Kristen VanderVeen Scores Second Five-Star Win in Ninth Week of 2020 Winter Equestrian Festival

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Photos Copyright © Sportfot

The ninth week of the 2020 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) continued on Friday, March 6, with a second win for Kristen VanderVeen (USA) and Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili. They sped to the top of the $37,000 Bainbridge 1.45m CSI5*. Brazil’s Fabio Leivas Da Costa and Randon Pleasure were lightning fast to earn the podium spot in the $37,000 Griffis Residential 1.45m CSI2* while Clara Propp and News Day were victorious in the $5,000 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby.

Read MoreKristen VanderVeen Scores Second Five-Star Win in Ninth Week of 2020 Winter Equestrian Festival

2020 WEF WEEK 9: Spencer Smith Scores Win in $137,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup CSI5*

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Photos Copyright © Sportfot


The USA’s Spencer Smith and Theodore Manciais topped a field of 53 entries to win the $137,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 9 CSI5* on Thursday, March 5, 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 ninth week of competition, sponsored by Douglas Elliman Real Estate, runs through March 8 and is recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) as both a CSI5* and a CSI2*. Highlights of the week include the $401,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate Grand Prix CSI5* on Saturday and the $50,000 Griffis Residential Grand Prix CSI2* on Sunday.

Read More2020 WEF WEEK 9: Spencer Smith Scores Win in $137,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup CSI5*

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

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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

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

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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

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

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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

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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

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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

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

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© 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

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

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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*