For Immediate Release
Katie McCoy and Summer Grace for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Wellington, FL – January 18, 2019 – The second week of 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) is well underway at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, with a win for 18-year-old Mckayla Langmeier of East Granby, CT, riding Bon Vivant in the $6,000 Bainbridge 1.40M speed class on Friday, January 18.
Mckayla Langmeier with ringmaster Steve Rector and Bainbridge Chairman and CEO Richard Schechter. Photo © Sportfot.
WEF will be host to a variety of FEI CSI2* jumper classes this week, along with top hunter competition. The highlight of the week will be the $72,000 NetJets Grand Prix CSI 2* during “Saturday Night Lights” this Saturday, January 19, at 7 p.m. in the international Arena.
Langmeier and her eight-year-old gelding Bon Vivant (Bustique x Doris Day V Overis Z), competed in the high junior jumpers last year and decided to test the waters in their first FEI class this afternoon. Her goal was to have a fast and competitive ride and she did just that. The pair went towards the end of the line-up, putting in a fast and clear round of 58.77 seconds to top the class. They will compete later in the week in the $36,000 CaptiveOne 1.45m Classic on Sunday and hope to continue at this level throughout circuit.
Mckayla is known for a successful junior career and is now a freshman at Auburn University and a part of their NCAA Division 1 equestrian team. Although she is riding in her first year as an amateur, Langmeier regularly competes against the top professionals in the world. “It’s still really exciting to come out here against these top riders and do so well,” she said.
Mckayla Langmeier and Bon Vivant. Photo © Sportfot.
Andrew Kocher (USA) aboard the eight-year-old mare Abelone O.T Lowlands Z (Andiamo Z x Dawn O.T. Lowlands Z) came in a close second by only 0.09 seconds. They went early in the order and maintained their lead for the entirety of the class until Langmeier and Bon Vivant put in their effort. Third place went to Kelli Cruciotti (USA) riding 3 Seas, LLC’s Grandy De Laubry (Chin Chin x Cerimpta De Laubry) with only a 0.11 second difference between her and Kocher.
Final Results: $6,000 Bainbridge 1.40m Jumper
1 BON VIVANT: 2010 Zangersheide gelding by Bustique x Doris Day V Overis Z
MCKAYLA LANGMEIER (USA), Linda Langmeier: 0/58.77
2 ABELONE O.T LOWLANDS Z: 2011 Zangersheide mare by Andiamo Z x Dawn O.T. Lowlands Z
ANDREW KOCHER (USA), Andrew Kocher: 0/58.86
3 GRANDY DE LAUBRY: 2006 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Chin Chin x Cerimpta De Laubry
KELLI CRUCIOTTI (USA), 3 Seas, LLC: 0/58.97
4 CHIARA MIA: 2009 Westphalian mare by Coronas x Calido’s Girl
BEAT MANDLI (SUI), Grant Road Partners LLC: 0/59.47
5 CLEARWATER 5: 2006 Holsteiner gelding by Clearway x Savona
SHANNON HICKS (USA), Helen Gilbert: 0/60.16
6 CHERRYPOP: 2007 Oldenburg mare by Contendro x Cinderella Z
MARIO DESLAURIERS (CAN), Wishing Well Farm LLC: 0/61.20
7 CATINKA 25: 2009 Oldenburg by Catoki x Despina
VANESSA MANNIX (CAN), Vanessa Mannix: 0/62.20
8 PALOMA: 2006 Holsteiner gelding by Canaletto S x H Lila M
LAUREN HOUGH (USA), Kathleen Kamine: 0/62.61
9 CALVALOU: 2007 Oldenburg gelding by Calvaro x Grand Lulu
TODD MINIKUS (USA), Todd Minikus LTD: 0/63.03
10 SO WHAT HP Z: 2010 Zangersheide mare
LUIZ FRANCISCO DE AZEVEDO (BRA), Santa Cecilia Stables: 0/63.55
11 DAVIDOFF DE LASSUS:2009 Belgian Warmblood stallion by Ugano Sitte x Origine Du Mont D’or
ZOE CONTER (BEL), Stephex Stables: 0/64.42
12 CHRISTOS: 2009 Holsteiner mare by Caretino x Passionara II
TIFFANY FOSTER (CAN), Elizabeth Grace Cohen: 0/65.60
Jennifer Magee Pilots Clementine to Triple Crown Blankets Adult Amateur Hunter Middle (Sec. A) Victory
Jennifer Magee and Clementine. Photo © Sportfot.
Hunter competition in the Rost Arena at PBIEC started off Friday morning with the remaining classes in the Triple Crown Blankets Adult Amateur Hunter Middle (Sec. A) division. Wellington resident Jennifer Magee scored her first hunter championship win with Clementine.
Magee and the 10-year-old Warmblood mare are a new pair as Clementine was leased from Andrea Guzinski only after Magee’s original hunter horse was laid up on injury. The duo swept competition over the course of two days securing two firsts, a second, and two fourths to capture the tricolor ribbon.
Jennifer Magee takes home the tricolor ribbon. Photo © Sportfot.
The win is extra special for Magee who is only just beginning her hunter career.“This is my first year doing hunters and especially at WEF, so this is a huge deal for me,” she commented. “I do the adult jumpers and I’m still doing that as well, but now I am really trying to focus on developing this ride. It is really very exciting and very rewarding to do this well.”
While continuing to compete in the jumper classes, Magee plans to dedicate most of her effort to the hunter divisions this circuit and has several more hunter horses she plans to show.
Just falling slightly behind Magee in total points was Garland Alban with Capella. Alban, of Lutherville, MD, rode her own 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding to the reserve champion title with places of first, two seconds, and two fourths.
The Winter Equestrian Festival will continue competition Saturday, January 19, with highlights including the Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Field and the $72,000 NetJets Grand Prix CSI 2* taking place during “Saturday Night Lights” at 7 p.m. in the International Arena.