and I’m really glad I did. I was nailing everything and it’s all coming along so well. My hard work is paying off. He’s just the best.”
This is Davis’ first season in the junior division and showing with Rotano. “I’m just starting to get to know him and how to warm him up,” she said.
Davis was excited to participate in the Championships. “In dressage, the young riders is not as big of a program. To see people care about what we do and appreciate it for all the hard work we put in, it’s really great. This weekend was about learning for me,” she related. “I’m learning to keep riding every single show like it’s no big deal. If you show your horse to the best of their ability and ride to the best of your ability, it’s really going to pay off. You end up being happy with yourself because you’ve done the best that you can do, regardless of the score.”
Alexa Derr, who is 18 and from Reinholds, PA, won the FEI Young Riders division with Just Livingston with a total of 63.991. They have only been together since November. Derr noted, “My goal was to have a clean test and to really work on some of the areas that I have been having difficulty with, like canter pirouettes and lateral work. It’s his strong point, but not always mine. I was really wanting to have a nice, polished, expressive test.”
Derr is a participant in the Winter Intensive Training Program with Lendon Gray, who heads the Dressage4kids program. What Derr enjoyed most about the program and today’s championship was the support from all of her fellow competitors. “For me, that was really such a cool feeling to have all the support and be able to support everybody else. I felt like everyone was there for each other,” she said. “It didn’t feel like a championship; it felt like everybody was out there to do their personal best and have fun with it as well.”
Para-Equestrian CPEDI Helps Riders Qualify for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
The CPEDI competition finished up today and had awards ceremonies for the grade winners as well as the team competition and overall high point. Canada won the team competition with a total of 399.598 from riders Lauren Barwick on Off to Paris, Jody Schloss with Inspector Rebus, Ashley Gowanlock and Ferdonia 2, and Lynne Poole with Vasco E.
In today’s Freestyle classes, the winners were:
Grade Ia – Jody Schloss and Inspector Rebus, 69.000%
Grade Ib – Ashley Gowanlock and Ferdonia 2, 68.417%
Grade II – Lauren Barwick and Off to Paris, 68.667%
Grade III – Eleanor Brimmer and Carino H, 64.333%
Grade IV – Mary Jordan and Sebastian, 70.583%
Mary Jordan, of Wells, ME, was named the High Point Rider with Sebastian, a horse owned by Deecie Denison that she has been riding for two years. “I needed a horse with world-class gaits. We had an instant chemistry,” she recalled. “She’s been very supportive of letting me ride him and train him. We campaigned heavily leading up to the London Paralympics.”
While the pair just missed competing as they were the alternates for the Paralympics, Jordan has learned and grown with Sebastian and her trainers, Jessica and Missy Ransehousen. In addition to working full-time as a feed representative for Cavalor in New England and raising a 16-year-old, she has competed in Para-Equestrian since 2009.
“I had been competing in dressage and three-day eventing my whole life. Eleven years ago I was the third person in my family diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. My father was a quadriplegic that I never saw stand or walk. I had some challenging times when I was first diagnosed, but I got really proactive about my health,” Jordan explained. “Then I found out about Para-Equestrian. It was always my goal to ride for my country, like every other little girl that ever lived! But it was a new door that opened to me. It’s been so much fun. I’ve been blown away by the Para experience.”
Jordan rode her own homebred horse at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), and her goal is to compete at the 2014 WEG. Showing at the AGDF has helped her get a qualifying score. “It’s such an amazing facility and the footing was wonderful,” she expressed. “We can’t thank everyone enough for opening the doors to US Para. It’s our first qualifier for the WEG. We have so few three-stars in the country, so we’re extremely grateful as riders to have a facility to come to and have a feeling of European competition here with some of the best riders in the world.”
The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (GDF) is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage circuits featuring five CDIs, including a 5*, the first non-championship CDIO Nations’ Cup in the Western Hemisphere, and nine U.S. national events. The Adequan GDF is offering more than $275,000 in prize money for the five international competitions making it one of the richest circuits in the world. In addition to the CDIs with national competitions, the Adequan GDF will feature six separate national shows to be held at the Stadium section of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) show grounds. The Adequan GDF encompasses almost 60 acres of the former Palm Beach Polo Grounds. The facility includes the Van Kampen covered arena (made possible by Kimberly and Frederic Boyer and family) and four outdoor arenas with world class footing, 200 permanent stalls, and a VIP seating area for the International Arena fully catered for relaxing and having an enjoyable experience.
First Founding Sponsors: Matt Varney, Chris and Rob Desino, Wellington Equestrian Realty; Janet and William Richardson Pearson, Chesapeake Dressage Institute of Annapolis, MD; Devon and Terri Kane, Diamante Farm; Joe and Gaye Scarpa, Magnolia Farm; Tuny Page and Family, Stillpoint Farm; and Kimberly and Frederic Boyer, United States P.R.E. Association
Founding Sponsors: Ashley Holzer and Diane Fellows, Today’s Equestrian; Bethany Peslar, Everglades Dressage; Betsy Juliano, Havensafe Farm; Carol and Rebecca Cohen, Two Swans Farm LLC; Janne Rumbough, MTICA Farm; Mike & Roz Collins; Suhail and PJ Rizvi, Peacock Ridge; and Tim and Susie Dutta, The Dutta Corp.
Corporate Sponsors: Brown Distributing, Champion Equine Insurance, Charles Owen, Chronicle of the Horse, Custom Saddlery, Der Dau, Dever Golf Carts, Equestrian Services International (ESI), Elite Equestrian Magazine, European Dressage Connection, Gold Coast Feed & Supply, Horse Of Course, Horseware Ireland, Interagro Lusitanos, Moet Hennessy USA, Nespresso USA, Paddock Cakes, Palm Beach Equine Clinic, Pennfield, Piaffe Performance, Premier Equestrian, Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach, Rolex, Sanctuary at PBIEC, Show Chic, Sidelines Magazine, World Equestrian Brands
David Will won today’s pivotal final leg with Colorit at ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Photo: FEI/Dirk Caremans.
‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED), 17 March 2013 – When David Will wakes up on the morning of his 25th birthday next Thursday, he may still be scratching his head about what happened in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands this afternoon. Because although he is well-known on his national circuit in Germany, and contributed to his country’s victories in the FEI Nations Cup at Linz, Austria in 2011 and at Wellington, Florida last year, not even he could have expected to leave the elite of the sport floundering in his wake as he galloped to victory in the last qualifying leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2012/2013 Western European League series today.
Following a nonchalant first-round performance he went through to the nine-horse jump-off in which he crushed his considerably more-experienced opponents with another superb cruise around the track. He has just one top horse, the grey stallion Colorit which owner Klaus Isaak has entrusted to him for the past year, but this bright new star rider has broken into the big league after today’s result which left Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander and the brilliant Itot du Chateau having to settle for runner-up spot while three-time Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping champion, Germany’s Marcus Ehning, finished third with Copin van de Broy.
Ehning remarked afterwards that he wasn’t entirely taken aback by Wills’ winning performance. “I know David; he is a very fast rider and he has beaten me already a few times, so this is not the first!” he insisted. Will couldn’t hide his delight however, hardly daring to believe in what he had achieved. His expression of pure amazement as, one by one, his former superiors all fell short of his extraordinary target-time in the jump-off said it all. “I wasn’t sure I was going to win until the very end,” said the rider whose career now looks set on a whole new trajectory.
Very Clever
Ehning describing the first-round course set by Dutchman Louis Konickx as “very clever”. He said, “It was really fair, with great distances, but horses had to be really under control, and the last fence was a bit of a joker.” It was no laughing matter for the two who made it all the way there only to put it on the floor however – Finland’s Maiju Mallat with Urleven van de Helle and reigning FEI European Champion Rolf-Goran Bengtsson from Sweden with Quintero la Silla who both seemed destined to make the cut into the timed round.
Konickx set them questions from outset, with the snaking line from the triple bar at three to the vertical at four and the oxer at five requiring a good eye and absolute accuracy. This was followed by a right-hand sweep to the narrow FEI vertical at six which was followed on four easy strides by the triple combination with a tight inside distance between the first two elements and a much longer stretch to the oxer on the way out. There was little time to prepare for the oxer at nine following the vertical at eight, and fence 10 hit the floor regularly as balance on approach became an issue. The double at fence eleven came up quickly off the following left-hand turn and the long five strides to the penultimate oxer at 12 was the undoing of many. But the bogey final vertical was always going to prove problematic, located just past the entrance to the arena and curving away at an uninviting angle. Time and again horses hung back on the approach and didn’t have enough jump left to clear it. Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum and his promising nine-year-old, Zinedine, however were foot-perfect all the way only to fall foul of the 71 seconds time-allowed to pick up a single penalty and this proved good enough for tenth place in the final analysis.
Competitive Pathfinding Round
Sweden’s Malin Baryard-Johnsson set the pace against the clock with a competitive pathfinding round from H&M Tornesch who left all the poles intact in 36.68 seconds. The first three fences remained the same, but the triple bar was followed by a long run to the narrow vertical at fence six which was now jumped in the opposite direction before riders turned across the top of the arena to tackle the double and then cut sharply back to the new vertical at fence 16. From there there was a formidably long gallop down the full length of the arena to the final Rolex oxer, and, second to go, Will never flinched, looking the quintessential professional as he shaved over a second off Baryard-Johnsson’s time when clocking 35.73 to the undeniable amazement of the crowd.
Two horses later the super-speedy partnership of Edwina Tops-Alexander and Itot du Chateau looked set to relegate the young pretender as they curved closer on every turn-back and angled the penultimate vertical. But the clock showed 35.84 seconds as they crossed the line, so Will was still out in front when Dutchmen Jur Vrieling (VDL Bubalu) and Marc Houtzager (Sterrehof’s Uppity) each collected four faults. There were still three to go as Ehning set sail on one of his classically smooth runs, but again he was 0.95 seconds slower than Will, and when Silvana HDC and Frenchman Kevin Staut hit the first element of the double and last man in, the home side’s Gerco Schroder, didn’t push New Orleans out of his comfort zone it was all over. Will would be the man taking centre stage.
Unassuming
The unassuming 24-year-old, whose parents Sonja and Martin run a riding school at Chiemgau in Bavaria, trains and works with Dietmar Gugler who coaches young riders and produces horses from his equestrian centre near Frankfurt. Will has had Colorit for just over a year. “I got him last February and our biggest win before this was in the Grand Prix at Munich last year,” he explained. “We were also third in the Riders Tour and he is a great horse, very consistent, and he places in nearly every Grand Prix he competes in,” the rider added.
When asked about his plan in today’s jump-off, he said, “I just tried to be as fast as I could. I wasn’t sure I was going to win until the very end with all the big names coming after me, especially Edwina – in the end the difference was just the blink of an eye!” he pointed out. And his plans for the future after his sensational result today? “I’m going to Japan to compete there next week,” he explained, “and my ambition is to go as fifth rider to some of the Super League shows so that I can prove myself and get more experience,” he added. He has little to prove after today however having beaten so many of the best in the game, fair and square.
Very Satisfied
Talking about the show, Gert Jan Swinkels, President of Indoor Brabant, said, “The organisers are very satisfied and we would like to thank Rolex who have been with us for a lot of years. We have had 64,000 spectators this year and a really good atmosphere so it was a perfect show. We said goodbye to Salinero here yesterday but Anky (van Grunsven) has decided to become a member of our Board of Directors so we are very pleased and can expect a lot of good things to come from that.”
FEI Commercial Manager, Frederique Martin-Baste, confirmed the result of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2012/2013 Western European League qualifying series, pointing out that although he finished in 19th position, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson will join his Swedish counterparts Malin Baryard-Johnsson, Henrik von Eckermann and Jens Fredricson at the Rolex FEI World Cup Final in Gothenburg in a few weeks’ time because Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander, who holds 18th place, qualifies from her own region.
The stage is set for a fantastic end to a brilliant series, but this evening was all about the emergence of a new German star in the shape of David Will who once again demonstrated the unpredictable nature of the great sport of Jumping.
