Tag Archives: Luiz Francisco de Azevedo

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Show Jumping, Tryon

Luiz Francisco de Azevedo and Nashville Win $39,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 2*

Luiz Francisco de Azevedo and Nashville ©Kendall Lueder for Natalie Suto Photography

May 25, 2023 – Luiz Francisco de Azevedo (BRA) and Nashville were the fastest of the day to take top honors in the $39,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 2*, the first international Welcome Stake of the 2023 season as part of Tryon Spring 4 competition. Francisco de Azevedo and Santa Cecilia Stables LLC’s Nashville (Diamant De Semilly x Darco), a 2013 Belgian Warmblood gelding, sped through the jump-off timers in 38.56 seconds to clinch the win. Scott Keach (AUS) and Wild Thing (Caraca x Contango II), Keach’s own 2012 gelding produced a 41.49-second jump off round to earn reserve. Accepting the third-place ribbon was Maria Gabriela Brugal Gasso (DOM) and J’adore Flamenco, the 2012 Anglo-Arabian gelding owned by BG Stables LLC, stopping the clock in 42.22 seconds.

Sixty-two entries challenged the first round, with the course set by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) and welcoming nineteen pairs to challenge the second round. Francisco de Azevedo was a bit surprised with how many entries qualified for the jump off, after walking the course and discerning its difficulty, but emphasized that it felt great to win against “many, many good riders and good horses. I decided to take all the risks, and it paid off. My horse is a naturally fast horse, and I took all the other risks inside and decided to turn really tight. It went well!”

Victoria Heurtematte and Scarlett Du Sart Z Dominate $6,000 Two Phase CSI 2*

Victoria Heurtematte (PAN) and Scarlett Du Sart Z claimed the win in Wednesday’s $6,000 Two Phase CSI 2* in a field of 39 entries, stopping the speed phase timers in 26.32 seconds to clinch the blue ribbon. McKayla Langmeier (USA) and Pepita VD Rollebeek, Linda Landmeier’s 2015 Belgian Warmblood mare (Tangelo VD Zuuthoeve x Toulon), cleared the speed phase in 27.50 seconds to receive second place honors, while third went to Luis Fernando Larrazabal (VEN) aboard Baroness, the 2015 Westphalian mare (Balous Bellini) owned by Leeann Ablin, after their 28.05-second clear performance. Twenty-two horse-and-rider pairs cleared the power phase to continue on to the short track, with twelve entries posting double-clear rounds over both portions of the Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) track.

For more info and results, visit www.Tryon.com.

Championships, Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Sam Walker and Waldo Win George H. Morris Excellence in Equitation Championship

Leave a comment

Sam Walker and Waldo. Photo © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL — March 22, 2019 — Sam Walker of Nobleton, ON piloted Missy Clark’s and North Run’s Waldo to the win in the 12th Annual George H. Morris Excellence in Equitation Championship. Forty combinations of young equitation athletes and their mounts took to the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on the evening of Friday, March 22, at the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Elli Yeager collected second place, Sophee Steckbeck was third, and Emma Fletcher rounded out the top four.

To qualify for the 12th Annual George H. Morris Excellence in Equitation Championship, each of the entries had to have previously won an equitation class during the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival circuit or during the 2018 Holidays & Horses circuit leading up to it. The competition was held in a three-round format with all participants contesting first-round course designed by Steve Stephens and Nick Granat. Only the top 15 were asked to return for the second phase in reverse order. Unlike a regular equitation class, the championship requires riders to turn off and hand in cell phones before its start and prohibits any interaction with trainers or staff. Riders were in charge of conducting their own course walk and schooling their own horses with the help of only one groom.

Ballard, Jayne, and Verswyvel Capture Spy Coast Farm Developing Jumper Series Classic Wins

Opening up Friday’s competition in the International Arena at the main grounds of PBIEC for the eleventh week of WEF, the Developing Jumper Series Classics, sponsored by Spy Coast Farm, offered top prize money and a chance to compete in the grand prix arena for up-and-coming equine show jumping stars.

There were 25 entries in the $20,000 Spy Coast Farm Seven-Year-Old Developing Jumper Series Classic, and 11 were clear to advance to the jump-off held at the end of the first round. Of those, seven were double clear. The fastest in the class was Maestro Vica v/d Ark, ridden by Erynn Ballard for owner Natalie Dean. They stopped the timers in 31.502 seconds for victory.

