Victoria Colvin and Private Practice. Photo © Sportfot.
Wellington, FL – February 15, 2020 – Young hunter professional Victoria Colvin once again proved unbeatable as she returned to pilot her talented 2019 $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular winner, Private Practice, to the victory in the premier class of WCHR week once again during “Saturday Night Lights” at the 2020 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).
Saturday night’s Hunter Spectacular is the highlight of WEF’s WCHR Hunter Week, which emphasizes the hunter discipline and gives junior, amateur, and professional hunter riders the chance to introduce their horses to the International Arena.
A field of 37 successful horse-and-rider combinations, consisting of winners in the junior, amateur, and professional categories throughout the week, contested the round-one course designed by Patrick Rodes. Out of the original starting line-up, the 12 pairs with the highest scores were invited to return for the second phase of the two-round classic style competition.
“Private Practice is an amazing horse,” Colvin affirmed. “He’s one of my favorite horses, and this class is a blast because we are able to ride under the lights and in the International Arena. They don’t host many hunter classes in this arena anymore so to be able to go back in this ring is a lot of fun.”
Sweden’s Petronella Andersson and New Mount Davarusa Clinch the Win in the $37,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic
In Saturday’s 1.50m class held on the picturesque Derby Field at Equestrian Village, a talented group of 43 top horse-and-rider pairs took on the challenge with only six advancing to the jump-off. The length and scope of obstacles including a triple in the middle of the course, set by Ana Catalina “Catsy” Cruz Harris (MEX), proved to be a big test for many.
In the jump-off, Petronella Andersson of Sweden aboard 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Davarusa (Zavall VDL x Zavarusa H) clinched the win with a fault-free round and a time of 38.44 seconds for Stephex Stables. She edged out Ireland’s Paul O’Shea on Skara Glen’s 7 Pillars, who came in second with a time of 39.52 seconds.
“On the field, if your horse doesn’t have much experience, they can be spooky and they don’t know how to react out there,” said Andersson. “However, I’m happy with my horse. She did a great job and is a new horse for me; I have only ridden her in two shows before coming here. She has a great personality, is very straightforward and careful, and has a great mind.”
Hunter Competition Soaks Up the Spotlight during Day Four of WCHR Week
Junior and amateur hunter riders once again stepped into the International Arena to compete for the top honors in their divisions during WCHR Week. Competition started with Augusta Iwasaki and Eliza Kimball’s Seaside receiving the tri-color ribbon for the Large Junior Hunter 15 and Under division.
Iwasaki, of Calabasas, CA, and the 14-year-old Warmblood gelding (Argentinus x Lindsay 10) won all three over-fences classes in the division to put them on top. “He is really sweet, but makes you work for it a little bit. It’s really rewarding to be able to do well with him because you have to earn his trust,” Iwasaki explained.
The E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring began on Saturday morning with Kelly Tropin and Chablis earning the championship in the Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 division, sponsored by Palm Beach Equine Clinic.
“I knew going into the last round that I had to win in order to be champion or reserve,” Tropin commented. “When you have really good riders, you can’t afford to make a mistake. I’ve done a Jedi mind trick on myself where I have convinced myself that I like the pressure of having to win.”
For full results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.