Wellington, FL – April 12, 2023 – The 2023 Spring Series presented by Florida Coast Equipment kicked off this week with the Spring I Charity show, benefitting the A-T Children’s Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding research towards and supporting children with Ataxia-Telangiectasia, a fatal genetic disease. We would like to thank our generous sponsors for making this charity show such a success and helping Wellington International support such an important cause. We look forward to the Charity Show returning to our calendars as an annual event, continuing to raise awareness of the A-T Children’s Project.
Spring I rounded out on Saturday with the $35,000 Spring I A-T Charity Grand Prix sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty. A field of 28 competitors entered the class, with only three of those entries making it to the jump-off. Out of those top three, Luis Pedro Biraben (ARG) and Chapeau PS Z, owned by Biraben and Miguel Madero, took home the win as the only double-clear pair in the standings.
The 2014 stallion, Chapeau PS Z (Comilfo Plus Z x Calato’s Lady PS Z) has been with Biraben and his team for over two years now. “I’ve had him since he was seven-year-old so it’s been really special to see him move up to these higher levels over the past two years,” commented Biraben.
“I think the course was quite nice for this class but built difficult enough as there were only three clears overall,” said Biraben. “With a small jump-off, my plan was to push the speed just enough to be competitive, but still keep it clean.”
Biraben’s plan came with the best possible outcome as the pair was the only clear in the jump-off with a time of 37 seconds. Following Biraben was Alberto Michan (ISR) and his own Itchcock Des Dames. Completing the podium was Samantha Alexis Mackenzie (CAN) and her own Inajottie VDM.
For the full results of the Spring I A-T Charity Grand Prix sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty, please click HERE.
Prior to the Grand Prix, the International Arena saw 18 competitors in the $5,000 High Junior/Amateur Jumper Stake. Seven competitors returned for the jump-off to race against the clock. Of those returning, American rider Collin Reynolds and her own Chicco W took the win with a double-clear time of 35.124 seconds, taking nearly four seconds off the time to beat. Taking home the red ribbon was Kaitlyn Kiely (USA) and Mystic C Van T Heyveld, owned by Kiely Equestrian, LLC, with a double-clear performance and time of 39.783 seconds. In third was Natalie Thornell (USA) and Jamiroquai, owned by Loveland Equine Investments, going double clear with a time of 40.134 seconds.
Spring I’s competition kicked off Thursday with a need for speed in the $10,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m Open Jumper Stake. The class was held in a two-phase format, meaning that if riders are not clear across the first portion of the course, across the clock and jumps, they will not advance to the second portion of the course, representative of a jump-off. Clear across both portions of the course, and fastest on the clock was American rider Kirsten Vanderveen, and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili, owned by Bull Run Jumpers Five LLC. The pair had a fault-free second phase time of 27.953 seconds, over three seconds faster than the runner-up. Taking that second spot was Mark Bluman (COL) and his own Justinov BB, double-clear over the course with a second phase time of 31.733 seconds. Following close behind was Alberto Michan (ISR) and his own Ithcock Des Dames, with a double-clear time of 31.769 seconds.
Competition continued on Friday with the $5,000 Barnwalkers 1.35m Open Jumper Stake. 30 competitors entered the class with nine of those entries making it to the jump-off round. Of the nine returning rounds, Venezuelan rider, Luis Fernando Larrazabal and Belle De Muze, owned by Driss Ngadi, came out on top. The pair performed a double-clear round with a winning time of 32.718 seconds. Larrazabal followed his own trail, ending in second with his other entry in the class, Billy Spiral, owned by Sabrina Lefebvre, finished double-clear with a time of 34.294 seconds. Sitting beside Larrazabal on the podium was Samantha Senft (USA) and her own Deaville S, performing double-clear with a time jump-off time of 35.191 seconds.
Keri Kampsen and Citation Take the Top Call in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Score At The Top
Wellington, FL – April 9, 2023 – The 2023 Spring Series kicked off this week with the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Score At The Top. The class took place in the “Hunt and Go” format, combining both the Classic round and Handy round into a single course. Taking the top call out of 18 competitors was Keri Kampsen and her mount Citation, owned by Kampsen herself and Lexy Reed. Set in the middle of the order, Kampsen, of Wellington, FL, had a Classic portion score of 88 with two high options added and kept it consistent scoring 88 with two high options in the Handy portion, for a total score of 180 to take the lead. Victoria Colvin, of Loxahatchee, FL, and Reddington, owned by Dawn Brennan-Hagen, set a high standard, scoring 177 as the first pair to take on the course, ultimately ending up second place overall. Completing the top three was Jennifer Bliss, of Wellington, FL, and Flight, owned by Dandelion Farm LLC, sitting just three points below Colvin at 174 overall.
For the full results of the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, sponsored by Score At The Top, please click HERE.
The Hunter Derby streak was kept alive on Friday with the $1,000 2’6”/2’9” Hunter Derby, sponsored by SAS Equestrian.14 horse-and-rider combinations entered the class, held in the “Hunt and Go” format. Scarlett Samuels, of New York, NY, and Integrity, owned by Wolfstone Stables & Sales Inc, took home the blue with a combined score of 175. To take the win, Samuels beat her own score of 174, which she scored with her other mount, Lady Dior, owned by Major Premier LLC, who she rode earlier in the class, finishing in second. The third spot was claimed by Bobby Goodnough, of Palm Beach, FL, and his own Czar Du Mesnil, who scored 172.5 overall.
The 2023 Spring Series presented by Florida Coast Equipment will continue with four more shows, culminating with Spring V from May 11-14, 2023.
To view the prize list for the 2023 Spring Series presented by Florida Coast Equipment, please click HERE.
