Lexington, KY – The following horse-and-rider combinations have been named by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to represent the U.S. in Nations Cup competition at the CSIO3* Bratislava, August 1-4, 2013 in Bratislava, Slovakia.
The five following combinations will represent the U.S. at the CSIO3* Bratislava:
Kirsten Coe (Royal Palm Beach, FL) will ride Ilan Ferder’s Calypso
Calypso is a 2002 Belgian Warmblood gelding
Megan Nusz (The Woodlands, TX) will ride Amalaya Investments’ Dynamo
Dynamo is a 2003 Belgian Warmblood gelding
Catherine Pasmore (Wellington, FL) will ride Pasmore Stables, LLC’s Bonanza Van Paemel and Zaragosa
Bonanza Van Paemel is a 2011 Belgian Warmblood gelding
Zaragosa is a 2004 Dutch Warmblood gelding
Quentin Judge (Wellington, FL) will ride Double H Farm’s HH Dark de la Hart
HH Dark de la Hart is a 2003 Belgian Warmblood stallion
Paige Johnson (The Plains, VA) will ride Salamander Farm’s Dakota
Dakota is a 2003 Belgian Warmblood mare
Team selection for the CSIO3* Bratislava was based on the applicant athlete’s ranking on the May 31, 2013 Rolex/USEF Show Jumping Ranking List.
Peter Wylde guided Lewin 5 to victory in the $30,000 Battenkill Grand Prix. Photo by David Mullinix Photography.
East Dorset, Vermont — Olympic gold medalist Peter Wylde and Lewin 5 sped to their second Grand Prix victory in a row at the Vermont Summer Festival, winning the $30,000 Battenkill Grand Prix, presented by Johnson Horse Transportation, during week two of the six-week show jumping competition. The Vermont Summer Festival continues through August 11 at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.
Wylde edged out student Agatha D’Ambra and Udiana for the first place finish with just over a second to spare. D’Ambra and Wylde were the only riders to advance to the jump-off out of the 22 entries that contested the Grand Prix. Wylde also qualified on his second mount, Wiesielotte, but settled for third place after incurring 12 faults in the jump-off.
“The course was careful; I think you had to have a very careful jumper,” Wylde commented of the course designed by Canadian Chris Brandt. “There were very technical and tight distances, but our horses seemed to handle that really well. I was really pleased. Agatha and I had five horses between us and they all did five really nice rounds. We’re very happy.”
D’Ambra was thrilled with her mare Udiana’s performance and was more than content to finish second to her new trainer.
“Coming in second place at all is incredible. I’m very happy with it. My horse was brilliant today. I couldn’t be happier with her. Peter Wylde is the best, so just the fact that I came in front of his other horse and presented a challenge for him, I’m pretty proud of myself,” D’Ambra beamed.
D’Ambra was first to return in the jump-off and Wylde admitted to doubting whether he would be able to catch her after a perfectly executed second round.
“She nailed the jump-off and I thought, ‘I’m going to have to really go if I’m going to get it.’ I think the only place I caught her was to the last fence. I really raced to the last fence. I think I was probably a little bit behind her going into the last fence but I made up some ground there. She was pretty much perfect in her jump-off,” Wylde revealed.
Wylde described how Lewin 5, an 11-year-old gelding owned by Société Civile de l’Ecurie Meautry, has come into his own the last several months of competition.
“Lewin’s been consistently right at the top the last grand prix and the last few months I’ve been riding him. The horse is fantastic and this is now the third grand prix he’s won in the last two months,” Wylde explained.
“I’ve ridden him for a year and a half now and he’s really developed into being a superstar. It’s exciting! He’s fun and he’s also learned to go fast. He’s got a lot of self-confidence now and I can pretty much ask him to do anything and he’ll do it for me. He really is there for you,” Wylde continued.
Wylde and D’Ambra’s partnership is newly formed, yet the pair is clearly well-matched. D’Ambra of Saratoga, NY, contacted Wylde when she heard he was moving his training business to New York.
“I sent him a message saying I needed a trainer and I needed some help and he said he’d love to help me. I shipped in for a lesson two weeks before HITS Saugerties and it was just an immediate click. I think it’s pretty obvious in the results that we share the same philosophy with the horses and that we get along really well. I see really good things coming,” D’Ambra shared.
Both riders were extremely grateful for the support of their sponsors, whose invaluable support enables them to compete at the highest levels of the sport.
“I want to thank my sponsor John Cooley at Elite Equine Veterinary,” D’Ambra said.
“I would also like to thank my sponsors Cavalor, Dover Saddlery, Tredstep and of course Tad Coffin Performance Saddles, which are the saddles I’m using on my horses now which I just love and my horses love, too!” Wylde added.
The Vermont Summer Festival, celebrating its 20th anniversary in its current Manchester location, offers more than $750,000 in prize money, making it the richest sporting event based on purse in the state of Vermont.
The first five Saturdays of the Vermont Summer Festival feature a $30,000 Grand Prix. The $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix will be held during the sixth and final week on Saturday, August 10. The weekly $10,000 Open Welcome Stake, Presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, is held each Thursday. The hugely popular $5,000 3’3” Hunter Derby is also held each Thursday for the first five weeks, with week six featuring the $15,000 Hunter Derby.
