Richard Vogel & Accoton PS. Photo © Sportfot.
Germany’s Richard Vogel picked up another win at Wellington International during week five at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). This time, the win came in the CHF37,000 Bainbridge CSI5* 1.45m Speed on Friday in the International Arena aboard Accoton PS.
Sixty-six entries tackled a large and technical one-round speed track designed by Frank Rothenberger (GER). Vogel set an early time to beat at 59.16 seconds from the 18th position in the original order. A pair of Irishmen tried their best to top him but came up just shy of his winning time. Bertram Allen and Over Lux finished second by only fractions of a second in a time of 59.31 seconds for owner Ballywalter Stables. Third place went to Ireland’s Daniel Coyle and Amalia, owned by Ariel Grange’s Lothlorien Farm, after crossing the timers in 59.49 seconds.
Vogel described his strategies and thoughts, saying, “I had a good feeling from the beginning, and I got the first distance everywhere. I did one less stride into the double; I had a good rollback and then also to the plank, and after the plank was good. The five-stride got short but that was a good setup for the turn. Then in the last line I was a bit lucky; I didn’t get there with one less, so I had to add a stride at the end. He saved me so I think it was a good team effort.”
Jodi Lennox Looks Better in Blue
The Karina Brez Jewelry Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 division kicked off the day in the Rost Arena of Friday at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). The one to beat was Jodi Lennox and her aptly named partner, Better in Blue, a 2009 Hanoverian gelding by Cassus, owned by First Blue LLC.
Lennox earned a pair of wins and second-place finishes during the two days of adult amateur competition. Their high score of 88 helped them to victory on Friday and clinched the division tri-color.
Lennox was all smiles after her ride and could not have been more pleased with her horse. “My first trip, I was under the pace a little bit, but he was really good,” she said. “The second trip I was better with my pace and he is always there for me. Any mistake is going to be mine.”
Wellington International | (561) 793-5867
news@wellingtoninternational.com
www.wellingtoninternational.com