Mario Deslauriers produced a blazing fast double-clear effort with Cella (Cento x Chin Chin) to win the 2012 $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational. All Photos By: V.Valenti/The Book LLC.
Tampa, FL – April 7, 2012 -It was a night of nail-biting excitement as 32 of the nation’s top riders went head-to-head in the 2012 $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational presented by G & C Farm at Raymond James Stadium. It was with speed and accuracy that Mario Deslauriers was able to triumph tonight with Cella during a five-horse jump-off. They raced through the finish line in 44.50 seconds after completing a clear short course during the Molly Ashe-Cawley posted a speedy time aboard Carissimo, leaving all rails in their cups and capturing the second place prize in 45.81 seconds. Beezie Madden was the third of the double-clear efforts, but her time of 46.31 seconds proved too conservative, taking the third place honors for the evening’s event.
The USA's Richard Spooner and YJC graduate Cristallo (Caretino x Cicero) won the North American West Coast FEI World Cup™ Jumping qualifying series and will line out at 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands for the 2011/2012 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Final in two weeks time. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.
by Louise Parkes
The 2011/2012 North American FEI World Cup™ Jumping qualifying leagues concluded last weekend at Tampa in Florida (USA), yielding a star-studded selection of contenders for the 34th Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final at ’s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands which is now only two weeks away.
Two separate leagues take place on the North American continent. The East Coast league began at Blainville in Quebec (CAN) last July, while the West Coast league kicked off at another Canadian fixture, Langley CSI2*-W, a month earlier. A total of four groups of athletes can qualify from this region – two from Canada, another two from Mexico, three from the USA West Coast League and seven from the USA East Coast series. And many of the riders who have made the cut for this season’s decider are big names that are likely to make their presence felt when the action gets underway at the Brabanthalle on 19 April. Continue reading Star-Studded Line-Up Emerges from North American FEI World Cup™ Jumping Qualifying Leagues
Beezie Madden and YJC Graduate Mademoiselle (Libertino x Silvester) were the winners of the $50,000 Grand Prix of Tampa CSI 2*-W after completing a jump-off round with blazing fast speed, beating Margie Engle by only a fraction of a second. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG.
Tampa, FL – Sunday, April 1, 2012 – It was the concluding day of the Tampa Bay Classic today at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center, and competition was fierce as the nation’s top competitors strived to pave their way to the 2012 World Cup Finals in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. The $50,000 Grand Prix of Tampa CSI 2*-W was the last opportunity for riders to qualify for the impending World Cup Finals, and the battle came down to two as Beezie Madden and Margie Engle fought to the finish. Madden and Mademoiselle emerged the victors, beating Engle’s jump-off time by only six-tenths of a second.
This afternoon, riders gathered beneath the Covered Arena to compete over courses designed by Michel Vaillancourt of Canada. The first round featured an imposing opening oxer-vertical line, followed by an oxer leading to another vertical-oxer line. Riders were also challenged by a vertical-oxer-vertical triple combination, an oxer-vertical double combination and a daunting grey wall. The course tested horse and rider alike, with combinations finding fault in multiple places, including the triple combination, double combination and the final oxer.
Only two riders were able to complete the first round without fault and advance to the short track. The course began with a single vertical bending to an oxer, after landing riders had the choice of making a wide turn around the fourth obstacle and moving onto an oxer or slicing the turn and saving some seconds. The oxer required an immediate right rollback leading to the last vertical of the triple combination, and then riders made a hard left over the oxer-vertical double combination. Finally, riders were faced with the grey wall, and galloped over the final oxer. Continue reading Beezie Madden Secures World Cup Spot With Victory Aboard YJC Graduate Mademoiselle
Wellington, FL – March 31, 2012 – Twenty-two-year-old Daniel Bluman, of Colombia, jumped to an exciting victory on Saturday night in the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5* at the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Over 7,000 fans filled the stands to see the best of the best from the winter circuit compete under the lights in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Bluman and his mount Sancha LS earned the top prize in a three-horse jump-off over Canada’s Ian Millar and Star Power and USA’s Lauren Hough and YJC Graduate Quick Study.
