For Immediate Release
Summer Grace for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Wellington, FL – February 13, 2022 – On Sunday, February 13, the final day of the 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival’s (WEF) fifth week, sponsored by Fidelity Investments®, featured the $75,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Championship CSI5*. The class saw Kent Farrington (USA) and his newest partner, Easy Girl, fly to the top of the leaderboard.
The day was met with wet conditions as the skies opened up on the final day’s exhibitors. Despite the downpour, the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center’s (PBIEC) footing remained solid and international competition continued on without issue.
Featuring 56 horse-and-rider combinations, Kelvin Bywater’s (GBR) last five-star challenge defeated 16 entries with a single rail, but allowed for 17 pairs to advance forward to the short track. Ireland, Great Britain, United States, Italy, Egypt, and Belgium were well-represented by the returning field. Of the 17 to come back, only four managed to produce double-clear efforts. It was a win for the home team as Farrington did what he does best and sped to the top with Kent Farrington LLC’s 11-year-old Oldenburg mare Easy Girl (Conthargos x Nintender) with the unbeatable time of 37.27 seconds.
“She is a great horse, and she was winning classes before I got her,” stated Farrington. “To be able to get on her and pick up on producing successful rounds with her immediately is I think a testament to what a nice horse she is. She is very fast, brave, and careful, which is a perfect example of what a modern show jumper should be.”
The mare’s last big victory was under the guidance of Santiago Lambre, who won the $217,000 BFL Canada Major League Show Jumping Grand Prix CSI5* with her. Farrington only just acquired the mare at the beginning of the circuit and is optimistic about her future after such success only several weeks into their start as a new team.
“She has turned out to be quite rideable, and as I get to know her we are only forming a stronger partnership class by class,” detailed Farrington. “My plan today for the jump-off was just to go at cruise speed, but she is so naturally quick that even just her neat round is plenty fast. I am excited to see where she takes me, and no matter what she does I think she’s a great addition to the stable.”
Margie Engle (USA) and Storm Ridge Show Horses, Garber, and Gladewind’s entry Dicas raced into the runner-up position. She and the 13-year-old Rheinlander gelding (Diarado x Cassini I) closed in on the leading pair but finished roughly a second behind with a clear time of 38.24 seconds. Great Britain got the remaining podium position as Matthew Sampson and his gelding Geneve R clocked in another clear effort with a finish on 38.24 seconds.
Final Results: $75,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Championship CSI5*
1. EASY GIRL: 2011 OS mare by Conthargos x Nintender
KENT FARRINGTON (USA), Kent Farrington LLC: 0/0/37.27
2. DICAS: 2009 Rheinläender gelding by Diarado x Cassini I
MARGIE GOLDSTEIN-ENGLE (USA), Storm Ridge Show Horses, Garber & Gladewinds: 0/0/38.24
3. GENEVE R: 2011 KWPN gelding by Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Berlin
MATTHEW SAMPSON (GBR), Matthew Sampson: 0/0/39.6
4. DACANTOS: 2013 KWPN stallion by Dallas x Cantos
LORENZO DE LUCA (ITA), Poden Farms: 0/0/44
5. HH AZUR: 2006 SBS mare by Thunder vd Zuuthoeve x Sir Lui vd Zuuthoeve
MCLAIN WARD (USA), Double H Farm: 0/4/34.84
6. SEA TOPBLUE: 2011 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Chacco Blue ANDREW BOURNS (IRL), Andrew Bourns Sport Horses Inc.: 0/4/36.72
7. DARQUITO: 2011 Hannoverian gelding by D’Inzeo 6 x Contefino 2
ANDREW BOURNS (IRL), Andrew Bourns Sport Horses Inc.: 0/4/36.76
8. AGANA VAN HET GERENDAL Z: 2011 Zangersheide stallion by Aganix Du Seigneur x Topas
LILLIE KEENAN (USA), Chansonette Farm LLC:
9. MOYA VD BISSCHOP: 2012 BWP mare by Darco x Utrillo Van De Heffinck
NICOLA PHILIPPAERTS (BEL), Nicola Philippaerts: 0/4/36.94
10. HOLLIEWOOD: 2012 KWPN mare by Nabab De Reve
SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), Triple S Group: 0/4/37.4
11. GAMBLE: 2011 KWPN gelding by Vingino x Indoctro
CONOR SWAIL (IRL), Asta Torokvei: 0/4/37.44
12. OAK GROVE’S CARLYLE: 2008 Holsteiner gelding by Casall x San Patrignano Corrado
DANIEL COYLE (IRL), Ariel Grange: 0/4/38.57
Chloe Reid Captures Only Clear in $50,000 Griffis Residential Grand Prix CSI2*
The weekend concluded with the $50,000 Griffis Residential Grand Prix CSI2* wrapping up competition in the International Arena. The course proved too challenging for almost all of the 43 entries as only Chloe Reid (USA) and Team Reid LLC’s Crossover 4 found the path to a clear first round.
