Wellington, FL – February 19, 2022 – The pinnacle event of World Championship Hunter Rider week, sponsored by IDA Development, at the 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) was on Saturday night, February 19. The country’s best hunter combinations battled to win the $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular. Young professional Geoffrey Hesslink of Shelburne, VT, made his mark on the class’s history as he scored a career-high victory aboard Mon Tresor, owned by Little Brook LLC.
Andy Christiansen Jr. designed the flowing track that offered riders several areas to show off their mounts. The panel one judges consisted of Chris Wynne and Shane George, panel two was Mary Lisa Leffler and Tom Brennan, and panel three held Wendy Peralta and Mark Jungherr. Entries for the night class qualified by winning the champion title in their respective divisions at the 3’6” height or above.
Of the 35-horse field, 26 combinations qualified from various different divisions held at 3’6”, while the remaining nine pairs stepped in from the High Performance, High Performance Conformation, and Green Hunter 3’9” divisions.
Hesslink and Mon Tresor took the class’s early lead with a first-round score of 90.66. Amanda Steege and the legendary Lafitte De Muze earned the second-highest score of the round with a 90. Liza Towell Boyd and Cascartini rounded out the top three of 12 moving on to the handy round after producing a score of 89.91.
Michael Britt-Leon was the first to return and blazed the trail around Christiansen’s handy track to an average score of 88.66, but with plenty more challengers still to go. Christiansen gave competitors several options to highlight their horse’s best features and included a canter to walk transition to feature the rideability of the mount.
If the pressure of having the best first round score and being the last to return weighed on Hesslink, it didn’t show. The 25-year-old piloted the 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Nekton confidently over each obstacle on the course and managed to nearly replicate his first round score as he finished with 90.5 points in the handy. The two-round total of 181.16 was just good enough to bump Mimi Gochman from the lead and secure the top honors.
“I don’t know my horse that well, but he does give me a lot of confidence,” explained Hesslink. “He is a new partnership for me that I have competed less than 10 times, but he has been champion every one of those times. I am told he has a background in three-day eventing, which I think definitely played as a strength in this class in particular. He is extremely brave and has never spooked at a jump, but yet is quite sharp and athletic and covers a lot of ground.”
While this is Hesslink’s first victory in the Hunter Spectacular, he placed eighth in his first outing in 2020 and was third last year.
“This has to be one of the most prestigious wins I’ve ever had,” admitted Hesslink. “I’ve grown up watching this class, and it always held a very special place in my heart. I think it has so much history and prestige that I’ve been fortunate enough just to compete in it, but to win it is really indescribable. I’m very thankful for everyone and everything that helped me get here.”
Gochman and the Gochman Sport Horses LLC’s Catch Me (Casiro I) totaled a score just two points below Hesslink’s to land in second place. The 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding is no stranger to the victory gallop of the class, having both won the event in 2016 and 2017 with professional Scott Stewart.
“Peter [Pletcher], Scott [Stewart] and I tried to make a solid plan that I could follow,” described Gochman of her handy round that scored 89.5. “I wanted to be super smooth and not make too many big moves because there were a few tight turns, and the in-and-out was a bit skeptical with the bend, so I just wanted to keep it smooth and tell him where I was going.”
Taking over the ride on Catch Me from her mother Becky last year, Gochman was thrilled. “I was super excited – I mean, he’s Catch Me,” laughed Gochman. “I let him do what he wants, and he’s quite good at what he does. I’m really glad and thankful to my mom for letting me ride him, Scott for training me up, and for Peter and all of my team. I think it’s a huge group effort, and he always puts the cherry on top.”
Third place went to last year’s winners Amanda Steege and Lafitte De Muze who produced an overall score of 177.66. Steege and Cheryl Olsten’s 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Darco have traveled down from their home base of Ocala, FL, for four consecutive years for the event, and the pair have placed in the top multiple times.
“It just never gets old. Riding that horse every day never gets old, and certainly showing him and being competitive with such a competitive group of horses never gets old,” said Steege. “I think Lafitte truly loves it. He loves showing in any class, but he particularly loves showing in the night class here with the atmosphere and the amount of people. I don’t think I do anything particularly special; I just have a horse that’s a real showman and loves to go out there. I had an amazing time.”