The $15,000 Spy Coast Farm Six-Year-Old Developing Jumper Classic hosted 25 entries as well, with nine clear and only two finding the path to a double clear finish. The fastest of those in 38.434 seconds – faster by 5.5 seconds – was Charlie Jayne riding his father Alex Jayne’s Virginia ODF.

The $10,000 Spy Coast Farm 5-Year-Old Developing Jumper Classic had 17 entries and was held in an immediate jump-off format. Eight were clear in their first round and went straight into their jump-off, where four were able to go double clear. With a leading time of 34.667 seconds, Jorge Verswyvel rode his own Majesty to victory.

Luiz Francisco de Azevedo and Collin Are Comeback Kids in $36,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45m Classic

Brazil’s Luiz Francisco de Azevedo brought his horse Collin back from the brink of slaughter to lead the victory gallop of the $36,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45m Classic CSI 4* on the Derby Field at Equestrian Village on Friday, March 22.

Germany’s Olaf Petersen, Jr. set the single-round speed track for 42 starters with 12 jumping clear, leaving the clock to decide their placings. Azevedo and Collin, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Colandro x Amethist), broke the timers in 63.90 seconds for the victory.

Azevedo bested Mexican rider Santiago Lambre, who finished on a time of 64.96 seconds for second riding Dingeman. U.S. rider Hunter Holloway took third with a time of 65.96 seconds aboard VDL Bravo S for owner Hays Investment Corp. Francisco Jose Mesquita Musa took fourth in 66 seconds on Filou Imperio Egipcio, owned by Haras Imperio Egipcio/Equivarandas, LDA, while Canada’s Erynn Ballard rode Z Diamanty to round out the top five in 66.23 seconds for owners The Z Group, Javier Salvador Stables, and Diamante Atelier.

For full results, please visit pbiec.coth.com.

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Luiz Francisco de Azevedo and Collin Win $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m at WEF

Leave a comment

Luiz Francisco de Azevedo and Collin. Photo © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – February 15, 2017 – Brazil’s Luiz Francisco de Azevedo was the first winner of week six at the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), competing aboard Collin in the $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m speed class on Wednesday, February 15 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL.

Richard Jeffery (GBR) is the international course designer for week six jumper classes at Equestrian Village. Jeffery began with 39 entries in the 1.45m speed competition and had 12 clear rounds. De Azevedo and Collin, a ten-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Colandro x Amethist), clocked the winning time of 65.05 seconds.

Richie Moloney (IRL) and Equinimity LLC’s Alsvid finished second in 65.40 seconds. Peter Leone (USA) and Lionshare Farm’s Wayfarer placed third in 66.84 seconds. Margie Engle (USA) finished fourth in 67.82 seconds riding Elm Rock LLC’s Böckmanns Lazio.

“It was a really nice class today. I am really happy with my horse,” de Azevedo stated following his win. “I was 12th to go, and I knew that the course was good for me. My horse has a really big stride, and he is always going. Sometimes I lose a little bit of time in the turns, but then I can always do one less stride in the lines easily. I enjoy that quality that he has, and we had a good opportunity to win this class.”

Collin’s story did not begin like many horses competing at the international level. The horse was seven years old when de Azevedo found him and was on his way to being sold for slaughter. The horse’s trajectory quickly changed, however, with one life-changing phone call.

“Two and a half years ago nobody wanted this horse,” de Azevedo stated. “He was really wild and really difficult to ride. Then a friend of mine called me and said he found a horse that I might be able to jump. He was seven years old, but he had never done a show in his life. My friend told me the horse was a little bit different, but I said, ‘Okay, let’s see what he can do.'”

De Azevedo was given a half share of the horse, and he took Collin to the horse’s first competition two weeks later.

“He jumped the first day 1.30m clear, the second day 1.35m clear, and the third day 1.40m clear in the first show of his life!” de Azevedo recalled. “Now he is my second horse, and I am really lucky to have him. It is so unbelievable. We bought him for nothing. We tell that story, and people do not believe it.”

De Azevedo thanks his friend for seeing Collin and believing in him, but the rider mostly gives credit to the horse.

“It is him,” de Azevedo said of Collin. “I just gave him a chance to arrive. The quality is in the horse.”

Also competing in the Global Arena at Equestrian Village on Wednesday, the $6,000 Illustrated Properties 1.40m speed class was held, with a win for Peter Leone (USA) and Lionshare Farm’s Capito Z.

