2020 Winter Equestrian Festival: McLain Ward Scores Brilliant Victory in Fidelity Investments® Grand Prix CSI5*

Photo © Sportfot
Photo © Sportfot

Two-time U.S. Olympic team gold medalist McLain Ward charged to a win in the $401,000 Fidelity Investments® Grand Prix CSI5* in front of a packed International Arena riding Noche de Ronda during “Saturday Night Lights” at the 2020 Winter Equestrian Festival on February 8 in Wellington, FL. Forty of the world’s best crossed the start timers to Anthony D’Ambrosio’s and Andy Christiansen’s (USA) first-round track with 12 posting perfect rounds to advance to a jump-off. U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Kent Farrington and Gazelle sat in the leading position on a time of 39.51 seconds when Ward entered the ring. To the roar of a home-country crowd, Ward and Noche de Ronda broke the timers double-clear and the ones to beat in 37.47 seconds. WEF continues through March 29 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, Florida, with 12 consecutive weeks of world-class competition and $13 million dollars on offer. The fifth week of competition runs February 5 through February 9, is sponsored by Fidelity Investments®, and recognized as a CSI5* and CSI2* by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI).

Read More2020 Winter Equestrian Festival: McLain Ward Scores Brilliant Victory in Fidelity Investments® Grand Prix CSI5*

Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™: Steve Guerdat Writes History in Bordeaux!

Photo by ©Christophe Bricot/Jumping Bordeaux
Photo by ©Christophe Bricot/Jumping Bordeaux

To win the World Cup in Bordeaux is always a special moment in a rider’s career as it adds his name to a prestigious list comprising the greatest sportsmen of the discipline since 45 years. Today, it is an equally prestigious rider and world number one Swiss Steve Guerdat who adds his name to this hall of fame. A beautiful victory after a competition so exciting it almost deserves an Oscar for the best scenario!

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Darragh Kenny Saves the Best for Last in the $213,300 CSI4*-W Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™Wellington Presented by Canadian Pacific

Photo by Kathy Russell Photography.
Photo by Kathy Russell Photography.

 

Ireland’s Darragh Kenny laid it all on the line, besting a three-horse jump-off to win the $213,300 CSI4*-W Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Wellington, Presented by Canadian Pacific. The penultimate east coast qualifier for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Las Vegas took place under idyllic conditions on Sunday at scenic Deeridge Farms in Wellington.

 Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Classic Dream won the $213,300 CSI4*-W Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Wellington Presented by Canadian Pacific at the Palm Beach Masters Series®. Photo by Kathy Russell Photography

Read MoreDarragh Kenny Saves the Best for Last in the $213,300 CSI4*-W Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™Wellington Presented by Canadian Pacific

2020 Palm Beach Masters Series – Week One Daily Updates

The 2020 Palm Beach Masters Series consists of three world-class show jumping events: Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Week CSI4*-W/CSI2* (Jan. 28-Feb. 2); Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Week CSIO5*/CSI2* (Feb. 11-16); and the Palm Beach Open CSI5*/CSI2* (March 10-15).

To learn more about the events at Deeridge Farms, visit PalmBeachMasters.com.

TO WATCH LIVE HERE

LIVE RESULTS AND START LISTS HERE

Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Week CSI4*-W/CSI2* (Jan. 28-Feb. 2) - Daily Updates

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Houtzager is the Hero as Dutch Dominate Amsterdam

Photo Copyright © FEI/DigiShots
Photo Copyright © FEI/DigiShots

Houtzager is the Hero as Dutch Dominate Amsterdam
Compatriot Smolders takes runner-up spot; Belgium’s Clemens and Bruynseels fill third and fourth places


On an afternoon of Dutch delight, Marc Houtzager and the amazing mare Sterrehof’s Dante threw down an extraordinary performance to snatch victory in the twelfth leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2019/2020 Western European League series on home ground in Amsterdam (NED) today. It was at the expense of compatriot Harrie Smolders who, third to go in the nine-horse jump-off, looked to have set an unbeatable target-time when breaking the beam in 35.03 seconds with the 11-year-old gelding Monaco. But, second-last into the ring, Houtzager’s 12-year-old mare seemed to have grown wings as she flew around the course to shave almost a full second off that when crossing the line in 34.05 seconds. Belgian riders Pieter Clemens and Niels Bruynseels lined up third and fourth.

