WEF 2020: Young Talent Scores $150,000 Nations Cup CSIO4* Victory for United States

Photos Copyright © Sportfot
Photos Copyright © Sportfot

The future of U.S. show jumping was shining bright as a team of up-and-coming athletes dominated the $150,000 Nations Cup CSIO4* in the International Arena during week eight on Saturday evening, February 29, at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL.The “Saturday Night Lights” Nations Cup consisted of two rounds over a course set by the USA’s Ken Krome. Teams of four represented the nations of Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, and the United States.

Read MoreWEF 2020: Young Talent Scores $150,000 Nations Cup CSIO4* Victory for United States

New Zealand Claimes the Honours in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ of the United Arab Emirates at Abu Dhabi (UAE)

Photo Copyright © FEI/Helen Cruden
Photo Copyright © FEI/Helen Cruden

New Zealand make it an historic double in Abu Dhabi, UAE and Syria qualify for Final!
Only seconds separate runner-up Egyptians from their hosts in third New Zealand claimed the honours in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ of the United Arab Emirates at Abu Dhabi (UAE) for the second time in two years today when pinning Egypt into runner-up spot and the host-nation into third. It was another piece of Kiwi equestrian history in the making as anchorman, Daniel Meech, explained.

Read MoreNew Zealand Claimes the Honours in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ of the United Arab Emirates at Abu Dhabi (UAE)

WEF 2020 Week 8: Sydney Shulman Unbeatable in Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix Series Semi-Final

Photos Copyright © Sportfot
Photos Copyright © Sportfot

Sydney Shulman (ISR) held onto her spot at the top of the Hermès Under 25 leaderboard by winning the $37,000 Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix Series Semi-Final CSIO4* aboard Azilis du Mesnil under the lights in the International Arena during week eight on Friday, February 28, at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL.
WEF continues at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) through March 29, 2020, with 12 consecutive weeks of world-class competition and $13 million dollars on offer. The eighth week of competition, sponsored by Premier Equestrian, runs through March 1 and is recognized as a CSIO4* Nations Cup by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). Highlights still to come for the week are the $150,000 Nations Cup CSIO4* during “Saturday Night Lights”, and the $214,000 Premier Equestrian CSIO4* Grand Prix to close out the week on Sunday.

Read MoreWEF 2020 Week 8: Sydney Shulman Unbeatable in Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix Series Semi-Final

Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2019/2020 Western European League (WEL) in Gothenburg, Sweden: Geir Gulliksen Wins!

Photo © FEI /Satu Pirinen
Photo © FEI /Satu Pirinen

Norway’s Geir Gulliksen posted the first World Cup victory of his long and successful career in the thrilling 14th and last qualifier of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2019/2020 Western European League (WEL) in Gothenburg, Sweden where he pinned young Swiss star Bryan Balsiger into second place and French Olympic gold medallist, Kevin Staut, into third.
But, not satisfied with having stolen the show with the ride of his life on his brave little gelding VDL Groep Quatro, Gulliksen added even more drama when taking a tumble from the horse during the prizegiving.

Read MoreLongines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2019/2020 Western European League (WEL) in Gothenburg, Sweden: Geir Gulliksen Wins!

2020 WEF: McLain Ward Pilots HH Azur Back to the Top in Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix CSI5*

Photos Copyright © Sportfot
Photos Copyright © Sportfot

Two-time U.S. Olympic team gold medalist McLain Ward won his third CSI5* in two weeks by taking top call in the $401,000 Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix CSI5* riding his 2016 Olympic mount, HH Azur, during “Saturday Night Lights” on February 22, at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL.

WEF continues at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) through March 29, 2020, with 12 consecutive weeks of world-class competition and $13 million dollars on offer. The seventh week of competition, sponsored by Lugano Diamonds, runs February 19-23 and is recognized as a CSI5* and CSI2* by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI).
Santiago Varela (ESP), who has been tapped to set the tracks at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, was the course designer for the Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix, which welcomed six contenders from three different countries to a tie-breaking jump-off. Continuing a banner month that included the birth of his second daughter, Madison, Ward is riding a wave of success and a little bit of luck.

