Wellington, FL – March 18, 2010- Dressage made its return to the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival today with the opening class in the WEF Dressage Classic, the FEI Grand Prix CDI 3*. Canada’s Belinda Trussell and Anton, owned by Robyn Eames, won the class with a score of 70.638%. Todd Flettrich (USA) and Otto, owned by Cherry Knoll Farm, were second with a 68.723%, while Lars Petersen (DNK) and Beemer, owned by Global Dressage Sales LLC, were third with 68.383%.
The tenth week of the FTI WEF is sponsored by Equine Couture/TuffRider and runs through Sunday, March 21. The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 4, 2010, and they will be awarding almost $6 million in prize money through the circuit.
The WEF Dressage Classic CDI 3* dressage competition is the highlight in the International Arena this week on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with FEI Grand Prix Freestyle on Friday at 7 p.m. The FTI Great Charity Challenge, a pro/am relay competing for a targeted $500,000 in money to be distributed to 24 Palm Beach county charities, is on Saturday, March 20, with festivities starting at 6 p.m. The $75,000 Equine Couture/TuffRider Grand Prix, CSI 2*, is on Sunday, March 21. It is scheduled, weather-pending, to be held at The Stadium at 3 p.m.
Trussell was very happy with today’s result in the Grand Prix thanks to their personal best score; they improved on the 68.6% from their last competition. “He’s getting better and better,” Trussell said of Anton. “It’s his second year of grand prix and he’s feeling really comfortable in the ring. My goal this winter was for my expressions, more engagement, and more world-class performance. He really is doing that. He’s ready and that’s what our goal has been. This is my highest ever grand prix score. To reach that 70% is great.”
Trussell has qualified for Friday night’s Musical Freestyle, and it will be their first time competing together in freestyle. Trussell beamed, “It’s to Riverdance. Tamara Williamson put it together. I have to go home and study my computer tonight! I’m looking forward to it.”
She added, “I’ve never ridden him under lights before either, so that’ll be another first for him. Sometimes out here (schooling) with the jumping (in the next ring) he gets nervous, but once he’s in there, it’s like he knows, ‘This is my little dressage ring.’ That’s been paying off really well. I hope tomorrow night he’ll feel the same.”
Anton, a 10-year-old Saxony gelding by Antaeus xx Melit, is described as a “really kind horse,” by Trussell. She went on to say, “He has a quiet confidence about him, not in your face confident. He has so much heart. He would never intentionally let me down; it would be a miscommunication that would happen if we had a mistake. He’s so genuine, just a genuine, honest horse.”
Trussell is competing for the first time this year in Florida and was thrilled to have 30 competitors in the Grand Prix class. “In Canada, we’re happy to have ten in the grand prix and that would be a good class,” she smiled. “Thirty is fantastic. In Florida, we’ve had that at almost every show, which is amazing. I’m enjoying it a lot!”
Tomorrow’s classes include the FEI Intermediaire I starting at 1 p.m. and the FEI Musical Freestyle under the lights in the International Arena at 7 p.m.
For full results and more information, please visit www.shownet.biz or www.equestriansport.com.
Final Results: WEF Dressage Classic, CDI 3* – Grand Prix
Judge E – Clarke, Judge H – Fore, Judge C – Foy, Judge M – Christensen, Judge B – Van Daele
Place Horse Rider Term Stat/Div Judge E% Judge H% Judge C% Judge M% Judge B% Score%
1. Anton, Belinda Trussell (CAN): 69.574 71.915 70.851 69.787 71.064 1660 70.638
2. Otto, Todd Flettrich (USA): 70.426 70.426 68.511 67.872 66.383 1615 68.723
3. Beemer, Lars Petersen (DNK): 69.149 69.362 70.000 66.596 66.809 1607 68.383
4. Granada, Oded Shimoni (ISR): 69.574 69.149 65.319 66.809 67.447 1590 67.660
5. Proton, Victoria Winter (CAN): 67.447 68.298 66.383 65.957 65.957 1570 66.809
6. Ayscha, Shannon Dueck (CAN): 65.106 65.957 66.596 66.809 67.234 1559 66.340
7. Gran Gesto, Jacqueline Brooks (CAN): 66.170 66.809 64.468 66.170 64.894 1544 65.702
8. Wadamur, Susan Jaccoma, (USA): 67.660 67.021 64.894 63.617 63.830 1537 65.404
9. Balmoral, Jacqueline Brooks (CAN): 65.106 65.319 62.979 64.468 68.936 1536 65.362
10. Leonberg, Mikala Munter Gundersen (DNK): 65.319 65.957 64.468 63.191 66.383 1529 65.064
The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 13 through April 4. 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 $5.5 million in prize money will be awarded.
WEF is proud to be supported by their title sponsor, FTI Consulting, Inc. FTI Consulting, Inc. exists to help companies and their stakeholders protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex economic, legal and regulatory environment. FTI is the trusted advisor entrenched in many of the game-changing events that make headlines, move markets and create business history. For more information, please visit www.fticonsulting.com.
During the 12 weeks of WEF, “Saturday Night Lights” headlines the entertainment each Saturday night where spectators not only enjoy the Grand Prix class, but a street carnival, live music, and numerous dining options with box seats, sports bars, and the famed Tiki Hut for front row fun.
Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.