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Sanchez Cozar and Azcárraga Share the Sash in Guadalajara

Photo Copyright © FEI/Christian Lopez Redetzki
Photo Copyright © FEI/Christian Lopez Redetzki

Sanchez Cozar and Azcárraga Share the Sash in Guadalajara as history is made with tied result


When Gonzalo Azcárraga (MEX) crossed the finish of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Guadalajara, he didn’t know whether he had won or lost. To his surprise, he had done neither. He tied.
In a history-making result, Azcárraga, riding Fabio, and Alberto Sanchez-Cozar (MEX) aboard Union de la Nutria completed Guilherme Jorge’s (BRA) jump-off in identical times of 48.95 seconds. Lorenza O’Farrill (MEX) and Queens Darling finished third with 4 faults in 48.79 seconds.

Read MoreSanchez Cozar and Azcárraga Share the Sash in Guadalajara

Ireland’s Lynch Books Las Vegas Ticket with Brilliant Win in Leipzig

Photos Copyright © FEI/Thomas Reiner
Photos Copyright © FEI/Thomas Reiner

Ireland’s Lynch books Las Vegas ticket with brilliant win in Leipzig as stunning stallion, Dominator, finishes second for Germany’s Ahlmann


Ireland’s Denis Lynch firmly secured his spot at the 2020 Longines Final when storming to victory with GC Chopin’s Bushi in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2019/2020 Western European League qualifier in Leipzig, Germany today where home-side superstars Christian Ahlmann and Marcus Ehning finished second and third. Already lying tenth after solid recent results, today’s win lifts the Irishman to fourth on the League table from which the top 18 will earn a spot at the Final in Las Vegas, USA next April.

Read MoreIreland’s Lynch Books Las Vegas Ticket with Brilliant Win in Leipzig

Steve Guerdat Posts Swiss Victory at Basel

Photo Copyright © FEI/Richard Juilliart
Photo Copyright © FEI/Richard Juilliart

Reigning series champion and World No. 2 gets new year off to a great start


In the 90th World Cup competition of his spectacular career, three-time series champion Steve Guerdat galloped to victory with Victorio des Frotards in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2019/2020 Western European League qualifier on home ground at Basel in Switzerland today. Despite a tough first-round test from ace German course designer Frank Rothenberger, this tenth leg of the league saw 15 of the 40 starters make the cut into the jump-off so it was never going to be an easy one to win. But the man who claimed individual Olympic gold in 2012 and his third World Cup title in Gothenburg (SWE) last season left the rest in his wake, with Frenchman Julien Epaillard coming closest for runner-up spot with Queeletta ahead of Belgium’s Pieter Devos and Apart in third.

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Swiss Olympian Martin Fuchs Launches into 2020 as World Number One

(FEI/Liz Gregg)
(FEI/Liz Gregg)

Olympic athlete Martin Fuchs (SUI) has moved to the top of the Longines Rankings for the first time in his career, overtaking compatriot Steve Guerdat who held the number one position for a year. Martin Fuchs (27), now out in front with 3,483 points, has been hot on the heels of Guerdat since August last year and finished 2019 with a string of inspirational performances including his impressive Grand Prix victory on home turf at the CSI5* at Geneva and, a week later, taking the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ leg at Olympia in December, 29 years after his father Thomas won at the London venue.

Read MoreSwiss Olympian Martin Fuchs Launches into 2020 as World Number One

Killer Queen Reigns Supreme for Germany’s Deusser in Mechelen

Jumping Mechelen 2019 © FEI/Hippo Foto - Dirk Caremans
Jumping Mechelen 2019  © FEI/Hippo Foto - Dirk Caremans

Belgian-based German star, Daniel Deusser, stormed to victory with Killer Queen VDM at the ninth leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ 2019/2020 Western European League at Mechelen in Belgium. In a fascinating 12-horse second round, the 38-year-old rider who is currently third in the world rankings had to wait until the very end to take his chance. Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer was holding the lead with a run that had clearly not pushed his gelding, Cortney Cox, to the limit of speed when breaking the beam without lowering a pole in 44.02 seconds.

Read MoreKiller Queen Reigns Supreme for Germany’s Deusser in Mechelen