Photo Credit: Leslie Howard and Jeans Glove Varnel won the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic (above right, below left). Caitlin Ziegler pilots Safari to the Small Junior 15 & Under Championship (bottom left). © 2010 Randi Muster/Mustphoto, Inc., Official Sport Photographer of the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.
Ingram and Hush, Ziegler and Safari Win in Rated Hunters
Wellington, FL - February 6, 2010 - Leslie Howard (USA) up on Jeans Glove Varnel owned by Leslie Howard was victorious in today's $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic. Cedric and Laura Kraut (USA) were the only other double clear round in today's class for second place, while Kent Farrington (USA) on Uceko finished third.
The fourth week of the FTI WEF is sponsored by Adequan and runs through Sunday, February 7. The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) 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.
Richard Jeffrey of England designed the course in the DeNemethy Arena with 12 numbered obstacles and 14 efforts in the first round, which included an open water jump and a triple combination. The time allowed in the first round was 82 seconds. A field of 29 competitors came out to compete on this very windy day, but only four successfully navigated the first round course and advanced to the short course.
The jump off consisted of seven obstacles, which included inside turn options and a careful turn to a two-stride. The time allowed was 48 seconds, and the first competitor to produce a flawless score and set the pace was the winner Leslie Howard and her horse Jeans Glove Varnel. The pair stopped the timers at 41.604 seconds. They displayed an impeccable round that couldn't be beaten because of Howard's very fast pace and extremely tight turns.
The second challenger to enter the ring produced an amazing effort. Laura Kraut and her mount Cedric, owned by Happy Hill farm, had a faultless round, but were just a little shy of the lead when they produced a time of 44.279 seconds.
Kent Farrington and his horse Uceko, owned by RCG Farm, had a very fast time of 43.255 seconds. Farrington navigated the course beautifully, but unfortunately had two rails that would keep him out of the top two spots.
The last rider to challenge Howard's time was Peter Charles (GBR) on one of his new horses, Murka's Mr. Bacardi owned by Olga White. Charles tried a very risky turn that would shave seconds off of his time, but his young horse wasn't able to make the turn. The pair had to circle before an oxer and then finish their round. Charles and his mount finished in fourth place.
Despite the wind in today's class, Howard stuck to her plan in both rounds. She spoke of the first round, "I misread the water line, and I thought the four (strides) would be the way to go, but as it turned out, it was a little scary, but I was able to sneak over it!"
Howard has had an amazing circuit so far and all of her horses have been producing serious results. She spoke very fondly of her horses and said, "All three have been super and spot on in every class." The mare she rode in today's class is 14 years old, but she has owned Jeans Glove Varnel since she was seven. Howard contends, "So far the mare has placed third and first this circuit, so she is off to a great start."
As for upcoming plans, expect to see Howard and her horse Jeans Glove Varnel in the Suncast 1.50 Classics and making their way up the grand prix classes.
Tomorrow's action will continue with the $75,000 Adequan CSI 2* Grand Prix which will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. in the International Arena.
Final Results: $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic
1. JEANS GLOVE VARNEL, LESLIE HOWARD, LESLIE HOWARD: 0/0/41.604
2. CEDRIC, LAURA KRAUT, HAPPY HILL FARM: 0/0/44.279
3. UCEKO, KENT FARRINGTON, RCG FARM: 0/8/43.255
4. MURKA'S MR. BACARDI, PETER CHARLES, OLGA WHITE: 0/15/55.000
5. MADISON, ALEXA PESSOA, ALEXA PESSOA: 4/78.426
6. G&C NAPOLEON, PABLO BARRIOS, GUSTAVO & CAROLINA MIRABAL: 4/80.216
7. UBLESCO, CARA RAETHER, TRELAWNY FARM LLC: 4/80.432
8. METROPOLITAN, GEORGINA BLOOMBERG, GOTHAM ENTERPRIZES: 4/80.476
9. BOO VAN HET KASTANJEHOF, JACK HARDIN TOWELL, JACK HARDIN TOWELL: 4/81.867
10. MADEMOISELLE, BEEZIE MADDEN, ABIGAIL WEXNER & C&S PARTNERSHIP LLC: 5/82.831
11. MURKA'S NEVADA VI, PETER CHARLES, OLGA WHITE: 5/82.882
12. ROMEO, CARA ANTHONY, POTCREEK MEADOW FARM: 8/79.496
Today's Hunter Competition
Hunter competition kicked off the weekend with Amateur and Junior Hunters taking center stage at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center today.
John Ingram and Hush (right), owned by John and Stephanie Ingram, were awarded the Amateur-Owner Hunter 36 & Over Championship today in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. The pair were consistently in the top ribbons this week, earning a first and sixth over fences yesterday, as well as a second and seventh over fences today, and a win in the under saddle. The reserve championship was awarded to Jane Gaston and her mount Lumiere.
Having owned Hush for almost a year, Ingram has mastered the ride on the 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding. Ingram credited the team at River Circle for his many successes, and noted, "I'm really grateful for the job that Tom Wright, Dominique Vonsiatsky, and the rest of the team do to get him ready because that's the only shot I've got."
Ingram, of Nashville, TN, bought Hush with hopes that his daughter, Martha, will take over the ride in the next couple years when she moves up to the junior hunter ranks. Martha, 13, is currently showing in the Pony Hunter divisions, and will have both Hush and Ingram's other mount, Tiziano, waiting in the wings for her when she is ready to begin the junior hunters.
Ingram complimented his flashy bay gelding, "It's just a lovely experience. The jump is fantastic, and I'm really grateful to have him. When he's right, it's like butter." Hush is known to be quirky in the barn and the schooling areas, but "when you have his talents, you can have a few moments," Ingram laughed.
Also victorious today was Caitlin Ziegler riding Artisan Farm's Safari in the Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under. The pair won both classes over fences yesterday, as well as placing second and fourth over fences today, and third in the hack to secure the championship. The reserve championship was awarded to Abigail McArdle, riding Amelia McArdle's MVP.
Fifteen-year-old Ziegler (left) hails from Milwaukee, WI, but will reside in Wellington for the remainder of the 12 week FTI WEF. Ziegler has owned the nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding for two years, and noted that "he's really nice to ride, and especially in the last few months he's really grown up a lot."
Ziegler hopes to qualify for the AHJF Hunter Spectacular this year on Safari, who has already won the esteemed class once with Tim Goguen. "You can kind of just go loosely, and he's got a big stride so the lines are never a problem," Ziegler said of riding Safari.
Ziegler will continue to compete throughout the weekend in both the Low and Medium Junior Jumpers as well.
Week four of the FTI WEF will conclude on Sunday and will feature a full schedule of hunter competition.
For full results please visit www.shownet.biz or www.equestriansport.com.
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.
Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC
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