Tag Archives: Nayel Nassar

Nayel Nassar and Igor Van De Wittemoere Win $137k Noltrex®Vet Grand Prix CSI3*

Nayel Nassar and Igor Van De Wittemoere ©Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – Nov. 21, 2021 – The ESP Pre-Charity CSI3* reached its pinnacle on Sunday as 30 riders competed for the top spot in the $137,000 Noltex®Vet Grand Prix CSI3*. Course designer Héctor Loyola (PUR) tested the entries with a technical pattern of jumps, of which only two mastered to advance to the jump-off. No strangers to the winner’s circle and recent competitors at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Nayel Nassar (EGY) and Evergate Stables, LLC’s Igor Van De Wittemoere finished in spectacular form as the only double-clear duo to top the class.

Competition immediately followed in the International Arena with the $25,000 Elite Horse Transport Grand Prix. The National Grand Prix attracted a field of 20 competitors, with just four pairs placing double-clear rounds. The final pair in the jump-off, Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Valentine Car, owned by Fernando Cardenas, stopped the clock at 43.99 seconds to secure their names at the top of the leaderboard.

Competing over 1.40m fences in the $2,500 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, presented by Noltrex®Vet, only three partnerships advanced to the jump-off, and just a single entry was able to finish the class without any faults at all. Leading the way was Coco Fath of Fairfield, CT and Hillside Farm LLC’s Exokit Sitte thanks to a double-clear winning time of 45.05 seconds. Due to their victory on Sunday and a third-place finish in an earlier divisional class, Fath and Exotik Sitte were also awarded the overall championship honors.

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

Nassar Is Superb, Picking Up Second Win of the Week in $37k Nutrena 1.50m Classic CSI3*

Nayel Nassar (EGY) and Igor Van De Wittemoere © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – April 24, 2021 – A successful week continued for Egypt’s Nayel Nassar, who claimed his second victory in three days on Saturday, riding Evergate Stables, LLC’s Igor Van De Wittemoere to top honors in the $37,000 Nutrena 1.50m Classic CSI3* on the grass Derby Field at Equestrian Village.

An impressive field of 38 top competitors set out over the 1.50m track set by Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA) with a dozen combinations jumping clear to punch their tickets to the jump-off. In the subsequent round, Nassar kicked it into high gear aboard the 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Cooper VD Heffinck x Orlando 96, flying across the course for a double-clear effort in 39.21 seconds.

“He’s so quick across the ground and it was a great jump-off for that,” said Nassar of the talented gelding. “It really only had one rollback to slow you down. For a little horse, he covers so much ground, so I was able to leave the strides out. I just got on a roll and stay like that the whole way through. He felt unbelievable.”

In the final class of the day, 94 horse-and-rider combinations contested the $5,000 Omega Alpha Equine 1.35m Classic with prizes awarded in Section A and Section B.

Darragh Kenny (IRL) took home the title in Section A aboard the Heathman Farm, LLC entry Carla. The pair put forth a clear first-round effort and matched that in the jump-off with the fastest time of the day, crossing the finish line in 36.80 seconds. Andrew Welles (USA) and Primo Troy, owned by Itasca Group, LLC, jumped into second position with a double-clear score in 36.97 seconds. James Chawke made it two on the podium for Ireland as he guided his own Gamble to a third-place finish in a time of 38.86 seconds.

In Section B, it was a win for Alison Robitaille (USA) aboard Ginger Pop, owned by Bertram Firestone. The dynamic duo raced around the jump-off track, leaving all the jumps in their cups in a time of 37.55 seconds. Isabel Roth (USA) and Vive The Quine, owned by Two Socks Farm, LLC, flew to a double-clear finish in a time of 44.15 seconds to take home second place. Peter Leone (USA), who was victorious in the $6,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m Jumpers on Thursday, finished the day in third place with Cedric 84, owned by Maarten Huygens. The pair completed the jump-off with just four faults in a time of 38.98 in the jump-off.

