Wellington, FL – March 2, 2019 – In the 18-year history of the Nations Cup at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), there had only been one jump-off to determine the gold medal. On Saturday, March 2, 2019, another jump-off took place and garnered the United States of America their seventh victory in the history of the class. The team, consisting of Wilton Porter, Beezie Madden, Adrienne Sternlicht, McLain Ward, and Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, took the gold medal in the $150,000 Nations Cup CSIO4*, one of the highlight events of week 8 of WEF.
The winning nation was represented by Porter on Caletto Cabana, owned by Sleepy P Ranch LLC, Madden on Abigail Wexner’s Chic Hin D Hyrencourt, Sternlicht riding Toulago for Starlight Farms 1 LLC, and Ward on the Beechwood Stables LLC-owned mount, Contagious.
Martin Fuchs and Faberlys Find Victory in $50,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Grand Prix
Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs and his mount, Faberlys, owned by SPCS, topped a 39-horse field to win the $50,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Grand Prix on Saturday afternoon in the International Ring.
Of those 39 entries, six navigated the first round, Steve Stephens-designed track without fault to advance to the jump-off, where Fuchs had what he considered the advantage of returning second to last. With the time to beat set at 44.14 seconds by Canada’s Tiffany Foster and Caipiranja, owned by Artisan Farms, LLC, Fuchs elected to go for it, shaving nearly two seconds off of Foster’s time to finish in 42.22 seconds for the win. Foster’s time held up for second place, while third place with a time of 44.77 seconds went to David Blake of Ireland riding Keoki for owner Pine Hollow Farm.
Rindy Dominguez and MTM Casablanca Emerge Victorious in Hunt Ltd. Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” 36 & Over
Competitors in the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” 36+ division returned to the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Field on Saturday to contest the final three classes of the division for a chance at the champion and reserve titles. With two first place ribbons, Rindy Dominguez of Barrington, RI took the champion title aboard her own MTM Casablanca.
Dominguez and the 11-year-old bay mare earned two firsts, a fourth, fifth, and eighth over the two days of competition which left them 2.5 points ahead of the reserve winner. The mare has been paired with Dominguez for approximately a year and a half but is just making her first Winter Equestrian Festival debut this season.
“She was imported as a jumper, but I bought her about three weeks after she was imported. We’ve spent the fall learning how to be a hunter,” Dominguez explained. “She’s been so lovely. This is her first experience at WEF and her first time at the 3’6” height, which is also something I haven’t done in about two years so it’s very exciting.”
Wellington, FL – February 17, 2019 – The sixth week of the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) concluded on Sunday, February 17, with jumper competition on the grass derby field at Equestrian Village at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. David Oberkircher (USA) and Upper, owned by Southfields Farm LLC, rose to the top of the $25,000 Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix.
Riding out on the beautiful grass derby field in the morning, some of the best up-and-coming show jumpers in the world competed for top grand prix honors. There were 43 entries in the class, with 13 of those going clear to advance to the jump-off.
Martin Fuchs and Cristo Top $25,000 CP Grand Prix
Taking advantage of an opportunity to show on the grass derby field at Equestrian Village, the individual silver medalist at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 was able to speed to the lead of the class. Martin Fuchs (SUI) rode Jacques Bodenmuller’s Cristo to a blazing time of 33.733 seconds to win the $25,000 CP Grand Prix, the closing event of WEF 6.
Twenty-four entries went to task on the first round, and five went clear to contest the jump-off. Fuchs went first on Cristo, setting an unbeatable time.
“I didn’t really like that I was first to go with him,” said Fuchs. “I would have preferred that my inexperienced horse was first to go so I could do a normal round with him, and then do a quick round with Cristo, to see how fast I had to go. Since I honestly really didn’t know the other riders in the jump-off, I just thought I didn’t want to be second, so I took the forward option, which was good, but now I ended up being quite a lot faster.”
Coming closest was Caelinn Leahy (IRL) on Steve Schaefer’s Dymendy. They finished in 36.206 seconds. Third place went to Hector Florentino (DOM) riding Venus, owned by Raylyn Farms Inc., in 37.330 seconds.
