Category Archives: Show Jumping

Pony Hunters Are a Force to Be Reckoned With during Week 11 of the FTI WEF

Kate Ross and Won Up. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 27, 2011 – It is the last day of action for week 11 of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which means that numerous championships were awarded throughout the day. One place where there was a particularly large amount of awards being given out was Pony Land. Rings 11 and 12 were packed with children and their ponies and family members. Competition was fierce as they vied for some last minute points in their divisions.

A busy rider that always has a presence at the pony rings is Meredith Darst. The second day of competition, Darst rode the KAR LLC entry, Won Up, to secure the championship in the Equisport Insurance Large Pony Hunters. Won Up is usually ridden by Kate Ross. Won Up was awarded three blue ribbons and a third place ribbon in the division.

Darst was also awarded the reserve championship on the Megan MacPherson entry, Mapleside Magic Dancer. Darst secured the reserve championship by winning two classes, placing second in two more classes, and also receiving a fifth place ribbon as well.

Continue reading Pony Hunters Are a Force to Be Reckoned With during Week 11 of the FTI WEF

Atlanta Spring Classic I and Updates

We started out this week in shorts and ended the week in sweaters.  I simply wanted a quick shower to wash some of the pollen off my car.  I always say be careful what you wish for… well we had some rain.  Not as bad as it was north and south of us but it was wild last night here in Conyers after the Grand Prix.

Our Cherry Blossom Grand Prix was won by On My Way MB, owned and ridden by Natalie Geller.

2. Tokade De Kalvarie, Natalie Johnson
3. Merlin, Frances Land
4. Sympa, Mrs. Charles Bostwick
5. Nepal, Jay Land
6. Urioso, Sara Ketcham
7. Fieona, Kelly Maloney
8. Lucky One, Lillian Hahn
9. Wonder Pomme, Parker Booth
10. Fabulous, Cheryl Ainsworth
11. Ruby Tuesday, Robert Donaldson
12. Cincinnati, Vicky Miller

Best Child Rider: Bergen Sanderford

Continue reading Atlanta Spring Classic I and Updates

Mario Deslauriers and Cella Triumph in $30,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic Finale

Mario Deslauriers and Cella won the $30,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic during week eleven at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo © Sportfot

Nick Skelton, Ashlee Bond, and McLain Ward Take Home Bonus Money for Consistent Performances

Wellington, FL – March 27, 2011 – Week eleven of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival concluded on Sunday afternoon with a victory for Mario Deslauriers (USA) and Cella in the $30,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic Finale. Deslauriers and Cella, owned by Jane F. Clark, was the only pair to master the course with double clear rounds for the win.

Guilherme Jorge of Brazil designed the courses in the International Arena this week and concluded the weekend with a challenging course for the 1.50m. Just three of the original 50 competitors were able to go clear in the first round to return for a jump-off.

Daniel Bluman (COL) was the first to return for the short course aboard his own Sancha La Silla. The pair had one rail down to earn four faults in 34.158 seconds, finishing in second place.

Deslauriers returned next with Cella and put down a fast, clear round in 35.853 seconds to take over the lead.

Ashlee Bond (USA) rode Chivas Z, owned by Little Valley Farm, through the course next, but retired from her round after a refusal to automatically finish in third place.

Continue reading Mario Deslauriers and Cella Triumph in $30,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic Finale

Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2010/2011 – Round 13, ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED)

Ireland's Denis Lynch is presented with his prize by Anthony Schaub from Rolex after securing a place at the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping final at Leipzig, Germany next month with a superb victory at the last Western European League qualifier in 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands today. Photo: FEI/Dirk Caremans.

LYNCH SNATCHES LAST-CHANCE WIN AT ‘S-HERTOGENBOSCH by Louise Parkes

27 March 2011 – Ireland’s Denis Lynch snatched a last-minute place at next month’s Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping final in Leipzig, Germany with a superb victory in the final qualifier of the Western European League series at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands today.  Riding the gigantic 11 year old gelding Abbervail van het Dingeshof which belongs to his Swiss patron Thomas Straumann, the Irishman produced a stunning round when eighth to go in the thrilling 17-horse jump-off, and could not be caught despite the best efforts of many of the super-stars who followed him.

