FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
Week Five Wrap-up and Week Six Upcoming Events
Wellington, FL – February 13, 2012 – The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) has come to a close. Sponsored by Spy Coast Farm, the show hosted numerous exciting events, including the Spy Coast Farm Young Horse Show and the $125,000 FEI World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix presented by Spy Coast Farm. Next week’s competition is sponsored by Equine Couture/Tuff Rider. 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.
Upcoming Events for Week Six – See what you can do at the FTI WEF!
The Ride & Learn Series clinic for Tuesday, February 14 has been cancelled.
The U.S. PRE Association hosts the “I Love PRE” Fiesta Dinner and Performance on Wednesday, February 15, from 6-8 p.m. at the Global Dressage Festival show grounds. The performances feature Olympian Lendon Gray, U.S. Team rider Tina Konyot, Pan American team member Endel Ots, Reserve USEF National Champion Rachel Chowanec, Young Rider World Cup Finalist Mica Mabragana, and others. Admission is free, so come see what the U.S. PRE Spanish horses are all about!
The U.S. PRE Association is the weekly sponsor of the second week of competition, the Florida Dressage Classic, CDI-W, at the Global Dressage Festival. Competition begins on Thursday, February 16, and runs through Sunday, February 19. The FEI Prix St. Georges and FEI Grand Prix will run on Friday, February 17, FEI Intermediaire 1 and FEI Grand Prix Freestyle on Saturday, February 18, and FEI Intermediaire I and Olympic Grand Prix Special on Sunday, February 19. Come see what all the buzz is about!
The Lunch & Learn Series, presented by World Development Group, will continue this week on Thursday, February 16, at 11:30 a.m. at The Wellington Club. Admission is free and lunch is provided. No prior equestrian knowledge is required to attend the events. This week’s class, “Dos and Don’ts of Doing Equine Business in Europe,” features speakers Mr. P.M. (Piotr) Wawrzyniak, attorney-at-law from European Equine Lawyers (EEL); Drs. H.J. (Erik) Bergman from De Lingehoeve equine clinic in the Netherlands and a member of the Equestes Expert Panel; Mr. L.M. (Luc) Schelstraete, attorney-at-law and CEO of EEL and Equestes and is sponsored by European Equine Lawyers and Equestes. Every attendee at the Lunch & Learn Series will be entered to win a grand prize.
Make a day of it at the The Stadium show grounds, where you can catch international level dressage and show jumping in one day. The $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 6 Grand Prix will be held on the grass at The Stadium on Friday, February 17, at 1 p.m.
The Bank of America Family Festival will kick off festivities on Friday, February 17 at 6 p.m. inside the spectator entrance. Families are invited to come and watch The FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments® and spend time having fun with a bounce house, petting zoo, pony rides, face painters, balloon artist, street performers, and more. The band VOX BLU will provide live music too, so bring your dancing shoes!
The FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments® is this week’s highlight event on Friday, February 17, at 6 p.m. Thirty-two Palm Beach charities have been paired with teams of three riders, who will compete in a relay-style event to win the top share of money for their charity. General admission seats are ticketed for this event; money from seat sales will go toward the charities. Tables in the International Club will be available for purchase at $1,000 for six seats, with proceeds going towards the charities. To buy tables, please contact Kiki Umla.
The WCHR Hunter Spectacular of Palm Beach is the highlight event for hunter competitors at the FTI WEF on Saturday, February 18 at 7 p.m. The champions during week 6 will qualify to compete under the lights in the International Arena in one of the most highly anticipated hunter events of the year. Tables are available for purchase in the International Club with proceeds to benefit the USHJA Foundation. Please visit https://www.ushja.org/sa/foundation/WCHR.aspx to purchase tables.
Cross Gate Gallery will present the Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Benefit Art Show on February 15-19 in The Gallery. This is a great opportunity to acquire equestrian pieces from new artists while supporting the Tryon Riding & Hunt Club. Any pieces sold will directly benefit them. A reception will be held at The Gallery on Saturday, February 17 from 6-7 p.m.
