From left to right: Richard Spooner, Jonathan McCrea, Ali Wolff, and Christine McCrea.
Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the athlete-and-horse combinations who will represent the United States on the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team in Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup competition at CSIO4* Coapexpan, in Coapexpan, Mexico, April 28 through May 1, 2016.
The following athletes and horses will represent the United States (listed alphabetically):
Christine McCrea (East Windsor, Conn.) with Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables’ Dynamo, a 2003 Belgian Warmblood gelding
Jonathan McCrea (East Windsor, Conn.) with Candy Tribble’s Special Lux, a 2004 Irish Sport Horse gelding
Richard Spooner (Agua Dulce, Calif.) with Gerardo and Alfonso Pasquel’s Big Red, a 2005 Warmblood gelding
Ali Wolff (New Albany, Ohio) with her and John Wolff’s Quirie 2, a 2007 German Warmblood gelding
Robert Ridland will serve as Chef d’Equipe.
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: USEF Communications Department
Lucas Porter Has Banner Day with Top Finishes in ASPCA Maclay and $25,000 Tryon Grand Prix
Mill Spring, NC – May 31, 2015 – Christine McCrea of East Windsor, CT and Candy Tribble’s Wannick WH concluded Tryon Spring 7 with a win in the $25,000 Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). The duo bested the six-horse jump-off with a time of 41.528 seconds. Lucas Porter and Sleepy P Ranch, LLC’s Doma Sue finished followed in second, completing the course in 44.517 seconds. Kady Abrahamson and Abrahamson Equestrian LLC’s Bamiro placed in third, riding clear in 45.322 seconds. Competition at TIEC begins again on Wednesday, June 3, with the start of Tryon Spring 8 CSI 4*, the last week of the Tryon Spring Series.
McCrea and Wannick WH were the last pair in the George H. Morris Stadium for the jump-off, riding in hot on the heels of Lucas Porter and Doma Sue, who had just put in the fastest clear round of the jump-off. McCrea had scoped out the tracks she believed would save her time on course and made two bold inside turns to ultimately finish three seconds faster than Porter.
“Winning here in Tryon feels great. It’s our first time here and I was so impressed with how everything went this week. I thought this class would be great for him so we went today and got really lucky,” said McCrea.
The duo has built a solid partnership together as Wannick WH has been with the McCreas for nearly seven years. McCrea knows the ins-and-outs of the stallion’s style and the win today served as a great moment for the pair.
“We’ve had him forever. We bought him when he was five-and-a-half and now he’s twelve. It’s like putting on an old sneaker, you just know. I can feel really secure about what I think is going to happen and hopefully it does happen,” she commented. “He’s just a really good horse and he really tries. He’s a bit on the smaller side and for him to jump these big jumps is really cool. He gives you a great feeling.”
Abrahamson and Porter were the first two riders to finish with clear rounds in the jump-off and McCrea knew she was going to have to ride competitively to keep all of the rails up and lay down a fast and efficient ride.
“The kids really put the pressure on this old lady today,” laughed McCrea. “To be honest, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to go inside to the double because it was quite short but I said to myself, ‘Okay, we’re going inside of the double and if you clear that then you have to make an effort to get inside of the next two standards,'” she explained. “I sort of forced that turn but he slowed down and that allowed me to turn him quite tight and I got a great line. It really worked out to my advantage. It almost gave him enough of a half halt to rock back on his hocks, which pushed us through the next fence.
Christine and her husband Jonathan will stay at TIEC to contest the next week of FEI CSI 4* competition before returning to Connecticut for small summer break. The duo has a strong string of horses here and will look to continue their winning ways moving into Tryon Spring 8 next week.
“We’ll be here for next week and then we’ll head back to Connecticut for a bit. I haven’t been home since December so I’m really looking forward to spending some time there. We’ll do some of the more local stuff there, but will 100% be coming back here within the year. We’ve already put it on the schedule,” commented McCrea. “We love it here and I think what Mark [Bellissimo] is doing with the FEI classes, for me as a rider, is what I want and it’s what we’ve all been begging for. We’re so thrilled to be here and to win this class was just great.”
Adding TIEC into their show schedule has been a huge advantage for McCrea, as she can not only compete in FEI sanctioned competitions on U.S. soil, something she has been looking forward to for a long time, but also gives her the opportunity to choose from a wide range of classes and decide which are most fitting for her horses.
“I think the footing has been perfect. It has a give and it feels soft but firm. You can turn in it without slipping. The layout of the facility is really cool and I like the way it’s starting to layout,” said McCrea. I realize there’s a lot more work to do, but I can say that if it was just this alone, it’s amazing, but I think moving forward with the plans is just going to make it that much better and we’re really excited for that.”
Lucas Porter Has Banner Day with Top Finishes in ASPCA Medal Maclay and $25,000 Tryon Grand Prix
Lucas Porter has been a force at Tryon International Equestrian Center this week, collecting several top finishes in both the jumper and equitation rings. Finishing his first week of competition at TIEC, Porter collected second place in the $25,000 Tryon Grand Prix after winning the ASPCA Medal Maclay earlier in the day. Porter rode Sleepy P Ranch, LLC’s Punch to victory in the Maclay and piloted Sleepy P Ranch’s Doma Sue to a second place finish in the Grand Prix.
Lucas Porter and Doma Sue
“I got Doma Sue from David Blake last August and I competed her in the High Junior classes in Wellington and just started making the move to Grand Prix in the past few months. This is my first really great result on her at this level so I’m really pleased with how it went,” commented Porter. “I thought the course was great for the number of starters and I thought there were a perfect amount of clears and I was fortunate to come towards the end in the jump-off. I wanted to put in a really tidy clear and she did.”
Porter and his equitation mount Punch gathered wins in the ASPCA Maclay and the USEF Pessoa Hunt Seat Medal during Tryon Week 7. Punch has been an important horse in Porter’s young career, as he has helped him to better his position and give him experience in the equitation and hunter rings.
“He’s really a hybrid. He used to be a jumper and then my trainer and I thought that we needed to work on my position so he started to do some of the equitation and he’s turned out to be a perfect horse for it,” said Porter. “He’s slow tempered and he has a big stride, which has made him ideal in those classes.”
When Porter is competing, it is all hands on deck to ensure that he gets to each of his rings on-time, as he has a number of horses entered in classes throughout the grounds. Today was no different, as he hopped off of his ride in the Junior/Amateur Owner Medium Classic and headed straight to the equitation ring for the ASPCA Maclay and the USEF Pessoa Hunt Seat Medal.
“I rode the Maclay first and was able to use that to an advantage in the USEF Pessoa Hunt Seat Medal because I already knew the lines and the striding in between the jumps and I tried to do the same thing in both,” he commented. “He was perfect just like Doma and everything worked out perfectly today, in the Grand Prix and in both of those classes.”
The Porters and the Sleepy P Ranch team will continue competing at TIEC through Tryon Spring 8 of the Spring Series and have been thoroughly impressed with the facility and competition.
“The facility here is unbelievable. The rings are huge and the barns are incredibly nice. I personally like the ample schooling rings, which allows you school your horses in a calm place if you want to get away from the rest of the show,” commented Porter. “The weather here is perfect and we’ve all been really happy. I want to thank the Bellissimos for putting on this show and the sponsors for supporting these classes and to my sponsors for helping me get to where I am.”
