Tag Archives: Nick Skelton

Community/Charity, Dressage, Equestrian Sport Prod., Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Gold Medalist Nick Skelton Joins in Warning against Attacks on Wellington Horse Show

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A joyous Nick Skelton providing one of the great unscripted "moments" at the 2012 Olympics in London when he jumped on to the medals podium before the jam-packed home crowd at the Greenwich Park stadium. Photos © 2012 Ken Braddick

Nick Skelton, Great Britain’s Olympic team gold medalist and one of the icons of jumping, on Friday joined American hunter, jumper and dressage riders in speaking out against attacks on equestrian events at Wellington, Florida, where he has been one of the most successful riders in recent years.

“I think people, especially those who are in the sport, want to be careful how much they try and stop the horse shows in Wellington,” he told dressage-news.com from the CSI5* Paris Masters. “Investment in recent years has made it a great facility, probably the best in the world.

“The horse show in Wellington has become an industry, big business. If the people who have invested so much decide to pull the plug, what is going to be left? An empty building site.”

The comments by Nick came after the Jacobs family, which opposes equestrian events at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center’s Stadium complex, filed a new lawsuit to prevent several 2013 Winter Equestrian Festival hunter and jumper competitions and wiping out the entire Global Dressage Festival.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Equestrian Sport Prod., Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, USEF, Winter Equestrian Festival

Engle, Fellers, and Kessler Share the Lead after Three Rounds in USEF Selection Trials

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Skelton Continues Winning Streak in $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 11 with Big Star, Farmer and Taken Win High Performance Working Hunters

Reed Kessler and Cylana. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 22, 2012 – Margie Engle and Indigo, Rich Fellers and Flexible, and Reed Kessler and Cylana are all tied at the top of the standings after round #3 of the USEF Selection Trials, which are being held to determine the riders that will represent the United States Show Jumping Team in the 2012 Olympic Games.

Riders showed in round #1 on Wednesday afternoon and round #2 earlier in the day on Thursday. The scores from all three rounds will carry over to Saturday evening when competitors will compete in a fourth and final round. This event also serves as the USEF National Show Jumping Championships, a return to the event that was last held in 2008.

Continue reading Engle, Fellers, and Kessler Share the Lead after Three Rounds in USEF Selection Trials →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Equestrian Sport Prod., Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, Winter Equestrian Festival

Nick Skelton and Carlo 273 Conquer $150,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSIO 4*

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Paige Johnson and Chiron S Top Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic, Holiday and Carson Gibson Are Champions in Marley Goodman Small Junior 16-17 Hunters

Nick Skelton and Carlo 273. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 4, 2012 – Nick Skelton of Great Britain continued his winning ways at the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) with a victory in Sunday afternoon’s $150,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSIO 4* riding Beverley Widdowson’s Carlo 273. The pair beat out Laura Kraut (USA) and Cherry Knoll Farm Inc.’s Cedric and Richie Moloney (IRL) and Equinimity LLC’s Ahorn Van De Zuuthoeve, who finished second and third respectively.

Today’s competition concluded the FTI WEF’s CSIO week eight, sponsored by G&C Farm. Week nine, sponsored by The Bainbridge Companies, will run March 7-11. The week will feature the $200,000 FEI World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix CSI 4* presented by The Bainbridge Companies as well as the $20,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series Team Event. The 2012 FTI WEF has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit.

Continue reading Nick Skelton and Carlo 273 Conquer $150,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSIO 4* →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Equestrian Sport Prod., Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, Winter Equestrian Festival

Nick Skelton Returns to Winner’s Circle in $32,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic

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Lyn Pedersen and Tivoli Take Tricolor in FarmVet Amateur-Owner 36 & Over 3’3″ Hunters

Nick Skelton and Big Star. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – February 26, 2012 – The seventh week of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival concluded today with an exciting 11 horse jump-off in the $32,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. Nick Skelton (GBR) scored yet another big win with Big Star, owned by Beverley Widdowson. Second place went to fellow British rider Ben Maher on Quiet Easy 4, owned by Mrs. Phillips, while Darragh Kerins (IRL) and S&L Slingback, owned by S&L Farm, finished third.

While week seven has concluded, week eight, sponsored by G&C Farm, will run from February 29 – March 4. The 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and they will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit.

Continue reading Nick Skelton Returns to Winner’s Circle in $32,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Equestrian Sport Prod., Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, Winter Equestrian Festival

Nick Skelton and Big Star Reign Supreme in $80,000 Adequan CSI 2* Grand Prix

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Katherine Johnson Victorious in THIS Children’s Medal 14 & Under

Nick Skelton and Big Star. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – February 4, 2012 – Great Britain’s Nick Skelton and Big Star triumphed in Saturday night’s $80,000 Adequan CSI 2* Grand Prix during the fourth week of competition at the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Nineteen countries were represented in the world-class event with a record 81 starters, the largest recorded weekend grand prix field. Riders from Canada, Venezuela, Great Britain, the United States, Ireland, Germany, and Sweden made it to the jump-off with Skelton leading the way.

Week four of the FTI WEF runs February 1-5, and is sponsored by Adequan. The 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and they will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit. This week will conclude with the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic.