On Sunday, February 19, equestrian sport fans will get a double dose at The Stadium show grounds. It will be a fun day for everyone in Wellington to see what the sports of dressage and show jumping are all about. Spectators can watch the Olympic Grand Prix Special with some of the world’s top dressage riders, then stay to view the $50,000 G&C Farm Jumper Derby on the grass at 3 p.m., where riders will speed through the course that features water obstacles, ditches, Devil’s Dyke, and more!
The Ride & Learn Clinic series continues on Tuesday, February 21, with a clinic on hunters with top professional Geoff Teall. The Ride & Learn Series is composed of weekly mounted riding clinics that will be conducted by some of the most well-known and experienced professionals in the business. The cost to ride in the clinic is $125, and auditing is free. These clinics will take place every Tuesday in the International Arena on January 31. Space to ride in the clinics is limited, so contact Rosemary Bertin at 561-371-9598
The Fourth Annual Lip Sync Show benefiting Danny and Ron’s Rescue will be held on Friday, February 24, at 6 p.m. at the Global Dressage Festival show grounds. There will be new categories, and dinner and a show will be provided. Adult tickets are $40 and kids are $20, tables can be reserved. For more information, please visit www.dannyandronsrescue.com.
Week Five Wrap-Up: Margie Engle and Indigo Win $125,000 FEI World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix presented by Spy Coast Farm
Margie Engle (USA) and Indigo emerged victorious in the $125,000 FEI World Cup™ Qualifier Grand Prix presented by Spy Coast Farm under the lights in front of a crowd of 5,200 spectators at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Saturday night. Engle and Indigo, owned by Gladewinds, Griese, Garber, and Hidden Creek, were the fastest of two clear rounds in an eleven horse jump-off over Darragh Kerins (IRL) and Lisona, owned by Kevin Babington. Pablo Barrios (VEN) and G&C Quick Star 11, owned by Gustavo Mirabal, were third.
The World Cup course was designed by Guilherme Jorge of Brazil. Jorge got 11 clear rounds out of the original 45 starters over his first round course and concluded the night with an exciting jump-off track that left Engle and Kerins in first and second. Engle and Indigo, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Indoctro, finished the course clear in 45.61 seconds. Kerins and Lisona went clean in 48.42 seconds.
Pablo Barrios (VEN) and G&C Quick Star 11 finished third with the fastest four-fault round. The pair had a rail early on in the course, but had the time in hand in 38.31 seconds. Kent Farrington (USA) and RCG Farm’s Uceko finished fourth with an unfortunate rail at the last fence on course and a time of 38.91 seconds. Richard Spooner (USA) and Cristallo, owned by Show Jumping Syndications International, also had four faults in 39.20 seconds and finished fifth.
Margie Engle is currently leading the North American East Coast League World Cup Qualifying Rankings. She and Indigo have won many classes this season, including the $50,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix during Equestrian Sport Production’s Holiday and Horses competition in December. Indigo has had some time off since then and this was his first big class back.
Engle has had Indigo for almost two years now. She praised the horse’s scope and attitude. “I just like that he’s such an energetic horse and he loves what he’s doing,” she smiled. “He makes my job really easy because he’s very enthusiastic. I don’t have to do much; I just kind of steer him to the jumps and he takes you all the time. He’s got a lot of blood and really enjoys jumping. He’s very, very smart and a real trier. He’s getting a lot of seasoning under his belt and he seems to be getting better and better.”
Second place finisher Darragh Kerins was also pleased with his horse’s efforts over the course. Kerins’ mount, Lisona, is an 11-year-old Irish Sporthorse mare by OBOS Quality 004 x Porsch. Kerins started riding her two years ago in Wellington, but explained that she has been off for the last year and a half and started back just three weeks ago. Kerins owns the mare along with Kevin Babington and Maarten Huygens.