The Vermont Summer Festival is a proud member event of the Show Jumping Hall Of Fame, the Marshall & Sterling League, and the North American League (NAL). For more information about the Vermont Summer Festival, please e-mail info@vt-summerfestival.com or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.
Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439 www.startinggate.ca
Lausanne (SUI), 11 July 2013 – The 16th qualifier of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 will take place at the Budapest CSIO 3* in Hungary this Friday 12 July attracting a field of 14 teams.
The starting order, which was determined by a draw held at Budapest today, will be as follows:
Russia
Austria
Slovakia
Czech Republic
Germany
Poland
Hungary
Belarus
Italy
Greece
Ukraine
Belgium
Romania
Bulgaria
Eight teams – Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Hungary, Greece, Poland, Slovakia, and Russia – will be eligible for Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping points in Europe Division 2. The standings after six events in that division are available here.
Tomorrow’s competition will begin at 14.30 CEST (local time in Hungary, GMT+2 hours) and will be broadcast live on FEI TV, FEI’s official online video platform.
The FEI is providing a wide range of online information resources in connection with the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping.
Dedicated webpage
Our dedicated webpage gives you access to useful information, including the calendar, latest results, updated standings, rules and news from the series.
Our signature Twitter hashtags are: #Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup #Jumping.
“Furusiyya” (Arabic: فروسيه) this single Arabic word conveys so much, embracing the idea of horsemanship, chivalry, and equestrian knowledge in general. The term is a derivation of faris, or horseman and faras, a horse.
Longines is the Official Timekeeper of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping series.
Longines has been based at Saint-Imier (SUI) since 1832. Its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. It has generations of experience as the official timekeeper at world championships and as a partner of international sports federations.
Longines’ passion for equestrian sports began in 1878, when a timepiece was made with a horse and jockey engraved on the watch face. Over the years, the brand has built strong and long-lasting links with equestrian sports. In 1926, for the first time, the brand was involved as timekeeper for the Official International Equestrian Competition of Geneva. Today, Longines’ involvement in equestrianism includes Jumping, Endurance and flat racing.
Longines is a member of The Swatch Group S.A., the world’s leading manufacturer of horological products. With an excellent reputation for creating refined timepieces, the brand, whose emblem is the winged hourglass, has outlets in over 130 countries.
Lausanne (SUI), 11 July 2013 – The 15th qualifier of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 will take place at the Falsterbo CSIO 5* in Sweden this Friday 12 July attracting a field of nine teams.
The starting order, which was determined by a draw held at Falsterbo today, will be as follows:
Germany
Switzerland
Italy
Sweden
Spain
France
The Netherlands
Ukraine
Denmark
Four teams – The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and Ukraine – will be eligible for Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping points in Europe Division 1. The standings after five events in that division are available here.
Tomorrow’s competition will begin at 14.30 CEST (local time in Sweden, GMT+2 hours) and will be broadcast live on FEI TV, FEI’s official online video platform.
The FEI is providing a wide range of online information resources in connection with the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping.
Dedicated webpage
Our dedicated webpage gives you access to useful information, including the calendar, latest results, updated standings, rules and news from the series.
Our signature Twitter hashtags are: #Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup #Jumping.
“Furusiyya” (Arabic: فروسيه) this single Arabic word conveys so much, embracing the idea of horsemanship, chivalry, and equestrian knowledge in general. The term is a derivation of faris, or horseman and faras, a horse.
Longines is the Official Timekeeper of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping series.
Longines has been based at Saint-Imier (SUI) since 1832. Its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. It has generations of experience as the official timekeeper at world championships and as a partner of international sports federations.
Longines’ passion for equestrian sports began in 1878, when a timepiece was made with a horse and jockey engraved on the watch face. Over the years, the brand has built strong and long-lasting links with equestrian sports. In 1926, for the first time, the brand was involved as timekeeper for the Official International Equestrian Competition of Geneva. Today, Longines’ involvement in equestrianism includes Jumping, Endurance and flat racing.
Longines is a member of The Swatch Group S.A., the world’s leading manufacturer of horological products. With an excellent reputation for creating refined timepieces, the brand, whose emblem is the winged hourglass, has outlets in over 130 countries.
Uzbekistan’s Umit Kamilov claimed Individual gold at the FEI Central Asia Jumping Championships 2013 in Astana, Kazakhstan last weekend.
Lausanne (SUI), 10 July 2013 – In a close-fought battle, the host nation of Kazakhstan clinched team gold at the FEI Central Asia Jumping Championships 2013 in Astana last weekend where Uzbekistan’s Umit Kamilov came out on top in a two-way tussle for the Individual title.
Horse-and-rider combinations from Russia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan lined out during the three-day fixture which took place at the Kazanat racetrack in Kazakhstan’s capital city.
Kazakhstan is the world’s largest landlocked country and the ninth largest country in the world. With over one million square miles of territory it is bigger than Western Europe, and it is neighboured, clockwise from the north, by Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, also bordering the Caspian Sea. Kazakhstan has been hosting FEI events since 1993.
Perfect Start
Victory for Erjan Magzhaev and Privat in the opening 1.20m Speed class was the perfect start for the host country. There were eight clear rounds from 38 starters, and Uzbekistan’s Okil Sabirzhanov and Tayson were more than seven seconds slower when slotting into runner-up spot ahead of Russia’s Juliya Seredova and Irbit who were a further second off the pace in third.