For further information on round 12 of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2012/2013 series at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, go to website www.indoorbrabant.com or contact Press Officer Denise van der Net, Email info@denisevandernet.nl or Tel +47 959 26 347. The Rolex FEI World Cup Final 2012/2013 will take place in Gothenburg, Sweden from 24 to 28 April 2013. For all information on the Swedish fixture, check out www.gothenburghorseshow.com or contact Press Officer Mayvor Thorin, Email mayvor.thorin@gotevent.se, Tel +46 31 368 43 49.
Result: 1, Colorit (David Will) GER 0/0 35.73; 2, Cevo Itot du Chateau (Edwina Alexander) AUS 0/0 35.84; 3, Copin van de Broy (Marcus Ehning) GER 0/0 36.68; 4, H&M Tornesch (Malin Baryard-Johnsson) SWE 0/0 36.78; 5, New Orleans (Gerco Schroder) NED 0/0 38.41; 6, Silvana HDC (Kevin Staut) FRA 0/4 36.31; 7, Steffehof’s Uppity (Marc Houtzager) NED 0/4 37.35; 8, VDL Bubalu (Jur Vrieling) NED 0/4 40.50; 9, Challenge V. Begijnakker (Ludo Philippaerts) BEL 0/8 36.34; 10, Zinedine (Ludger Beerbaum) GER 1 fault in first round. Full result here.
Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2012/2013 – Standings after Round 12 at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED):
Sergio Alvarez Moya ESP – 75
Christian Ahlmann GER – 72
Kevin Staut FRA – 72
Pius Schwizer SUI – 70
Luciana Diniz POR – 61
Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum GER – 60
Marcus Ehning GER – 59
Edwina Tops-Alexander AUS – 54
Malin Baryard-Johnsson SWE – 53
Denis Lynch IRL – 53
Marc Houtzager NED – 51
Henrik von Eckermann SWE – 50
Jens Fredricson SWE – 48
Gerco Schroder NED – 48
Penelope Leprevost FRA – 48
Roger-Yves Bost FRA – 47
Hans-Dieter Dreher GER – 46
Steve Guerdat SUI – 44
Rolf-Goran Bengtsson SWE – 43
Nick Skelton GBR – 37
Facts and Figures:
‘s-Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands presented the last opportunity for riders in the Western European League to collect points towards qualification for the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final which wlll take place in Gothenburg, Sweden from 24-28 April.
38 horse-and-rider combinations, representing 15 nations, started in today’s competition.
Course designer was The Netherlands’ Louis Konickx.
13 fences in first round with four verticals standing at maximum 1.60m – fences 4, 8, 10 and 13.
Youngest horses in today’s competition were both nine-year-olds – the KWPN bay gelding Glock’s Zaranza (Karandasj x Heartbreaker) ridden by Austria’s Robert Puck and the KWPN chestnut stallion Zinedine (Guidam x Heartbreaker) competed by Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum.
The oldest horse in the competition was Cevo Itot du Chateau, the 17-year-old Selle Francais chestnut gelding (Le Tot de Semilly x Galoubet A) ridden by the lady holding No. 5 position on the current Longines Jumping rankings, Australia’s Edwina Alexander.
10 mares, 13 stallions and 15 geldings competed in today’s class.
9 horse-and-rider combinations qualified for the second-round jump-off against the clock.
Just one rider picked up a single time fault – Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum who slotted into tenth place with Zinedine.
Quotes:
David Will – “This was not my first World Cup Grand Prix; I was allowed to ride in Stuttgart last year and had one down. It is a very different experience at this level if you come from 3 or even 4-star shows.”
Edwina Tops-Alexander, talking about today’s jump-off – “I had a great shot from fence one to two and three, to the next fence, the FEI fence it was a long 8; I almost thought I could do it on 7 but it was quite long. I got a good shot to the double and vertical – David did 6 there and I did 7 – but I was not quite good enough on the turn to the last – that’s where I lost it and he won it!”
To view the complete FEI World Cup Jumping Calendar, please click here.
To view the Longines World Rankings, please click here.
March 16th 2013 – Quarter of a million racing enthusiasts descended on Cheltenham last week, Britain’s premier jumping racecourse, for the four day Annual Festival, the pinnacle of the National Hunt racing season. Irish trainers launched their usual formidable challenge with 599 Irish trained entries and finished marginally ahead of Great Britain, winning 14 of the 27 races.
Festival week culminated in the much coveted Gold Cup, bringing together the ‘best of the best’ in a bid to win a slice of £550,000 prize money. Popular Irish jockey Barry Geraghty rode eight year old ‘Bobs Worth’, the 11/4 favourite to a gutsy seven length victory. In a bizarre sequence of events Barry bought the horse as a yearling for 16,500 Euros and owned him for two and a half years before selling him to his current trainer, Nicky Henderson. No one has ever bought, sold and then ridden the same horse to victory in The Gold Cup before.
Amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen made the running on the 2011 winner ‘Long Run’ (also trained by Henderson) over 22 fences, pushing stamina to the limits on the taxing 3m 2f trip. Champion jockey AP McCoy chased in hot pursuit on ‘Sir Des Champs’, eventually finishing second before ‘Bobs Worth’ drew clear on the uphill run in. The win gave Lambourn based trainer, Nicky Henderson, two reasons to celebrate, this being his 50th Festival win in a training career spanning 35 years.
On a day of highly charged emotions, Barry Geraghty dedicated his victory to amateur jockey and friend, J. T. McNamara, who was critically injured in a fall earlier in the week.
OCALA, FL (March 17, 2013) – East Coast hunter riders went to bats with their West Coast rivals Saturday in the highly-anticipated $50,000 East Meets West Hunter Challenge, where Kate Conover rode to first and second-place honors. Conover, of Ocala, Florida, piloted Caroline Kellogg’s Trendy to the win and James Johnson’s Kingston to second.
Challengers from both HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, Florida and HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California rotated rounds in a “battle of the coasts” that was evaluated by two sets of judges – Pat Boyle and Brian Lenehan in Florida and Keith Hastings and Alex Talmage in California.