Final Day of Hunter Week Closes Out with Huge Wins for Coco Fath, Brenna Magness, and Hannah Hoch
The final day of WCHR Hunter Week at the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival came to a close on Sunday, February 17, with top junior and amateur hunter riders returning for one final day of special competition. Well-braided horses and riders in shadbellies once again took to the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center as the day kicked off with the $5,000 Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic.
As one of the largest classes of Hunter Week, the classic saw more than 70 top hunter combinations contest for a chance to make the top-12 callback for the second round of competition. Coco Fath of Fairfield, CT and Akinda were late in the order of go for the first round, but rocketed right to the top of the leaderboard with a top score of 89.00 points for their effort. While 11 of the class’s best-scoring riders returned before Fath to contest the second course, none could overcome Fath and the Hillside Farm LLC’s 13-year-old Warmblood mare. The team’s second round score of 81.00 points gave them a combined total of 170.00 points which was 2.5 points higher than second place winner Ava Lindsay and Fabricio 23.
Wellington, FL – February 9, 2019 – The first five-star competition of the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) brought together top show jumpers to compete in the $391,000 Fidelity Investments® Grand Prix CSI 5* on Saturday, February 9, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. Martin Fuchs (SUI) and Clooney 51, owned by Luigi Baleri, captured the first big win of the circuit.
Out of 40 entries in the grand prix, 18 were clear over the course designed by Kelvin Bywater of Great Britain. It was a footrace in the jump-off, with nine finding the path to double clear, but it would come down to who took the biggest chances to see who would stand atop the first five-star podium of the 2019 circuit.
Alannah Argyle and Norway Win THIS National Children’s Medal 15-17
Twenty-seven combinations headed to the South Ring at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Saturday for the THIS National Children’s Medal 15-17. The medal is one of many top equitation classes offered for junior riders throughout the 12-week circuit at the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival. Alannah Argyle of Dover, MA captured the win aboard the 13-year-old Warmblood gelding, Norway.
Madden and Barone Top National and International Derbies
Wellington, FL (January 29, 2019) – Over two days of competition that were as different as the show jumpers are from the hunters, the fourth week of the Turf Tour and second January Hunter Derby Days wrapped up with young Olympian Martin Fuchs as the $15,000 1.40m Grand Prix victor, Jennifer Madden as the top rider in the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, and Kim Barone as the winner of the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby.
With a chill in the air but a bright sun in the sky Friday welcomed competitors back to the beautiful fields of Santa Rita Polo Farm for the conclusion of week 4’s Turf Tour. Swiss Olympian Martin Fuchs and the 9-year-old grey gelding Faberlys (Cornet Obolensky x Beverlys) dominated the Grand Prix course designed by international Mark McGowan to take the win. Last week’s Grand Prix winner, Olympian Laura Kraut and Confu, were knocked into second by the 26-year-old, who is currently ranked 10th in the Longines FEI Rankings and fresh off a January 16th victory in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Basel. Third went to Stella Manship and Liismeen Ludam. Manship, who has been a longtime supporter of The Ridge and its events, was the final ride of the day and thrilled with her mount’s performance. “This horse means the world to me,” said Manship. “I have him for a year and he is the safest, kindest, hardest trying horse. I hadn’t jumped big classes in 20 years, and we did the 3* at Bromont and he was amazing. Our double clear effort here was fantastic, and being able to come out and jump on the grass is always a treat for both the horses and the riders. I’ve been at pretty much all of The Ridge’s events since they started, and Nona and George always do everything they can to put on a wonderful event and make it a positive experience for their competitors.”
In a 180-degree shift from Friday’s brisk sunshine, a passing cold front brought a steady rainfall for most of the day Saturday. The Ridge’s Hunter Derby Day competitors were undeterred, however, as the covered arena at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center provided for perfect footing and a drizzle free setting for the $5,000 USHJA National and $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derbies.
Jennifer Madden and Margethe Munkdale’s Sirocco set the tone for the day, jumping to second in the Classic and first in the Handy round to win the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. “Sirocco is a relatively new Derby horse but he has won just about every class we’ve entered,” said Madden. “He’s very personable and tries his hardest every time. Having the covered was a huge blessing as the rain just hasn’t stopped, and while we’ve only been to The Ridge’s events a few times we are sure to come back.” Madden’s victory in the class of 15 was made even more impressive by the stiff competition from her fellow international riders and their mounts, which included first 2019 International Hunter Derby winner at the Ridge, Olympian Peter Wylde and Michelle Kamine’s Dynamo.