Tryon Spring 8 CSI 4* will begin on Wednesday, June 3, and will continue through Sunday, June 7. Tryon Spring 8 will be the biggest week of the Tryon Spring Series, hosting FEI CSI 4* competition alongside an array of activities for the general public to enjoy at the venue including the Festival of the Carolinas Craft Beer Festival, the unveiling of the Rolex Clock Tower and much more on Saturday, June 6. For more information on the competition and the events to come at TIEC, please visit www.tryon.com. Please “Like” the TIEC Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tryonresort to be eligible for various contests and promotions.
About Tryon International Equestrian Center
The Tryon International Equestrian Center is destined to become one of the premier centers in the equestrian world. This new facility opened in June 2014 with sanctioned horse shows and initial supporting amenities including 10 riding arenas, 850 permanent stalls, a covered riding facility and fitness center. Future expansion includes a sports complex, two hotels, sporting clay course, and an 18-hole golf course plus a full calendar of equestrian competitions and activities. It is a spring, summer and fall haven for eastern and northeastern American equestrian competitors and enthusiasts. For more information, call 828-863-1000 or visit www.tryon.com.
Christine McCrea and Zerly Top the Field in $82,000 TD Cup 1.50m
Calgary, AB – July 6, 2013 – It was an exciting day of show jumping at the Spruce Meadows ‘North American’ Tournament with the $200,000 ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup. Reed Kessler (USA) bested a strong line-up and was the only one to jump clear in both rounds with Cylana for victory. Conor Swail (IRL) and Lansdowne finished second, while Beezie Madden (USA) and Simon were third. Christine McCrea (USA) was able to ride to the win in the $82,000 TD Cup 1.50m with Zerly over Beezie Madden (USA) on Coral Reef Via Volo and Conor Swail (IRL) with Game Ready. The ‘North American’ Tournament concludes with tomorrow’s competition and the highlight event, the $140,000 Cenovus Energy Classic Derby.
The $200,000 ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup was a test of scope and stamina as horses contested one of the biggest tracks of the summer series and had to contend with jumping two rounds of competition. There were 35 entries in the first round, and the top 12 returned for the second round. With only one horse and rider double clean, the competition was decided without a jump-off.
Course designer Anthony D’Ambrosio stated, “I thought we could have a jump-off with two or three horses. That is what I would have been expecting and it almost unfolded that way, but I am very happy with the way the class ultimately did unfold. I thought everyone did a great job and many riders had good experiences today, so I am very pleased with the way the competition went.”
All three of the top riders agreed that they enjoy the two-round format for this competition. Beezie Madden said, “You can’t do it every week, but for a competition like this I think it is excellent.”
Coming in first was Eric Lamaze (CAN) on Powerplay on four faults, but they put in a second round clear to move up to fifth place. Francois Mathy (BEL) and Polinska des Isles had one rail to finish on eight faults and eighth place. Leslie Howard (USA) and Tic Tac came in with four faults and added another four faults at the last fence to finish in seventh place.
The CN Precision Series will wait another year to award outstanding bonus money as Kent Farrington and Uceko, the previous winners of the two CN grand prix events this season, came in with four faults from the first round. Although they were clear in the second round, it would not be enough and they would finish in fourth place.
Beezie Madden (USA) and Abigail Wexner’s Simon were also on four faults from the first round, but with a great clear ride in the second round and a fast time from round one, they would slot into third place.
Beezie Madden and Simon
Regarding her rail down in the first round, she said, “I think it was really my fault for not getting him back enough after (the triple bar). I got a little too close to the bike (fence) and he was still pulling me too much there, so it was really my fault. I had plenty of room; I just didn’t get it done.”
However, Madden was happy with Simon’s performance overall. “He felt great,” she acknowledged. “I really didn’t need to jump much before the second round. I thought he jumped fantastic the first round and did the same in the second round, so I was really happy with him.”
Lisa Carlsen (CAN) and La Boom had just two time faults in round one, but ran into trouble in round two. After a rail and a refusal, they retired on course and finished twelfth. Another time-faulter from round one, Kirsten Coe (USA) on Calypso, also had trouble in round two with 17 faults for a total of 18 and eleventh place.
Both Katie Dinan (USA) on Nougat du Vallet and McLain Ward (USA) with Rothchild were able to find the clear path in round one, but both faulted at two fences in round two. They finished in tenth and ninth places, respectively.
Next in was 18-year-old Reed Kessler (USA) on Cylana, her 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Skippy II x Darco. They put in another stellar clear round despite a hard rub at the final oxer and had to watch as the last two entries entered the ring to see where they would finish.
Kessler recalled, “Everyone gasped like it came down. I think they thought it was coming down, but it somehow stayed up. I was scared to look back. I had my eyes peeled on the scoreboard.”
Conor Swail (IRL) and Lansdowne were second to last to go, and the stunning 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Susan and Ariel Grange put in a stellar jumping effort, but when they crossed the finish line, the scoreboard showed the heartbreaking truth – their time of 68.15 seconds incurred one time fault over the 68-second time allowed. They finished in second place.
Swail explained where he thought he added that .15 of a second on course, “I think where I lost it, he jumped down the combination pretty poorly. I needed just to regroup a little bit, so I think I lost it just a little wide to the ATCO oxer there before the last line. I just needed to set him back on his hocks a little bit. It finished off beautifully again, but I am happy.”
He also reflected, “My horse does not have the experience of the two on either side of me (Cylana and Simon). I am really pleased that he is in this company and he continues to be there. He has been great for the whole tournament here. It is nice that I have a good owner in Sue Grange that lets me be able to compete at this level with these horses. I am happy to be here. I think his time will come and so will mine. There’s gonna be another day.”
Last in was Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One. It wouldn’t be their day, however, as they faulted at two jumps for sixth place.
Kessler said that her win yesterday helped with her confidence going into today’s competition, even though it was on a different horse. “It definitely put it in my mind that, ‘Okay, you have a chance to win one of these,’” she remarked.
Cylana knows when she’s a winner too. “She knows when she has won. Cylana is smarter than 90% of humans I have ever met,” Reed laughed.
“This feels amazing,” Kessler related. “This is the biggest win of my career so far, (and) it’s my first five star win. We have knocked on the door a couple of times with some second places, but it feels great to nail one down.”
Christine McCrea and Zerly Set Early Pace for Victory
The $82,000 TD Cup 1.50m was held in winning round format today. The top 25 qualifiers competed in the first round, and from there, the top 8 returned for a second round. The top 8 started on a clean slate and the finish was determined by the time and faults from the second round.
First in was Enrique Gonzalez (MEX) on Quilebo D Tillard, who had the last jump down for four faults in 51.97 seconds. That would slot them into eighth place at the end of the competition.
Christine McCrea (USA) and Zerly were next in and they were very quick throughout the course to be the first clear in 48.23 seconds for victory.
Christine McCrea and Zerly
“I just was determined to go as fast as I could,” McCrea said with a smile. “There was nothing that I wasn’t going to try and do. That was my goal. I almost didn’t make the jump-off because I went too slow (in round one). I was revved up. She is so fast. I knew if I rode her perfectly, she would be fastest.”
Although McCrea had to add in one related distance line, she thought the competition was won by how fast she was from fences one to two. “I flew around the corner and she shot off to the right over the yellow (oxer), and I had to pull up in the eight (strides),” she recalled, “and that’s where I thought, ‘Oh no. Somebody could get me there.’ But they didn’t. I think you had to fly one to two. That was my plan.”
Meagan Nusz (USA) and Dynamo put in a four fault round in 51.79 seconds and left them in seventh place.
Quentin Judge (USA) and HH Dark de la Hart put in a great clear round in a slower time of 51.47 seconds, which would finish in fourth place. Ian Millar (CAN) and Star Power were fast near the end of the course, but it wasn’t quite enough as they were clear in 52.69 seconds for fifth place.