Sabirzhanov topped the following day’s Two-Phase competition in which the second-round fences stood at 1.30m. There were 22 starters in this class and three were eliminated in the opening round while there was a total of seven first-round clears. Only the eventual winner and Russia’s Alexander Tishkov recorded double-clear performances however, Tishkov and Calipso having to settle for second place when Sabirzhanov’s Tayson broke the beam fractionally quicker.
And the strength of the Kazakh squad was underlined when home riders filled six of the top nine placings in this class including Magzhaev with Camelot in third and Iriina Sverchkova with Kholidey in fourth.
Team Competition
The team medal-decider also took place on the second day with four nations, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Russia, each represented by full teams of four horse-and-rider combinations.
Kyrgyzstan held a significant five-point lead at the halfway stage when Valentina Dubolazova’s 12 faults with Zemfira was discounted and only the eight collected by both Azim Kermaliev (Landame) and Renat Galimov (Arman) had to be added to the four picked up by anchorman Sadyr Mamytov (Tuintendro) bringing the total to 20.
The Kazakhs lay second with 25 faults ahead of Russia in third with 28 and Uzbekistan close behind in fourth with 29.
It all fell apart for Kyrgyzstan in round two however when they had to add another 40 faults to bring their final tally to 60, sending them plummeting from first to last place.
Meanwhile the Kazakhs improved with just 20 to add this time out after both pathfinder Peter Solovyov (Luzie) and second-line rider Asset Tolkumbekov (Aronia), returned with eight faults apiece while anchorman Alexander Tishkov left just one on the floor with Quattro. Oleg Popelyaev’s performance with the French-bred It’s Me du Mesnil deteriorated dramatically as this combination, who returned with just five faults first time out, picked up a hefty 25 at their second attempt to provide the discard score.
None of that mattered however when things didn’t quite go to plan for the Russians either despite an opening second-round clear, the only fault-free run of the day, from pathfinders Olga Giss and Gledis. They looked like overtaking the Kazakhs when Karin Ruslan and Eliza followed with an eight-fault effort, but 12 from Juliya Seredova and Irbit and a further 17 from Sergey Shepelin and Cambridge ensured that they too must add a further 20 to their scoreline, leaving them just three faults short of the Kazakhs and in silver medal position.
Uzbekistan’s Feruz Abdulayev (Dorango), Umit Kamilov (Eloise), Vladimir Shmelyov (Lou Leveret) and Gairat Nazarov (Quattro Junior) claimed the bronze, with particularly creditable performances from Kamilov who improved from an eight-fault first-round total to lower just one fence second time out, and Gairat who picked up just a single time fault in round two.
Final Day
Kazakhstan’s Magzhaev and Privat headed up the AEF President’s Cup 135m class on the final day when coming out best in a two-way showdown with Kyrgyzstan’s Renat Galimov and Arman who faulted once in a slower time while Magzhaev jumped fast, clean and clear to take the honours.
The individual medals were decided in the Grand Prix, which was also an FEI World Cup Jumping qualifier for the region, and therefore strongly contested.
Just 12 lined out over the considerably bigger 140m-160m course, and there were two first-round eliminations including that of 2011 FEI Central Asia individual gold medallist Peter Soloyov. There were no clears in round one, but when both Uzbekistan’s Kamilov and Ukraine’s Konstantin Iaroshenko finished with eight faults each they went through to a second-round jump-off against the clock, with Uzbekistan’s Okil Sabirzhnov already assured of the bronze after posting the fastest 12-fault total with Tayson.
Despite picking up another seven faults, Kamilov won through to take the gold when Iaroshenko returned with 13 more to add to his scoreline. It was an impressive conclusion to the Championships from an Uzbeki perspective, as they claimed individual gold and bronze while Vladimir Shmelyov finished just outside the medals in fourth place.
FEI Courses
Alongside all the action and excitement in the arena, the Equestrian Federation of Kazakhstan staged two FEI training courses, for Endurance Level 1 national judges and FEI veterinarians. Mr Hallvard Sommerseth from Norway was the main speaker on the topic of Endurance while both FEI 1st Vice-President and Chair of the FEI Veterinary Committee, Mr John McEwen, and Director of the FEI Veterinary Department, Graeme Cooke, addressed the veterinary delegates from Asian countries.
During the course of discussions on veterinary matters, the Kazakhstan Ministry of Agriculture, and the Chief Veterinary Officer of Kazakhstan, expressed the desire to improve the practicality of government requirements for the movement for international competition horses and for them to lead the way in this regard for other countries in the Central Asia region. This could include the establishment of disease-free zones for competition horses.
Results:
FEI Central Asia Jumping Team Championship: GOLD – Kazakhstan 45 faults: Luzie (Peter Solovyov) 12/8, Aronia (Asset Tolkumbekov) 12/8, It’s Me du Mesnil (Oleg Popelyaev) 5/25, Quattro (Alexander Tishkov) 8/1; SILVER – Russia 48 faults: Gledis (Olga Giss) 8/0, Eliza (Karen Ruslin) 16/8, Irbit (Juliya Seredova) 16/17, Cambridge (Sergey Shepelin) 4/17; BRONZE – Uzbekistan 50 faults: Dorango (Feruz (Abdeulayev) 26/29, Eloise (Umit Kamilov) 8/1, Lou Leveret (Vladimir Shmelyov) 12/16, Quattro Junior (Gairat Nazarov) 9/1.