Around midday the National Derby horses had their rounds, which saw Kim Barone and Cynthia Bulwicz’s Cyril take the first win of the day. “We purchased Cyril as a 5-year-old and we’ve had him for 7 years,” said Barone. “He’s definitely won upwards of 15 Derbies, and the owner also shows him in the Adults. He’s super smart and has the most amazing personality. We struggled a bit maintaining the flow during the tight turns, but Cyril was right there for me when I asked him to leave a step out and came through in our ride. The Ridge’s events are always a joy to attend, and beautifully run.”
Swiss spectators were treated to a superb moment of top sport when homegrown hero, Martin Fuchs (26), stormed to victory at the tenth leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2018/2019 Western European League at Basel (SUI).
This was the tenth anniversary of the fixture staged in the medieval Swiss town, but the first time for the venue at St Jakobshalle to host a leg of the Jumping World Cup series. The young man who scooped individual silver at last year’s FEI World Equestrian Games™ made it all the more memorable when steering his faithful grey gelding Clooney to a last-to-go win in a nail-biting three-horse jump-off against the clock.
“It’s amazing! So many people came here today, lots of my friends and my family, so to win at home in front of them is always so special – this was a great day for me and my amazing horse Clooney!” — Martin Fuchs (SUI)
The Netherlands’ Marc Houtzager (48) had to settle for runner-up spot with Sterrehof’s Calimero while Belgium’s Pieter Devos (32) and Apart slotted into third on a day when a first-round clear proved very difficult to achieve.
The opening course designed by Germany’s Frank Rothenberger was no walk-in-the-park, with testing turns, difficult stride distances, and a tight time-allowed of 68 seconds ensuring that only those horse-and-rider partnerships that were completely in sync would leave all the timber intact. A total of 21 had given it their best before Houtzager put the first clear on the board and, as so often happens, that was followed by another from Devos who was next to go. Two horses later Fuchs would add his name to the very short list of successful contenders to make the cut into the second-round race against the clock.
Houtzager was first to take on the jump-off track and set the target with a great clear in 38.84 seconds, but Devos upped the pace considerably when next to go with his Stuttgart winner, Apart. However, the influential double at fence 11 was still in place and when the pair lost impulsion after a tight turn on the approach the first element fell for four faults in the very quick time of 36.98 seconds.
So as Fuchs entered the arena the result was still wide open and the crowd was buzzing in anticipation. Clooney was crowned Swiss Horse of the Year this week and hopes were high that the dynamic duo whose stellar career already includes ninth place individually at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, a fourth-place finish at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Omaha (USA) in 2017 and that individual silver at last year’s World Championships would steal the last-minute limelight.
It was some pressure, but they didn’t disappoint, the gallant 13-year-old grey responding with all the willingness in the world as his rider asked him to lengthen his stride between the two oxers at the midway stage, putting in a supreme effort to clear the tricky double three from home and then turning super-tight to the penultimate red vertical. Fuchs kept his eye on the finishing line as they cleared the final fence, and when he turned to check the time, he threw his hat in the air in celebration as 37.61 seconds left him the clear winner. The crowd went wild.
“He was a bit fresh and spooky in the first round and the short time-allowed didn’t make it any easier – I was just inside time which was a bit lucky!” he said afterwards. But he did have a plan. “I saw the riders going before me and I discussed what to do with Steve (Guerdat) and my dad (Thomas Fuchs),” said the man who also topped the fourth leg of the Western European series in Lyon (FRA) in November.
He has now moved back up to third on the Western European League which continues to be led by his fellow-countryman and World No. 1 rider Steve Guerdat, while Devos is in second place. With 55 points on the board Fuchs is well qualified for the Longines 2019 Final in Gothenburg, Sweden in April and is now heading off to compete in Florida, USA for the next few weeks and is taking Clooney with him.
Basel’s entry to the Western European League circuit got the thumbs up from FEI Jumping Director John Roche. “The event has been organised to the highest standard; there was a completely full house today and the atmosphere was electric. A home win went to the last man into the arena, so you couldn’t have written a better script for a fantastic day of sport!” he said.