Conor Swail (IRL) and Game Ready made a great bid for the lead, but fell just short in 51.24 seconds for third place. Ashlee Bond (USA) and Agrostar were also quick in 50.40 seconds, but a rail at the last jump gave them four faults and sixth place.
The final pair into the ring was Beezie Madden (USA) and Coral Reef Via Volo. They were quite fast in 49.53 seconds with no faults, but it wouldn’t be enough to take victory and they had to settle for second place.
McCrea has been riding Zerly, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by Querlybet Hero x Carthago, for almost a year and has been moving her from the 1.50m to the 1.60m and back again. “I think she’s super talented and I absolutely love riding her. She’s sort of learning the 1.60m height. I’m trying to give her a good education going forward,” she explained. “She is just all business and knows what her job is. She is very careful, has tons of scope, and she likes how I ride her. We have a good relationship. She’s just awesome.”
Zerly fits into the type of horse that McCrea likes to ride. She described, “I like them hot. I like horses that can bounce, that you can go forward and then pull up and bounce a stride in. I kind of like ones that go with their head up, which sounds funny, but if you look at the ones we have they all kind of go that way. The high balance is better for me; the low balance is difficult for me to ride. We buy all of our horses young, so we never really know where they’re going to end up, so we try to just horn in on that specific type. They might rise above what you think might ever have jumped before because we’re comfortable together and they like the way I ride them. That’s been our goal the last couple of years. They are so much fun! I’m having the time of my life.”
McCrea has been recording top finishes at the Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments this year, including four wins and eight top three places. She thanked her parents, who sponsor her, her husband Jonathan, and also Alan Waldman, who finds all of her horses. “It’s been kind of crazy. I think I have a really, really top string right now,” she said. “When you feel confident on one and the next goes well, it sort of builds your confidence and everything meshes. I think that’s what’s been happening for me.”
What Can You Do at Spruce Meadows on Sunday?
Spruce Meadows includes affordable fun for the whole family. With admission starting at only $5 per person, and children (12 & under) and seniors (65 & up) free, it is the perfect venue to unwind and enjoy a day of show jumping, activities, delicious food and shopping. Limited Reserved Seating tickets are also available – for full details, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
On Sunday, there will be a number of activities for the whole family (all included in your admission to Spruce Meadows) such as Pony Rides, presented by Kozy Shack, the Spruce Meadows Prairie Dogs, presented by RE/MAX, Wagon Rides, Face Painting, children’s games in the Garden Court Restaurant and more! Delicious food is offered throughout the grounds, featuring a healthy menu at the Garden Court Restaurant, a wide range of options at the Time Faults Public House, and International Fare in the Plaza.
On Sunday, July 7, there will be the Royal Occasion Brunch – all are welcome to join us at the royally inspired breakfast from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm in the Meadowgreen Building, adjacent to the Meadows on the Green Ring. Fresh berries and cream, scones, pancakes, sausages and more will be complimentary to the first 3,000 guests. In light of the recent flood in Southern Alberta, Rush Seating for Saturday and Sunday will be complimentary. Reserved Seating and Club International tickets are available on our website in advance.
Looking to test your luck? Spruce Meadows has several contest options for those wanting to win excellent prizes, including the CN/Sun Media Name the Foal contest featuring a chance to name future show jumping star and a trip to the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament, and the Win a Year contest, with a chance to win a year of access to all Spruce Meadows events. If you are looking for some retail therapy, vendors in the Gallery on the Green and Vendor Village offer an excellent variety of gifts and services, both equine and non-equine in nature.
The ‘North American’ concludes tomorrow with the $50,000 Akita Drilling Cup 1.50m and $140,000 Cenovus Energy Classic Derby. For more information and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Christine McCrea Takes $35,000 Progress Energy Canada Cup Victory; McArdle Captures 1.45m Speed Win
Calgary, AB – July 4, 2013 – The ‘North American’ Tournament had three international competitions today in two rings. Riding to the top of the standings in the $35,000 PwC Cup 1.60m was Lauren Tisbo (USA) on Roundthorn Madios. Christine McCrea (USA) won the $35,000 Progress Energy Canada Cup 1.50m as the first in the jump-off with Romantovich Take One. In the All Canada ring, an early fast round by Abigail McArdle (USA) and Cosma 20 won the $33,000 Zoetis Horse Health Care Cup 1.45m.
The ‘North American’ Tournament continues through Sunday, July 7, and features the $200,000 ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Saturday, July 6, and the $140,000 Cenovus Energy Classic Derby on Sunday, July 7.
Twenty entries went to post in the $35,000 PwC Cup 1.60m over a course designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio of New York. Only two were able to clear the first round, and they went head to head in the jump-off.
“I thought it was going to be difficult,” Tisbo said. “Anthony usually builds courses that don’t allow for a whole lot of clears, but a nice number usually. There were plenty of questions there, and the water jump was in there. I expected there to be more than two though. You just had to know your horse really well and know what his strengths are.”
First in was Reed Kessler (USA) on Cylana. They pulled a rail at the first fence in the jump-off and finished with four faults in 39.76 seconds.
Knowing a clear round was needed to win, Lauren Tisbo went in with a steady stride, but still kept up a pace just in case. She was able to leave all of the jumps up and recorded a time of 41.20 seconds for her second international win at Spruce Meadows.
Tisbo recently moved Roundthorn Madios up to the 1.60m competitions, and she used today’s event to see if he would be ready for the $200,000 ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Saturday. “From the beginning today was all about jumping clear, and if I got into the jump-off, jumping clear again. My plan just happened to work out with the rest of the circumstances,” she pointed out.
Tisbo has been riding Roundthorn Madios, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Condios x Clover Hill, for six months. He is owned by her family’s Tequestrian Farms LLC. While Tisbo felt like they clicked “for the most part,” right away, it still took some time to get to know each other. She explained, “His previous rider had him for a long time, and I think in any situation when you get a horse that someone’s been riding for multiple years, even if you match right away, it takes a little while for them to figure you out and think the way you think. That certainly started to happen after the Florida circuit. Now I think it’s going pretty well.”
Tisbo said that Roundthorn Madios has gotten “so much scopier” here at Spruce Meadows. “He doesn’t have a huge, huge stride. He’s careful, but he likes when you can gallop him up to the jumps,” she said. “He’s exceeding my expectations in the parts of the course that I think he’s going to struggle with. Those are all signs for me that make me feel very confident going into a class like the Queen’s Cup on Saturday.”
Tisbo said she was “still a little shocked” with her victory. “It does feel as special as the first win. It was not what I expected today,” she smiled. “I was hoping I would win for the first time in the International Ring here, (and) I got that goal accomplished, so the rest is gravy!”
Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One
McCrea Is Only Double Clear to Win
The $35,000 Progress Energy Canada Cup had 35 entries and five of those would advance to the jump-off, but it would be the first in the ring over the shortened course that would lead the way. Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One, 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Numero Uno x Karandasj owned by Candy Tribble, put in the all-important clear round in a time of 42.58 seconds.
McCrea said of her plan, “I obviously wanted to jump clear and go fast, but I didn’t want to go too fast because there wasn’t very many in it in the jump-off. I thought it would be more important to try to jump a clear round. I did kick myself because when I was coming around the bank, I realized I missed the inside turn to the skinny (fence). I thought I left it open a little bit there. But as it turned out, it worked out, so that was good. I thought he jumped great.”
Next in, Federico Fernandez (MEX) and Gitano, had an unfortunate 12 faults in 47.97 seconds for fifth place. Conor Swail (IRL) and Lansdowne had an early four faults and slowed down to finish the jump-off. They accumulated three time faults in 52.77 seconds for fourth place.