Continue reading Nick Skelton and Big Star Reign Supreme in $80,000 Adequan CSI 2* Grand Prix →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Equestrian Sport Prod., Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, Winter Equestrian Festival

Nick Skelton and Carlo 273 Repeat Victory in $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 3

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Jimmy Torano and Bentley Bring Home the Pre Green Hunter Level 1 3′ Division Championship

Nick Skelton and Carlo 273. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 26, 2012 – For the second week in a row, Nick Skelton and Beverley Widdowson’s Carlo 273 led the victory gallop in the Thursday afternoon $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Grand Prix in Wellington. Today’s class was the third in the series at the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, which runs through April 1, 2012.

Week three of the FTI WEF runs Wednesday, January 25, through Sunday, January 29, and is sponsored by Horseware Ireland. The highlight jumper classes in week three are the $55,000 Nespresso Battle of the Sexes on Saturday, January 28, as well as the $50,000 Horseware Ireland CSI 2* Grand Prix on Sunday, January 29.

Continue reading Nick Skelton and Carlo 273 Repeat Victory in $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 3 →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Equestrian Sport Prod., Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, Winter Equestrian Festival

Nick Skelton Scores Again in $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 with Carlo 273

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Ken Berkley and Prestige Win Sanctuary First Year Green Working Hunter Championship

Nick Skelton and Carlo 273 won the $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 2. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 19, 2012 – Nick Skelton (GBR) accumulated another win at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) today in the $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup 2, this time taking the top prize with Beverley Widdowson’s Carlo 273. The Irish took the next two places, with Richie Moloney on Slieveanorra, owned by Equinimity LLC/Richie Moloney in second and Cian O’Connor on Ashkirk Ltd. & Cian O’Connor’s Blue Loyd 12 in third.

The second week of the FTI WEF runs through Sunday, January 22, and is sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty. The 2012 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and they will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit. The highlight jumper class in week two is the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix, CSI 2* on Saturday, January 21, at 7 p.m.

Continue reading Nick Skelton Scores Again in $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 with Carlo 273 →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Equestrian Sport Prod., Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, Winter Equestrian Festival

Nick Skelton and Unique Win $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic

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Debbie Kelly and Sheldon Cooper Win Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51+ Championship

Nick Skelton and Unique. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 15, 2012 – The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival concluded competition for week one today. In the International Arena, the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic was the main event. Nick Skelton (GBR) continued his solid week of success and capped it with a win on Unique, owned by Beverley Widdowson. Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Wannahave, owned by The Wannahave Group, finished second, while Alexa Pessoa (USA) on Madison was third.

The first week of the FTI WEF is sponsored by Surpass. The second week of the FTI WEF runs from Wednesday, January 18, through Sunday, January 22, and is sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty. The 2012 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and they will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit.

Continue reading Nick Skelton and Unique Win $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Equestrian Sport Prod., Events, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping, Winter Equestrian Festival

Nick Skelton and Big Star Continue to Shine in $78,000 Pennfield Feeds Grand Prix, CSI 2*

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Nick Skelton and Big Star. All photos © Sportfot

Pasmore Wins Final Round; Kessler, Jacobs and Arcand Top the Standings to Compete at the EY Cup Finals in Leipzig, Germany

Wellington, FL – March 20, 2011 – Week 10 of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) concluded with two great events at The Stadium, the grass field venue at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Nick Skelton (GBR) and Big Star, owned by Beverly and Gary Widdowson, notched another big win this circuit by taking the top prize in the $78,000 Pennfield Feeds Grand Prix, CSI 2*.

The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival’s feature event, the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5* will be next week on Saturday, March 26. The 2011 WEF will continue through April 3 and awards more than $6 million in prize money.

Michel Vaillancourt of Aiken, SC, was the designer for the classes at The Stadium today. There were 43 entries in the grand prix, and seven of those went clear to advance to the jump-off. The first entry in the class and the first to return was Hector Florentino (DOM) on Stransky’s Mission Farm’s Ultimo. They had a rail at 8b, the oxer out of the double combination, for four faults in 46.50 seconds. They finished in seventh place.

Continue reading Nick Skelton and Big Star Continue to Shine in $78,000 Pennfield Feeds Grand Prix, CSI 2* →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Equestrian Sport Prod., Events, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping, Winter Equestrian Festival

Nick Skelton and Big Star Light Up Saturday Night with Victory in $40,000 Equine Couture/Tuff Rider Grand Prix, CSI 2*

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Nick Skelton and Big Star won the $40,000 Equine Couture/Tuff Rider Grand Prix, CSI 2* during the second week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 22, 2011 – Nick Skelton (GBR) notched his third major victory of the circuit tonight with Big Star, owned by Beverly and Gary Widdowson, in the $40,000 Equine Couture/Tuff Rider Grand Prix, CSI2*. Tonight’s class was the first of 11 events in the “Saturday Night Lights” series at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). A crowd of 3,800 spectators were there to enjoy world-class show jumping and all that the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center has to offer.

The second week of the FTI WEF concludes with tomorrow’s competition. The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition through April 3, 2011, and they will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit.

This week’s course designer in the International Arena is Luc Musette of Belgium. There were 37 entries in tonight’s grand prix, but only three were able to go clear in the first round to advance to the jump-off.

Skelton noted, “It wasn’t overly big, but it was quite tricky. He did a very good job; he is a very good course builder.”

Continue reading Nick Skelton and Big Star Light Up Saturday Night with Victory in $40,000 Equine Couture/Tuff Rider Grand Prix, CSI 2* →