“I have never done something like this before, so it was a little nerve-racking, but it went beautifully,” said Hastings. “It was definitely a new vantage point to view the class from a television screen, but it was still clear that we had a great group of horses out there. The quality of horse and rider was great and it’s obvious that classes like this bring out the best in our sport.”
A live simulcast connected the two sets of judges watching on high definition monitors while the audience watched the events play out on the opposite coast with ringside scoreboards. Furthering the cutting-edge nature of the class, off-site spectators were able to get in on the action, thanks to a live webcast provided by Galopando TV and iEquine.com. Karen Manning, a frequent HITS competitor and horse-sport fan, was able to tune in from her home in Connecticut and watch the goings on at both HITS Ocala and Thermal. “I felt like I was at the horse show – I didn’t miss a single thing,” she said. “Seeing our sport delivered to the masses like that is a very exciting step in the right direction.”
The class reinvented the bi-coastal concept first employed by HITS from 1999-2001 when the company staged the industry’s first simulcast event between in Florida and California. In the early days of the class, California saw great success, but Florida surely made its comeback this time around.
“It is always great for hunters from all over the U.S. to get to compete against each other,” said Tom Struzzieri, HITS president and CEO. “The combination of the big prize money, the unique format and the added benefit of points counting for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final in Saugerties next September made for a very special hunter experience.”
Conover was leading on Kingston with seven left to show, including her trip with Trendy, who entered as the second-to-last trip of the day prior to Calabasas, California’s Jenny Karazissis. “Jenny is one of the top riders in this sport, so I knew that I really had to lay it down – I couldn’t leave her any room,” said Conover.
And lay it down she did, earning a 95 on the East Coast and an 89 on the West, for a combined score of 184 for the win. Her 178 with Kingston was good enough for second. With Kingston, she earned a 90 from East Coast judges and an 88 from the West Coast panel.
“My goal this week was just to make it to today’s final round. Going late in the class was a huge benefit – I was able to watch or hear all the scores coming out of both Ocala and Thermal,” said Conover. “HITS continues to give away huge purses to hunters – something that is so rare in our sport. Aside from the money; the course was great, the jumps were fun and getting to compete against riders from the West Coast was especially exciting.”
Leading the West Coast contingent was Karazissis aboard Kelly Straeter’s Undeniable. They rode to a combined score of 177, just shy of second place. “This horse was champion this week in the First Year Greens, so I felt like there was a bit of pressure on me to do well. We were really focused on making it to the final round today and he did great – there is not a thing I don’t like about him,” Karazissis said of Undeniable, a 6-year-old Warmblood that she has been riding only since the beginning of the HITS Desert Circuit.
“I have been looking forward to this class since I first heard about it and I wanted so badly to make it to the final round and get to ride in the Grand Prix Field against the east,” said Karazissis. “So often West Coast riders have to go east to be able to compete against those riders, so to be able to stay here and still ride with them was so different and exciting.”
Also representing the West Coast, Taylor Ann Adams of Calabasas, California, who has spent her fair share of time competing in the east, faced some of her old rivals and rode to fourth with Elizabeth Reilly’s Small Celebration. They earned a combined score of 171 – an 85 from the East Coast panel and an 86 from the West. Capping the top five was East Coast rider Greg Crolick of Auburn Hills, Michigan. He piloted Carson, owned by Orchard Lake Farms, LLC, to an East score of 87 and West score of 80 for a combined score of 167.5.
With the conclusion of the $50,000 East Meets West Hunter Challenge, attention will now turn to the big-money offerings scheduled for Sunday. In Ocala, the $100,000 Sullivan GMC Truck Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group, will take the stage, while the coveted AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Lamborghini Newport Beach, final arrives.
Mary Jordan and P Sparrow Socks. Photo (C) Lindsay McCall
Wellington, FL – March 16, 2013 – Para-equestrian dressage competition at the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival WEF Dressage Classic CPEDI3* continued on Saturday with the Grade Ia, Ib, II, III, and IV individual tests. U.S. and Canada equestrians contended for the both overall team and individual accolades. With the 2014 World Equestrian Games approaching, the 2013 calendar year will define itself as a developing year as well as a refining year for accomplished para-dressage riders. After the team tests on the first day of competition, riders took the remarks from the ground jury and applied them on the second day. Ground jury members included Carlos Lopes (POR), Bo Ahman (SWE), and Hanneke Gerritsen(NED). Top Canadian riders included Lauren Barwick in Grade II scoring a 69.190%, Ashley Gowanlock in Grade Ib, and Jody Schloss for Grade Ia. Ellie Brimmer (USA), from Wayazata, MN, topped Grade III with her own Carino H. Each equestrian’s score increased on the second day including top Grade IV rider Mary Jordan’s scores. Jordan, from the United States, not only raised her percentages but she earned her qualifying scores for the World Equestrian Games on both Sebastian, owned by Deecie Denison, and her own P. Sparrow Socks.
Mary Jordan expressed, “I am thrilled with both of my horses, especially Sebastian. He is in an upswing and on each ride I feel more together with him. I adore the horse and he’s so much fun to show. When we enter the ring, I love how his ears perk up. That’s really cool when your horse is having fun at the same time you as a rider are having fun. Lately, we have been working on the simple changes since the Grade IV tests are laden with simple changes. As a rider you want collection, sensitivity, and a true walk in between the change. To accomplish this, we have continued working on getting Sebastian fit and strengthening him in each movement. At Blue Hill Farm, with Jessica Ransehousen, we have worked on the extended trot so he is sitting and using himself correctly, and we have worked on symmetry and angles on certain test movements.”
She continued, “With Clever (P. Sparrow Socks) I couldn’t be prouder of that little horse. Every show she is getting more confident. She was on the backburner when Paxton was being prepared for the 2010 WEG. This year, I am putting some time into her and I am really excited to see how she develops. She’s young, she’s smart, and she’s a great ride. Clever was my only horse who has ever received 10’s on the walk. She has great downward transitions but she is a work in progress. We work a lot on collection, building the connection, straightness, staying centered, and relaxation.”