Commenting on the jump-off, Kerins acknowledged, “This class was coming a bit quick. Normally I wouldn’t have jumped that fast, but the Nation’s Cup is coming up in a couple weeks and I figured I had to get her going to warrant a place on the team. It worked out great; she’s great. She doesn’t have much mileage; this is probably the biggest class she’s ever jumped.”
Third place finisher Pablo Barrios and G&C Quick Star 11 went early in the order and took a chance going fast. “I had to go fast. I was fourth in the order and I always have the fast Margie behind me,” Barrios laughed. “This is the first time I’ve seen her go slow. I really tried to go fast. She’s very fast on her own. Unfortunately we had a rail down, but we had the time.”
Barrios noted, “It was an excellent course. We cannot forget that we came from 107 horses (on Thursday) and cut to this. What we saw today were the best of a lot of horses, and it was still an excellent result.”
The World Cup class was sponsored by Spy Coast Farm, whose owners Robert and Lisa Lourie were present at the competition and were the title sponsors of the Spy Coast “Breeding” week. “Obviously we’re very proud to be able to support a World Cup and to have such an elite group of riders in it,” Lisa Lourie stated. “It’s great fun to sponsor here at WEF. It’s terrific to be able to meet all of the riders and see all of these fantastic horses go. As far as I’m concerned, it’s great to be able to promote breeding in America and have the young horse show. Every one of these folks has young horses in their backyard and we’re trying to get them out and start a new market here in Wellington at the Winter Equestrian Festival. It’s a great opportunity and WEF has worked very closely with us to make it happen and we’re going to continue with it.”
Jumper Results: Wednesday through Sunday
Quentin Judge of Ridgefield, CT, rode HH Sandor, owned by Double H Farm, to victory in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumpers on Wednesday. Guilherme Jorge track tested 53 entries in the class, and 16 of those found the path to a clear round. The fastest was Judge and HH Sandor, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Slibovitz x Dux, who stopped the clock in 57.808 seconds. Second place went to Spy Coast Farm’s Rolette and Shane Sweetnam, who finished in 59.758 seconds, while Scott Smith and Vadeline, owned by the Studd Family, finished third with a time of 60.594 seconds.
In the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m speed class of 85 entries, speedster HH Palouchin garnered the win by two seconds with Rodrigo Pessoa. Nick Dello Joio and Viper P, owned by Greer Hindle, were second, while Shane Sweetnam and O’Splendido, owned by Spy Coast Farm, were third.
The $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class saw 78 entries, and Reed Kessler and Onisha jumped to the top after they put in a second round time of 39.067 seconds. Finishing in 39.255 seconds, Kaitlin Campbell and Rocky W came away with second place. Third place went to Nicholas Dello Joio and Wembley Farms Inc.’s Geledimar, who had a jump-off time of 39.422 seconds.
It was a great afternoon for grand prix riders Kent Farrington (USA) and Richie Moloney (IRL) on Thursday as each took home the top share of prize money in a split class for round five of the WEF Challenge Cup Series. Held in a ‘California Split’, the class awarded two sets of placings, each with $32,000 distributed due to the large number of entries.
Guilherme Jorge of Brazil set the course in the International Arena for today’s $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 5 with a total of 107 starters. The jump-off scored the clear rounds from both sections together to determine the overall standings. The standings also determined the qualifiers for Saturday night’s World Cup grand prix.
Fifty-four riders started in Section A of the Challenge Cup class, with nine entries jumping clear. Another fifty-three followed, with eight entries clearing the course. A combined jump-off with those 17 horses and riders resulted. Twelve others jumped the course clear only to finish with a single time fault in Jorge’s tight time allowed.
In the jump-off, seven entries completed the course without fault. The fastest time belonged to Kent Farrington and RCG Farm’s Uceko, who stopped the clock in 40.77 seconds for the win in Section A. Richie Moloney and Equinimity LLC’s Slieveanorra finished in 41.23 seconds for the win in Section B.
