Tag Archives: Vivian Golden

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Cook Closes Out WEF 9 with $75,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic CSI5* Win

Leave a comment

Karl Cook © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 13, 2022 – The final day of week nine at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) wound down its international competition with the $75,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic CSI5*. The USA’s anthem was the last to play on Sunday, March 13, as Karl Cook (USA) and Kalinka Van’t Zorgvliet received the winning honors.

The day built in anticipation of its pinnacle five-star event which brought out a starting field of 59 internationally ranked combinations. Alan Wade’s (IRL) farewell test allowed riders 73 seconds to find their way around the track. As the fourth into the arena, Cook was the first contender to produce a clear effort aboard Helen Signe Ostby’s 12-year-old BWP mare (Thunder VD Zuuthoeve x Flipper d’Elle).

Two trips later, Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam ensured there would be a jump-off as he joined Cook with a fault-free round aboard Sweet Oak, Spy Coast, and Seabrook’s Alejandro. The challenge got the best of many representatives from the 16 different nations as both time and jumping faults accrued throughout the class with downed rails over various areas of the course.

Eleven performances were good enough to earn a spot in the order for the short track. Both Nayel Nassar (EGY) and Heather Caristo-WIlliams (USA) qualified two mounts each as they bid for the top spot. Wade’s jump-off course was full of twists and turns with very few related distances, which gave the athletes multiple ways in which to shave off some time. As the first to qualify for the jump-off, Cook was the trailblazer of the second round and held no punches. He set off at a winning pace from the beginning with their blazing fast leading time of 37.04 seconds, daring the 10 pairs following to catch up. As the class came to a close, either a fence fault or a slower time appeared repeatedly, and it became clear Cook had put forth an impossible challenge to beat.

Vivian Golden and J. J. Torano Shine in Medium Pony Hunters

A competitive field of 30 horse and rider pairs participated in Medium Pony Hunters sponsored by Always Faithful Equestrian Club. The number of entries resulted in a California Split of the classes which led to the division concluding with two champions. Vivian Golden with Baroness of Locheil and Jimmy Torano aboard Paris Charm took the joint top honors.

Golden and Baroness of Locheil, a nine-year-old Welsh Pony Cross, just started competing together at the start of circuit, but have already seen multiple championships in the division including weeks three, five, eight, and premiere week.

J. J. Torano and Paris Charm, a 14-year-old Welsh pony mare by Halifax owned by Megan d’Amico, were the Section B champions. They won three classes and picked up another second place for the additional top tricolor.

Torano has been riding Paris Charm since the beginning of the 2022 WEF, and while the mare was initially nervous, the pair have formed a good relationship in a short amount of time.

The reserve championships in the Always Faithful Equestrian Club Medium Pony Hunters went to Golden again on Funtastico, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, and High Tops, ridden by Agatha Lignelli for The Lignelli Family.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Kent Farrington and Creedance Are Uncatchable in $73k CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic CSI5*

Leave a comment

Kent Farrington (USA) and Creedance © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL — March 14, 2021 — In the $73,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic CSI5*, the final class of the day in the International Arena for the ninth week of the 2021 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), Kent Farrington (USA) and Creedance, owned by Farrington and Haity McNerney, were uncatchable for victory on Sunday, March 14.

A total of 59 horse-and-rider combinations took their shot against Alan Wade’s (IRL) track. Featuring a line-up of 11 entries, the jump-off promised to be a hard-won effort, but the Farrington was a force to be reckoned with and ultimately secured the win.

Wade’s top courses have been well-planned and challenging all week, and his last course of the week held true. A lengthy number of competitors missed the chance to return for the jump-off by a single unfortunate rail while several others suffered time infractions.

Combinations that returned for the jump-off included top athletes such as Farrington, Daniel Deusser (GER), and McLain Ward (USA). Sweden’s Henrik Von Eckermann was the first to complete the second track fault-free after crossing the timers in 35.10 seconds with the Portfolio Horses, LLC’s Glamour Girl. His effort with the 10-year-old KWPN mare (VDL Zirocco Blue x Moonlight II) was enough to secure the third place ribbon at the end of the class. Eduardo Menezes (BRA) flew into second place with his own H5 Quintol. He and the 16-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Quintender x Cento managed an efficient time of 34.83 seconds but was still well behind the class leader.

Vivian Golden and Ava Barnes Top the Always Faithful Equestrian Club Medium Pony Hunter Division

Thirty-five pony hunter riders competed for the tricolor ribbon in the Medium Pony Hunter division, sponsored by Always Faithful Equestrian Club, in Ring 11 on Sunday. Due to the large number of entries, the class was held in a California split format and awarded two champions. Vivian Golden, of Reading, PA, piloted her own Goldhills As You Like It to the Section A championship, and Ava Barnes, of Liberty TWP, OH, aboard Ellie Sadrian’s Cleverist, earned the Section B top prize.

Golden has already been in the winner’s circle this week after she topped the $5,000 USHJA Pony Derby with D’Artagnan on Friday. Her success continued through the weekend with her long-time partner, Goldhills As You Like It. Golden and the 13-year-old Welsh Pony mare by Gayfields Call the Cops earned three firsts, a second, and a fifth place ribbon in the division to claim top honors.

“This is my third WEF on her,” explained Golden. “We have been together for a little while now, and she’s such a good girl and I love her so much. She has such a funny personality, and she goes to every show with us.”

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Ward Keeps Winning, Piloting Catoki to the Top of $37k Bainbridge Companies 1.45m Classic CSI5*

Leave a comment

McLain Ward piloting Catoki to victory. ©Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 12, 2021 – McLain Ward (USA) and Catoki, owned by Marilla van Beuren, Bob Russell, and McLain Ward, flew to their second victory of the week in the $37,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.45m Classic CSI5* on Friday, March 12, in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) as competition continues as part of WEF 9, sponsored by Fidelity Investments®.

Topping a field of 53 in the starting order over a speed track set by Alan Wade (IRL), Ward and Catoki, a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Catoki x Cartello B, left all the jumps up to fly across the finish line in 52.33 seconds, nearly three seconds faster than the runner-up.

“He’s been incredible here this year,” said Ward of his winning mount. “He felt great on Wednesday, so I knew he was in good form for today. He’s starting to know when the bell goes [what to do] a little bit in this ring, so it was a little bit out of control I thought. I was a little bit faster than I meant to be, but he’s such a careful horse, I got away with it.”

Vivian Golden and D’Artagnan Stay on Top to Win the $5,000 USHJA Pony Derby

Pony hunter riders had their chance to show off on the Derby Field at Equestrian Village on Friday in the $5,000 USHJA Pony Derby. After a classic round and handy round, Vivian Golden and Emma Dyson’s D’Artagnan finished at the top of the class with scores of 89 and 88 for a total high score of 177.

Fifty-seven riders competed over the first round track consisting of 10 fences designed by Tom Carlson. The class was set at three separate heights for 13 larges, 27 mediums, and 17 smalls. Once the classic round was complete, the top 12 combinations were called back to navigate the handy round.

Third in the order, Golden, of Reading, PA, and D’Artagnan took the lead with a score of 89 and held their top spot for the remainder of the classic round. This class was only Golden’s second time showing D’Artagnan.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.