It came down to the final fence for the last two riders, and both of them had their heartbreaking four faults there. Lauren Tisbo (USA) and Catharina 9 were third in 45.34 seconds. Susan Artes (USA) and Zamiro were quite fast in 41.72 seconds, but the rail down left them in second place.
McCrea pointed out that by now, their relationship has advanced to where she just thinks “speed,” and Romantovich Take One does it. “You just push the button and he goes,” she smiled. “He’s faster than a normal horse. Then if you want to go a little quicker, just leg him a little bit more and off you go. He’s so seasoned that he knows exactly what I’m asking. It’s not like he’s questioning; he just knows. First gear, third gear, fourth gear, he just knows.”
This was Romantovich Take One’s third victory in the Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments, and McCrea has had success on her other horses as well. “I’m very lucky. They are extremely nice horses and I’m really happy to have them,” she expressed.
McArdle and Cosma 20 Speed Past Competition
Abigail McArdle and Cosma 20
The $33,000 Zoetis Horse Health Care Cup 1.45m had an early leader whose time held up to win the competition. Abigail McArdle (USA) and Cosma 20 went sixth in the order out of 23 entries and put in a very quick time of 104.82 seconds with no faults.
Going second to last, the closest clear round came from Francois Mathy (BEL) on Falco von de Clehoeve, who finished in 108.39 seconds for second place. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Cyklon 1083 were third in 108.69 seconds. Conor Swail (IRL) and Martha Louise had the time in 103.67 seconds, but a rail left them in eleventh place.
McArdle didn’t leave much room for anyone to catch her, with the exception of one inside turn. “I thought everywhere I kind of went for it. I didn’t seem to leave too many gaps,” she agreed. “The only place is where I went around (to jump 14), and Conor went inside there. He had my time, but he had that jump down. That’s what we were worried about when we walked (the course). We thought if I went inside, I would have had the same jump down. That was the one place where I thought someone could beat me, if they went inside there and left the jump up. After seeing Conor have that down, most people went around.”
Cosma 20 didn’t blink at any of the derby-style jumps on the speed course designed by Peter Holmes of Canada, including the open water, bank, and grob out of 17 numbered obstacles. “She’s super over the derby jumps,” McArdle said. “It’s funny, for being such a careful, spooky horse, she doesn’t care about the derby jumps at all. If anything, she’s going to back off of those as much as the plain oxer. The grob, the water, everything was perfect with her.”
This is the fourth win in the Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments for McArdle and Cosma 20. McArdle remarked, “We’ve had a heck of a Spruce! I feel like I know her really well. It’s a good feeling in that you know what to expect out there and you know the places that are going to be difficult and where you can make up time. I just feel like I’ve really formed a wonderful partnership with her. She’s taught me how to move up to the big classes. She’s taught me how to ride in the big ring and given me an opportunity to ride well and do well at the same time.”
What Can You Do at Spruce Meadows?
Spruce Meadows includes affordable fun for the whole family. With admission starting at only $5 per person, and children (12 & under) and seniors (65 & up) free, it is the perfect venue to unwind and enjoy a day of show jumping, activities, delicious food and shopping. Limited Reserved Seating tickets are also available – for full details, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
From Friday through Sunday, there will be a number of activities for the whole family (all included in your admission to Spruce Meadows) such as Pony Rides, presented by Kozy Shack, the Spruce Meadows Prairie Dogs, presented by RE/MAX, Wagon Rides, Face Painting, children’s games in the Garden Court Restaurant and more! Delicious food is offered throughout the grounds, featuring a healthy menu at the Garden Court Restaurant, a wide range of options at the Time Faults Public House, and International Fare in the Plaza.
Saturday, July 6 and Sunday, July 7 will feature the Royal Occasion Brunch – all are welcome to join us at the royally inspired breakfast from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm in the Meadowgreen Building, adjacent to the Meadows on the Green Ring. Fresh berries and cream, scones, pancakes, sausages and more will be complimentary to the first 3,000 guests. In light of the recent flood in Southern Alberta, Rush Seating for Saturday and Sunday will be complimentary. Reserved Seating and Club International tickets are available on our website in advance.
Looking to test your luck? Spruce Meadows has several contest options for those wanting to win excellent prizes, including the CN/Sun Media Name the Foal contest featuring a chance to name future show jumping star and a trip to the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament, and the Win a Year contest, with a chance to win a year of access to all Spruce Meadows events. If you are looking for some retail therapy, vendors in the Gallery on the Green and Vendor Village offer an excellent variety of gifts and services, both equine and non-equine in nature.
The ‘North American’ continues tomorrow with the $33,000 Pepsi Challenge 1.45m and the $50,000 LaFarge Cup 1.50m in the International Ring. For more information and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Calgary, AB – June 14, 2013 – Riders at the Spruce Meadows ‘Continental’ Tournament had to deal with incoming rain and storms today, but it didn’t dampen the level of competition. McLain Ward (USA) and Grant Road Partners’ Super Trooper de Ness were fastest in a large field of 75 to win the $33,000 AltaGas Cup 1.45m. Christine McCrea (USA) and Romantovich Take One, owned by Candy Tribble, were best in the $33,000 Scotiabank Cup 1.50m.
The ‘Continental’ Tournament CSIO-W 5* runs June 12-16. The highlight class of the weekend is the $200,000 CN Performance Grand Prix CSI-W on Sunday, June 16. There will be complimentary admission and parking for spectators during the ‘Continental’ Tournament.
In the $33,000 Scotiabank Cup 1.50m competition, the format was changed from jump-off to speed in order to avoid more inclement conditions coming later in the evening. There were 27 entries in the class, and nine of those had no jumping or time faults.
The winner of the class, McCrea and Romantovich Take One, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Numero Uno x Karandasj, finished in 64.647 seconds. Francois Mathy (BEL) and Polinska des Isles finished second in 66.242 seconds. Third place went to Wilton Porter (USA) and Paloubet, who had a time of 66.323 seconds.
McCrea’s plan to attack the beginning of the course in order to set her up well for the rest worked perfectly. “When I did the first three jumps that fast, I knew I’d be ahead of it,” she recalled. “It meant I didn’t need to be in a hurry for the rest of the course. That was great that it worked out so well in the beginning. My plan was to go as hard as I could go for one, two, three, and then I could tone it down in the middle, then just bring it home clear in the last line. Everything came up great, so it’s nice when that happens!”
She praised the course set by Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela, and said there were a couple spots that were set to test horse and rider. “The double (combination) with the brown poles are always hard for the horses to see. Luckily my horse has a lot of experience so he handled it well. The skinny is always a bogey jump,” she noted.
Most of the fences at Spruce Meadows are wider than normal, which gives riders an opportunity to use them to set up turns or fit striding in better between jumps. McCrea explained, “You can pick a side and that can save you a lot of time, but it can also help you set up your bend in a line. (For the line to the combination), I came in on the left side and was able to bow into the double. I kept shape in the six (strides) so it wasn’t so choking short. You can play with the angles, for sure.”
With Romantovich Take One’s inherent speed, they were considerably faster than the rest of the field today. He also has a jumping style all his own, and McCrea said that his quirky attitude extends beyond the show ring. “He likes to buck when he’s wild, and he was really, really wild tonight,” she laughed. “He was very excited to show. Off the right lead in the schooling area, when he’s excited, he kicks out. Everyone was like, ‘Whoa. What’s going on?’ But it’s sort of normal for him when he’s feeling good.”
