Wellington, FL – March 17, 2017 – It was a win for the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, as Richie Moloney and Slieveanorra took top prize in the $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m speed class on Friday, March 17, at the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL.
WEF 10, sponsored by Horseware Ireland, features CSI 3* competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on March 15-19, 2017. The week’s highlights include the $130,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3* and the $35,000 Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series Semi-Final, presented by The McNerney Family, on Saturday, March 18. All of the week’s live streaming can be viewed HERE. The 12-week WEF circuit continues through April 2, 2017, awarding over $9 million in prize money.
Richie Moloney and Slieveanorra
Course designer Michel Vaillancourt (CAN) saw 66 entries and 21 clear rounds over his 1.45m speed track. Julie Welles (USA) and Alexander LLC’s Ryanair de Riverland set a fast pace, second to go in 65.33 seconds, and eventually finished third. Laura Chapot (USA) with her own and McLain Ward’s Quointreau un Prince topped that time in 65.04 seconds and held a long lead, but settled for second place in the end. Third to last in the order, it was Irishman Richie Moloney riding Equinimity LLC’s Slieveanorra who took the win in 64.81 seconds.
The 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Voltaire x Flagmount Diamond) had a strong 2016 season and took some time off after concluding his year in November. He started back in week eight at WEF and came out fresh for his first FEI event this week.
“He is naturally a very fast horse,” Moloney said of his longtime partner. “I think I did more strides than the people before me, but his stride is so quick. He is quick across the ground, and he does not waste any time in the air. I just knew to keep going as quick as I could and I would be close enough.
“I saw Laura go,” Moloney added. “I knew it would be hard work to catch her. I saw that the top seven or eight were around 65 seconds, so I knew we had to try to win or else we could be seventh or eighth. He is just quick everywhere. She did less strides than me from number five to six; my horse just covered the ground faster.”
Moloney is pleased to have Slieveanorra back jumping in good form and hopes to compete the gelding in more 1.45m classes over the last two weeks of WEF competition.
Richie Moloney and Slieveanorra in their winning presentation with Suzie Reed of Illustrated Properties and ringmaster Steve Rector.
Also competing in the International Arena on Friday, Christina Antonucci and Zonneglans won the $2,500 Engel & Völkers High Amateur-Owner Jumper Power and Speed. Santiago Lambre (MEX) topped the $6,000 FEI 1.40m speed class riding Dingeman. The day concluded with a win for Georgina Bloomberg (USA) and Gotham Enterprizes’ South Street in the $6,000 Illustrated Properties 1.40m Speed Challenge.
Kendra Gierkink Returns to Equitation to Win Ariat National Adult Medal
After aging out of equitation competition at the end of the 2016 show season, Kendra Gierkink of Harpswell, ME, had no plans to ever compete in another equitation class. However, on Friday morning, Gierkink rode Casstess HBC to win the Ariat National Adult Medal. The class consisted of a first round and a test of the top four riders. Gierkink and Casstess HBC, owned by Kadley Holdings, LLC, earned the high score in the first round, an 88, and laid down a flawless test to take the blue ribbon.
The nine-year-old Holsteiner stallion by Cassiano had never competed in an equitation class before Friday, as he was previously campaigned by Gierkink’s sister, Addison Gierkink, in the Medium Amateur-Owner jumpers.
“I started riding him at the beginning of the winter circuit,” Gierkink explained. “He decided he doesn’t want to be a jumper anymore, so I’ve just been riding him at home and taking lessons. I was doing the warm-up in this ring on Tuesday and my trainer, Missy Clark, said, ‘Oh, he goes really cute, why don’t you do an Adult Medal.’ We decided to do the Ariat, and he was super!”
Kendra Gierkink and Casstess HBC
All four riders in the test executed the more challenging and shortened track smoothly, but Gierkink’s consistency and smoothness over both rounds helped her win the class.
Speaking of her trips, Gierkink said, “In the first round there were several options, but I decided to ride off of what I was feeling. I liked the course and my horse went around really well, he landed all the leads and was great. Testing is not always my strong suit, but I thought it was a good test!”
Catie Staszak of Boynton Beach, FL, piloted Agnes Augusta, an entry owned by East Wind Farms, LLC, to the second place ribbon. The pair earned the second highest score in the first around, an 86. Rounding out the top three placings was Gabi Morris of Bridgewater, NJ. Morris guided her own Hypnotic to a first round score of 85.
Week ten of the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival continues on Saturday in the International Arena featuring the $35,000 Hollow Creek Under 25 Grand Prix Series Semi-Final, sponsored by The McNerney Family, and the $130,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3*, which starts at 7:30 p.m. The Bruno Delgrange Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division will determine championship and reserve honors in the Rost Arena. For full results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.
Final Results: $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m
1. SLIEVEANORRA: 2002 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Voltaire x Flagmount Diamond
RICHIE MOLONEY (IRL), Equinimity LLC: 0/64.81
2. QUOINTREAU UN PRINCE: 2004 Selle Francais gelding by Diamant de Semilly x Rosire
LAURA CHAPOT (USA), Laura Chapot & McLain Ward: 0/65.04
3. RYANAIR DE RIVERLAND: 2005 Selle Francais stallion by Quick Star x Papillon Rouge
JULIE WELLES (USA), Alexander LLC: 0/65.33
4. BUCKLE UP: 2006 KWPN gelding by Colandro x Caretino
SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), The Blue Buckle Group: 0/65.59
5. IMKE 111: 2008 Belgian Warmblood mare by Der Senaat 111 x Heartbreaker
ABDEL SAID (EGY), AS Sport Horses: 0/65.63
6. VRAGANCE MANCIAISE: 2009 Selle Francais mare by Cassini II x Power Light
DARRAGH KENNY (IRL), Vlock Show Stables LLC: 0/65.79
7. THORNHILL KATE: 2005 Irish Sport Horse mare by Courage II x Clover Hill
LAURA CHAPOT (USA), Laura & Mary Chapot: 0/65.88
8. LORDAN: 2004 Hanoverian gelding by Lordanos x Landor
NAYEL NASSAR (EGY), Nayel Nassar: 0/65.99
9. INDIGO: 2000 KWPN gelding by Indoctro x Dutchman
MARGIE ENGLE (USA), Griese, Garber, Hidden Creek & Gladewinds: 0/67.89
10. CARIMBA B: 2008 Hanoverian mare by Contendro I x For Pleasure
ERYNN BALLARD (CAN), Looking Back Farm: 0/68.52
11. HENDRIK 41: 2007 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Querlybet Hero x Major de la Cour
ALEC LAWLER (USA), Alec Lawler: 0/71.29
12. CONCORDE: 2007 KWPN gelding by Vaillant x Concorde
CHRIS PRATT (CAN), The Epic Group LLC: 0/71.59
Photo Credit: Photos © Sportfot, Official Photographer of the Winter Equestrian Festival. These photos may be used only in relation to this press release