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 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

McLain Ward & Noche de Ronda Earn a Valentine’s Day Victory in the 
$213,300 Longines Grand Prix CSIO5* 
at Deeridge Farms

Photo by Kathy Russel Photography
Photo by Kathy Russel Photography

McLain Ward (USA) and Noche de Ronda eclipsed a top-tier field of 45 in the $213,300 Longines Grand Prix CSIO5* on Valentine’s Day at Deeridge Farms. Fifth to return for the shortened track, Ward’s time of 37.86 seconds was enough to sneak past Billy Twomey (IRL) and Kimba Flamenco in second place, with Ward’s countrywoman Margie Engle and Dicas in third.

Read MoreMcLain Ward & Noche de Ronda Earn a Valentine’s Day Victory in the 
$213,300 Longines Grand Prix CSIO5* 
at Deeridge Farms

2020 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF): Victorious Day for Jessica Springsteen and Volage du Val Henry

© Sportfot
© Sportfot

It was a sweet victory for Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Volage du Val Henry in the $137,000 Grand Prix CSI3* at “Friday Night Stars” in the Global Ring at Equestrian Village (home to the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival) during week six of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) on Friday, February 14. North American ladies dominated the podium in the pinnacle jumper event of week six with Canadian rider Rachel Cornacchia finishing the runner-up aboard Valkyrie de Talma and U.S. rider Ali Wolff rounding out the top three riding longtime mount Casall.

Read More2020 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF): Victorious Day for Jessica Springsteen and Volage du Val Henry

CSIO5* Competition at the Palm Beach Masters Series® Kicks Off With a Win for Darragh Kenny

Photo by Kathy Russell Photography
Photo by Kathy Russell Photography

Darragh Kenny (IRL) rode Billy Manjaro to victory in the 1.40m $8,000 CSIO5* Palm Beach Masters Warm-Up, besting 49 competitors on a bright and balmy Wednesday afternoon at Deeridge Farms. Sydney Shulman (ISR) placed second with Azilis du Mesnil, while Canadian Olympian Amy Millar and Ericson were third. The competition was the first CSIO5* event of Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Week CSIO5*/CSI2* at the Palm Beach Masters Series®.

Read MoreCSIO5* Competition at the Palm Beach Masters Series® Kicks Off With a Win for Darragh Kenny

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!

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

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