Ward Wins Again
In their second major victory at the 2013 Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments, Ward and Super Trooper de Ness, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion by Vigo D’Arsouilles x Polydor, beat 21 others in the jump-off of the $33,000 AltaGas Cup 1.45m. They finished clear in 41.11 seconds. Second place went to Conor Swail (IRL) and Martha Louise, who finished in 41.47 seconds. Brian Morton (CAN) and Spitfire recorded a time of 42.11 seconds for third place.
McLain Ward and Super Trooper de Ness
Ward said he “lucked out” with the weather on Super Trooper. “It kind of worked out alright for him. We were in the first phase and the weather was beautiful. Then the weather came in and went out again before our jump-off. It certainly helped,” he said.
Ward noted that he did not go as fast as possible with Super Trooper. “Last week I got trying too hard to go too fast and I wasn’t pleased with my performance. This week he felt really good both days,” he said. “You have to watch not to go too fast because he’s always looking and going to the jump, and he’s so quick with his legs. You have to watch that you’re not trying to win by five seconds.”
Believing that the double combination of verticals would be the tricky part of the jump-off course, since it was “off a blind turn” and Super Trooper is “very careful in combinations,” Ward was more aware there. But heading to the last two jumps, he was able to let him go more. “I knew rolling left to the second to last and last (fences), he’d be very quick. I didn’t have to check him too hard to the last (fence) on that long run. I went in thinking I was going to jump the round I want to jump and if it wins, that’s great, and if it’s second or third, I could live with it,” he explained.
Having found Super Trooper almost three years ago in England through Francois Mathy, Ward knew that he would be a top horse, but after a bout of colic and Ward’s injury last winter, it has taken more time than expected to get him to this level. The pair won grand prix competitions at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival this winter before traveling to Gothenburg and finishing fifth in the FEI World Cup Finals. This is their second major victory at Spruce Meadows.
“I always loved him,” Ward expressed. “He was always incredibly careful. I’d venture to say he’s the most careful horse I’ve ever ridden. He’s hot and he’s a little bit of an anxious horse. But his character is to fight and his quality is second to none, so if he’s confident and everything is going in the right direction, he’s a hard horse to beat.”
Competition continues tomorrow with the $33,000 Talisman Energy Cup 1.50m in Meadows on the Green, as well as the $10,000 CN ‘Fast Track’ 1.40m Junior/Amateur Derby and the $33,000 McDaniel & Associates 1.45m Derby in the All Canada Ring. For more information on Spruce Meadows and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Calgary, AB – June 5, 2013 – The 2013 Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments began today, and riding on new turf footing, riders contested four FEI-level competitions. For the third year in a row, Kent Farrington (USA) captured victory in the $33,000 ATB Financial Cup 1.50m, this year with Blue Angel. In the $33,000 Enbridge Cup 1.45m, McLain Ward (USA) was victorious with Super Trooper de Ness. Christine McCrea (USA) and Romantovich Take One won the $33,000 Bantrel Cup 1.45m, while Francois Mathy (BEL) on Polinska des Isles won the opening competition of the day, the $33,000 Friends of the Meadows Cup 1.60m.
The $33,000 ATB Financial Cup 1.45m was the highlight competition of the day and the final one in the International Ring. The course designer in the International Ring this week is Werner Deeg of Germany. There were 49 entries in the ATB Financial Cup, but only one made it through the first round without faults. With a tight time allowed in the first round, it was difficult to go clear without jumping or time faults, and nine entries finished with one time fault.
Farrington and Blue Angel, an 11-year-old Warmblood mare by Luidam x Ascendent owned by Robin Parsky, posted a clear round in 77.968 seconds for victory. Darragh Kerins (IRL) and E Muze Yek, owned by Kerins and Maarten Huygens, were just over the 80-second time allowed in 80.899 seconds. Third place went to Charlie Jacobs (USA) on CMJ Sporthorse LLC’s Flaming Star, who crossed the timers in 81.918 seconds.
“Basically it just turned into a speed class, more or less,” Farrington remarked. “Everyone was trying to go as quick as they could and leave the jumps up. That horse is fast all by itself, so that probably played a big advantage today. I don’t think there was anything special that I did except use the horse’s natural speed and really watch my turns.”
Farrington said that Blue Angel is “an experienced horse that can win at a lot of places.” He continued, “I have big hopes for her in the future and it will be fun to see what she can do. She likes it here and the ground is great. It’s always tough competition and I’m happy to win.”
Blue Angel will compete in her first team competition in next week’s Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup at the ‘Continental’ Tournament.
McLain Ward and Super Trooper de Ness
Ward’s Early Speed Stays at the Top
It seemed like the rest of the field was going for second place after McLain Ward and Super Trooper de Ness, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion by Vigo D’Arsouilles x Polydor owned by Grand Road Partners, galloped through the speed course in the $33,000 Enbridge Cup 1.45m. They went fifth in the order and stopped the timers in 64.310 seconds for victory, one second faster than second place finishers, Cadett 7 and Ashlee Bond (USA). Bond and Cadett 7, owned by Little Valley Farm, made a solid effort in 65.353 seconds and came closest to Ward’s time. Third place went to John Perez (COL) on Utopia, who finished in 67.474 seconds.
When asked if he thought his time would hold up, Ward replied, “I knew there would be a chance to be beat and it’s always nice to win, but I was really happy with the way the horse went in his first time in the big ring here. Everything is a bit new for the first time for him this year. It was nice to win.”
Ward explained that the reason Super Trooper is so speedy is thanks to his ability to keep the rails up without slowing down before the fence. “He felt really relaxed, and he’s naturally an incredibly careful horse, so you could let him go a little bit,” he said. “I loved the way he covered the ground because he’s a very, very careful horse. Sometimes he gets a little frozen and doesn’t cover the ground. But he felt loose in there and it’s wonderful footing, which helps. He’s a horse you never have to set up anywhere, you can kind of just stay on a lick. I think in the end, that makes him a faster horse than most horses. As long as you don’t make some kind of gross error, he’s going to get out of the way.”
Ward will continue to show Super Trooper de Ness this week with the aim toward preparing him for next week’s Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup.
Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One
McCrea and Romantovich Take One Find the Fast Path
The $33,000 Enbridge Cup 1.45m was held in a speed format with 48 entries starting. The fastest clear round was posted by Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding by Numero Uno x Karandasj owned by Candy Tribble. They finished faster by a large margin in 64.855 seconds. Second place went to Remarkable Farms LP’s Nice de Prissey and Brianne Goutal (USA) in 68.266 seconds, while Reed Kessler (USA) and Wolf S, owned by Iron Works Partners, were third with a time of 68.478 seconds.
McCrea did not watch anyone go before her since she was competing in another ring, but luckily she had the ride on Wannick WH earlier in the order, which gave her a good idea of how she could be faster with Romantovich Take One.
“It was a very nice course,” McCrea said. “You got to jump all over the field in the different parts of the ring. It wasn’t enormous; it was just a nice welcome back into the ring. The footing is just outstanding and it’s just perfect. I know him so well that I decided to go for the win and it worked out.”
This win marks yet another in a string of grand prix victories that McCrea has had over the past month, which included two at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows and two at HITS Saugerties. McCrea attributed her success with Romantovich Take One to three things, “He likes cooler weather, a little excitement, and he likes to travel around. I think all of those things have come into play the last couple of months, which has kind of perked him up a little bit. He loves it here.”
Today’s success was McCrea’s first win in the International Ring at Spruce Meadows. “That was my first time and it was so fun!” she said with a smile. “I’m really proud of it actually! It’s really cool.”
