February 6, 2021 – Wellington, FL – Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Volage Du Val Henry, owned by Stone Hill Farm, flew to the top of the podium in the $37,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic on Saturday, February 6, held on the grass Derby Field at Equestrian Village, as international show jumping continues at the 2021 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).
Anderson Lima (BRA) set a technical track for the field of 63 entries which featured 16 jumping efforts, narrowing the field down to 15 who qualified for the second round. Of the 14 electing to jump off, five nations were represented but once again, the host country prevailed. Springsteen and the 12-year-old Selle Français mare by Quidam de Revel x Cassini I, executed the shortened track without fault, finishing nearly a second ahead of the pack in 40.97 seconds.
“She’s such a naturally fast horse,” said Springsteen. “If I can just stay on that gallop that she likes, normally she’s just naturally quicker than some of the other horses. I tried to keep it neat and she was so ‘game,’ so I was really happy with her. I’ve had her since she was eight years old, and she’s just such a fighter. I can always call on her, and she always tries her hardest. She really fights for you, especially in these jump-offs. I think she enjoys it so I knew I could give it a go today.”
Tina Allen and Galaxy Take Home the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” 36 and Over Championship
The Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” 36 and Over division had 18 riders competing for the tricolor ribbon in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. After two days of competition, it was Tina Allen and her own Galaxy who earned the championship honors with three second place ribbons and one third.
After taking a break from the show ring due to COVID-19, Allen, of New Canaan, CT, and Galaxy are making a strong comeback. The pair, trained by Brooke Baldwin-De Grazia, was also reserve champion during WEF Premiere Week.
For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.
Wellington, FL – January 13, 2019 – The first week of the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) concluded competition on Sunday, January 13, with the $75,000 Rosenbaum PLLC Grand Prix at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Beat Mändli (SUI) and Simba, owned by Grant Road Partners LLC, flew to the win of the first grand prix of the season.
There were 37 entries in the Sunday afternoon grand prix, competing over a course set by Eric Hasbrouck of the United States. Only six found the key to a clear round and returned for a jump-off.
First in was Mändli on Simba, owned by Grant Road Partners LLC. As one of three clear rounds, they set an unbeatable time of 37.539 seconds to secure victory.
Tina Allen Secures Victory in the Hunt Ltd. Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” 36+
On the final day during the opening week of the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival, the Hunt Limited Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” 36+ wrapped up competition in the Equine Tack & Nutritionals Ring. Returning for the flat phase and two additional over fences classes, Tina Allen of New Canaan, CT accumulated 24 points to claim the championship title.
Already in good standing with a first place, a seventh, and eighth place, and a third in the under saddle, Allen piloted her self-owned grey gelding, Sinatra, to a win in the stake class. The victory was enough to push the pair into the lead just several points over Krysia Nelson who took home the reserve championship. Nelson finished the division on a total of 19 points aboard Cobham Park.
Allen purchased the coming seven-year-old Westphalian gelding (Last Man Standing x Lovely) two years ago and she has been bringing the young horse up through the divisions with their current division as the goal.
Wellington, FL – January 26, 2018 – The third week of the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) continued Friday with the $35,000 Bainbridge FEI 1.45m Classic as the main feature in the International Arena. Eugenio Garza (MEX) and his mount of six years, Bariano, captured the win in the FEI ranking class.
The $35,000 Bainbridge FEI 1.45m Classic had 61 entries competing over a speed course designed by Peter Grant of Canada. Eighteen of those were clear, and the fastest in the class was Garza with Bariano, a 17-year-old BWP gelding by Jetset-D x Skippy owned by El Milagro, with a time of 63.57 seconds.
Tina Allen and French Kiss Claim Championship Title in Triple Crown Blankets Adult Amateur Hunter Middle Sec. A
Tina Allen, of New Canaan, CT, continued her winning streak from week one of the Winter Equestrian Festival into week three with an impressive championship win aboard her mount, French Kiss, a 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding, in the Triple Crown Blankets Adult Amateur Hunter Middle Sec. A. The pair dominated the division with three blue ribbons and a second over fences, with a third-place finish in the under saddle.
French Kiss and Tina Allen Prevail in Triple Crown Blankets Adult Amateur Hunters
Wellington, FL – January 13, 2017 – The Junior and Amateur-Owner Jumpers took to the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL for their first classes of the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) on Friday. Jumping in the $2,500 Engel & Völkers High Amateur-Owner Jumper Power and Speed, Addison Gierkink (21) of Lexington, MA rode Kadley Holdings LLC’s S&L Slingback to victory in the first competition of the day.