“It’s my very first World Cup win – I’ve been trying to do this for the last 15 years and I’ve been placed plenty of times but I’ve never come out on top so it feels really good!” Lynch said.  “I wanted to make it to the final and this was my last chance – I’m really happy it worked out and I’m delighted with my horse,” he added.  A total of six Dutch riders went into the jump-off but Jeroen Dubbeldam (BMC Van Grunsven Simon), Eric van der Vleuten (VDL Groep Utascha SFN) and Piet Raijmakers Jr. (Van Schijndel’s Rascin) had to settle for second, third and fourth places respectively while Frenchman, Simon Delestre (Couletto), lined up in fifth.

PRESSURE
This was a day of intense pressure, and Dutch course designer Louis Konickx was feeling it as much as the riders.  “The second part of the start-list was a course-designers nightmare!” he said afterwards.  “I didn’t want to be over the top with my track so I felt I needed to compromise, but the jump-off worked out very well so I’m satisfied,” he added.  The ease with which so many managed to keep a clean sheet first time out was indeed surprising but possibly indicative of the familiarity and comfort so many horse-and-rider combinations have developed after the winter-long indoor season, along with the quality of the 40-strong field.

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Laura Kraut and Cedric Capture $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5*

Laura Kraut and Cedric. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 26, 2011 – The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center experienced one of its biggest crowds ever on Saturday night as more than 7,000 spectators filled the stands to watch Laura Kraut (USA) and Cedric race to victory in the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5* during week eleven of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Kraut and Cedric won two grand prix classes in a row earlier in the circuit with victories in the $78,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI 2* during week four and the $150,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix CSI 3*-W presented by Spy Coast Farm during week five. Tonight was the pair’s third and biggest grand prix victory of the WEF circuit to conclude a fantastic winter season.

Guilherme Jorge of Brazil designed the courses in the International Arena this week. In tonight’s class, forty entries jumped the first round course and 15 were able to go clean to advance to the jump-off. Nine were able to jump double clear, and Kraut and Cedric finished in a blazing 35.86 seconds to finish in first place.

Andres Rodriguez (VEN) rode Secret to the first clear round of the jump-off and set the standard with his speedy round in 37.10 seconds. The pair’s time held onto the lead for ten rounds before Kraut and Cedric entered the ring, eventually finishing in third place.

Continue reading Laura Kraut and Cedric Capture $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5*

Kent Farrington and Up Chiqui Specialize in Speed to Win $31,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic

Kent Farrington and Up Chiqui won the $31,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic during week 11 at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 25, 2011 – The highlight class today in the International Arena at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) was the $31,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic. Kent Farrington (USA) and Up Chiqui, owned by Farrington, Alex Boone, and William Dobbs, was the fastest through the timers for victory.

Week 11 of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival is sponsored by FTI Consulting Inc., and the week’s remaining feature events include the final Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday at 2:30 p.m., and the feature event of the circuit, the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix on Saturday. Gates open at 6 p.m. The event will also be webcast live on the USEF Network, seen here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/FTIGrandPrix2011/.

Guilherme Jorge of Brazil is the course designer in the International Arena this week. The class was a speed format against the clock, and 41 of 13 entries were clear to lead the top of the ribbons. Farrington had the fastest time of the day in 61.38 seconds for the win. Ben Maher (GBR) and Lindsay Cook’s Oscar came the closest to that speedy time in 62.36 seconds for second place. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Little Emir crossed the timers in 63.21 seconds for third place.

Continue reading Kent Farrington and Up Chiqui Specialize in Speed to Win $31,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic

Beezie Madden and Danny Boy Dash to Victory in $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 11

Beezie Madden and Danny Boy won the final $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup during week eleven at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 24, 2011 – The final round of the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series was held on Thursday afternoon with a victory for Beezie Madden (USA) and Abigail Wexner’s Danny Boy at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.