Francois Mathy and Polinska des Isles
Mathy Takes Opening Win
It was a fast jump-off for the opening competition, the $33,000 Friends of the Meadows Cup 1.60m, in the International Ring for the ‘National’ Tournament with Belgium’s Francois Mathy Jr. galloping to the win on Polinska des Isles, a 10-year-old Selle Francais mare by Diamant de Semilly x Valespoir Malabry owned by Team Harmony and Francois Mathy.
Mathy was one of five double clear rounds in a jump-off of nine entries. He and Polinska crossed the timers in 39.356 seconds, just edging out Olympian Reed Kessler (USA) and Cylana, who posted a time of 39.496 seconds. Third place went to Enrique Gonzalez (MEX) on Criptonite, who had a time of 41.892 seconds.
Polinska was successful at her last show, the La Baule CSIO 5*, in May. They placed fifth in the grand prix. Mathy said, “She’s been quite competitive since I’ve had her, so I’m really happy. She won her first grand prix at end of year at a three-star when she was eight. One year ago she started to do the big classes.”
Mathy competed with Polinska at the 2012 Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament, so he felt comfortable taking her in the 1.60m in her first start out. “She knows the ring, which is a help when you start directly in a big class. The course was quite open, so I think that helped us get a bit into the rhythm,” he noted.
Although he didn’t see anyone go before him in the jump-off, Mathy planned to keep his turns tight and pace steady. “Daniel (Bluman) was in the lead and I knew he was quite fast. I just tried to keep everything tight and it seemed to work. I think where I had a good turn was to the double (combination). I think there I was quite tight and I think that helped me make up a bit of time. I didn’t see Reed’s round, but I saw she was just a little bit slower than me. That could have made the difference.”
Mathy plans to compete at all five weeks of the Summer Tournaments and was happy to win his first competition. “It’s a big investment for us when we come from Europe, so it’s super to start like that,” he remarked.
The ‘National’ Tournament CSI 5* continues tomorrow with three main events: the $33,000 Prairie Mines & Royalty LTD Cup 1.50m, the $33,000 ATCO Pipelines Cup 1.45m, and the $35,000 Spectra Energy Cup 1.60m. For more information on Spruce Meadows and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
SAUGERTIES, NY (May 27, 2013) – Christine McCrea finished the first week of spring competition at HITS Saugerties with a hot hand. After piloting Candy Tribble & Windsor Show Stables’ Avenir to the blue in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, McCrea rose to the occasion again for Sunday’s $50,000 EMO Grand Prix and cashed another winner’s check.
McCrea was the only rider to end the day with a double-clear effort.
“I think I have found my new favorite course designer,” said McCrea with a smile after the class. Marina Azevedo of Campinas, Brazil set the courses in the Strongid C 2X Grand Prix Stadium this week, and admits that she attempted to make the tracks welcoming in the beginning of the season, but included some testing elements. “She uses the ground so well,” added McCrea.
Azevedo set a 13-element course with 16 jumping efforts on Sunday, including a scopey triple at fence six and a double at fence nine. She also recycled a technical skinny vertical from Friday as the third-to-final fence.
The scopey, technical track made for a nail-biting first half. The crowd that gathered on the berms of the Strongid C 2X Grand Prix Stadium waited nine trips before seeing the first clear round of the day. Peter Wylde of Wellington, Florida was the first to crack Azevedo’s code in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix and got it done again on Sunday with Societe Cirile de Necurie de Meautry’s Lewin 5.
McCrea was quick to secure a jump-off in the next trip to later be joined by Margie Engle of Wellington, Florida on Gladewinds Farm, Inc.’s Indigo and Candice King, also hailing from Wellington, Florida, aboard Stateside Farm, LLC’s Campbell VDL.
Wylde returned first in the jump-off and had the makings of a winning ride until a heart-breaking rail fell at the final fence, a wide oxer as he galloped home and ultimately landed him and Lewin 5 in third. McCrea returned next and set a blazing Great American Time to Beat at 37.66 seconds. While she was the only rider to go clear in the jump-off, her time also went untouched.
Engle and Indigo were third to return for the short course and were in prime position to beat the clock, but picked up four faults with a rail at the fourth jump. King and Campbell VDL batted clean-up in the jump-off and were on track to a clear round before the final oxer reared its ugly head again and handed her four faults. Engle landed second, while King finished fourth.
The fastest of the four-fault rounds over the original course, Kevin Babington of Keene, Kentucky rode his own Mark Q to fifth.
Considering some wet weather earlier in the weekend, McCrea was both pleased and surprised at how well her Sunday went. “I was so impressed with how the footing handled the rain – it really came down yesterday, but the footing was practically dry out there today,” she said. “I was only able to get Avenir out for about 20 minutes yesterday and an hour this morning and he often doesn’t listen when he is fresh. Surprisingly, he didn’t get flustered and I was able to control him really well.”
Grand prix competition continues next week at HITS-on-the-Hudson with the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, on Friday and the $75,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, on Sunday. Qualifying for September’s Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix has begun to reach its pinnacle as the HITS Saugerties circuit will feature two weekly qualifying opportunities in the first seven weeks of the circuit with one final Wild Card class on the Friday before the Zoetis Million. Follow all the qualifying action at HitsShows.com.
$10,000 Marshall & Sterling Insurance Child/Adult Jumper Classic No stranger to Marshall & Sterling Jumper Classic success, Alissa Kinsey of Danville, New Hampshire rode her own Grisset to top honors in Saturday’s $10,000 offering. She was the best of 26 who showed over the 1.10m course.
Kinsey was one of six to advance to the jump-off, which came down to raw speed. Five of the six were double clear, but Kinsey was the fastest by over two seconds. She posted a time of 28.98 seconds.
Behind her in second was Angelena DaPrato of Annandale, New Jersey, who rode her own Red Bull to a final time of 30.79 seconds. Tammy Kelly of Long Valley, New Jersey and Kimberly Seay’s Belvedere were third in a time of 33.60 seconds. Rounding out the top five was Mackenzie Burns of Blairstown, New Jersey on her own Zaloubet Zaffiro in fourth and Lisbeth Hume of Nanuet, New York in the irons of her own Sonny in fifth. Burns posted a time of 35.36 seconds, while Lisbeth rode to 35.51 seconds.
SAUGERTIES, NY (May 25, 2013) – Excitement surrounding Week I of the HITS Saugerties Spring and Summer Circuit reached a climax Friday afternoon when 26 riders took to the Strongid C 2X Grand Prix Stadium to get grand prix competition underway at HITS-on-the-Hudson with the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis. Christine McCrea and Avenir, owned by Candy Tribble & Windsor Show Stables, Inc., pocketed the first high-performance blue of the 2013 season.
McCrea of East Windsor, Connecticut rode sixth in the first-round order and posted the second clear round after Peter Wylde of Wellington, Florida was first to leave the rails up on Lewin 5, owned by Societe Cirile de Necurie de Meautry. Eight others joined them for a 10-horse jump-off, which left McCrea as one of only two double clear rounds.
With the north berm of the grand prix stadium now boasting a new and improved VIP Club, exhibitors and spectators alike gathered to watch Marina Azevedo of Campinas, Brazil test both horse and rider. She built a 13-obstacle course with 16 jumping efforts, including a double early in the course at fence three and a triple combination at fence 12.
While fair for $25,000, McCrea noted that Azevedo offered some challenges, including tricky striding between fences seven and eight, and technical combinations. “I had a pretty fair plan when I entered the ring – I really slowed up coming into the triple (a vertical, vertical, oxer), got Avenir under control, balanced and it worked out great in the end,” she said.