The League now moves on to Leipzig, Germany next weekend.
By Louise Parkes
Media contact:
Shannon Gibbons
Media Relations and Communications Manager shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46
Martin Fuchs and Clooney. (FEI/Christophe Tanière)
Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs (26) and Clooney produced a spectacular victory as the fourth leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2018/2019 Western European League more than lived up to expectations at Equita Longines in Lyon, France. In an edge-of-the-seat 10-horse jump-off that included four riders flying the host-country flag, it came down to a race to catch the target-time set by Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca and Ensor de Litrange, who were fifth to go.
And the last three chasing down that time were Rio 2016 Olympic team gold medallist Kevin Staut from France and the silver and bronze medallists from this year’s FEI World Equestrian Games™, Fuchs and fellow-countryman Steve Guerdat.
“I was always going for the win, but I wasn’t sure I could beat Lorenzo – I’m not always super-fast with Clooney and Lorenzo looked really fast on the screen. I didn’t know what time I had going through the finish, but when I looked up, I saw first place and I was very, very happy!” — Martin Fuchs (SUI)
With a third-place finish last weekend in Verona, Italy, the Swiss rider now heads the Western European League table carrying a handsome 35 points, so only needs a few more to book his ticket to the Longines Final in Gothenburg, Sweden next April.
French course designer, Gregory Bodo, gave them plenty to think about in the first round in which the 75 seconds time-allowed proved highly influential. “With the top riders and horses present, it’s not easy to find the right balance, but the time was perfect and riders had to keep the right tempo from the start to the end to be in time,” he explained.
Italy’s de Luca really put it up to the rest of them in the jump-off when stopping the timers in 37.78 seconds with a great run from his powerful 14-year-old gelding and, with just three left to go, Dutchman Maikel van der Vleuten was his nearest rival after posting 38.00 with Dana Blue. The 7,000-seat stadium was packed with French fans who held their collective breath as Staut set off with For Joy van’t Zorgvliet, but despite their best effort the pair didn’t threaten the lead when breaking the beam in 38.32 seconds.
Second-last into the ring, however, Fuchs had his foot to the floor all the way, and with a brilliant turn to the vertical three from home and a breathtaking gallop to the last, he stormed through the timers in 37.25 seconds and not even Guerdat and his brilliant mare Bianca could match that. De Luca held on for runner-up spot, while 2012 Olympic champion Guerdat, twice-winner of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ title, had to settle for third when stopping the clock on 37.89.
“Clooney had a one-month break after Tryon (FEI World Equestrian Games) and then we came to Verona and Lyon because I really want to qualify for the Final. I’m going to Wellington (USA) in January, so I wanted to focus on the World Cup qualifiers now,” Fuchs explained. He’s had an extraordinary year with the horse he competed at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and with which he claimed two European team bronze medals, in 2015 and again in 2017.
They kicked off 2018 with 5-Star Grand Prix wins at Basel and Zurich (SUI), but Clooney then had to undergo colic surgery in April and that was a worrying time. He bounced back, however, and just a few weeks after claiming World Championship individual silver, the grey horse is continuing to show incredible form.
“He’s such a tough horse; he always fights. When I got him in the beginning, I was struggling a lot because he has his own mind and he’s so strong. But over time we have come to work really well together, and now we can do anything!” — Martin Fuchs (SUI)
The Swiss rider now plans to compete in the next leg of the series at Stuttgart in Germany in two weeks’ time and at Olympia in London (GBR) in December.
Martin Fuchs and Conte Della Caccia Clear 1.95m to Win ATCO Electric Six Bar
Calgary, AB, Canada – September 6, 2013 – Speed and power described the two competitions on the schedule today at the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’. Opening up the evening was the $205,000 Encana Cup 1.60m, and the fastest in the jump-off was Calgary’s own Ben Asselin on Makavoy. The $75,000 ATCO Electric Six Bar featured four rounds of thrilling jumping as Martin Fuchs (SUI) cleared 1.95m for victory on Conte Della Caccia. The Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament hosts the best show jumpers in the world through Sunday, September 8. The highlight events of the week are the $350,000 BMO Nations’ Cup on Saturday and the $1 Million CN International, part of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, on Sunday.