Jordan was elated by the feeling of having two of her own home-bred horses qualify for two separate World Equestrian Games. She was also proud of what she personally has accomplished. Jordan explained, “This is MS (multiple sclerosis) awareness week and there is a deep level of accomplishment for me this week. I am the 3rd person in my family with MS. When I was growing up my dad was a quadriplegic and I never saw him stand or walk. The fact that I am here during MS week, I drove 2,000 miles to Florida, I rode two horses a day and I qualified two horses for WEG, means so much to me. I couldn’t have done it without my sponsors, especially Teva Neuroscience, Deecie (owner of Sebastian), Jessica and Rachel at Blue Hill, and my family who are a part of this journey. I also want to thank Global for everything; the footing, the facility, and the people have been incredible.”
Hope Hand, Chef d’Equipe of the U.S Para-Equestrian Dressage riders, added, “I would like to thank the officials, the owners and sponsors of Global Dressage Festival for giving us the opportunity to show here with our developing rider team and our high performance riders. It’s important to have this international experience. This venue is much like Europe because it gives the riders the same atmosphere and excitement. This show will really help us prepare for Normandy. I think this was a great experience especially for the developing riders. Many of them came to Florida and are in the process of trying new horses. Florida is a great place to find the FEI quality horse that is needed for competition. It’s also important for our sponsors to see us showing at facilities of this quality. It will truly benefit us all including our sport, the USPEA organization, USEF, and the whole Para-Equestrian discipline.”
She continued, “I also want to thank the show management team, Lloyd Landkamer, and Mr. Bellissimo for allowing the CPEDI3* to be a part of the Global Dressage Festival.”
Grade II para-equestrian Eleanor Brimmer agreed. “I have enjoyed competing with my horse Carino in the Van Kampen Arena at the Global Dressage Festival. I am thankful to everyone at Global Dressage for putting together a wonderful CPEDI3* event. To compete at a facility that is the quality of Global Dressage is an opportunity we are all grateful for. I look forward to competing at another CPEDI on the Global Dressage show grounds in the future.”
The Canada para-dressage riders have also been thankful for this wonderful show. It is locations like Global where riders like Lauren Barwick can concentrate on the task at hand instead of worrying about logistics or venue changes.
Grade II Paralympian from Canada, Lauren Barwick, and her mare Off To Paris have been working on pulling pieces of her tests out to work on, building from those pieces, and putting them back together. Barwick noted, “I was happy today with my individual test. I was really pleased with my walk pirouettes because that movement has been a big problem. Today the walk pirouettes were there but again we lost a few things that we normally have secured within our test. Like I mentioned before, it’s important to take it all apart so you improve upon certain parts. Then, you piece it all back together. I was overall happy with my horse and she felt more connected to me as a rider. Onward and upward.”
Barwick’s horse Ferdonia 2, ridden by Paralympic Canadian Ashley Gowanlock once again dominated the Grade Ib division. The duo continued to power down center-line achieving a 67.11% in the individual test.
Grade Ia Paralympian from Canada, Jody Schloss, navigated Inspector Rebus to another top placing ahead of teammate Robyn Andrews and Fancianna.
Jessica Rhinelander, developing coach for Para-Dressage at Equine Canada, commented about Jody Schloss’ training this year. “We stepped back after the Paralympics and took a look at how everything has been going. We made a list and tore everything apart. Then, we tried to build it all back up again to make it even better. Rebus is a very reliable horse and I am happy with how Jody and Rebus are performing.”
Chef d’Equipe for Equine Canada, Andrea Taylor, stepped in for Elizabeth Quigg this week at the Global Dressage Festival. She explained the 2013-2014 plan: “Aside from aiming for France we are keeping these guys looking forward to plan for their next competition. That’s our big focus for these top level riders coming out again. Back at home we are working on discovering the talent. We have three or four para-dressage riders at home that we have our eye on that have good horses already. We are trying to not keep the focus heavy on top but instead we are trying to focus on who is coming up. It’s also hard to find coaches. That is a big hole for us. I get riders who come to me and say who can you train with but they are located across the country. So that’s our plan to plan for WEG, get some coaches, and work with the up and coming riders. As for today, I was really pleased. Everybody upped their game, rode harder and took some risks. I think it paid off and the scores went up for the majority. That is always good when you gamble a little bit and are rewarded.”
On Sunday, Grades Ia, Ib, II, III, and IV para-dressage freestyle tests occur in the Van Kampen Arena beginning at 11:00 a.m. Sunday. The competition will conclude with an awards ceremony unmounted where the team placings and individual placings will be awarded.
U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Chef d’Equipe: Hope Hand
Team Coach: Missy Ransehousen
RESULTS:
FEI Para Team Grade IV
583, Jordan, Mary R., USA, Sebastian, 66.071%
585, Lawson, Madison, CAN, McGuire, 64.960%
580, Poole, Lynne, CAN, Vasco E, 64.524%
584, Jordan, Mary R., USA, P Sparrow Socks, 60.595%
579, Poole, Lynne, CAN, Frisbee, 59.008%
FEI Para Grade III Team
578, Brimmer, Eleanor, USA, Carino H, 58.740%
FEI Para Team Grade 1A
575, Schloss, Jody, CAN, Inspector Rebus, 63.913%
577, Andrews, Robyn, CAN, Fancianna, 63.116%
FEI Para Equestrian Team 1B
587, Gowanlock, Ashley, CAN, Ferdonia 2, 67.11%
582, Oakleaf, Laurietta, USA, Niekele fan Busenitz, 64.080%
581, Collier, Sydney, USA, Wentworth – Re-Evaluation of Classification
FEI Para Team Grade II
588, Barwick, Lauren, CAN, Off To Paris, 69.190%
For questions about the 2013-2014 Para-Equestrian Dressage season, please contact the USEF High Performance Director of the Para-Equestrian Discipline, Laureen K. Johnson, at (908) 326-1155 or e-mail lkjohnson@usef.org.