Lexington, KY – The following athletes have been named by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to represent the U.S. in Nations Cup competition at the CSIO5* Gijon, August 28 – September 2, 2013 in Gijon, Spain.
The five following athletes will represent the U.S. at the CSIO5* Gijon:
Reed Kessler (Lexington, KY)
Lauren Hough (Wellington, FL)
Kirsten Coe (Royal Palm Beach, FL)
Saer Coulter (San Francisco, CA)
Lucy Davis (Los Angeles, CA)
Horses will be named following the submission of the Definite Entry.
Team selection for the CSIO5* Gijon was based on the applicant athlete’s ranking on the June 28, 2013 Rolex/USEF Show Jumping Ranking List.
Peter Wylde guided Lewin 5 to victory in the $30,000 Vermont Summer Special Grand Prix. David Mullinix Photography.
July 6, 2013 – East Dorset, Vermont – Peter Wylde made his first trip to Manchester, VT, a winning one by claiming victory in the $30,000 Vermont Summer Special Grand Prix on July 6. The six-week Vermont Summer Festival is running July 2 through August 11 at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.
A veteran of the United States Equestrian Team, Wylde was the individual bronze medalist at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, before claiming team gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Having been based in Germany for the past 12 years, Wylde recently relocated his business to Millbrook, NY, and is back competing on the U.S. show jumping circuit.
Wylde included the Vermont Summer Festival on his 2013 tour schedule. The decision proved to be a wise one, as he was one of three competitors to advance to the jump-off over the track set by course designer Alan Wade of Ireland. Agatha D’Ambra also jumped clear with Quivola, but incurred two time faults for exceeding the 86-second time allowed.
Returning first for the jump-off, Michael Dorman posted a clear round in a time of 40.31 seconds riding Zephyr to put the pressure on those who followed. Mark Bluman, the winner of Thursday’s $10,000 Open Welcome Stake with G&C Lagran, was next up, this time riding G&C Carla. Bluman only began riding the grey mare two weeks ago, having been given the ride by his brother, Ilan. In their first grand prix together, the pair posted a clear round in 36.16, despite a big stumble upon landing after the second fence, taking more than four seconds off of Dorman’s time to move into the lead.
Wylde was the third and final challenger, and the seasoned veteran made short work of the jump-off course, smoothly guiding Lewin 5 over the fences, around the turns and through the timers in 34.39 seconds for the victory.
“Alan Wade, in my opinion, is one of the best course designers in the world,” complimented Wylde. “I am always happy to go to a show where he’s building because his courses are consistently excellent. I never have a worry. I thought that the course was well-set, and was a good challenge.”
The win in the $30,000 Vermont Summer Special Grand Prix marked the second recent victory for Wylde and Lewin 5, an 11-year-old bay German-bred gelding by Lewinski owned by Baron Eduard de Rothschild of Société Civile de l’Ecurie Meautry in Deauville, France. The pair also won the $35,000 Garden State Grand Prix in Augusta, NJ, on May 4.
“I thought it was a really nice class,” said Wylde of the $30,000 Vermont Summer Special Grand Prix. In addition to taking the win, Wylde also placed tenth after having a rail down at 12‘c’ of the triple combination with AK’s Clowney, also owned by Société Civile de l’Ecurie Meautry. “Clowney had a beautiful round and just lightly touched the rail coming out of the triple. I was a bit surprised by that. I sort of expected him to go clear so I didn’t go too fast. That was my fault. My student Agatha D’Ambra was fourth. She rode well and her horse jumped well.”
Of Lewin 5, Wylde noted, “He’s been building up to this level and is now consistently in the ribbons, both indoors and out. He’s a lamb. He’s the sweetest horse, very kind. He’s a little lazy, but picks up just enough in the ring, and is very careful. It was a fast enough jump-off today, and he was excellent. I imagine he’s going to be sold pretty soon.”
The grand prix was the first class of the week for Wylde, who arrived in Vermont the night before.
“I spent the 4th of July with my dad on the beach in Massachusetts,” said Wylde, 47. “There were a lot of reasons why I wanted to come back to the States and spending more time with family was a main one. I have a great support team in my stable. I was able to sneak away on vacation for four days and met my horses here last night. I’m always a little anxious when I go away, but I have a great team.”
Wylde will remain in Vermont for the second week of the Vermont Summer Festival, and is already making plans to return next year, saying, “I haven’t been here before and this was the plan that I devised. Next year, I’ll be tailoring my plan based on experience, and I’m already having a great experience here. I love the grounds and the layout.
“It’s only been a few months, but I’m basically up to speed with where I want to be,” said Wylde, who is now basing his business, Mullenders & Wylde Horses LLC, out of Winley Farm in Millbrook, NY. “I’m really happy with the way things have fallen into place for me since Florida. Winley Farm, in my opinion, is the best training facility I’ve ever been to. It’s an old thoroughbred breeding farm on 190 acres with paddocks and riding trails. Built in the middle is a high-tech show jumping training facility with 40 box stalls. I’ve never seen this combination of high-tech stable with so much turn-out and grass. I’m so happy and my horses are so happy, which is obvious because they have been performing so well.
“I would like to say thank you to my sponsors, Dover, Cavalor, Tredstep and Tad Coffin Performance Saddles,” concluded Wylde.
The Vermont Summer Festival, celebrating its 20th anniversary in its current Manchester location, offers more than $750,000 in prize money, making it the richest sporting event based on purse in the state of Vermont.