The top three finishers in section A included Farrington and Uceko, Quentin Judge (USA) and Double H Farm’s HH Carotino with a time of 42.12 seconds in second place, and Darragh Kenny (IRL) and The Wannahave Group’s Wannahave with a time of 44.54 seconds in third.
Section B saw Moloney and Slieveanorra on top, with Kate Levy (USA) and Vent Du Nord in second in 43.12 seconds, and Beezie Madden (USA) riding Abigail Wexner’s Simon in third with a time of 45.04 seconds.
The $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge continued through the rain showers this afternoon. The 34 entries competed over a course designed by Guilherme Jorge of Brazil. There were 13 clear rounds. The fastest of those was Bradberry, ridden and owned by Laura Chapot. They sped through the timers to register a winning time of 56.045 seconds. Finishing in 56.323 seconds for second place was Carolla Z, ridden by Yann Candele (CAN) for Liz Currie. Scott Smith (GBR) and the Studd Family’s Vadeline were third in 56.594 seconds.
In the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class, Beezie Madden (USA) and Zhivago, owned by Abigail Wexner, won with a jump-off time of 38.150 seconds. Shane Sweetnam and Spy Coast Farm’s Siri placed second in 39.285 seconds, while Laura Chapot and Mary Chapot’s Umberto were third in 41.180 seconds.
In the High Amateur-Owner Jumper Power and Speed class, Alise Oken and Kaid Du Ry took the win with a time in the 32.187 seconds over Michelle Navarro-Grau and Tibetano, who finished in 33.515 seconds. Eirin Bruheim and Cicero 75 were third in 34.316 seconds.
The Griffis Group High Junior Jumper Power and Speed class was also held on Friday in the International Arena, and Sydney Shulman on Little Lady D’Elle jumped to the top with a clear round in 31.568 seconds. Finishing in 32.708 seconds were second place finishers Kalvin Dobbs and Ultimate VDL. Third place went to Emanuel Andrade and Costa, who had a time of 33.411 seconds.
Winners in the International Arena on Saturday include:
$1,500 Reist Industries Medium Junior Jumpers – Psychee D’Amour and Lucas Porter for Sleepy P Ranch LLC
$1,500 Surpass Medium Amateur-Owner Jumpers – Shen Yen and Michelle Navarro-Grau
$15,000 SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic – Sandro and Katherine Dinan
$10,000 Griffis Group High Junior Jumper Classic – Cordino and Elizabeth Patz
Twenty-two-year-old Jordan MacPherson of Toronto, Ontario, Canada guided her 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Piccobello Du Val De Geer, owned by Jem Stables Inc., to the victory in Sunday’s $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Riders Grand Prix presented by Dutta Corporation in association with Guido Klatte. Fifty-six entries started the class and 14 completed clear rounds to return for a jump-off.
MacPherson and Piccobello Du Val De Geer completed the fastest of four double clear rounds in a time of 37.581 seconds for the win. Just one-tenth of a second separated the top two finishers in today’s class. Alexandra Carter’s time of 38.606 seconds aboard Cyrina Z finished second. Third place went to Charlotte Jacobs and Promised Land, owned by Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables, with a time of 38.873 seconds. Mavis Spencer and Valentino stopped the clock in 40.862 seconds in fourth.
A large field came to compete on Sunday in the $32,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic, and it was Olympian Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) on Octavia Farms LLC’s Checkmate 4 who came away with the win. Cian O’Connor (IRL) and Everything, owned by Abdulla Humaid Al Muhairi, were second, while Kirsten Coe (USA) rode Ilan Ferder’s Baronez to third.
Today’s 1.50m class was held under FEI rules and was a FEI ROLEX world ranking competition. Guilherme Jorge of Brazil set the courses in the International Arena. There were 68 entries, and nine returned for the jump-off. Michaels-Beerbaum and Checkmate 4, a 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Contender x Pik Bube II, returned second to last in the jump-off. They lowered the winning time to 35.31 seconds.