For more questions about Para-Equestrian Dressage, please contact Hope Hand at Hope@uspea.org or (610) 356-6481.
2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival Show Managers:
ALLTECH FEI WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES 2014 Qualification Criteria
Qualification Period:
Start: January 1, 2013
End: XXXX 2014 (TBD)
Qualifying Events:
Any CPEDI3* or CPEDI4* event during the qualification period in addition to the Paralympics Games 2012 London
Qualification Score:
All athlete/horse combinations must have attained (as a combination) a minimum 60% score attributed by the Ground Jury in a Team test or Individual Championship test one time.
Judges:
Minimum of 3 FEI PE5* or 4* judges of different nationalities
The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (Adequan GDF) was created as one of the finest show grounds in the world with a calendar of events and prize money in its first year that places it in the top tier of competitions.
Five CDIs staged by a single organization are more than at any other show grounds in the world. Prize money of more than $275,000 that is the richest single circuit except for the World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany, what is to horse sports what Wimbledon is to tennis.
The show grounds consists of four arenas that are equal in quality to those at the 2012 and 2008 Olympic Games, several hundred stadium seats around the main ring and the first 200 of what will be 300 permanent horse stalls and a raised courtyard at the center of the show grounds providing a panoramic view of the entire facility. One of the world’s largest covered arenas at 360 by 210 feet (110 x 64 meters), and a VIP club overlooking the main competition arena.
Dressage has replaced the billiard-table smooth grass polo fields that were the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club stadium where Prince Charles played to kick start Wellington as THE winter lifestyle destination for the world.
The dressage grounds adjoin a beautiful grass jumping derby field all part of the sprawling Palm Beach International Equestrian Center that attracts thousands of horses from about three dozen countries for jumper and hunter competitions in an calendar that has expanded from a few weeks in winter to shows from Fall through Spring, centered around the Winter Equestrian Festival and its $6 million in prize money.
The USPEA is a network of riders, judges, national federation board members, and equestrian enthusiasts. The association gives athletes the ability to get involved and expand their knowledge and experience in the Para-Equestrian sport. The USPEA encourages para-athletes to participate in all disciplines under the para-equestrian umbrella.
The USPEA is a recognized affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) which serves as the National Governing Body for the equestrian sport. This relationship between the USPEA and USEF is to encourage para-equestrian competitors, leisure riders, coaches, fans and enthusiasts to network and get involved with the entire equestrian sport.
Ultimately the goal of the USPEA is to foster growth in the para-equestrian discipline. From growth in the number of participants to growth as a team, and growth in the experience and knowledge of all involved. From local horse shows to international Olympic Games, the USPEA will provide para-equestrians the knowledge of what they need to succeed. The USPEA connects with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the United States Dressage Federation (USDF), and USEF which provides Para-Equestrians the top equestrian resources.
In June 2010, the USPEA earned its 501 (c)(3) status which has encouraged supporters to help supply funding to the Para-Equestrian Team as a recognized affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).
For more information about the USPEA, please visit www.USPEA.org or contact USPEA President Hope Hand by e-mail: Wheeler966@aol.com or by phone: (610)356-6481.
Herslow and Rosmarin Take Second Win in Small Tour
Wellington, FL – March 16, 2013 – The WEF Dressage Classic, CDI 3* presented by Today’s Equestrian & Fellows at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) continued today with classes for the Large Tour and Small Tour. Susan Dutta and Currency DC won the FEI Grand Prix Special, while Kim Herslow and Rosmarin won their second class in a row in the FEI Intermediaire-1. The CDI 3* and National competition wrap up with tomorrow’s classes. The next show for the AGDF is the Wellington CDI 5* presented by Diamante Farms on April 4-7, 2013.
The judges for today’s FEI Grand Prix Special were: Carlos Lopes at E, Janet Foy at H, Sandy Phillips at C, Ulrike Nivelle at M, and Bo Ahman at B.
Dutta and Currency DC won the class with a score of 69.396%. Coming in second place was Susan Jaccoma (USA) on Wadamur with a score of 66.063%. Jill Irving (CAN) and Degas 12 were third after they received a score of 65.083%.
Dutta has ridden Currency DC, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Clintino x Classiker, since she bought him as a two and a half year old. The long journey has also been one of learning.
Dutta explained, “It’s getting much better. It’s not without effort; I’m always trying to ride better. I have fabulous trainers and we know we have a good horse. It’s just a matter of trying to ride it well. First we had to get him going well – this takes time – and then get us together in the ring, and me confident. I have to really believe. This horse has only been ridden by me. Now I’m starting to believe in myself. I think he really likes me now and likes the way I’m riding him. There’s more in there. This is a super horse. I just have not ridden him to his potential, but I’m getting there. That feels really good. To me, this is a huge step in the right direction.”
Dutta trains with Juergen and Christoph Koschel when she travels to Europe in the summer and when they can come to the U.S. She noted, “I knew I needed a grounds person in America. I’m working with Nicholas Fyffe. I owe him a big thank you.”
The pair started at the grand prix level three years ago, but there were a few bumps in the road with injuries since then. “This is the first season that he’s starting to look like a real grand prix horse,” Dutta said. “He doesn’t look green anymore. It takes time.”
Of her test today, Dutta described, “The beginning is so amazing with the passage, extended, passage, extended. I knew I got some points there. I knew I was going to need them. That’s my history is to get way ahead there. It’s a numbers game, so that if my walk wasn’t good or if I made a little canter mistake, I still was higher in the score. I knew in the beginning when he was so easy and on my aids that it was good. I knew he felt good. He was good out here (in the warm-up). I wasn’t nervous. I’m feeling more confident. I think that’s transferring to him.”
Speaking of her victory, she said, “For me, winning is great. More than anything though, just riding him well and getting the points was important to me. Confidence builds on confidence and I’m hoping I can layer myself with more confidence and ride really well.”
At only eight years old, Rosmarin is proving that his talent is here to stay. The Hanoverian gelding by Rosentanz x Weltmeyer, ridden by Kim Herslow of Stockton, NJ, won the FEI Intermediaire-1 class with a score of 71.026%. Second place went to Christilot Boylen (CAN) and Dio Mio with a score of 70.974%, while Caroline Roffman (USA) and Her Highness O placed third on a score of 69.421%.