The first five Saturdays of the Vermont Summer Festival feature a $30,000 Grand Prix. The $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix will be held during the sixth and final week on Saturday, August 10. The weekly $10,000 Open Welcome Stake, Presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, is held each Thursday. The hugely popular $5,000 3’3” Hunter Derby is also held each Thursday for the first five weeks, with week six featuring the $15,000 Hunter Derby.
The Vermont Summer Festival is a proud member event of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, the Marshall & Sterling League, and the North American League (NAL). For more information about the Vermont Summer Festival, please e-mail info@vt-summerfestival.com or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.
Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439 www.startinggate.ca
Christine McCrea Takes $35,000 Progress Energy Canada Cup Victory; McArdle Captures 1.45m Speed Win
Calgary, AB – July 4, 2013 – The ‘North American’ Tournament had three international competitions today in two rings. Riding to the top of the standings in the $35,000 PwC Cup 1.60m was Lauren Tisbo (USA) on Roundthorn Madios. Christine McCrea (USA) won the $35,000 Progress Energy Canada Cup 1.50m as the first in the jump-off with Romantovich Take One. In the All Canada ring, an early fast round by Abigail McArdle (USA) and Cosma 20 won the $33,000 Zoetis Horse Health Care Cup 1.45m.
The ‘North American’ Tournament continues through Sunday, July 7, and features the $200,000 ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Saturday, July 6, and the $140,000 Cenovus Energy Classic Derby on Sunday, July 7.
Twenty entries went to post in the $35,000 PwC Cup 1.60m over a course designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio of New York. Only two were able to clear the first round, and they went head to head in the jump-off.
“I thought it was going to be difficult,” Tisbo said. “Anthony usually builds courses that don’t allow for a whole lot of clears, but a nice number usually. There were plenty of questions there, and the water jump was in there. I expected there to be more than two though. You just had to know your horse really well and know what his strengths are.”
First in was Reed Kessler (USA) on Cylana. They pulled a rail at the first fence in the jump-off and finished with four faults in 39.76 seconds.
Knowing a clear round was needed to win, Lauren Tisbo went in with a steady stride, but still kept up a pace just in case. She was able to leave all of the jumps up and recorded a time of 41.20 seconds for her second international win at Spruce Meadows.
Tisbo recently moved Roundthorn Madios up to the 1.60m competitions, and she used today’s event to see if he would be ready for the $200,000 ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Saturday. “From the beginning today was all about jumping clear, and if I got into the jump-off, jumping clear again. My plan just happened to work out with the rest of the circumstances,” she pointed out.
Tisbo has been riding Roundthorn Madios, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Condios x Clover Hill, for six months. He is owned by her family’s Tequestrian Farms LLC. While Tisbo felt like they clicked “for the most part,” right away, it still took some time to get to know each other. She explained, “His previous rider had him for a long time, and I think in any situation when you get a horse that someone’s been riding for multiple years, even if you match right away, it takes a little while for them to figure you out and think the way you think. That certainly started to happen after the Florida circuit. Now I think it’s going pretty well.”
Tisbo said that Roundthorn Madios has gotten “so much scopier” here at Spruce Meadows. “He doesn’t have a huge, huge stride. He’s careful, but he likes when you can gallop him up to the jumps,” she said. “He’s exceeding my expectations in the parts of the course that I think he’s going to struggle with. Those are all signs for me that make me feel very confident going into a class like the Queen’s Cup on Saturday.”
Tisbo said she was “still a little shocked” with her victory. “It does feel as special as the first win. It was not what I expected today,” she smiled. “I was hoping I would win for the first time in the International Ring here, (and) I got that goal accomplished, so the rest is gravy!”
Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One
McCrea Is Only Double Clear to Win
The $35,000 Progress Energy Canada Cup had 35 entries and five of those would advance to the jump-off, but it would be the first in the ring over the shortened course that would lead the way. Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One, 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Numero Uno x Karandasj owned by Candy Tribble, put in the all-important clear round in a time of 42.58 seconds.
McCrea said of her plan, “I obviously wanted to jump clear and go fast, but I didn’t want to go too fast because there wasn’t very many in it in the jump-off. I thought it would be more important to try to jump a clear round. I did kick myself because when I was coming around the bank, I realized I missed the inside turn to the skinny (fence). I thought I left it open a little bit there. But as it turned out, it worked out, so that was good. I thought he jumped great.”
Next in, Federico Fernandez (MEX) and Gitano, had an unfortunate 12 faults in 47.97 seconds for fifth place. Conor Swail (IRL) and Lansdowne had an early four faults and slowed down to finish the jump-off. They accumulated three time faults in 52.77 seconds for fourth place.
It came down to the final fence for the last two riders, and both of them had their heartbreaking four faults there. Lauren Tisbo (USA) and Catharina 9 were third in 45.34 seconds. Susan Artes (USA) and Zamiro were quite fast in 41.72 seconds, but the rail down left them in second place.
McCrea pointed out that by now, their relationship has advanced to where she just thinks “speed,” and Romantovich Take One does it. “You just push the button and he goes,” she smiled. “He’s faster than a normal horse. Then if you want to go a little quicker, just leg him a little bit more and off you go. He’s so seasoned that he knows exactly what I’m asking. It’s not like he’s questioning; he just knows. First gear, third gear, fourth gear, he just knows.”