O’Connor and his first horse in the jump-off, Everything, set the early pace with a clear round in 35.82 seconds, which would hold up for second. Kirsten Coe and Baronez were just behind in third place with a time of 36.91 seconds. The last double clear round was O’Connor and his second mount, KEC Alligator Alley, who finished in 38.31 seconds.
Week 5 Classic winners:
$10,000 Equine Tack and Nutrionals Adult 18-35 Jumpers – Cataro Ask and Diego Morales
$10,000 Martha Jolicoeur Adult 36-49 Jumpers – Leo and Sara Williamson
$10,000 Charles Owen Low Amateur-Owner Jumpers – Luna and Danielle Torano
$10,000 South Florida SportChassis Low Junior Jumpers – Sensation and Madelyn Keck
$10,000 Masters Jumpers – Prego and Lucy Mitchell-Innes
$10,000 Surpass Medium Amateur-Owner Jumpers – Perle and Heather Hooker
$10,000 Reist Industries Medium Junior Jumpers – Snappy and Victoria Colvin
Week 5 Champions:
Children’s Jumper 13 & Under – Nabuco du Theil and Delaney Hamill
FarmVet Adult Modified Jumpers – Quelanotte Rouge and Kenzie Snyder
Children’s Jumper 14-17 – Campesino IV and Gillian Kelley
Children’s Modified Jumpers – Serval and Alexandra Crown
Low Adult Jumper 18-35 – Matador and Isabel Jolicoeur
Paddock Cakes Low Adult Jumper 36 & Over – Zieza and Patricia Hurter
Paddock Cakes Low Children’s Jumper – Graceland and Makayla Benjamin
Sidelines Pony Jumpers – Iceman and Dagny MacTaggart
Hunter Results: Thursday through Sunday
Likely V and Nina Zollo of Palm Beach, FL, were awarded the championship tricolor in week five of the Smartpak Low Hunter 2’6 division at FTI WEF. The division victory was the result of a joint effort by Zollo, the gelding’s owner, and trainers Geoff Teall and Charles Moorcroft. Likely V completed the division with a first and second over fences and a third in the under saddle for a total of 20 points. The reserve championship went to Rachel Kennedy and her mount, Amazing Journey, with a total of 10.5 points. The victorious Likely V is a ten-year-old Danish Warmblood imported by Geoff Teall.
Bruce Duchossois of Aiken, South Carolina surpassed a field of 25 competitors to capture the championship tricolor in this week’s Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51 & Over division. Duchossois and his mount, Just Fred, scored back-to-back blue ribbons in Thursday’s competition followed by two third place ribbons to win the division with a total of 28 points. A close reserve championship went to Mary K. Shaughnessy and her mount, King Lear, who stayed consistently in the top three ribbons all week with two firsts, two thirds and one second for a total of 26 points. Just Fred is a chestnut Selle Francais gelding who originally began his show career in the jumper ring.
Elizabeth Faraci of Annapolis, MD, swept this week’s FarmVet Amateur-Owner 18-35 3’3″ Hunter division earning both the champion and reserve tricolor on her mounts Paramour and Antilles. Despite the rain and wind on Friday, Faraci and Paramour scored two firsts and a second over fences and finished first in the under saddle to top the division with 36 points. A close reserve went to Faraci’s second mount, Antilles, who was first, second, and fourth over fences and finished second under saddle, earning 24 points. The victorious equine, Paramour, is a six-year-old KWPN by Samba Hit. Affectionately known as Perry in the barn, the chestnut gelding was named 2011’s FTI WEF circuit champion in the Adult Hunter 18-35 division.
Additional hunter champions for FTI WEF week 5 include Kristen Lutz and her mount Huntington, who topped the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division, and Holly Caristo and Saint Patrick who received the championship tricolor in the Low Adult Hunter 2’6″ division; Caristo and Saint Patrick are currently circuit leaders in the Low Adult 2’6″ Hunters with 225 points.