2016 Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA) saw 43 starters, with 21 clear in the power phase, and eight double clear rounds in the speed phase of Friday morning’s $2,500 Engel & Völkers High Amateur-Owner Jumper Power and Speed. Addison Gierkink rode S&L Slingback to the win in a time of 29.65 seconds. Taylor Alexander and Alexander LLC’s Ryanair de Riverland finished second in 30.49 seconds, and Benjamin Simpkins rode Grindstone Farm LLC’s Vivaro B to third place in 31.71 seconds.
S&L Slingback, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Hors La Loi II x Ekstein), is a veteran competitor previously ridden by Ireland’s Darragh Kerins and USA’s Adrienne Sternlicht before changing reins to Gierkink in 2015.
“He is awesome. He is an old pro,” Gierkink described. “He is a funny horse. Two days ago I rode him in the 1.30m as a warm-up, and after the last vertical he bucked me off in the schooling area. It was the first day back and he was excited and a little fresh, but he is awesome. He is always out to win. He has a huge stride. The cool thing about him is that because he has such a big stride, I can leave out strides everywhere and save a lot of time, even though he is such a big horse.”
Detailing her winning round, Gierkink stated, “I don’t often get to do power and speeds, and I actually quite like them. The first part, I just wanted to jump clear. I ride Sling out of a pretty bold canter anyway because that is how I ride and how he likes to go. Then in the speed round, I know I can always leave one more stride out with him. I landed from the double, and I just legged him and followed down and got to the next fence in eight strides. I think most people in the class did nine. Then I just followed through the rest of the course out of a big, bold canter and covered a lot of ground, so that is how I managed to make up time.”
Gierkink is a student at Brown University and will ride full-time the first two weeks at WEF before classes start up again. She will then make the trip back and forth each week between Florida and Rhode Island, juggling school and riding.
“I like being here full-time because I like to be in the barn every day, but I know the horses are well taken care of when I’m not here, so it’s manageable,” said Gierkink, who trains with Missy Clark and John Brennan at North Run.
With a full schedule for the winter, Gierkink still has big goals for her riding throughout the circuit, and feels confident with a good win to start things off. She also rode a new mount, Wisconsin III, to a tenth place finish on Friday.
Gierkink concluded, “I have a new horse that I also did in the class today. I want to show them both in the (Hollow Creek Farm) U25 (Series) classes and be successful in that level. I have been jumping this height for a few years now, and I am pretty comfortable. I jumped several 1.50m classes and smaller grand prix classes last year, but I want to be more competitive and more consistent at 1.50m this season.”
Also competing in the International Arena on Friday, Anna Beth Athey and Cantero da Lagoa won the $1,500 Sleepy P Ranch High Junior Jumper Power and Speed. The $6,000 Illustrated Properties 1.40m Speed Challenge concluded the day in a California Split with 111 entries. Alex Granato (USA) was the winner of Section A riding Alliy Moyer’s Beorn, and Sarah Scheiring (USA) rode Thomas Welsh’s Newtown Jumping Jack to the win in Section B.
French Kiss and Tina Allen Prevail in Triple Crown Blankets Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 (A)
Tina Allen of New Canaan, CT piloted longtime partner, French Kiss, to the Triple Crown Blankets Adult Amateur 36-49 (A) championship for week one of the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival. The pair placed first under saddle and first, first, second, and fourth over fences. French Kiss is a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding that Allen purchased almost seven years ago here in Wellington, FL.
Tina Allen and French Kiss
“We bought him as he was coming six, and he started in the Pre-Greens and then did the Conformations,” Allen said. “I used to do the 3’3″ Amateurs on him, and this is the first year I’m doing the Adults on him.”
“He’s just a sweet horse, and he’s really been a steady-eddy for me,” she added. Allen will balance her veteran mount with another horse in the 3’3″ Amateurs and watching a young horse in the Pre-Greens for the rest of the season in Wellington.
Having competed at WEF for many years, Allen praised the venue, saying, “The competition is really fierce in all of the divisions, and there are such quality horses down here. It’s really competitive.”
Hillary Jean took reserve honors aboard her own D’Amour after winning two over fences classes, placing fourth and seventh over fences, and fifth under saddle.
The first week of WEF continues on Saturday with the $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Classic and the first Saturday Night Lights event of the season, the $75,000 Wellington Regional Medical Center Battle of the Sexes. The Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division will award championship honors for week one in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. For full results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.
Praise and Sheila Motley Win Big as World Championship Hunter Week Concludes at the FTI WEF
Wellington, FL – February 24, 2013 – The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival concluded its seventh week of competition, sponsored by Hermès, with action at two parts of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Sunday. At The Stadium, Irish riders Andrew Bourns, Darragh Kenny, and Shane Sweetnam swept the top three in the $50,000 Hermès Jumper Derby with a win for Bourns and his mount Gatsby. In the International Arena, Praise and Sheila Motley won the Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic. Tina Allen and French Kiss were victorious in the $5,000 WCHR Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunter Classic.
Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth, England, set a demanding track for Sunday’s jumper derby that featured 20 numbered obstacles, including the derby bank, table bank, open water, devil’s dyke and more. The number of challenging natural obstacles along with the length of the course and the heat of the day tested the stamina of all of the horses and riders competing. With only two clear rounds completed in the faults converted format, speed was key, and the top three riders finished with just three one-hundredths of a second separating them.
Andrew Bourns and Gatsby went third in the order and cleared the course in 138.27 seconds to take the early lead. Two rounds later, Shane Sweetnam and Spy Coast Farm, LLC’s Little Emir had the time well in hand in 134.30 seconds, but a rail cost them four faults to eventually finish third in 138.30 seconds. Luis Larrazabal (VEN) and Gustavo Mirabal’s G&C Lepanto were even faster in 131.17 seconds, but had two rails down to finish fourth with a final time of 139.17 seconds. Darragh Kenny took the second place prize with Hays Investment Corporation’s Any Given Sunday. The pair had a total time of 138.29 seconds with time taken after a refusal at the devil’s dyke.
Winning horse Gatsby is a nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse stallion by Simba x Cruise On. Andrew Bourns purchased Gatsby four months ago in Ireland and just recently brought him over to the U.S. This is the pair’s fourth week showing together and they have had consistent results.
Watch an interview with Andrew Bourns
“I am very happy for him today,” Bourns stated after the class. “It was a big ask and I think it was a big step up for him and he really answered the call. I was a little worried about the length of the track and the heat. I thought it might take its toll, but he actually held up very well. Coming to the last fence he was pulling me just as hard as he was to the first fence. I was very happy with that.”
“He has never shown on this field before,” Bourns added. “Our relationship is very new, the combination is very new, so we are still trying to figure each other out. There were a few moments on the course where it got a little bit hairy, but he stayed careful and he just kept trying right away to the end.”
Bourns did not think that his time would hold up with the horses and riders that followed in the class, but he knew that he had a great round.
“I thought it was a fantastic round and I was extremely happy with the horse,” he stated. “I was very confident in a top two or three finish. I did not realize it would be as close as it was. When Darragh was coming down the last line I really thought he had me and then he stopped. As the class went on, I realized the track was quite tough and it wasn’t riding as easy as we thought, so I got more and more confident. When you are talking hundredths of seconds, it is very hard to be confident that you are going to win a class right until the very end.”
“I am glad I was as fast everywhere because there was nothing in it,” Bourns reflected. “It was right down to the wire. For even the top four spaces, it was so close. Over a track that length, you have to be a little bit relentless. You have to keep being fast everywhere because it is so long and it is such a large amount of time to stay riding. It was a big ask, but I think a lot of the horse and everything I have done so far he has been very consistent and extremely brave.”
Second place finisher Darragh Kenny was also very happy with his mount, Any Given Sunday. Despite a stop on course the pair still had one of the fastest times.
“My horse was brilliant,” Kenny praised. “He did everything I wanted, even probably faster than I expected. I didn’t even school any of these jumps or test the waters at all, so he was really brave. I was a little bit too fast to the dyke and I probably should have showed it to him first. It shocked him a little bit the first time and I just spun right around. He was fantastic. He is a super horse and he is so easy and brave. It was really simple for him. He stayed really careful at a really fast speed and tried so hard. It makes my life easier.”
Third place finisher Shane Sweetnam has had a lot of success with his experienced mount Little Emir, including the same placing in this class last year. Sweetnam noted that he had a fast time last year as well and ironically had the same jump down, but he was very happy with his horse.
“He was a good boy and he really tried hard,” Sweetnam stated. “My speed was good enough. I thought that I might still have them with one down, but I think I might have gone a bit wider up on the bank than I did last year. I was still very happy with him. He gives you everything when he goes in there, so he doesn’t owe me much. I thought it was a good class and a good crowd.”
Bourns agreed that the class was a real crowd pleaser. “Any time a class goes down to the wire with such a tight margin, it makes it fun for everybody. It was thrilling,” he noted.
“I have to thank the sponsors as well,” Bourns added. “Thank you to Hermès. I think they did a very nice job and I hope they all had a nice time. We put on a good show for them.”
Praise and Sheila Motley Win Big Again as World Championship Hunter Week Concludes at the FTI WEF
World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Week came to a close Sunday afternoon with the $5,000 Peggy Cone Memorial World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Adult Hunter Classic. Praise and Sheila Motley bested a field of 56 over two rounds of competition during the fiercest week of competition for hunter divisions during the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF).
Praise, an eleven-year-old Royal Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Garber, and Motley were the pair to beat after a high score of 85 early on in round one and secured their victory with an 87 as the final trip in round two. With an overall score of 172, the pair edged out second place finishers Arriana Boardman and Gatsby by only a quarter of a point.