Week 11 of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival is sponsored by FTI Consulting Inc. The week’s feature events will include the final Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday at 2:30 p.m., and the feature event of the circuit, the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix on Saturday. Gates open at 6 p.m. The event will also be webcast live on the USEF Network, seen here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/FTIGrandPrix2011/.

Guilherme Jorge of Brazil is the course designer in the International Arena this week. A total of 41 competitors showed over the first round course and 11 qualified for the jump-off. With one competitor choosing not to return, ten jumped off against the clock.

Great Britain’s Nick Skelton and Big Star, owned by Beverly and Gary Widdowson, were first to attempt the short course and jumped clear in 40.48 seconds to blaze the leading time. Eight rounds followed but no one was able to jump without fault until the final competitors entered the ring.

Continue reading Beezie Madden and Danny Boy Dash to Victory in $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 11

2012 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final Awarded to ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED)

Lausanne (SUI), 24 March 2011 – The FEI Bureau has awarded the 2012 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final to ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED). This major event, which will be held in conjunction with the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final, will take place from 18 to 22 April 2012.

This weekend, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, located in the southern Netherlands, will play host to the last qualifiers of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping and the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage for the 2010/2011 season.

Both competitions will be broadcast LIVE on the official FEI online video platform FEI TV on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March.

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

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

30th Anniversary Season of HITS Ocala Ends with a Win for Kent Farrington in the $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix

© ESI Photography. Kent Farrington and Top Gun on course in the $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group.

OCALA, FL (March 22, 2011) — Sunday’s $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group, was not only the season finale to the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, but also the 36th Grand Prix of the 2011 HITS Show Season, which marked the virtual mid-way point for the qualifying period for this year’s Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. Kent Farrington felt the need for speed, when he and Iron Horse Farm’s Top Gun captured the win, to conclude the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit.

“Yesterday was an extraordinary finish to the Ocala Winter Circuit,” said Tom Struzzieri, HITS President and CEO. “Similar to our shows in Thermal, we’ve been blessed with some incredible weather in Ocala this season, which always adds to the enjoyment of the show. I’m very pleased that we had the opportunity to welcome so many new faces this year, which helped contribute to some really exciting competition. I was particularly impressed by the number of exhibitors that participated in, and the number of spectators that came out to watch, our Parade of Champions ceremony. Those riders should be proud of their accomplishments, and it was very nice to see the community from both within and outside the horse show acknowledge their efforts.”

Continue reading 30th Anniversary Season of HITS Ocala Ends with a Win for Kent Farrington in the $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix

FEI Launches Bid Process for 2015 FEI European Championships in the Olympic Disciplines

Lausanne (SUI), 22 March 2011 – The FEI has launched the bidding process for the 2015 FEI European Championships for Seniors in Jumping, Dressage and Eventing. The process will run from 15 March 2011 until April 2012. Its objective is to raise the profile of these major FEI events by selecting a candidate able to meet the FEI’s requirements and deliver a sporting event of the highest quality.

The application process will consist of two phases. During Phase I, or Applicant Phase, which will run from 15 March to 31 July 2011, applicants will be required to indicate which one or more of the European Championships they would be interested in staging and provide information relating to their ability to meet minimum Championship requirements. The responses will then be assessed by the FEI and selected candidates will progress to Phase II.

Phase II, or Candidate Phase, will begin on 1 September 2011 and end in April 2012 when the successful candidate will be announced. During this period, candidates will be required to confirm in detail their ability to meet the FEI’s commercial, service and infrastructure requirements.

Detailed information has been sent to National Federations, who are invited to contact FEI Legal Counsel Francisco P. Lima (francisco.lima@fei.org) by 8 April 2011 in order to receive the initial Applicant Questionnaire and for any enquiries relating to the bid process.

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