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

Nassar Notches a Win with Oaks Redwood in $37k Perfect Products 1.45m Jumpers CSI3*

Nayel Nassar (EGY) © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – April 22, 2021 – The third week of the 2021 ESP Spring Series opened with a brilliant victory for Nayel Nassar (EGY) and Oaks Redwood, owned by Evergate Stables, LLC, as they flew to the top of the podium with a speedy clear round in the $37,000 Perfect Products 1.45m Jumpers CSI3*.

Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA) set a challenging speed track for a field of 39 horse-and-rider combinations during the opening day of competition on the grass Derby Field. It was Nassar and the 16-year-old gelding by ASB Conquistador x Verdi to answer all the questions in the quickest time, stopping the clock in 60.52 seconds to claim the victory.

In the first class of the day, Peter Leone (USA) and Donner, owned by Lionshare Farm, captured the $6,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m Jumpers. Leone and the 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Thunder VD Auuthoeve x Heartbreaker put forth a double-clear effort in the two-phase format, crossing the finish line in 29.44 seconds in the speed portion to take the win. Margie Engle (USA) and Cesna M, owned by Virginia Bartholomay, rode to second place in a fault-free time of 29.84 seconds, followed by Eduardo Menezes (BRA) on his own H Big Action in third place with a clear time of 31.88 seconds.

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

Nayel Nassar and Martin Fuchs Hand in Hand on Top of the Masters Power Lido de Paris

Nayel Nassar & Can Can Della Caccia © Aléa pour EEM.

High jump contest the Lido de Paris Masters Power was the first highlight of the day at the Longines Masters of Paris. Seven of the seventeen pairs entered came from the Masters Two category and ten from the Masters One. Tied at 1.97 meter, Egypt’s Nayel Nassar and Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs are joint winners of the Masters One while the Netherlands’ Elise van de Mheen, the only rider from her category to clear 1.87 meter, was the best of the Masters Two section.

After an initial round at 1.45m, all riders but Italy’s Filipo Marco Bologni started in the first jump-off at 1.72m. With an extra 27cm, things were getting a bit trickier. Nonetheless, twelve pairs gave the second jump-off (1.87m) a go! Now, the added 15cm proved much more challenging. Of the Masters Two field, only The Netherlands’ Elise van de Mheen managed to clear the line. On the Masters One side, Nayel Nassar, France’s Philippe Rozier, and Martin Fuchs remained in contention. The Egyptian and the Swiss easily cleared the next round at 1.97m while Philippe Rozier’s Prestigio LS La Silla refused to launch himself at the impressive vertical.

The competition was then coming to an end. Both leaders had a final attempt at 2.07m, both a record height and a challenge with a 10 000 euros Super Bonus for all riders clearing over 2.05m at each leg of the Longines Masters Series. Were they going to be able to fly even higher? Despite their determination and the support of the Paris audience, neither managed to clear the huge jump. No Super Bonus, then, but a nonetheless superb victory for the riders who were both partnered with horses who were novices at this type of competition.

“This was a good class in which I had entered my Grand Prix horse Silver Shine. We gave a go at 2.07m and it didn’t work. 2.07m is actually quite high. Especially as it was Silver’s first puissance. I like entering this kind of class before a Grand Prix. The gymnastics are very good preparation,” explained the European champion Martin Fuchs. “It was Can Can Della Caccia’s first puissance. Honestly, I did not know how he would react. I’m not very experienced either at this kind of class. But he got better and better after each round. He felt like he kept growing up.”

Find the complete results HERE.

© 2019 Blizko Communication

Nayel Nassar Writes History in Longines Grand Prix of New York

Nayel Nassar and Lucifer V. Photo by Jessica Rodrigues for EEM.

New York, NY – Nayel Nassar of Egypt treated the crowd to a fabulous finish in the $400,000 Longines Grand Prix of New York, the grand finale of the Longines Masters of New York, on Sunday, April 28, at NYCB LIVE.