Motley returned to the show ring during the 2013 FTI WEF after taking time off to have her son, Collins. Motley is happy to be back in competition, especially aboard a horse as spectacular as Praise. The pair has is currently first in the FTI WEF circuit standings for the La Mundial Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Section B division after taking home an extraordinary four championship titles.
“I have a great horse in Praise. He’s done the derbies with Kelley [Farmer] and Holly [Orlando] for a couple of years, so there’s nothing like having one of those horses under you going into the Adults. I couldn’t be more thankful to Ken and Selma Garber for letting me show him down here all circuit,” Motley stated.
Although Motley and Praise have been unstoppable in the ring every week at the FTI WEF, Sunday’s victory was especially significant. “WCHR week is the most prestigious week for hunters. Missing champion [Saturday] was a little bit of a let-down, so I couldn’t be happier,” Motley commented.
Praise and Motley led the class after round one, but were last in the arena for round two as they chased Boardman and Gatsby’s first place standing. “Arriana is a great rider and [Gatsby] is a wonderful horse, so I knew that she was going to be good. I was maybe little more nervous than I would have been ordinarily. When you have other great riders like that with you, it makes you rise to the occasion,” Motley acknowledged.
Not only is Motley managing to juggle motherhood with the demands of showing, she also runs her own event management company in Wellington. She credits the team at Lane Change Farm with enabling her to remain competitive at a high level.
“It’s all about the people you ride with. You have to be able to show up and trust that the horse has been prepared and if you have the right team with you, there’s no need to worry. I hire the right people for my business, and Kelley and Larry [Glefke] do the same,” Motley described.
While Motley’s professional life will continue in high gear, Praise will be enjoying a well-deserved slow down from showing while he continues being marketed to be bred. “Maybe he found some dates today. He’s on the market; he’s dating!” Motley joked.
The $5,000 WCHR Amateur Owner 3’3″ Classic was the final class held in the International Ring on Sunday afternoon. Tina Allen and French Kiss won the class with an overall score of 168.5. French Kiss, a nine-year-old Westphalian gelding, was in third place after round one of competition with a score of 82 and came back late in the second round with an 86.5 with Allen in the irons.
“French Kiss felt great; it was his second time in the International Arena this week. He felt comfortable on Friday and again today,” Allen described. “The courses rode nicely; they felt a little ‘handy-ish.’ The turns keep his interest. The ring is beautiful and the fences are all inviting.”
French Kiss and Allen have been showing at the FTI WEF for most of the 2013 circuit, picking up reserve championship honors in the FarmVet Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3″ 36 and Over division just last week. “He’s been really consistent and I’m really happy with him,” Allen commented.
Like the rest of her fellow competitors, Allen takes extra pleasure in winning during the hunters’ biggest week at the FTI WEF. “It’s special for sure to win this week. I’m really happy to have won today. Everyone loves competing during Hunter Week and it draws a big crowd,” Allen concluded.
Florida Children’s and Pony Classics were the final rounds of WCHR competition during week seven. Francesca Dildabanian and Larkspur earned the top prize for the $2,500 Children’s Hunter 14 and Under Classic with a combined score of 176. Larkspur is a twelve-year-old Oldenberg gelding owned by Ashley Whitner. Gabriella Hurtadorode Dragonfly, an eight-year-old Oldenberg gelding, to a blue ribbon finish in the $2,500 Children’s Hunter 15-17 Classic with an overall score of 165.
The winner of the Large Children’s Pony Hunter was Chatsworth and Emma Kurtz. Chatsworth, a nine-year-old Dutch Riding Pony gelding owned by Victoria Press, jumped to a final score of 168 with Kurtz in the irons. Sophia Marino and her own Posh, a thirteen-year-old Welsh Pony/Connemara cross mare, emerged victorious in the $2,500 Small/Medium Children’s Pony Classic with a combined score of 163.
The $2,500 Large Pony Hunter Classic was topped by Daisy Farish and her own Beau Rivage, a seventeen-year-old Holsteiner/Welsh Pony cross gelding. The pair won the class with a total score of 174. Emma Kurtz collected another first place prize aboard Grand All Over in the $2,500 Medium Pony Hunter Classic. Kurtz rode Grand All Over, a fifteen-year-old Welsh Pony gelding owned by David Gochman, to a winning overall score of 176. Farish also championed the $2,500 Small Pony Hunter Classic aboard Further Lane Farm’s Rolling Stone with a final score of 170. Rolling Stone is a fifteen-year-old Welsh Pony gelding.
Week eight of competition for the FTI WEF, sponsored by G&C Farm, runs February 27 – March 3, 2013 at the PBIEC in Wellington, FL. 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.