Herslow explained that from yesterday to today, her horse felt even better. “I felt like he was even more there for me today. Not that he wasn’t yesterday, but the through-ness was more solid today with him. He’s letting me really ride him in the ring and staying completely with me, which is a really nice feeling. I can push and he never worries about what I’m asking for. Even if it’s not the right thing. He still does it and then comes back and fixes it for me. This is his third I-1 ever, so I’m just thrilled that he’s coming out and that we can still make his canter so much better. We’re just starting and it’s really awesome,” she remarked.
Of her test, she said, “His trot tour is always pretty incredible. He’s so rideable in his trot and his fluidity is so nice to ride. His half passes are always a strong point. His walk felt really good to me today. We still have to get our canter stronger. He’s a really long horse so we have some strength to work on, and getting more jump in the canter, which will help the pirouettes and the changes. It’ll help the whole canter tour. There’s still a lot of room to improve, so it’s exciting to know that. He’s still just at the very beginning of his career here.”
Despite just starting to earn accolades, Herslow felt that Rosmarin had talent to start with. “He definitely had talent. It’s just been a very slow build-up from a young horse, in a sense that I didn’t do a lot of fancy work with him. I did a lot of basic gymnastic, body-building work with him. I take a lot of time to develop a relationship with him and get his trust. I think that’s what makes us so harmonious,” she explained. “It’s an investment in my time, but it’s so worth it because you see the difference in the ring. He comes out the same every day and he’s a super amazing horse. I’m lucky to own him and feel extremely grateful.”
Herslow is excited that they still have another class in which to compete tomorrow. It will be the pair’s second time ever in the I-1 Freestyle. “I need to get a little sharper in my preparations for certain things, so we still had a few little mistakes, but he was listening. He did exactly what I asked him for. I’m hoping to clean that up for the freestyle tomorrow, which is a really fun freestyle. I’m excited to ride that tomorrow,” she said.
The top United States Para-Equestrian today was Mary Jordan, who rode Sebastian to a score of 66.071% in the FEI Para-Equestrian Individual Champion Test Grade IV. The awards presentations for all of the grades’ team and individual winners will be held tomorrow.
Winning both yesterday’s and today’s FEI Junior classes was Paula Matute (ESP) on Escritor de Ymas II. They received a score of 64.595% in yesterday’s team class and a 64.026% in today’s Individual class.
The WEF Dressage Classic CDI 3* presented by Today’s Equestrian & Fellows concludes tomorrow with the FEI Intermediaire-1 Freestyle along in the CDI competition. The Para-Equestrians will also perform their freestyles, while the Florida Youth Championships presented by Dressage4kids and sponsored by PanaCavallo have their final rounds in the main International Arena.
The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (GDF) is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage circuits featuring five CDIs, including a 5*, the first non-championship CDIO Nations’ Cup in the Western Hemisphere, and nine U.S. national events. The Adequan GDF is offering more than $275,000 in prize money for the five international competitions making it one of the richest circuits in the world. In addition to the CDIs with national competitions, the Adequan GDF will feature six separate national shows to be held at the Stadium section of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) show grounds. The Adequan GDF encompasses almost 60 acres of the former Palm Beach Polo Grounds. The facility includes the Van Kampen covered arena (made possible by Kimberly and Frederic Boyer and family) and four outdoor arenas with world class footing, 200 permanent stalls, and a VIP seating area for the International Arena fully catered for relaxing and having an enjoyable experience.
First Founding Sponsors: Matt Varney, Chris and Rob Desino, Wellington Equestrian Realty; Janet and William Richardson Pearson, Chesapeake Dressage Institute of Annapolis, MD; Devon and Terri Kane, Diamante Farm; Joe and Gaye Scarpa, Magnolia Farm; Tuny Page and Family, Stillpoint Farm; and Kimberly and Frederic Boyer, United States P.R.E. Association
Founding Sponsors: Ashley Holzer and Diane Fellows, Today’s Equestrian; Bethany Peslar, Everglades Dressage; Betsy Juliano, Havensafe Farm; Carol and Rebecca Cohen, Two Swans Farm LLC; Janne Rumbough, MTICA Farm; Mike & Roz Collins; Suhail and PJ Rizvi, Peacock Ridge; and Tim and Susie Dutta, The Dutta Corp.
Corporate Sponsors: Brown Distributing, Champion Equine Insurance, Charles Owen, Chronicle of the Horse, Custom Saddlery, Der Dau, Dever Golf Carts, Equestrian Services International (ESI), Elite Equestrian Magazine, European Dressage Connection, Gold Coast Feed & Supply, Horse Of Course, Horseware Ireland, Interagro Lusitanos, Moet Hennessy USA, Nespresso USA, Paddock Cakes, Palm Beach Equine Clinic, Pennfield, Piaffe Performance, Premier Equestrian, Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach, Rolex, Sanctuary at PBIEC, Show Chic, Sidelines Magazine, World Equestrian Brands
Walk the Line and Lillie Keenan Victorious in Antarés Large Junior 16-17 Hunters
Wellington, FL – March 16, 2013 – Japan’s Eiken Sato and Espyrante jumped to victory in the $82,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3* on Saturday night during another exciting evening of international competition for week ten at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). In a jump-off of seven nations, Sato beat out riders from Great Britain, Ireland, Venezuela, Germany, Greece and the United States for his first big win at the Pam Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC).
Olaf Petersen, Jr. of Germany set the course for Saturday night’s Grand Prix with 40 entries competing at night under the lights. Ten riders representing seven different countries qualified for the jump-off and four went double clear over the short course.
Seventh to go, Venezuela’s Pablo Barrios and Zara Leandra, owned by the ZL Group Inc., were the first pair to jump the short course without fault and finished fourth with their time of 48.27 seconds. Up next, Great Britain’s Ben Maher and Jane Clark’s Urico cleared the course in 44.27 seconds to briefly take the lead. They were pushed into second by Japan’s Eiken Sato and Stephex Stables’ Espyrante, who stopped the clock in 42.79 seconds for the win. Last to go, Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam and Eregast Van’t Kiezelhof, owned by Spy Coast Farm LLC, finished clear in 47.61 seconds to take the third place prize.