The final jump on course was the downfall for a large group of the contenders and groans could be heard in the crowd each time it fell and dashed the hopes of a jump-off. Sophie Maher (USA) and Quentin Judge (USA) came the closest to producing a jump-off but suffered at the hands of a single time fault added to their score. As the last combination took down a rail, it was evident Reid’s single faultless round in 64.54 seconds would be the winner.
“I think I was fortunate I went early because it definitely would’ve rattled my nerves if I had seen everyone having faults,” said Reid. “I walked the course and made my plan, and I stuck to it. I have had him since he was six years old and know he’s a fast horse so I wasn’t too worried. I knew if I could be efficient in a few places I could make it happen.”
Reid has been partnered with the nine-year-old Hanoverian stallion for the past three years. The pair has notched top placings in multiple FEI classes elsewhere, but this was their FEI week and first FEI win at WEF.
“This was our FEI debut here at WEF so I could not be happier about the outcome,” affirmed Reid. “It has been nice to have several years to grow our partnership; he is so competitive, and he was right on it today. I have never had that kind of thing happen in a grand prix before, and I think it was more nerve-wracking than to have had a jump-off!”
With her single time fault, Maher took the red-ribbon honors aboard her own 13-year-old SLS gelding Sentimiento LS La Silla (Casall x Santo Domingo) finishing just .17 seconds over the time allotted in 68.17 seconds. Judge rounded out the all-American podium with his time of 68.25 seconds on the Double H Farm’s nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding HH Zorro Z (VDL Zirocco Blue x Escudo I).
Final Results: $50,000 Griffis Residential Grand Prix CSI2*
1. CROSSOVER 4: 2013 Hannoverian stallion by Cascadello x Chacco Blue
CHLOE REID (USA), Team Reid LLC: 0/64.54
2. SENTIMIENTO LS LA SILLA: 2009 SLS gelding by Casall x Santo Domingo
SOPHIE MAHER (USA), Sophie Maher: 1/68.17
3. HH ZORRO Z: 2013 Zangersheide gelding by VDL Zirocco Blue x Escudo I
QUENTIN JUDGE (USA), Double H Farm: 1/68.25
4. ILEX: 2013 KWPN gelding by Baltic VDL x Chin Chin
FABIO LEIVAS DA COSTA (BRA), Bonne Chance Farm LLC: 3/70.08
5. FLOTYLLA: 2011 PZHK mare by Alvaro 121 x Bajou Du Rouet
CATHLEEN DRISCOLL (USA), Donald Stewart: 4/64.02
6. FLEUR-DES-LIS’ CHERIE: 2012 NRPS mare by Clarimo x Lancer II
JAD DANA (LBN), The Cherie Group: 4/66.33
7. TEDDY Z: 2011 Zangersheide gelding by Candillo 3 x Limbus
CALLIE SCHOTT (USA), Southern Arches, LLC: 4/67.06
8. COCO BEACH: 2012 Holsteiner mare by Casall x San Patrignano Corrado
RICHIE MOLONEY (IRL), Equinimity LLC: 4/67.44
9. SCARLETT DU SART Z: 2010 Zangersheide mare by Stakkato x First Bridge
FRANCIS DERWIN (IRL), Vlock Show Stables LLC: 4/67.54
10. CERES VAN HET MOESHOF: 2012 Selle Francais mare by Ogano Sitte x Mozart Des Fayettes
ASHLEY VOGEL (USA), Ashley Vogel: 4/67.61
11. CHRISTY JNR: 2009 BWP gelding by Indoctro x Clinton I
CHANDLER MEADOWS (USA), Chandler Meadows: 4/67.63
12. LA UNA: 2011 OS mare by Chacco Blue x For Pleasure
ZOE CONTER (BEL), Stephex Stables: 4/67.88
Catharon Miller and Colorado 222 Crowned Champion in Animo Adult Amateur Hunter Middle (Section B) Division
Despite less than ideal weather conditions, 11 competitors showed up to the Animo Adult Amateur Hunter Middle (Section B) division at the Rost Arena to determine who would become champion. Hailing all the way from Chicago, IL, Catharon Miller emerged with the victory aboard her own Colorado 222.
Miller delivered several solid rounds with the 11-year-old Westphalian gelding (Cornado I x Apria) which earned her placings including a first, second, and third. The championship was the first for the pair who only became partners last summer when Colorado suddenly found himself without an owner.
“Colorado’s owner rode in my barn, and she passed away this year so it is incredibly special to be able to keep him in the barn and honor her,” explained Miller. “I had always seen what an amazing horse he was with her, and when I got to try him he just made me feel so confident. He is sweet, forgiving, and a great teammate.”
“We are always riding for her memory, but today I truly think she was with us,” finished Miller of Colorado’s late owner.
The reserve champion title went to Hadley, MA, resident Julie Hogan and Quixotic. Hogan and Linda Evans’s seven-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding (Sir Caletto x Good Girl S) swept up placings that included a first, second, fourth, and sixth to land just behind Miller in the final tally.
The 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival will resume its competition schedule on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 as hunter riders take center stage during the highly-anticipated WCHR week.