This was Romantovich Take One’s third victory in the Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments, and McCrea has had success on her other horses as well. “I’m very lucky. They are extremely nice horses and I’m really happy to have them,” she expressed.
McArdle and Cosma 20 Speed Past Competition
Abigail McArdle and Cosma 20
The $33,000 Zoetis Horse Health Care Cup 1.45m had an early leader whose time held up to win the competition. Abigail McArdle (USA) and Cosma 20 went sixth in the order out of 23 entries and put in a very quick time of 104.82 seconds with no faults.
Going second to last, the closest clear round came from Francois Mathy (BEL) on Falco von de Clehoeve, who finished in 108.39 seconds for second place. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Cyklon 1083 were third in 108.69 seconds. Conor Swail (IRL) and Martha Louise had the time in 103.67 seconds, but a rail left them in eleventh place.
McArdle didn’t leave much room for anyone to catch her, with the exception of one inside turn. “I thought everywhere I kind of went for it. I didn’t seem to leave too many gaps,” she agreed. “The only place is where I went around (to jump 14), and Conor went inside there. He had my time, but he had that jump down. That’s what we were worried about when we walked (the course). We thought if I went inside, I would have had the same jump down. That was the one place where I thought someone could beat me, if they went inside there and left the jump up. After seeing Conor have that down, most people went around.”
Cosma 20 didn’t blink at any of the derby-style jumps on the speed course designed by Peter Holmes of Canada, including the open water, bank, and grob out of 17 numbered obstacles. “She’s super over the derby jumps,” McArdle said. “It’s funny, for being such a careful, spooky horse, she doesn’t care about the derby jumps at all. If anything, she’s going to back off of those as much as the plain oxer. The grob, the water, everything was perfect with her.”
This is the fourth win in the Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments for McArdle and Cosma 20. McArdle remarked, “We’ve had a heck of a Spruce! I feel like I know her really well. It’s a good feeling in that you know what to expect out there and you know the places that are going to be difficult and where you can make up time. I just feel like I’ve really formed a wonderful partnership with her. She’s taught me how to move up to the big classes. She’s taught me how to ride in the big ring and given me an opportunity to ride well and do well at the same time.”
What Can You Do at Spruce Meadows?
Spruce Meadows includes affordable fun for the whole family. With admission starting at only $5 per person, and children (12 & under) and seniors (65 & up) free, it is the perfect venue to unwind and enjoy a day of show jumping, activities, delicious food and shopping. Limited Reserved Seating tickets are also available – for full details, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
From Friday through Sunday, there will be a number of activities for the whole family (all included in your admission to Spruce Meadows) such as Pony Rides, presented by Kozy Shack, the Spruce Meadows Prairie Dogs, presented by RE/MAX, Wagon Rides, Face Painting, children’s games in the Garden Court Restaurant and more! Delicious food is offered throughout the grounds, featuring a healthy menu at the Garden Court Restaurant, a wide range of options at the Time Faults Public House, and International Fare in the Plaza.
Saturday, July 6 and Sunday, July 7 will feature the Royal Occasion Brunch – all are welcome to join us at the royally inspired breakfast from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm in the Meadowgreen Building, adjacent to the Meadows on the Green Ring. Fresh berries and cream, scones, pancakes, sausages and more will be complimentary to the first 3,000 guests. In light of the recent flood in Southern Alberta, Rush Seating for Saturday and Sunday will be complimentary. Reserved Seating and Club International tickets are available on our website in advance.
Looking to test your luck? Spruce Meadows has several contest options for those wanting to win excellent prizes, including the CN/Sun Media Name the Foal contest featuring a chance to name future show jumping star and a trip to the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament, and the Win a Year contest, with a chance to win a year of access to all Spruce Meadows events. If you are looking for some retail therapy, vendors in the Gallery on the Green and Vendor Village offer an excellent variety of gifts and services, both equine and non-equine in nature.
The ‘North American’ continues tomorrow with the $33,000 Pepsi Challenge 1.45m and the $50,000 LaFarge Cup 1.50m in the International Ring. For more information and full results, 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.
Madden, Sweetnam, and Swail Also Win on Opening Day of ‘North American’ Tournament
Calgary, AB – July 3, 2013 – The ‘North American’ Tournament CSI 5* started today with four major competitions in the International Ring. The winner of the $35,000 Sun Life Financial ‘Reach for the Sun’ 1.60m was Cameron Hanley (IRL) on Antello. In the $33,000 AON Cup 1.50m, Beezie Madden (USA) and Coral Reef Via Volo were fastest in the jump-off. The $33,000 Suncast Cup 1.45m victory went to Shane Sweetnam (IRL) on Solerina, while Conor Swail (IRL) and Martha Louise were fastest in the $33,000 Friends of the Meadows 1.45m.
The ‘North American’ Tournament continues through Sunday, July 7, and features the $200,000 ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Saturday, July 6, and the $140,000 Cenovus Energy Classic Derby on Sunday, July 7.
The $35,000 Sun Life Financial ‘Reach for the Sun’ 1.60m competition had 21 entries. Four advanced to the jump-off and it was Cameron Hanley who was fastest for victory with Antello, a 10-year-old Warmblood gelding by Animo Z x Continue owned by Eleonore Paschoude and Yves Bouvier.