German course designing mastermind, Frank Rothenberger, created a difficult test for the 29 horse and rider combinations brave enough to accept the challenge, knowing 12 of them would be lucky enough to move on to the second round. Six riders representing six different nations managed to jump clear over the tough track and were joined by the six riders who had posted the fastest four-fault rounds for an all-deciding final.

Going in reverse order of standing and carrying faults forward from the first round, the tension mounted as the double clear performances began to present themselves. Captain Brian Cournane of Ireland was the first to jump double clear with Dino but his conservative time of 45.88 seconds left the door wide open for the riders who followed. Israel’s Daniel Bluman received a huge cheer from the crowd when he jumped clear in a time of 41.95 seconds with Landriano Z, putting him in fourth in the final standings.

Olivier Philippaerts, 25, of Belgium was one second faster in 40.93 seconds riding H&M Cue Channa 42 and looked unbeatable but, as the saying goes, it’s not over until it’s over.

Dutch show jumping sensation Harrie Smolders, currently ranked number four in the world, did the seemingly impossible by leaving all the rails in place and racing home in a time of 39.46 seconds to move to the top of the leaderboard, riding Une de l’Othain, an 11-year-old Selle Francais mare owned by his student, Jennifer Gates, and her Evergate Stables LLC.

In a breathtaking performance, Nassar’s partnership with the 13-year-old Westphalian gelding, also owned by Evergate Stables LLC, was on full display as they cleared hurdle after hurdle with the greatest of ease, and in a deceptively fast time. When they galloped home through the timers in 38.59 seconds, the crowd erupted. New York had its winner!

Not only was Nassar the first rider to ever win both the Longines Speed Challenge and the Longines Grand Prix at the same event, he was the first to do it with the same horse.

“It’s unexpected, really! It means the world. Thank you, Christophe [Ameeuw], for providing us with this platform. We can’t showcase what we do without a platform to do it on and I’m really grateful. I’ve always loved these shows and hopefully I can keep making it a target of mine.” ~ Nayel Nassar

Contact: Jennifer Wood
jennifer@jumpmediallc.com

Nayel Nassar’s Hot Streak Continues with Win in $134,000 WEF Challenge Cup CSI 5*

Nayel Nassar and Lucifer V. Photo © Sportfot.

Egypt’s Nayel Nassar rode Lucifer V, owned by Evergate Stables LLC, to the win in the $134,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 12 CSI 5* on Thursday, March 28, during the final week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL.

On Thursday, 60 entries contested the WEF Challenge Cup course set by Guilherme Jorge of Brazil, and of those starters, 28 qualified for the jump-off round, with 18 ultimately electing to return to face off over the short course.

Nassar was the second to return for the jump-off and set the time to beat at an untouchable 35.90 seconds.

Greg Crolick and Braavos Earn Triple Crown Nutrition Green Hunter 3’ Division Championship

While only having made his debut into the show ring at the beginning of March, Greg Crolick’s new partner, Braavos, has already made a name for himself. The six-year-old Warmblood gelding (Rock Forever I x Scarlett) was named champion in the Triple Crown Nutrition Green Hunter 3’ division. The championship is one of two division victories the gelding has earned during the final few weeks of the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival.

Crolick and the gelding owned by Renaud Farm, LLC first debuted their partnership in the show ring during Week 9. Braavos showed his potential promise early on as he secured the champion ribbon for the USHJA Hunter 2’6” division during his first show on U.S. soil. The gelding once again glided to success during Week 12 as the pair picked up two firsts, two seconds, and a third in the five classes to end the division on 36 points.

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

Longines Streak Continues for Nassar and Lordan in Las Vegas

Nayel Nassar (EGY) and Lordan. (FEI/Andrew Ryback)

Just a week after topping the World Cup qualifier in Thermal (USA), Nayel Nassar (EGY) and his longtime partner Lordan led another victory gallop after clinching the $135,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Las Vegas (USA).