Erica Felder of Durham, NC, soared to the top of this week’s Pine Hollow Short Stirrup Hunter division atop her mount, Thumbs Up. Unaffected by the chilly weather, the pair scored a first and fourth over fences and a third under saddle to bring home the championship tricolor with a total of sixteen points. The reserve tricolor went to Kara Constantakos and her mount, Sugar Fix, who finished first over fences and fourth under saddle to earn a total of twelve points.
Thumbs Up, a fourteen-year-old Welsh Pony Cross, emerged victorious out of a field of thirteen ponies in today’s competition.
South Carolina’s Kimberly McCormack Takes Over Fences, Baylor’s Taylor Brown Wins Flat at WEF Collegiate Equitation Challenge
The third annual FTI WEF Collegiate Equitation Challenge was held on Friday evening in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Riders representing 16 National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) varsity teams from around the country gathered to compete in a bracket-style format. The championship trophy, presented by the South Florida Hunter Jumper Association, was awarded to University of South Carolina junior Kimberly McCormack.
Invitations were extended to 16 student athletes who currently participate in collegiate equestrian programs. They rode over fences in courses set at 3’6″ designed by Bobby Murphy of Lexington, KY. The judges were Leo Conroy and Christina Schlusemeyer. The 16 riders were narrowed down earlier in the day to eight who competed under the lights in the International Arena tonight. Horses and tack were generously provided by area professionals. The riders were given a four minute warm-up in which they were allowed four fences before completing the course.
Three rounds were held over fences this evening, and it came down to Kimberly McCormack from University of South Carolina and Lisa Goldman from Baylor University in the final bracket. Both riders completed the final course aboard Chalan, owned by Claire Beth Nogay, who was also given the Best Horse Award. In the first round tonight, McCormack rode Mador Du Chaufour, owned by Sarah Porter, to a score of 84. In the second round, she showed Diamond Creek, owned by Diamond Creek Stables LLC, to a score of 86.5. A final score of 87.5 aboard Chalan gave McCormick the win.
Lisa Goldman finished with scores of 86 aboard St. James, 80 aboard Diamond Creek, and 85 aboard Chalan. The other riders competing over fences tonight were Sarah Mershon of Kansas State University, Carly Anthony of University of Georgia, Haley Jacobi of Texas Christian University, Maggie Earle of Texas A&M University, Jennifer Waxman of Auburn University, and Hillary West of California State University, Fresno.
Carly Anthony was presented with an award for her high score of 90 aboard Balisto, owned by Alex Bozorgi/Believe It Farm, in the first round of competition.
The collegiate competition also expanded this year to include equitation on the flat with four riders showing tonight. Taylor Brown from Baylor University won the flat championship with her overall score of 164, showing in the final round aboard Winnie, and was presented a trophy donated by Haylie Jayne Rolfe. Katherine Schmidt from the University of South Carolina competed in the final bracket against Brown and finished with a score of 143.
Also competing on the flat were Kimberly Hewson Budnik from Florida State University and Christina Lin from Auburn University. The judges of the flat competition were Melissa Bark and Dee Thomas.
Flat winner Taylor Brown is a junior at Baylor University, the 2010 Big 12 championship team. The rider, from Palmyra, VA, was undefeated this past semester in her third year on the team and was honorable All-American last year over fences. This was her first time competing at the Collegiate Equitation Challenge.
Although they did not compete in the final rounds tonight, several other schools were represented in this year’s competition as well. The other riders in this morning’s rounds included Caroline Foltz of Delaware State University, Amy Lang of New Mexico State University, Samantha Elser of Oklahoma State University, Abbie Britton of Sacred Heart University, Santana Wright of South Dakota State University, Julianna Fischer of Southern Methodist University, Nellie Foosaner of University of Miami, and Caroline Cramer of University of Tennessee Martin.
For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