Sato, 27, has lived in Belgium for nine years and began riding for Stephex Stables two years ago. His mount, Espyrante, is a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Obourg x Pauillac De Meia Lua that they got last year.
Watch an interview with Eiken Sato
“My horse always jumps well,” Sato praised after his win. “Tonight she was amazing and I’m really happy. Last week Daniel Deusser won the Grand Prix, and this week I won one. We won for our stable two weeks in a row and this is my first Grand Prix that I have won in Palm Beach, so I am really happy.”
Describing Espyrante, Sato detailed, “She’s a really strong mare and actually nobody liked her at first. I tried working with her and she won the Grand Prix, so you never know. Only the horse can know.”
Sato went after a very fast round from Ben Maher and Urico and explained that he did watch them go, but trusted his horse’s ability to be faster.
“To be honest, I saw, but I tried not to see because he is such a fast rider,” Sato laughed. “The end I saw. My horse is naturally really fast, so I knew I needed to take risks, but I trust my horse and she did a fantastic job.”
Maher commented on his round with Urico, noting, “I was very happy. He felt back to himself tonight. He felt confident. The jump-off was one of those jump-offs again with a lot of riders knocking fences down, so I tried to beat the ones in front of me tonight, not the ones that were after me. I took a risk and it did not pay off tonight, but I could not be happier. He was fantastic and I would never complain about being second in a Grand Prix, especially to a great rider.”
Shane Sweetnam was showing his mount Eregast in the horse’s first Grand Prix as well as his first night class. Although the horse was a little green in the ring, Sweetnam was very happy with his performance.
“It’s his first Grand Prix of any sort. It’s his first Grand Prix here and WEF was his first 1.45m and last week was his first 1.50m,” Sweetnam emphasized. “Honestly, he wasn’t meant to be rushed as quickly, but with Siri getting injured, he had to step up and he has done a great job.”
“He is a very talented horse,” Sweetnam said. “He was very green in the jump-off. I wish I could have gone quicker because he can be a very fast horse, but the music and the crowd and everything was making him fairly high-strung. I was very, very happy with him. For the experience he has, he did unbelievable. I have very high hopes for him.”
Sweetnam commented on the course, stating, “I thought Olaf has always done a great job. As far as a going number of ten tonight in the jump-off, it made a very interesting jump-off with not so many clears. I think the second round the horses were a little tired, but I think he did a great job.”
Sato added, “I did the course walk for the first round and I thought there would be ten or twelve clear. In the jump-off there weren’t too many clear, but it was a fantastic course for the jump-off and it was really fun.”
Maher shared his opinion as well, noting, “It was a very different course. It was a lot more twisty and turny tonight. Not typically a course for here, but it was nice and different for the horses. It was good to see not big jumps, but a big course, take its toll with faults all over the place, which is a sign of a good Grand Prix.”
Walk the Line and Lillie Keenan Victorious in Antarés Large Junior 16-17 Hunters
Walk the Line and Lillie Keenan clinched the championship title in the Antarés Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division during week 10 of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Keenan and Walk the Line were a force to be reckoned with over fences, winning three of four over fences rounds. Keenan and Don Stewart’s fourteen-year-old gelding were also fourth over fences during day one of competition for the division.
Reserve champion honors went to Norgan, Inc.’s Capstone, ridden by Sydney Shulman. Shulman and Capstone were third and first over fences day one and placed third day two in all three classes, including an under saddle and two over fences rounds.
The owner-rider champion was Perfectionist and Cloe Hymowitz. Hymowitz also picked up reserve owner-rider honors with Garfield, co-owned by Alexandra Crown.
Keenan is currently at the top of the circuit championship standings with her other Large Junior mount, Madison, but considers Walk the Line to be equally as talented. “Madison tends to win the hacks, but Walk the Line has a very striking jump. When he goes over the fence, it almost makes you open your eyes a little more. There’s a ‘wow’ factor to how he goes over each fence,” Keenan described.
“I’m very lucky because both of my Large Juniors are very fancy,” Keenan continued. “Both of them are a lot of fun to ride. They have a lot of similarities, but are still quite different. Walk the Line is a little quirky, but I like that about him. I think we match really well.”
While Keenan dominates junior divisions in hunters, jumpers, and equitation classes on a number of competitive mounts, she especially appreciates Walk the Line’s desire to be the best. “I know that every time he goes in the ring he wants to win. All of my horses are like that but it is especially true for him. It’s nice to know that every time you go in the ring, he wants to do well,” Keenan commented.
Keenan is quick to credit the gelding’s success to the exceptional support she receives from owner Don Stewart’s daughter, Erin. “Don is in Ocala right now and I go back to school every week. Erin does a wonderful job with him during the week. She comes to the ring and helps me with him, along with everyone at Heritage [Farm],” Keenan remarked.
Keenan juggles her time between attending the Spence School in her native New York City and competing at the FTI WEF every weekend in Wellington, a feat that she realizes would not be possible without the incredible support system she is surrounded by.
“I care a lot about my schoolwork and my grades. I’m expected to do really well by my family and I expect it of myself,” the fifteen-year-old explained.
“It’s definitely difficult but I’m very lucky. My family makes sure that I have all the opportunity to come [to Florida] every week and my school is wonderful about letting me miss Fridays. Heritage is amazing at making sure when I come back from school the horses are ready. Without everyone’s help – and it’s a lot of help – this would not be possible,” Keenan acknowledged.
Hunter competition for week ten of the FTI WEF, sponsored by Horseware Ireland, concludes Sunday with the Autism Speaks Children’s Large Pony Hunter, hosted in Ring 12 of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The $33,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic will complete the week in the International Arena. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
Lauren Fisher and Laura Cardon for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 9 through March 31. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.
About FTI Consulting FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 3,800 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.56 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2011. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.