Nassar, 27, and his 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding were fastest in a six-horse jump-off set by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA). The pair used their natural foot speed and tidiness to their advantage, coming through the timers in 34.57 seconds, over a second fastest than their closest competitors. It was an international podium, with Wilhelm Genn (GER) and Bugatti earning runner-up honors (35.73 seconds) and Harley Brown (AUS) and Mylord Cornet finishing third (40.34 seconds).

“It was a fast jump-off,” Nassar said. “Wilhelm set a really tough time to beat, and he was really efficient everywhere on a horse that has a bigger stride than mine. I just knew I had to be nice and neat in the turns and not go too crazy down the long lines.”

“It was a fast jump-off… Wilhelm set a really tough time to beat… I just knew I had to be nice and neat in the turns and not go too crazy down the long lines.” — Nayel Nassar (Egypt)

The top three were the only combinations to turn in double-clear rounds on the evening. Brown was the first to navigate the jump-off without fault, but he was forced to take a more conservative route with his less experienced 8-year-old. Genn, who won Sacramento’s (USA) World Cup qualifier in October, jumped ahead by nearly four seconds with an outstanding right turn to the jump-off’s second fence and a bold gallop down to the final obstacle. As the last to go, Nassar knew exactly what he had to do to win his second straight World Cup qualifier, and he executed, despite having a precarious rub two fences from home.

“I had the luck of the draw a little bit. I had the pole position coming in,” Nassar said. “It always helps when you know what you need to do, and I relish the pressure as well. Lordan can feel that, too; I was getting tingly walking in [the ring], and he really tried his heart out.”

Shifting Standings

Richard Spooner (USA) may have been kept off the podium, but he took over the lead in the west coast sub league standings of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League with his fourth-place finish aboard Quirado RC. He now boasts 49 points, one ahead of Eve Jobs (USA). Nassar moved up to third in the standings; he now boasts 46 points.

“[Quirado RC] is just knocking my socks off,” Spooner said. “He’s been unbelievable in the World Cup season. He’s a huge horse — he’s about 18.1, maybe 18.2 hands — but he somehow is still very elastic with his body. I just feel graced every time I get to ride him, because the power that you feel with that horse is absolutely awesome.”

Genn took over second in the east coast sub league standings, behind only Molly Ashe Cawley’s (USA) league leading 55 points. Genn has 47 points, one ahead of defending World Cup Champion Beezie Madden (USA).

“Bugatti is 12, and every year when I take him to a new level, and I think it is about as big as he can jump, he surprises me and makes it work,” Genn said. “Who knows what the future brings? I’m super proud of him.”

After a brief holiday, the North American League resumes in Guadalajara (MEX) on 26 January 2019.

By Catie Staszak

FEI Media Contact:

Shannon Gibbons
Manager Press Relations
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

Nassar and Lordan Repeat Longines Victory in Thermal

Nayel Nassar and Lordan. (FEI / Ashley Neuhof)

For the second year in a row — and third overall — Nayel Nassar (EGY) and his indelible mount Lordan led the victory gallop in the $100,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Thermal (USA).

Besting a jump-off field of five, Nassar and his 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding crossed the timers of Marina Azevedo’s (BRA) shortened course in 43.89 seconds. The duo narrowly edged Eve Jobs, who recorded the best World Cup finish of her career with her own Venue d’Fees des Hazalles; their time was 43.97 seconds. Lisa Carlsen (CAN) finished third aboard Parette after recording the winning time but pulling the rail at the final fence.

“I’m just thrilled with my horse and thrilled to be sitting here again!” — Nayel Nassar (EGY)

Nassar has been partnered with Lordan for more than seven years. In addition to winning last year’s event, the pair also topped the class in 2016. Nassar used his longtime partnership to his advantage, creating his own jump-off plan based off his horse’s quick, yet smaller, stride.

“I tried not to focus too much on what the other riders were doing,” Nassar said. “I know that Lordan is a very different kind of horse with a different kind of stride. I just wanted to know whether my jump-off pace was going to be fast enough or if I needed to take any extra risks.”