Avenir, a 12-year-old Belgian-bred gelding, has been under the direction of McCrea for about three years and, according to her, is a horse that knows his job. “He is such a fighter,” she said. “He knows that the game is to go fast and clear, so as long as I ride him well he is always right there for me. He is in it to win it.”
McCrea returned second in the jump-off and set an early Great American Time to Beat at 34.95 seconds. Jonathan Corrigan of Oyster Bay, New York was quick to challenge in the next trip on Sagamore Farm’s Olympic De Chamant. They were clear, but couldn’t catch McCrea and Avenir. They posted a time of 35.92 seconds to settle for second.
Kevin Babington of Keene, Kentucky was the fastest of the four-faulters and rode Mark Q to third. Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, New Jersey picked up four faults with Quointreau Un Prince, owned by Chapot and McLain Ward, and finished fourth. Heather Caristo-Williams of Saugerties, New York rounded out the top five with a single rail aboard Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Caristo’s Evening Star.
With Friday’s win under her belt, McCrea admits that she and her husband Jonathan have their sights firmly set on appearances in the fourth-annual Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix. “That’s a highlight of our calendar,” she said. “We have the horses and have set our goals. Now we just have to qualify.”
$10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, Florida got things started on Wednesday in the $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome. He rode his own Quality Girl to the top and cashed a $2,800 check. Laura Chapot dominated the top three with a second-place ride in the irons of Mary Chapot’s Umberto and was third with Mary Chapot’s Shooting Star.
Peter Wylde was fourth aboard Lewin 5, and Far Hills, New Jersey’s Ronan McGuigan capped the top five on his own Capall Zidane.
Brook Ledge Horse Transportation presents weekly jumper classes at HITS Saugerties. Aside from the winner’s purse, Brook Ledge Open Jumper riders also compete for the Brook Ledge Rider Bonus. The award, given at the conclusion of the circuit, includes a $1,500 shipping credit for the rider who accumulates the most points in those classes throughout the HITS Saugerties circuit.
Coming Up at HITS-on-the-Hudson Grand prix competition continues Sunday at HITS-on-the-Hudson with the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, and commences qualifying crunch time for September’s Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix. The first seven weeks of the HITS Saugerties circuit will feature two weekly qualifying opportunities with one final Wild Card class the Friday before the Zoetis Million. Follow all the qualifying action at HitsShows.com.
Team of Porter, Pasmore, Garza and Reid Wins $20,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Team Event; Lucador and Peter Pletcher Victorious in Fumero Law Pre-Green Level 2 Hunters
Wellington, FL, March 7, 2013 – Christine McCrea (USA) and Candy Tribble’s Zerly beat an all-star international field in Thursday’s $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 9 during the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival’s (FTI WEF) CSI-W 5* week sponsored by The Bainbridge Companies. McCrea and Zerly won the largest portion of prize money in the richest purse ever offered in the 24-year history of the WEF Challenge Cup series over Olympic Gold Medalists Nick Skelton (GBR) and Big Star. Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Cornet d’Amour finished third.
Week nine runs March 6-10, 2013. The week will feature the $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m on Friday, the $300,000 FEI World Cup CSI-W 5* presented by The Bainbridge Companies on Saturday evening, and the $82,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday afternoon. The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival features 12 weeks of competition running from January 9 – March 31, 2013, and will be awarding almost $7 million in prize money throughout the circuit.
Steve Stephens of Palmetto, FL, is the course designer in the International Arena at PBIEC for week nine. In Thursday’s Challenge Cup competition, Stephens saw 84 entries jump his first round course and 31 competitors make it through to the jump-off. Twenty-eight riders representing six different countries returned for the tiebreaker after three entries opted out of the final round.
The USA’s Christine McCrea and Zerly raced to the win in 31.10 seconds, the fastest of 14 double clear rounds. The top five places were all separated by hundredths of a second.
Placing second, Nick Skelton and Beverly Widdowson’s Big Star finished in 31.25 seconds. Daniel Deusser and Cornet d’Amour, owned by Stephex Stables and Pedro Veniss, clocked in at 31.43 seconds to place third. Daniel Bluman (COL) and Sancha LS completed the course in 31.44 seconds for fourth place honors and Laura Kraut (USA) and Cherry Knoll Farm, Inc.’s Cedric were right behind them in 31.46 seconds to finish fifth.
Class winner, Zerly, is a nine-year-old KPWN mare by Querlybet Hero x Carthago. McCrea got Zerly last August and explained that she had watched the mare show a lot in Europe with her previous rider, American Andrew Ramsay. When Zerly came up for sale, McCrea jumped at the chance to buy her.
“Honestly, she is like a dreamboat,” McCrea praised. “She has a big stride, but she can make it very small. She can jump a really careful jump and she can jump the hugest jump. For me, she is everything.”
Commenting on this afternoon’s class, McCrea noted, “I never thought there would be 31 clear, but I think this is a big week and people have geared up for it. Everybody knows that this is the biggest money of the circuit this week, so I think everybody is coming here with their ‘A’ game. There are so many good horses and riders; you can’t underestimate anybody.”
“The course didn’t ride easy,” McCrea added. “I didn’t think it was small. I think the horses just jumped really well and the footing is good and there are really good horse and rider combinations here.”
Nick Skelton and Big Star were holding on to the lead in the jump-off when McCrea and Zerly entered the ring and just edged out their time. “I saw Nick go in the jump-off and I thought there was no way I could beat him, but she is very fast,” McCrea acknowledged. “I have no idea how I made the time. I flew from one to two. That is the only thing. The rest I am not really sure.”
McCrea was excited to get her first big win with Zerly, especially in Thursday’s big money class. “It is fantastic that they had this much prize money, especially when you have so many in the class,” she stated. “It is inspiring and we appreciate it.”
“I am thrilled,” she concluded. “She is only nine and this was my first big win with her. I just started in the grand prixs (with her) down here, so I am really excited.”
In addition to the winning check for $37,500 for the class, McCrea was also presented with $6,000 for the SSG “Go Clean for the Green” promotion. A $3,000 bonus is offered each week if the winning rider of the Challenge Cup class is wearing the SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible. The bonus went unclaimed during week eight, so McCrea won two weeks’ worth of bonus money. Zerly was also honored with the Champion Equine Insurance Jumper Style Award.
Team of Porter, Pasmore, Garza and Reid Wins $20,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Team Event
Thursday’s competition concluded in the International Arena at PBIEC with the $20,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Team Event, held in a Nations Cup format shown over two rounds of competition. With five teams of four competing, Team 5 was the winner. The team, made up of Wilton Porter riding Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Paloubet, Catherine Pasmore riding Freddy Star, Eugenio Garza riding El Milagro’s Bariano, and Chloe Reid riding Damascus, was coached by Kim Prince.
After the first round, each team dropped their highest score. In the second round, all five teams returned in order of highest to lowest total faults. The winner was determined by the lowest total of each team’s top three riders from each round.
Watch an interview with young rider Wilton Porter
For the winning team, Wilton Porter and Paloubet had the drop score of 19 faults in round one, but redeemed themselves with the only clear trip of the competition in the second round. Catherine Pasmore and Freddy Star had eight faults in round one and four faults in round two. Eugenio Garza and Bariano had four faults in round one and the drop score of 12 in round two, and Chloe Reid and Damascus had 15 faults in round one and eight faults in round two. The team finished on 39 faults total for the win.
From the winning team, Catherine Pasmore has the most team experience with senior Nations Cup performances. Pasmore rode her horse Freddy Star, an eleven-year-old Westphalian gelding by Lancer III x Polydor. Commenting on her rounds, Pasmore noted, “I went in fairly early and I had a foot in the water and four time faults, so a total of eight. I was a little disappointed, but as the class went on, the course definitely got the better of all of us today, so I was actually pleased with my round at the end.”