Final Results: $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular
1.Mon Tresor, Geoffrey Hesslink, Little Brook LLC
90.66 | 90.5 | 181.16
2.Catch Me, Mimi Gochman, Gochman Sport Horses LLC
89.66 | 89.50 | 179.16
3.Lafitte De Muze, Amanda Steege, Cheryl Olsten
90.00 | 87.66 | 177.66
4.Private I, Michael Britt-Leon, Kelly Sims
87.00 | 88.66 |175.66
5.Queen Celeste, Nick Haness, Glade Run Farm LLC
86.75 | 88.33 |175.08
6.Alajolie, Augusta Iwasaki, Alexander Miller
87.66 | 86.50 | 174.16
7.Champs Elysees, Patricia Griffith, Hallowell Lane Farm LLC
83.10 | 86.33 | 169.33
8.Babylon, John French, Marnell Sport Horses LLC
83.66 | 83.66 | 167.32
9.Laskano, Jimmy Torano, Isalou, Inc.
88.50 | 76.00 | 164.50
10.Cascartini, Elizabeth Towell Boyd, Ken and Amy Wexler LLC
89.91 |39.00 |128.91
11.Consent, Kat Fuqua, Kat Fuqua
85.66 | 39.00 | 124.66
12.Golden Years, Elizabeth Towell Boyd, Mary Caroline Nolan
88.00 | 0 | 88.00
Wire-to-Wire 1.50m Win for Spencer Smith
In another class full of talented combinations during WEF 6, it was Spencer Smith (USA) who rose to the top of the 82-horse field with Picobello Full House Ter Linden Z in the $37,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. Course designer Ana Catalina Harris Cruz (MEX) winnowed down the original list to just seven to return for the jump-off on the grass Derby Field at Equestrian Village on Saturday.
“I thought the course was built properly,” said Smith. “It wasn’t small; it was about like the WEF [Challenge Cup] yesterday. I didn’t think there would be that many clears. I knew the time was really tight, so I thought it was nicely built and made for us.”
Smith was the first to return for the jump-off, and he put everyone on notice when he galloped across the field, urging his horse for speed and crossing the timers in 37.95 seconds, which would end up a full 2.71 seconds faster than the next clear competitor.
“If we’re going to do it, we do it,” grinned Smith, who trains with Jimmy Doyle and rides for Georgina Bloomberg as well. “I had a good gallop there and let him let his hair down a bit.”
It was a solid win for Smith and Picobello Full House Ter Linden Z, a horse he has only had the ride on since last month thanks to Belgian show jumper Gregory Wathelet, David Simpson, and the horse’s owners, Picobello Horses. Wathelet was the horse’s previous rider, and they competed in 10 five-star shows in 2021.
“They gave him to me to ride for the season and sell,” explained Smith of the 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Forever D’Arco Ter Linden x Cento. “He’s been a super horse. I’m sure we’ll find the right person for him.”
Smith’s horse enjoys competing on grass, and he said the gelding is “super easy at home.” He noted, “He’s just simple: kick, pull, and jump.”
Of his victory, Smith said, “It’s great to win here. In this three-star week with almost 100 riders in the class and the top horses and top riders, we’re at the pinnacle of show jumping in America. To beat people here is something worth doing.”
Second place went to yesterday’s co-winner Karl Cook (USA), this time riding Kalinka Van’t Zorgvliet, owned by Helen Signe Ostby. They finished the jump-off clear in 40.66 seconds. Emily Moffitt (GBR) and Poden Farms’s Bacara d’Archonfosse were double clear with a time of 41.56 seconds for third place.
The winner of the $10,000 Hermès Under 25 Welcome was Tanner Korotkin (USA) riding Ideal, owned by Castlewood Farm Inc. and Sandalwood Farm. They were also presented with the Champion Equine Insurance Jumper Style Award. Emilie Conter (BEL) and Legolas Ter Wilgen, owned by Stephex Stables, won the $1,000 Hermès Under 25 1.40m.