The pace proved to be just enough, resulting in a close, eight-hundredths of a second margin of victory.

“It ended up being a lot closer than I expected,” Nassar said, “but luckily we were on the right side of that today.”

Consistency Proves Key

With consistent, points-earning performances in Vancouver (CAN), Columbus (USA), Del Mar (USA) and Thermal, Jobs took over the lead in the west coast sub league standings of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League with 48 points.

Should Jobs qualify to compete at Gothenburg (SWE) in April, it would be her first appearance in a World Cup Final.

“If everything goes as planned, and I can continue to feel comfortable competing at such a high level, I would be honored to go,” she said. “I’m very excited.”

Richard Spooner (USA), a 15-time World Cup Finals veteran, including last season, moved into second in the standings after finishing fourth in Thermal. He has 36 points, four ahead of Zazou Hoffman (USA), who won the World Cup qualifier at Del Mar (USA) in October.

By Catie Staszak

FEI Media Contact:

Shannon Gibbons
Manager Press Relations
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

Nassar and Lordan Shine Again with Second Longines Victory in Thermal

Photo: Nayel Nassar and Lordan. (FEI/Glen Burgess)

Madden’s Cross Country Trip More Than Worthwhile

Two years ago, Nayel Nassar (EGY) won the World Cup qualifier at Thermal (USA) with his then 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding Lordan. In 2018, the partnership returned to form with a second victory in the desert, as the duo won the $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping™ Thermal, the final leg of the west coast sub league of the North American League.

Six combinations cleared the Alan Wade (IRL) designed track in the first round, and all produced a second clear effort in the jump-off. Beezie Madden (USA) and Breitling LS led early with a time of 39.92 seconds, but Nassar and Lordan, who also won the World Cup qualifier at Wellington (USA) last season, sped past them by nine-tenths of a second, crossing the timers in 39.02 seconds. Mandy Porter (USA) and Milano, who won the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Sacramento (USA) in October, rounded out the top three with their 40.56-second time.

He’s such a trier,” Nassar said. “We know each other so well at this point, and we have a good partnership to get us through all the little intricacies in the courses.”

“He is such a trier! We have a good partnership to get us through all the little intricacies in the courses.” — Nayal Nassar (EGY)

Nassar said that Lordan’s naturally shorter stride might have played to his advantage in the jump-off, because he maintained a forward pace from the start.

“The first line was way more forward for me than anyone else,” Nassar said. “So, I was already faster there, and [also] probably on the turn back to the last line. I took a pretty big risk there. I jumped the double [from] right to left, and I could see all the tracks [from the other horses], and I was way inside there, and I just found the first shot out of the corner.”

After competing in Wellington last week, Madden made the cross-country journey from Florida to California to compete at Thermal. The trip proved worthwhile, because Madden’s runner-up finish jumped her from 11th to third in the east coast sub league standings of the North American League, which should put her safely in position for qualification to the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Paris (FRA) in April.

“I didn’t do that many World Cup [qualifiers] in the fall,” Madden said. I needed some more chances to get points. My plan might be to take him and one other [horse to Paris].”

The final leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League will take place on the east coast at Live Oak Plantation in Ocala (USA) on Sunday 18 March 2018.

By Catie Staszak

FEI Media Contact:

Shannon Gibbons
Manager Press Relations
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

Nayel Nassar Speeds to Longines Victory on Lordan in Wellington

Nayel Nassar and Lordan. (FEI/Debra Jamroz)

Wellington, Florida, USA, 5 February 2017 – Showcasing their six-year partnership, Egypt’s Nayel Nassar and Lordan successfully executed an aggressive track in a ten-horse jump off to win the $216,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Wellington.

The USA’s Laura Kraut finished in a close second aboard Zeremonie, while Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya and Arrayan slotted into the third position. With the win in Wellington, Nassar overtook Mexico’s Enrique Gonzalez in the Western Sub-League standings, earning the young, Egyptian rider an advantageous qualifying position for the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in March.