“For the second round they did make a few things slightly easier and they lengthened the time allowed, but I still wanted to make sure that I did not have time fault; that’s one of the worst things you can have in a Nations Cup, so I really jumped one, got right over to two, got right over to three. I really tried to make the time up a little bit early so that by the end when they got a little bit careful, I could take my time.”
“Freddy Star is a fairly new ride for me,” Pasmore said. “I jumped him a little bit early on and he did really well and I brought him out today basically to see what he would do with two rounds. He was really good, so I am pleased with that. I hope that he’ll come along and be a nice second horse for me to some of my other horses.”
Although Pasmore has had top Nations Cup experience, she counts all team experience equally. “Any Nations Cup to me is important,” she declared. “It doesn’t matter if its young riders or a senior team, you just really have to go in and give it 100%. Even if you have one down, you just can’t let your guard down and you can’t have another one.”
Although Wilton Porter had a little trouble in round one, he came back to jump a clear round even with an equipment malfunction.
“After the first round we decided to change the bridle to a hackamore so that he had less interference with his mouth jumping and then the hackamore actually ended up breaking in the second round about six jumps in,” Porter explained. “I did the second half of the course with a broken bridle. He is already pretty strong as it is, and I pretty much had no brakes, but I almost never have brakes anyway, so I just sort of steered him and he jumped great in the second round. It all worked out in the end.”
His horse Paloubet is a 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Baloubet du Rouet x Voltaire. “I’ve had him for a little over a year now. Katie and Henri Prudent helped find him for me,” Porter detailed. “He is a great horse and we have done some big classes. I have a great team helping me with him. John Roche is training me and I am extremely grateful to my parents and the sponsors of this class for helping me and providing us with the opportunity to do this.”
“It is a great experience,” Porter said of the series. “The team event helps get us ready for the young rider championships in Kentucky and the individual competition really tries to enforce consistency so that you can be right up there at the top at the end. It is a big class and an important class, so anytime you get the chance to do a class that is more important than a normal class, it helps you practice and gives you experience. I try to use those opportunities for my horses and then there is good prize money too. It is a lot of fun.”
Eugenio Garza rides for Mexico and was aboard his twelve-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Bariano (Jetset-D x Skippy).
“He is a great horse,” Garza expressed. “This is maybe my fifth month riding him. He has all the scope in the world and he is really careful. He has personality, everything. I just love him.”
Garza commented on the course, stating, “When we walked the course I thought it was good, but as people started going it was obvious that it was hard and we were going to have to work to get a good score. It was a hard course actually.”
Chloe Reid and her horse Damascus, an eleven-year-old KWPN mare by Cardento x Corland, have been working on their partnership since joining up last spring. Reid noted, “Right from the beginning we had a really strong connection and I really learned how to ride her well. Recently she has been really learning to become my horse and really listening. Today in the first round, the time was really tight and my trainer told me to go in and just try as best as I could. By the second round I already knew that we were going to win, but I still wanted to go in for the individual. I am happy with my round. I am disappointed that I had a few down, but I am happy.”
Reid also appreciated the team experience. “Being on a team is a lot of fun,” she smiled. “It is mostly an individual sport where you don’t have a lot of opportunities to compete on a team. This is my second week now; I did the junior Nations Cup last week and every time it is just a lot of fun rooting with other people and just the excitement of it all.”
Team 3 from Zone 2 finished second on a 47 fault total. The team included Charlotte Jacobs and Candy Tribble’s Promised Land, Gabrielle Bausano and Ubico H, Mattias Tromp and Beyaert Farm, Inc.’s Casey, and Lillie Keenan riding Chansonette Farm LLC’s Londinium.
Team 1 with riders from Colombia and Venezuela had 50 faults to place third. The team included Mario Gamboa and Stransky’s Mission Farms’ Unico, Emanuel Andrade riding Hollow Creek Farm’s ZZ Top VH Schaarbroek Z, Nicolas Herrera and Concorde, and Luis Fernando Larrazabal riding Anabel Simon’s G&C Sacramento.
Lucador and Peter Pletcher Victorious in Fumero Law Pre-Green Level 2 Hunters
Peter Pletcher and Lucador claimed victory for the second week in a row in the Fumero Law Pre-Green Level 2 Hunter division during week nine of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). The five-year-old Oldenburg gelding, owned by Brian and Sophie Baldwin of Sagamore Farm, dominated day one of competition, winning the under saddle and both over fences classes. Pletcher and Lucador wrapped up the division on day two with a second place finish over fences. Reserve champion honors went to 21-Gun Salute, ridden by Christina Serio and owned by Kendall Sharkey. Serio and 21-Gun Salute were fourth under saddle and sixth and second over fences on day one before finishing day two with first and fifth place ribbons over fences.
Lucador began his show career at the 2013 FTI WEF with Pletcher and has proven his potential as a top competitor. “He’s come into his own these last few weeks. He’s been champion the last two weeks he’s shown in the Pre-Greens,” Pletcher commented. “He’s a super horse and a talented athlete with a beautiful jump.”
Pletcher has helped the gelding settle in to life at the showgrounds, which is no small feat when starting out at the massive grounds of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). “At first, he was a little ADD and looked around a bit. Now that he’s been here a few weeks, he’s really gotten it. He can be looking around but then focus in on the jump and give you an amazing jump, seemingly out of nowhere,” Pletcher described.
Lucador’s inexperience showed briefly when he jumped a shadow on day two of competition for the division, but overall Pletcher couldn’t be happier with the young horse’s performance. “He was really good today. The second round he went around really nicely so we were happy,” Pletcher smiled.
Pletcher looks forward to continuing to ride Lucador this year.
“He’s amazing. He’s such a good horse and very, very talented. He jumps as well as any horse at [the FTI WEF]. He has a wonderful jump and is lovely across the ground. He’s a gorgeous mover and is beautiful to look at too,” he remarked.
Sophie Baldwin was also thrilled with Lucador’s early success and is happy to have Pletcher in the irons. “They’re two peas in a pod! Peter does such a good job with him. Peter is very smooth and just lets [Lucador] do his thing. He’s so fancy and special; he just shines. Peter is the perfect match for him, so we’re really happy with the both of them!” Baldwin stated.
The Fumero Law Pre-Green Level 2 Hunter division kicked off week nine of competition of the FTI WEF, sponsored by The Bainbridge Companies. Week nine will continue Friday with Section A of the Adult Amateur Hunter 36-50 division, hosted in the Rost Arenaof the PBIEC. The $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m will be featured in the International Arena. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
Lauren Fisher and Laura Cardon for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 9 through March 31. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.
About FTI Consulting FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 3,800 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.56 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2011. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.
Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One. Photos courtesy of Rebecca Walton and Shawn McMillen Photography
Lexington, Kentucky – November 8, 2012 – As Saturday night concluded an amazing showcase of world-class talent at this year’s Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky, the Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider – or should we say riders – were named. Lauren Hough and Christine McCrea tied for the coveted title. Hough also was awarded the Audi Leading Rider Award, taking home a brand new Audi Q-7 from Audi of Lexington.
The Alltech National Horse Show concluded on Sunday, November 4, after a highly successful six-day run at the Alltech Arena at the world-renowned Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Martha Jolicoeur’s award was presented on Saturday night, following the victory gallop for the $250,000 Alltech National Horse Show Grand Prix. McLain Ward riding Antares F, raced to a brilliant win.