Final Results: $37,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Championship CSI3*
1. PICOBELLO FULL HOUSE TER LINDEN Z: 2010 Zangersheide gelding by Forever D’arco ter Linden x Cento
SPENCER SMITH (USA), Picobello Horses: 0/0/37.95
2. KALINKA VAN’T ZORGVLIET: 2010 Belgian Warmblood mare by Thunder vd Zuuthoeve x Flipper d’Elle
KARL COOK (USA), Helen Signe Ostby: 0/0/40.66
3. BACARA D’ARCHONFOSSE: 2007 Belgian Warmblood mare by Asca Z x Kannan
EMILY MOFFITT (GBR), Poden Farms: 0/0/41.56
4. MEADOW VALE CRUISE: 2011 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Creevagh Ferro x Cruising
HECTOR FLORENTINO (DOM), Wyndmont: 0/0/43.00
5. CONNER: 2009 Westphalian gelding by Cornado NRW x For Pleasure
STEPHEN MOORE (IRL), Vlock Show Stables LLC: 0/4/40.19
6. CERA CARUSO: 2008 Australian Warmblood gelding by Casall x Capone
KATIE LAURIE (AUS), Carissa McCall: 0/4/41.65
7. AYAMONTE BG Z: 2009 Zangersheide gelding by Air Jordan x Capital
DANA ESCALES (USA), Buttonwood Show Jumpers LLC: 0/4/42.21
8. IDALVILLE D’ESPRIT: 2008 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Carabas vd Wateringhoeve x Nabab de Reve
DARRAGH KENNY (IRL), Heathman Farm LLC: 1/75.38
9. LAZZARO DELLE SCHIAVE: 2009 Italian Sport Horse gelding by Acodetto 2 x Gluecksgriff
TOM WACHMAN (IRL), Coolmore Show Jumping: 1/75.42
10. GAMBLE: 2011 KWPN gelding by Vingino x Indoctro
CONOR SWAIL (IRL), Asta Torokvei: 2/76.72
11. CLAPTONN MOUCHE: 2012 Selle Français gelding by Conrad x Elan de la Cour
PETRONELLA ANDERSSON (SWE), Stephex Stables: 3/77.96
12. INDRA VAN DE OUDE HEIHOEF: 2008 Belgian Warmblood mare by Casantos x Action-Breaker
SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), The Blue Buckle Group: 4/70.73
3’6″ Junior and Amateur Hunter Divisions Rack Up Weekend Championships
Saturday morning of WCHR Hunter Week at WEF 6 started out in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring with the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” 18-35 division sponsored by Palm Beach Equine Clinic.
After 21 entries and four classes, Quimby and Martha Ingram were named champion with 21 points, thanks to wins over fences and under saddle and a division high score of 90. Everglow ridden by Stella Propp claimed reserve with 17 points.
Quimby is an 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by John & Stephanie Ingram, LLC.
“We just got him in December or January, but he’s such a pro,” said Martha Ingram. “My adrenaline kind of got me yesterday, and I didn’t ride him the best that I could, so it was really nice to just go in and put down a solid round going in first today.”
Ingram has already had a busy week earning the championship in the Adequan® Amateur-Owner 3’3” 18-35 aboard Private Practice, and with her father John Ingram coming in reserve on Koala in the NetJets Amateur-Owner 3’3” 36 and Over.
“I love hunter week,” added Ingram. “It’s a time the hunters at WEF really get to shine and have all the attention on them, so it’s always special and one thing about the winter that we really look forward to.”
Simultaneously, in the International Arena, the championship ribbon, cooler, and Later That Night Perpetual Trophy were being awarded to In Writing and Sterling Malnik.
In Writing, a 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding, and owner/rider Sterling Malnik, of Ocean Ridge, FL, topped the competitive Large Junior Hunter 3’6” 15 and Under division sponsored by T&R Development. The pair earned their spot with 26 points after winning two of their classes and posting a division high score of 90 in the stake.
“I was very, very happy with how it went,” said Malnik. “We did really well yesterday, so there was a little bit of pressure coming into today, but I just gave it my best ride and he couldn’t have been any better. He was very focused and performed perfectly.
“I love hunter week,” continued Malnik. “I think it’s a great opportunity for the hunters to be able to show in the big ring, but it’s definitely different [coming into the International Ring] because of the size, and there’s a lot more to look at for the horses. I felt like he was so perfectly prepared though, so we just went in there very confidently and gave a great ride.”
Reserve champion in the division was awarded to Five Star ridden by Jordan Gibbs of Colorado Springs, CO, for Dana Vollbracht.