There were 23 entries in the $205,000 Encana Cup, but only three were able to advance to the jump-off in driving rain. First to return was Christian Ahlmann (GER) on Taloubet Z. They had a rail at fence 15, an oxer off a right-hand rollback, for four faults and finished with a time of 46.73 seconds. Francois Mathy (BEL) and Espadon van de Kranenburg also had four faults, but with a slower time of 55.08 seconds.
Last in, Asselin and Makavoy were efficient through the turns and as they cleared the final oxer, the crowd burst into cheers when the scoreboard flashed #1. They posted a time of 53.94 seconds for the win. “We originally had [planned] a pretty fast track to try to have a clear round, but when I walked up everyone told me that both riders had four faults. I took a bit of a risk going so slow in the jump-off because if I had a rail down, I probably would have been third, but Makavoy was just unbelievable. He didn’t want to touch any rails,” Asselin explained.
Staying cool as the last in the ring was something Asselin had to accomplish. “I really had to work on keeping myself cool around the entire track. Even coming down to number one, my heart was racing. Coming down to the last fence I really had to stay cool. When I landed from that last fence all those emotions just let go,” he revealed.
He said of his partner Makavoy, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Hors La Loi II x Ahorn, “He’s quite a little horse, but he has a huge heart. He has a ton of power and has a lot of motor. He’s quite sensitive to ride. He gives you a lot of confidence on that size track. He really takes you down to the jumps and always wants to get to the other side of the jumps. It’s a really fun horse to ride. He’s really quick and he has his own style over the top of the jumps, but he gets himself over them.”
Asselin is just 19 years old, and this was his first win in the International Ring. “It’s surreal,” he said with a huge grin. “I’ve been dreaming about winning in the International Ring forever, let alone in the ‘Masters’ Tournament. The caliber of horses and riders is spectacular all week. I really came into this division as a true rookie. I haven’t done that many tracks this height. I had no plan on winning anything. I have an incredible horse and he showed me he could do it.”
Martin Fuchs and Conte Della Caccia
Martin Fuchs Clears 1.95m to Win ATCO Electric Six Bar
As the only rider to clear 1.95m, 21-year-old Martin Fuchs of Switzerland took the victory in the $75,000 ATCO Electric Six Bar competition with Conte Della Caccia. It was his second Six Bar win in 2013; he has shown three horses in four Six Bar competitions this year. “It’s cool; I like it a lot,” he smiled.
Joining Fuchs in the fourth and final round, but unable to clear the fences remaining, were Eugenie Angot (FRA) and Pirate Adalou, Lars Nieberg (GER) and Galippo 5, and Shane Breen (IRL) with Touch of Chilli. They tied for second place.
Fuchs has ridden Conte Della Caccia, a 10-year-old Holsteiner stallion by Canturo x Corrado I, for a year and a half, and they have moved up to the 1.60m level. Fuchs will compete for Switzerland in tomorrow’s BMO Nations’ Cup and Sunday’s $1 Million CN International.
He noted, “I took him here to Spruce Meadows to do his first five-star Nations’ Cup and grand prix. I think he’s my future horse. He’s not so experienced yet, but I hope to be good tomorrow.”
Fuchs felt that tonight’s Six Bar was great preparation for the weekend. “I knew after the first round that he was in top form and he likes it. With the crowd that really supported me and him, it really helped and he wanted to go bigger and bigger,” he said. “It was a good exercise for him. He’s a really strong horse and he wants to go to the jump. Here he started waiting and in the last round I could give some pressure for the last jump, which I usually cannot do. I think it’s good for tomorrow; he’s waiting and he did some gymnastics today!”
While Fuchs had a fantastic third place finish in the International two years ago, but this was his first win and experience in a winner’s presentation at Spruce Meadows. He said, “I’m really happy and proud. The people stay for the prize giving and stay to watch you. In Europe, in the prize giving you’re alone and you’re looking for the people and nobody’s there to cheer for you. It’s really special for us to come here and to do an extra round and they keep screaming and clapping. It’s really something special.”
The Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ continues tomorrow with the $125,000 Suncor Winning Round 1.50m and the $350,000 BMO Nations’ Cup. For full results and more information, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