“I thought the first round was quite big when I walked it,” Nassar said. “I was going to fit in extra strides throughout the course but I watched Lauren [Hough] go before me on a small horse [like Lordan] and they cruised right up there so I quickly changed my plan at the in gate.”

From a starting number of 40 entries, only a quarter of the field went clear in the first round over a challenging course built by Ireland’s Alan Wade. “I try to build something fair for the whole field,” Wade said at the close of the first round. He then predicted that a tight rollback in the jump off would be a deciding factor in separating the winner from the pack.

In the jump off, Nassar entered the outdoor turf field eighth in the final order, after watching Alvarez Moya deliver a solid double clear to knock USA’s Adrienne Sternlicht from the lead position. “I knew I had to make up time from [fence no.] 1 to 2,” said Nassar, who went on to boldly angle the latter, a large oxer off a bending line.

Crowd favourites and Olympians stacked the opening order, including Beezie Madden (USA), Ben Maher (GBR), Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER), and Ian Millar (CAN). But the large, technical course forced rails to drop from these top names. And in the case of Michaels-Beerbaum, a crash through the final oxer – in a round that would have, otherwise, been clear – forced her elimination when she fell off Comanche.

Nassar (EGY) has taken hold of the top position in the Western Sub-League standings. In the Eastern Sub-League, Kent Farrington (USA) remains in the lead. The final events for the Western and Eastern Sub-Leagues will take place in Thermal California (11 February 2017) and in Ocala, Florida (12 March 2017), respectively.

“I actually think Lordan’s better indoors – he’s a little horse with a lot of impulsion,” said Nassar in regards to how his horse will handle the ring at this year’s World Cup™ Final. “Big jumps out of a corner aren’t an issue for him, and I heard that the Omaha ring isn’t too small, either. He really grows under the lights and will rise to the occasion.”

Full results: http://www.longinestiming.com/#!/equestrian/2017/1282/html/en/longinestiming/resultlist_102.html

Quotes:

Alan Wade (Course Designer): “I thought it was great sport this afternoon. At the start of the week we had a lot of athletes here so we had to cut from 100 down to 40 for today. The materials and the ground that I had to work with allowed me to [build for] five-star combinations here. Today, we saw thrills and spills, we saw excitement, and saw the skill of athletes and top horses. That’s why I love show jumping so much.”

Nayel Nassar (1st): “Lordan is just hitting his stride. I’ve always wanted to come back out here [to Florida]; I just needed a proper horse. I thought a couple of my sales horses were better suited for out here, so it made sense for the string that I have to be here. Also, there aren’t enough FEI events in California and I’m getting back up in the ranking list.

“Honestly, it doesn’t get much better than this. I didn’t expect this. It’s his first show of the year. He’s such an incredible trier, and I know him like the back of my hand at this point. We jumped clear in the first round; we were just going to give it a go in the jump off. I was lucky enough to watch Sergio go right before me and I knew what we had to do and I just let it rip and he answered the questions.”

“In 2015, [Lordan] didn’t jump any classes [due to injury]. Honestly, it gives you a new sense of appreciation. I’m just happy to go in the ring with him now, whereas before, I just wanted to win with big ambitions. It just put things into perspective. He’s such an incredible partner and I’ve known him for so long, now I just feel blessed any time I get to go in the ring.”

Laura Kraut (2nd): “I really tried to [catch him]. Nayel was a student of mine in 2012 and he won the Under 25 Final on that horse. I knew he was going to be the one to try to beat. I even got to see him go and I couldn’t beat him.”

Sergio Alvarez Moya (3rd): “It was a fantastic show. My first time for me here. A pleasure for me to do so well. I give everybody thumbs up and hope we can ride here more often.”

Full Standings for Eastern Sub-League: http://results.hippodata.de/2017/1282/docs/longines_fei_world_cup_nal_esl_standings_after_wellington_2017.pdf

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By Esther Hahn

FEI Media Contact:

Shannon Gibbons
Manager Press Relations
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46