Hometown Hero Mclain Ward Clinches CSI 3* 1.55m Grand Prix Win at Second Annual CSI Greenwich

Greenwich, Ct – Oct. 8, 2022 – Blue skies and colorful foliage framed the backdrop for international show-jumping athletes as they were welcomed back to the famed Greenwich Polo Club on its final day of competition at CSI Greenwich. The penultimate class of the weekend, the CSI 3* 1.55m Grand Prix brought a field of 25 horse-and-rider combinations representing eight nations to contest for the top prize of the weekend. At the conclusion of the two exciting rounds of competition, it was Mclain Ward and Lezaro who took home the blue ribbon, Devin Ryan aboard Eddie Blue in second, and Mario Deslauriers with Bardolina 2 to round out the top three.

Mclain Ward & Lezaro

After its successful single-day debut in 2021, CSI Greenwich returned in 2022 to showcase the elite show jumping sport in the greater New York area. This year, the event boasted a three-day schedule and offered both CSI3* and CSI2* divisions. The brainchild of former World No. 1 Kent Farrington, the event is intended to bring the feel of European competition stateside, with a focus on top-quality sport in an intimate and modern environment.

A track set for the occasion, Alan Wade (IRE)’s 13-obstacle first-round course presented difficulty for many of the top combinations leaving spectators without a clear round effort until the ninth combination in the order of go, Amanda Derbyshire and Cornwall BH. Only two rides later, CSI Greenwich’s own Farrington, forced a jump-off by posting a clear round ride aboard Haity McNerney’s Landon. At the conclusion of the first round, only six horse-and-rider combinations qualified to return over the 7-effort shortened track that consisted of two new fences not featured in the first round.

Devin Ryan & Eddie Blue

Returning to the iconic polo field in the order of which they went clear, Derbyshire and Gochman Sport Horse LLC’s 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding were first to contest. Dropping an unfortunate rail at the final oxer, the pair crossed the timers at 44.4 seconds ultimately earning them a fifth-place finish at the conclusion of the class. Farrington and the 9-year-old Zangersheide gelding crossed the timers at 44.96 seconds but four faults picked up on course landed them out of top contention and into sixth place.

Third to contest for the title in Greenwich, Wishing Well Farm LLC’s 13- year-old Holsteiner Mare and Deslauriers posted the first double clear round of the day, speeding through the timers at 43.9 seconds and moving into first place. The 13-year-old KWPN gelding Eddie Blue, owned by LL Show Jumpers LLC, and Ryan followed in the double-clear trend to overtake the top spot with a time of 40.84 seconds.

Mario Deslauriers & Bardolina 2

No stranger to pressure, Ward guided Stella Wasserman’s 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Lenzaro, around the grass field with ease to an efficient clear round only one-tenth of a second in front of Ryan crossing the timers at 40.74 seconds and into the top spot. The sixth and final combination to contest was Molly Ashe and Louisburg Farm’s Cappucino. The 10-year-old Westphalian gelding and Ashe navigated the 1.55m track clear in 44.39 seconds earning the pair fourth place honors Saturday evening.

To learn more about CSI Greenwich, visit CSIGreenwich.com

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

Mclain Ward – CSI 3* 1.55m Grand Prix

On Lezaro:
“He’s actually a horse that I was part of selling earlier in the year and it actually wasn’t quite the right match for his rider, Stella [Wasserman] who’s a top young rider, but it wasn’t the perfect combination. We have a great relationship with her and her family so they allowed me to continue riding him. We have just kind of been building our relationship. I think the horse is really talented. He’s a bit spicy in his character but the quality is incredible and I really, really enjoy the ride.”

On CSI Greenwich:
“I think Kent Farrington and myself, who are dear friends first and foremost, and great competitors and colleagues, really love this part of the world. I’m from here, Kent has had properties here and lived here at different times in his career. We really feel that this is a horse area and a beautiful place for our sport, and well supported and we’ve all made efforts to really have great events in the New York area.”

Mclain Ward & Lezaro

On the East Coast and Greater New York area:
“I think people enjoy coming back here. The seasons, the weather for the horses. New York is a pro-horse area. The people love [the sport], they want to support it. I think it’s great that they have these events and see the interest level that comes out.”

On the course:
“Difficult enough. Like I said, this horse is very talented but has a bit of a spicy character, so there’s always questions, there’s always things you’re not sure about. I think for a 3* out on a big grass field, I think that it was a challenge and we saw not so many clean, and really on paper what you would say are the most experienced riders. For the jump-off, I feel like the horse was fast and I wanted to try to take advantage.”

From left to right- Mclain Ward, Devin Ryan, Mario Deslauriers

RESULTS

CSI 3* 1.55m Grand Prix
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Faults /  R1 Time / R2 Faults / R2 Time
1. Lezaro / Mclain Ward / Stella Wasserman / 0 / 77.99 / 0 / 40.74
2. Eddie Blue / Devin Ryan / LL Show Jumpers, LLC / 0 / 78.89 / 0 / 40.84
3. Bardolina 2 / Mario Deslauriers / Wishing Well Farm LLC / 0 / 76.07 / 0 / 43.9
4. Cappuccino / Molly Ashe / Louisburg Farm / 0 / 76.07 / 0 / 43.9
5. Cornwall BH / Amanda Derbyshire / Gochman Sport Horse LLC / 0 / 80.73 / 4 / 44.4
6. Landon / Kent Farrington / Haity McNerney / 0 / 80.19 / 4 / 44.96
7. Conner / Vanessa Hood / Take Two LLC / 1 / 82.86
8. Celina BH / Mimi Gochman / Gochman Sport Horse LLC / 4 / 76.24
9. Manhattan / Georgina Bloomberg / Gotham Enterprizes, LLC / 4 / 77.25
10. Atika Des Hauts Vents / Katie Dinan / Grant Road Partners LLC / 4 / 78.14

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