Sterling Malnik continued her winning day with another tricolor performance, this time with Sweet Caroline in the Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under division. The division started Friday in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Arena where Malnik and Sweet Caroline quickly set the tone by winning the under saddle class. They went on to score a 90 over fences for another win and followed that up with an 87 in the handy class, good enough for fourth place, all of which was enough to claim the championship title.
Sweet Caroline, an 11-year-old KWPN mare by Spartacus TN x Corland, previously had a career as a jumper and had only dabbled in a few hunter derbies before Malnik bought her. True to her name, the sweet, personable chestnut is now excelling as a full-time hunter.
“She’s a beautiful mover, and she has an incredible jump. She has such a big heart and will jump her heart out for you every time,” said Malnik. “Her brain is so good, so she’s so brave. You can put her in front of anything and she’ll jump it.” That dependability is a confidence booster for Malnik, who made her Saturday night Hunter Spectacular debut this year.
Reserve champion in the division went to Consent, ridden and owned by Kat Fuqua. They scored an 88 in Friday’s over fences class for second place behind Malnik, and then scored a division-high 92 in Saturday’s stake class.
Catch Me, a 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Casiro I, is a super-star veteran to WCHR Week at WEF, having won the Hunter Spectacular twice with Scott Stewart in 2016 and 2017. Mimi Gochman has had the ride on Catch Me now for a year with plenty of accolades of her own, adding this year’s championship in the Voltaire Design-sponsored Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division to the list. Her newer mount, Montauk, a 13-year-old Warmblood gelding, finished with the reserve championship.
While the two geldings are different to ride, they share a lot of the same winning attributes. “They’re both very competitive and level-headed, and they know it’s very important, so they’ll jump to the occasion too,” explained Gochman. “They’re both fantastic jumpers, and they both have big strides and love a big gallop.”
That grandeur was on full display throughout the division. On the first day of competition, Catch Me won the under saddle, scored an 86.5 over fences for a second-place finish, and earned an 89 in the handy for another win. On Saturday, Gochman put the exclamation mark on their performance, claiming another victory with a 91 in the stake class. The only class the pair did not win in the division was won by Gochman’s other mount, Montauk. With their dominant showing and highest overall point total, Gochman and Catch Me were awarded with the Grand Junior Hunter Championship in addition to the division title.
Augusta Iwasaki picked up the reins on the catch ride Bettina, owned by Glen Eden LLC, just a couple weeks ago. Though it was only their second show together, Iwasaki and Bettina, an eight-year-old KWPN mare by Entertainer, made it a winning one with the championship in the Acute Plus Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division. They notched a victory on the first day of competition over fences with a score of 86 and then repeated that score and result on the deciding day in the stake class. It was just enough to edge out reserve champion Henry Healy and Blue Mountain LLC’s Reston by one point.
It was no surprise to Iwasaki that her wins came over fences given how the mare felt in their rounds. “She’s a small horse, but she’s really scopey and stridey, which I love. I think she has a really fun, round jump, and obviously the judges like it too,” noted Iwasaki. “She always goes in the ring and all of her jumps are really, really beautiful and impressive.”
John Ingram continued his stellar week, picking up the championship cooler with Caristo in the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” 36+ division, sponsored by Hunt LTD. Though a relatively new partner for Ingram, the nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Casall has picked up numerous tricolors already this circuit. This week, Caristo started the division on Friday with a score of 81 over fences for a second-place finish, followed by an 87 in the handy class for victory. Reflective of their consistency, Ingram was then able to guide Caristo to two more second-place ribbons, which came in the hack and the stake class after scoring an 86.
Ingram appreciates Caristo’s obvious understanding of when he needs to shine. “He’s a horse that when he steps in the ring, he’s all business. Now, he’s kind of all monkey business outside of it,” mentioned Ingram with a laugh. “But once he gets in there he just gets in a beautiful canter, and it’s just a pleasure.”
Brianne Goutal-Marteau qualified Caristo for the Hunter Spectacular earlier in the week as well, which presented Ingram with the dilemma of whether or not to show the gelding himself. “I thought, ‘I’m going to flip a coin. Maybe I should just count my blessings and let her do it,’” he joked. “It really takes a village, and we have a very special village.”
The reserve championship went to Verdict, ridden and owned by Jean Sheptoff, who scored a win over fences on Friday with an 85.