Wellington, FL – March 30, 2012 – The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival hosted the Adequan Young Jumper Finals today in the International Arena for three age groups. The $20,000 Adequan 8-Year-Old Young Jumper Final victory went to Ronan McGuigan (IRL) and Capall Zidane. Andres Rodriguez (VEN) and Aberdeen took the top spot in the $20,000 Adequan 7-Year-Old Young Jumper Final. Riding Lionshare Farm’s Wayfarer, Peter Leone (USA) won the $15,000 Adequan 6-Year-Old Young Jumper Final. In the Rost Arena, Arriana Boardman of New York City won the Horseware Ireland Adult Amateur 3′3″ Hunter championship with Red Carpet.
Wellington, FL – March 29, 2012 – Germany’s Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum rode to an exciting one-two finish on Thursday afternoon in the $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 12 at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Michaels-Beerbaum topped the class aboard Cantano and finished second riding Checkmate 4, both owned by Octavia Farms LLC. Other wins for the day went to Johannes Ehning and Cayenne 162 in the $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic and Darrin Dlin and Janou in the $10,000 Adequan 5-Year-Old Young Jumper Final. In the hunters, Hayley Barnhill and Surfs Up were presented championship honors in the Performance Working Hunter 3′3″ division.
Wellington, FL – March 28, 2012 – The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival began the 12th and final week of competition today with the $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic. Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and HH Palouchin, owned by Double H Farm, are familiar faces in the winner’s circle and were able to speed to victory in today’s class. Richard Spooner (USA) and Molly Ohrstrom’s Billy Bianca were second, while Darragh Kerins (IRL) and Hot Wheels finished third.
Sponsored by FTI Consulting, Inc., the final week of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival will feature the highlight grand prix of the season, the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5*, on Saturday, March 31. The USHJA International Hunter Derby will host the top 25 on the grass field at The Stadium on Sunday, April 1.
Wellington, FL – March 22, 2012 – Margie Engle and Indigo, Rich Fellers and Flexible, and Reed Kessler and Cylana are all tied at the top of the standings after round #3 of the USEF Selection Trials, which are being held to determine the riders that will represent the United States Show Jumping Team in the 2012 Olympic Games.
Riders showed in round #1 on Wednesday afternoon and round #2 earlier in the day on Thursday. The scores from all three rounds will carry over to Saturday evening when competitors will compete in a fourth and final round. This event also serves as the USEF National Show Jumping Championships, a return to the event that was last held in 2008.
Thirty horse and rider combinations showed in round #3 tonight over a demanding course set by Alan Wade of Ireland. Wade’s course tested the power, scope and stamina of all of the competitors, and none were able to clear the course without fault.
Carst VDL (Harley VDL x Calido I) and Todd Minikus top the YJC Clear Round Club, representing horses that have jumped clear in every YJC Qualifier to date in 2012. Sportfot.com photo.
In the midst of the excitement surrounding the Olympic Selection Trials, we pause to think about what it is that makes a champion. Superlatives like heart, scope and speed come to mind, but there’s also the often ignored quality of consistency. The ability to jump clear round after clear round doesn’t in itself guarantee success, but it certainly brings it within reach. With that in mind, we took a look at this season’s crop of Young Jumpers and have put together a list we call the Clear Round Club. The horse-and-rider combinations featured below have earned a minimum of three clear rounds in YJC Qualifiers, but the important point is none of them have incurred a first-round fault in a Qualifier so far this season. In baseball terms, they are batting 1000. The horses on the list represent all 4 age groups and are ranked by the number of clear rounds, to date:
1 CARST VDL (2007 ch.g. KWPN Harley VDL x Calido I), O: Stephanie Vijan, R: Todd Minikus, B: M. van de Bruggen (NED). Clear rounds = 7
2 FREESTYLE DE MUZE (2005 gr.g. BWP, Lord Z x Cento) O: Equinimity LLC, R: Richie Moloney, B: Joris de Brabander (BEL). Clear rounds = 6
Kent Farrington and YJC Graduate Uceko (Celano x Koriander) posted one of eight clears in the first day of USEF Selection Trials for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Wellington, FL – March 21, 2012 – Week eleven of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival kicked off on Wednesday with the exciting first round of the USEF Selection Trials for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games. Eight of the USA’s top show jumping duos stood out from the pack with clear rounds in Selection Trial #1, including Reed Kessler and Cylana, Charlie Jayne and Athena, Margie Engle and Indigo, Laura Kraut and Teirra, Kirsten Coe and Baronez, Kent Farrington and Uceko, Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One, and Mario Deslauriers and Urico.
Olympic course designer Linda Allen brings you the complete guide to course building on DVD. 