McLain Ward (USA) and Cadence set the time to beat with a clear round in 44.91 seconds, which would hold up for second place. Daniel Bluman (COL) and Sancha LS La Silla placed third with their time of 44.93 seconds. Lauren Tisbo (USA) placed fourth when she and Roundthorn Madios finished in 45.42 seconds.
Hanley and Antello went last and he opened the big horse’s stride up through the long gallops on course. That and a chance at the final oxer gave them victory when they stopped the timers in 42.97 seconds.
“He’s naturally a very quick horse, he covers the ground very quickly, and I just let him roll and everything came up quite nice, like the turn back to the second to last (fence). The great thing about him is he’s so careful that I can just ride him to that last fence and I don’t really have to worry about him knocking it down,” he explained. “He’s always going to try to jump it. As long as I get a reasonably good distance, he should jump it.”
Hanley said that this was probably only the second time that he has pressed for speed in a jump-off with Antello. “The first week here I was clear in the 1.60m and I started to go quick and had a fence down early, so I slowed down. I haven’t really galloped him so much. He’s not a horse I would really do every class very competitive with,” he explained. “But today, last to go, four in the jump-off, I knew they were all really fast riders so I knew I had to go as fast as I could. I wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip; I was going to take it if I could.”
Today’s win was another step in Hanley’s comeback from a devastating knee injury and resulting 17 surgeries due to infection and complications. It was a special win for him on this horse that he and his brother purchased as a seven-year-old. When Hanley was injured, Michael Whitaker purchased him and brought him along. When Hanley returned to the sport and got new sponsors, he knew the horse they should buy for the grand prix ring. Since they have been back together, they won the grand prix in Wiesbaden, were double clear to help Ireland win the Nations Cup during the ‘Continental’ Tournament, and have now won again.
Hanley expressed, “Once I got him and back in the saddle, it just felt so comfortable sitting on him again. He’s really special, and we fit each other really well. We suit each other’s personalities, I guess. I’m quite easygoing and he’s quite lively, so we cancel each other out.”
This is Hanley’s fourth time competing at Spruce Meadows, and he noted, “It’s an amazing show and I’m really delighted to go in and raise the trophy. All wins are special, but now especially I take nothing for granted. Something like today, it means a lot for me.”
Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo
Beezie Madden Rides to Victory
There were 46 entries in the $33,000 AON Cup 1.50m, and five of those found the path to a clear round and tackled the shortened course. From those, Beezie Madden was fastest to win on Coral Reef Via Volo, a 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Clinton x Heartbreaker owned by Coral Reef Ranch.
First into the jump-off was Nick Dello Joio (USA) on Carlos VHP Z owned by EM Horses. They put down a quick, clear round in 41.82 seconds, which would slot into fourth place. Next in was Antonio Maurer (MEX) on Charro owned by Salvador Onate. They had eight faults in 41.38 seconds for fifth place.
Pablo Barrios (VEN) and Zara Leandra, owned by ZL Group Inc., set the next time to beat at 39.69 seconds, but it would not be quite enough. They would finish in second place.
Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo then took the lead with a time of 39.36 seconds. Madden said of her jump-off ride, “I did the leave out, which was six (strides) up the first line. I think I actually got a little wide and not quite as fast to fence three. I tried to make up some time after that. I was quick to the double verticals and quick down the last line.”
Shane Sweetnam (IRL) tried to make it two wins in a row, but he was just off the time in 39.81 seconds with Sweet Oak Farm’s Fineman. They placed third.
“We’ve been together for a while now, so we have confidence in each other,” Madden said of her partnership with Coral Reef Via Volo. “Sometimes she’s difficult about one end of the ring or the corners of the ring, but she’s getting more and more used to this ring. (And) she’s getting more seasoned now and less things bother her.”
While Madden showed in Europe the past two weeks, Via Volo had two weeks rest from showing. “She felt good and fresh. I had to work her a little bit this morning! She felt great, which was good. I did this so I could qualify for the 1.50m on Saturday. She’ll do that and then the derby on Sunday,” Madden noted.
Sweetnam and Solerina Keep Early Lead
Shane Sweetnam and Solerina
Riding out of the fifth position in the order, Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Solerina were able to keep the lead through the entire competition. They set a very quick time of 64.70 seconds with no faults to win the $33,000 Suncast Cup 1.45m out of 48 total entries. The next fastest to finish in second place was another early in the order – Katie Dinan (USA) and Glory Days went second in the order and were clear in 66.36 seconds. Third place went to Francois Mathy (BEL) and Opus PSG, were finished in 70.16 seconds.
Sweetnam and Solerina, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare by Cruising x Diamond Lad owned by Sweet Oak Farm, did not have to go all out to win, and Sweetnam said he was surprised that his time held up.
He acknowledged, “I thought I’d finish in the top three, especially with Kent and Brianne and plenty of people there that I thought would catch me.” He also said that while it was quick, he left some in the tank for Solerina. “There was more. I’m still trying to keep her relaxed in there. I did think I could have been faster, maybe two seconds faster, but I tried to keep close enough to my plan and keep her within her range. I didn’t want to run her too fast and get her upset about things.”
Keeping Solerina happy is something that Sweetnam works on, and it includes an unusual item in her stall – a television. Sweetnam described her as a typical chestnut mare, “more than anybody,” and that he tries to work with her personality.
