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

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

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

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

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.

Read MoreSteve Guerdat Posts Swiss Victory at Basel

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

Fuchs on Fire as The Sinner Shines at Olympia

Copyright FEI / Liz Gregg
Copyright FEI / Liz Gregg

Swiss star follows in his uncle’s footsteps; now qualified for Las Vegas Final
Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs scooped his second win of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2019/2020 Western European League at the London International Horse Show at Olympia, London (GBR) this afternoon where Austria’s Max Kuhner lined up second ahead of Belgium’s Niels Bruynseels in third. Partnering his top ride, the lightning-fast grey Clooney, Fuchs took the third leg in Lyon (FRA) by storm last month, and in today’s eighth round of the 14-leg series he galloped to victory with a stunning performance from The Sinner. He’s the reigning European champion, and looks set to take over the No. 1 spot on the Longines World Rankings as 2020 gets underway after an incredible run of recent form. He also became the first Swiss winner of the Olympia leg of the FEI World Cup™ series in 29 years. The 27-year-old rider wasn’t even born when his father, Thomas Fuchs, stood top of the podium at the London fixture back in 1990.
Just six horse-and-rider combinations made it through to today’s jump-off, and Fuchs was fulsome in his praise of Irish course designer, Alan Wade. “The first round wasn’t crazy big, but Alan set a great course as he always does - it was another of his masterpieces!” the winning rider said.

Read MoreFuchs on Fire as The Sinner Shines at Olympia

Van der Vleuten Wins Dramatic La Coruña Leg with Beauville Z

Photos Copyright © FEI/Manuel Queimadelos
Photos Copyright © FEI/Manuel Queimadelos

The Netherlands’ Maikel van der Vleuten showed the rest a clean pair of heels in a thrill-a-minute 13-horse jump-off to win the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2019/2020 Western European League qualifier in La Coruña, Spain today. There were 40 riders from 16 different countries chasing down points in the race for a place at the Longines 2020 Final in Las Vegas, USA next April. And this seventh round of the 14-leg qualifying series was a sizzler, with anything possible right to the very end. Van der Vleuten clinched it however with an exhibition of pure partnership with the lovely Beauville Z, a gelding he has been riding since the middle of last year. Ace Spanish course designer, Santiago Varela, set them a jump-off track with multiple twists and turns and a long gallop to the last that tested trust and understanding between horse and rider every step of the way. And it was the double-Olympian who showed them all how it should be done.

Read MoreVan der Vleuten Wins Dramatic La Coruña Leg with Beauville Z

Emanuele Gaudiano Wins the Longines Speed Challenge of Paris
 and Speed Challenge Series Bonus 

©Aléa pour EEM
©Aléa pour EEM

This amazing pair boasts an fabulous totaof sixty plus international wins over the past five years, twelve of which in 2019! Tonight, Emanuele Gaudiano and Carlotta 232 confirmed their status when they won the much acclaimed 2019 Speed Challenge of Paris in a super time of 60’’48 without a single pole down: a repeat for the winners of the same flagship competition during the Longines Masters of Lausanne, Switzerland, this summer. "I'm extremely lucky to ride such an amazing mare. Each round with her is a pleasure - even more so at a show like this one where the stands are packed", he commented.

Read MoreEmanuele Gaudiano Wins the Longines Speed Challenge of Paris
 and Speed Challenge Series Bonus