The 2017 WEF continues on Thursday with the $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6 in the Global Arena at Equestrian Village. The professional hunter divisions will award the first championships of WCHR week in the International Arena at PBIEC. For full results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Luiz Francisco de Azevedo and Collin Win $10k Open Stake at ESP Pre Charity Show

Leave a comment

Luiz Francisco de Azevedo and Collin. Photo Credit ©ManciniPhotos.

Wellington, FL – November 23, 2016 – Luiz Francisco de Azevedo of Brazil guided Collin to victory in the $10,000 Open Stake at the ESP Pre Charity Show at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Paige Jardine of Wellington, FL and her own Anicmo collected second place finishing the jump-off with eight faults and a time of 53.878 seconds. Gianni Gabrielli of Wellington, FL and Contenders XC rounded out the top three after completing the first round track in 88.994 seconds to accumulate a single time fault.

A total of 40 entries contested the track set by Jasen Shelley of Wellington, FL, while only de Azevedo and Jardine advanced to the short course. Three entries finished the class with time faults, while the $10,000 Open Stake hosted the most entries in a single class so far this season during the 2016 ESP Fall Series, which concluded on Sunday, November 20.

Jumper Highlights

The $1,500 NAL Child/Adult Jumper Classic was championed by Taje Warrick of Wellington, FL and her own Mufasa as the pair dashed through the finish in 37.592 seconds. Carly Dvorkin of Parkland, FL and Sandora Z, owned by Pine Hollow Farm, rode to second place after finishing a double clear effort with a time of 43.059 seconds in the jump-off round. Catherine Wu of Weston, FL and her own Ren Round Number finished the class with four faults on the short course and a time of 41.434 seconds for third.

Lynsey Whitacre of St. Joseph, MO and her own Barillo W raced to victory in the $2,500 Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic, as the pair narrowly edged Caroline Donnally of Wellington, FL and her own Reve de Razzy, who finished just three tenths of a second behind the leading time of 27.611 seconds. Francesca Damasceno of Palm Beach Gardens, FL and her own Watermill Time collected third with a time of 30.829 seconds.

Warrick continued on with her successful weekend, piloting her own Dersey to first place in the $1,500 M&S Child/Adult Classic presented by Accuhorsemat with a time of 42.026 seconds. Brielle Biggins of Palm Beach Gardens, FL and her own Good Boy H M took second, finishing the course in 46.069 seconds. Sophia Studd of Wellington, FL and Laroni, owned by M&M Show Stables, rounded out the top three after dropping a single rail on the jump-off course and stopping the timers in 49.288 seconds.

Stephanie Ann Cook of Franklin, TN and More Candy, owned by Lionsway Farm, rode to victory in the $1,500 Low Adult Jumper Classic presented by Equine Couture & TuffRider as the pair dominated the class and completed their short course in 43.024 seconds. Cook then went on to finish in second and third place, respectively, aboard Fidele, owned by Lionsway Farm, and Cayotee owned by Lionsgate Farm, with times of 45.044 and 47.803 seconds, respectively.

Hunter Highlights

Susannah Rose of Coral Gables, FL and her own Calero captured top titles in the Adult Amateur Hunter Division as the pair finished with champion honors after the weekend of competition. Tricia Barr of Wellington, FL and Big Girls Don’t Cry, owned by Rodney Bross, took home reserve.

Sara White of Pinecrest, FL and Lexington, owned by Dragonfly Stables, Inc. rode to victory in the Children’s Hunter Division presented by UHealth Ear Institute after a weekend of top results. Madison Arani of Lexington, KY and Freedom, owned by Katie Barnette, finished with the reserve champion title.

Giavanna Rinaldi of Wayne, IL and Bugsy Malone, owned by Alex Jayne, took top divisional honors in the Junior/Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3″/3’6″ Division presented by #1 Education Place, while Missy Yoder of Palm Beach Gardens, FL and her own Too Much Fun collected reserve champion.

The Low Adult Hunter Division presented by Pilates Rocks saw Christy Powell of Coral Gables, FL and her own Karoleena rise to the occasion and finish the weekend with the tricolor rosette. Sarah Kruel of Wellington, FL and her own Opulent were awarded with reserve champion.

Angelina Rubin of Boca Raton, FL guided Avalon Desert Rose, owned by Rachel Tanio, to the top of the Short Stirrup Hunter Division presented by Palm Beach Riding Academy. Molly Bryan of Key Biscayne, FL and Stars and Stripes, owned by Sawyer Lyons, finished the division with the reserve champion title.

For more information and to see a full list of results, please visit www.pbiec.com.