Read More2020 WEF: McLain Ward Pilots HH Azur Back to the Top in Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix CSI5*

2020 Winter Equestrian Festival: Bertram Allen Continues Winning Ways During WEF Seven

Photos Copyright © Sportfot
Photos Copyright © Sportfot

Ireland’s Bertram Allen continued a successful debut season at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL, with a victory in the $37,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.45m CSI5* riding Lafayette van Overis on Friday, February 21. WEF continues at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) through March 29, 2020, with 12 consecutive weeks of world-class competition and $13 million dollars on offer. The seventh week of competition, sponsored by Lugano Diamonds, runs February 19-23 and is recognized as a CSI5* and CSI2* by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). The featured event of the week is the $401,000 Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix CSI5* during “Saturday Night Lights.”

Read More2020 Winter Equestrian Festival: Bertram Allen Continues Winning Ways During WEF Seven

Beezie Madden and Georgina Bloomberg Win on Week7 Opening Day of CSI5* Competition at WEF

Photo © Sportfot
Photo © Sportfot

Four-time U.S. Olympic medalist Beezie Madden claimed victory in the $37,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45m CSI5* aboard Jiva, and Georgina Bloomberg topped the Bainbridge Companies 1.40m CSI5* riding new mount Balotelli 5 to open week seven at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) on Wednesday, February 19. WEF continues through March 29 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, with 12 consecutive weeks of world-class competition and $13 million dollars on offer. The seventh week of competition, sponsored by Lugano Diamonds, runs February 19-23 is recognized as a CSI5* and CSI2* by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). Featured events of the week include the $401,000 Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix CSI5* during “Saturday Night Lights."

Read MoreBeezie Madden and Georgina Bloomberg Win on Week7 Opening Day of CSI5* Competition at WEF

It’s All About Girl Power as Team USA Takes Top Honors in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ of the United States of America in Wellington Followed by the All-Girl British Squad

Photo by Kathy Russell Photography
Photo by Kathy Russell Photography

At the close of Round 1 in the $230,000 CSIO5* Longings FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ USA at the Palm Beach Masters Series, Team USA was one of three nations sitting on a score of 8 along with Mexico and Israel.  Once the sun went down on the beautiful Deeridge Farms, it took a dramatic jump-off between America’s Beezie Madden and Great Britain’s Alexandra Thornton to determine which team would ‘jump’ to the highest step of the podium.
— By Simona Diale, International Horse Press

Read MoreIt’s All About Girl Power as Team USA Takes Top Honors in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ of the United States of America in Wellington Followed by the All-Girl British Squad

Victoria Colvin and Private Practice Can’t Be Beat in $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular

Photo © Sportfot
Photo © Sportfot

Young hunter professional Victoria Colvin once again proved unbeatable as she returned to pilot her talented 2019 $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular winner, Private Practice, to the victory in the premier class of WCHR week once again during “Saturday Night Lights” at the 2020 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).

Read MoreVictoria Colvin and Private Practice Can’t Be Beat in $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular

Sydney Shulman and Villamoura 
Race to Victory in the $36,600 CSIO5* 
Palm Beach Masters Classic  

Photo by Kathy Russell Photography
Photo by Kathy Russell Photography

Sydney Shulman (ISR) came into Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Week CSIO5*/CSI2* at the Palm Beach Masters Series® thinking that she'd already won.

The appearance marked Shulman's first CSIO5* competition at the venue, and she arrived hoping only for a positive experience. Saturday afternoon, the 25-year-old recorded a memorable victory, riding longtime mount Villamoura to the top of the $36,600 CSIO5* Palm Beach Masters Classic.

Read MoreSydney Shulman and Villamoura 
Race to Victory in the $36,600 CSIO5* 
Palm Beach Masters Classic  

U.S. Squads Sweep CSI Youth Team Competitions at the Palm Beach Masters Series® for the Second Straight Year

Photo by Kathy Russell Photography
Photo by Kathy Russell Photography

Talent was in no short supply Saturday at Deeridge Farms, when athletes in CSI Youth Team Competitions for Children (ages 12-14), Juniors (14-18), and Young Riders (16-21) took to the Sand Arena with an enthusiastic gallery of fans, family, and support teams looking on. For the second consecutive year, U.S. athletes coached by Chef d’Equipes DiAnn Langer and Anne Kursinski put in a strong showing, earning gold medal wins across all three age groups.

Read MoreU.S. Squads Sweep CSI Youth Team Competitions at the Palm Beach Masters Series® for the Second Straight Year