“She’s a bit quirky. I was wondering how she would be up here because there is a lot to look at here in the rings. It’s not out of badness, it’s more nerves. If you can keep her in the same routine all the time, she’s fine,” he explained. “She’s afraid of the TV (screens), so we have one in her stall. She’s watching ‘The Top 100 Moments of Spruce Meadows’ right now!”
Conor Swail and Martha Louise
Swail and Martha Louise Are Fastest
The $33,000 Friends of the Meadows Cup 1.45m was the first competition of the day in the International Ring. There were 47 combinations in the speed format, and it was Conor Swail of Ireland who was fastest with Martha Louise, a 9-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare by Maloubet de Pleville 1039 x Wolfgang owned by Susan and Ariel Grange. They sped around the course in 63.50 seconds.
Second place went to John Perez (COL) on Utopia in 64.72 seconds, while Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Wang Chung M2S were third in 65.44 seconds.
This was Martha Louise’s first win, although she has placed in eight out of nine competitions at the Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments. Swail was happy to be back in the International Ring and noted, “She felt very good today. She was in here week one and then she has been a few weeks away (in other rings). When she went back in, I thought she felt more comfortable. She handled it very well. She jumped lovely.”
Despite losing his stirrup going into the double combination, Swail was able to ride through it and regain his stirrup before the next oxer. “It affected me. I think it’s nearly worse losing one because you have no balance. She didn’t jump the in and out particularly well I think because of me, where I was (with) my balance, but she was good to leave that double up,” Swail pointed out. “I was probably lucky that I have nice quality because she tries to do her best.”
While Swail got the win, he did not have to go all out today for victory. “Honestly, I think there was a bit left there today. It certainly wasn’t the fastest round that I’ve ever had with her. In that respect, it is nice to come out on top and not have them going crazy,” he said.
Swail originally purchased Martha Louise two years ago and she has been a consistent winner for him. She moved up to the higher levels this winter in Florida. “Since Sue (Grange) bought her, she has been absolutely amazing,” he commented. “She is just such a consistent horse. She is a really versatile mare; she can do many jobs. She did the grand prix last week, which was very big for her, but she handled it very well.”
Martha Louise is leading the Horse Health Care Championship presented by Pfizer Equine Division and Moore Equine Veterinary Clinic, which is awarded on Friday, July 5, to the horse/rider combination who accumulates the most points throughout the 1.45m Derby Series. Swail hopes that she will able to take that top prize.
Swail said that Martha Louise is not your typical chestnut mare. “She’s not like a mare at all, she is just so nice. She is so laid back. I think her temperament is the best part of her because she is very willing to do anything and try anything. When she goes in, she is laid back, but at the same time very careful and I think that is a great quality,” he said.
What Can You Do at Spruce Meadows?
Spruce Meadows includes affordable fun for the whole family. With admission starting at only $5 per person, and children (12 & under) and seniors (65 & up) free, it is the perfect venue to unwind and enjoy a day of show jumping, activities, delicious food and shopping. Limited Reserved Seating tickets are also available – for full details, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
From Friday through Sunday, there will be a number of activities for the whole family (all included in your admission to Spruce Meadows) such as Pony Rides, presented by Kozy Shack, the Spruce Meadows Prairie Dogs, presented by RE/MAX, Wagon Rides, Face Painting, children’s games in the Garden Court Restaurant and more! Delicious food is offered throughout the grounds, featuring a healthy menu at the Garden Court Restaurant, a wide range of options at the Time Faults Public House, and International Fare in the Plaza.
Saturday, July 6 and Sunday, July 7 will feature the Royal Occasion Brunch – all are welcome to join us at the royally inspired breakfast from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm in the Meadowgreen Building, adjacent to the Meadows on the Green Ring. Fresh berries and cream, scones, pancakes, sausages and more will be complimentary to the first 3,000 guests. In light of the recent flood in Southern Alberta, Rush Seating for Saturday and Sunday will be complimentary. Reserved Seating and Club International tickets are available on our website in advance.
Looking to test your luck? Spruce Meadows has several contest options for those wanting to win excellent prizes, including the CN/Sun Media Name the Foal contest featuring a chance to name future show jumping star and a trip to the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament, and the Win a Year contest, with a chance to win a year of access to all Spruce Meadows events. If you are looking for some retail therapy, vendors in the Gallery on the Green and Vendor Village offer an excellent variety of gifts and services, both equine and non-equine in nature.
The ‘North American’ continues tomorrow with the $33,000 Horse Health Cup 1.45m, $35,000 Process Energy Cup 1.50m, and the $35,000 PwC Cup 1.60m. For more information and full results, 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.
Lexington, KY – The following athletes have been named by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to represent the U.S. in Nations Cup competition at the CSIO5* Hickstead, July 30 – August 4, 2013 in Hickstead, England and at the CSIO5* Dublin August 6-11, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland.
CSIO5* Hickstead
The five following athletes will represent the U.S. at the CSIO5* Hickstead:
Horses will be named following the submission of the Definite Entry.
Team selection for the CSIO5* Hickstead and CSIO5* Dublin was based on the applicant athlete’s ranking on the June 21, 2013 Rolex/USEF Show Jumping Ranking List.
Additionally, the Chef d’Equipe had the discretion to replace up to two athletes who would have otherwise been named to the team due to ranking on the Rolex/USEF Show Jumping Ranking List.
Robert Ridland will serve as Chef d’Equipe for the U.S. team at both the CSIO5* Hickstead and CSIO5* Dublin.
