WEEKLY WIRE

EDITOR: JENNIFER WOOD

McLain Ward and HH Azur Return to Winner’s Circle

WEEK 9 MARCH 9-13, 2022

Ireland Takes Home Victory in $150,000 Nations Cup CSIO4*, Presented by Premier Equestrian

in the first round over the course designed by Nick Granat (USA) and Steve Stephens (USA).

Fortunes changed dramatically in the second round as more rails fell, but with solid performances from the Irish team, they came away with the win.

Pathfinder McMahon and Chakra 9 had just one time fault in Round Two. It was an excellent performance for McMahon, who represented Ireland in last year’s European Championships, and his horse, who tallied three clear rounds out of four in two Nations Cup performances in 2021.

Competition for week 8 at the 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), presented by Premier Equestrian, concluded on Sunday, March 6, with the $216,000 CSIO4* Grand Prix, presented by JTWG, Inc. Four-time Olympic medalist McLain Ward (USA) and his veteran partner HH Azur, owned by Double H Farm, led the victory gallop.

There were 48 starters in Sunday afternoon’s grand prix, and they contested a course designed by Nick Granat (USA) and Steve Stephens (USA). Eight were clear to advance to the jump-off. Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and Cornwall BH started the short course first but a rail for four faults in 36.75 seconds left them in fourth place. Karl Cook (USA) and Helen Signe Ostby’s Coachella 4 also had four faults in a slower time of 38.05 seconds for seventh place.

Ward and HH Azur were next into the ring and “Annie” stretched her stride out to blaze around the course clear in 35.22 seconds, setting an unbeatable time.

“She was really covering the ground great,” affirmed Ward. “She really performed beautifully, and we were able to get the nine [strides] home and put just enough pressure on these guys that we held up.”

Ward’s student Lillie Keenan (USA) and Agana van het Gerendal Z, owned by Chansonette Farm LLC, were quick in 37.20 seconds but with four faults; they finished in sixth place. Hilary McNerney (USA) rode her own Captain Cooper to eighth place after eight faults in 38.28 seconds.

At just 24 years old, Ioli Mytilineou (GRE) continues to show her growth in the sport. She and Levis de Muze, owned by Elia Construction SA, stopped the timers in 36.84 seconds with a clear round and slotted into second place at the end of the class.

Of her top grand prix finish, Mytilineou expressed, “It means absolutely everything, to be honest. Last year here I was mostly fourth or fifth place, so I never actually got into the prize-giving ceremony. To be in it between McLain and Ben, two of the best riders in the world, is insane to me.

“When I went into the ring, the last thing my trainer said to me was, ‘Don’t risk a rail. You can be quicker than McLain anyway.’ I just looked at him and laughed, but I tried to go as fast as I could and go clear,” she recalled.

Her mount Levis de Muze, an 11-year-old BWP stallion by Elvis Ter Putte x Tinka’s Boy, helped her to a top-12 finish at last year’s European Championships, but has had a quiet start to the 2022 season. They will compete in next week’s CSI5* competition.

She has ridden Levis de Muze since he was seven years old. “He’s honestly my best friend,” said Mytilineou. “I feel like we know each other so well. Of course, I’m still very green, but he’s also still very green, so there’s a lot of stuff we still need

Eleven nations brought forth teams to compete in the $150,000 Nations Cup CSIO4*, presented by Premier Equestrian, the highlight event of the eighth week of the 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL. The flag for Ireland was raised at the end of the night as the team, consisting of Andrew Bourns, Cian O’Connor, Eoin McMahon, and Max Wachman, led by Chef d’Equipe Michael Blake, won their fourth Nations Cup in the 21-year history of the class at WEF.

Teams from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, the United States, and Venezuela competed in Round One, and the top eight returned for Round Two under the lights in the International Arena. Heading into Round Two, Ireland was tied with Canada at zero faults after three clear rounds from McMahon and Beerbaum Stables’s Chakra 9, Wachman and Berlux Z, owned by Coolmore Show Jumping, and Bourns on Sea Topblue, owned by QBS Equestrian LLC. With three clear rounds, O’Connor did not have to compete with Cerruti Van Ter Hulst Z, owned by Ronnoco Jump Ltd.

Just one rail behind and tied for second were Great Britain, Australia, and Mexico. Belgium and the USA sat on eight faults, while Argentina had 10 faults. There were 16 clear rounds

“Coming here, it was my plan to jump Chakra in the Nations Cup, so we planned our weeks up to tonight. She’s been a very good horse for me,” he said of the 12-year-old Holsteiner mare by Casall x Quidam de Revel.

“Even though she’s 12, she’s not that experienced. She improved a lot from last year to this year. She’s been very consistent since we got here.

“She jumped fantastic in the first round, and she jumped great in the second round as well,” he continued.

“I was a bit too slow; that was a rider error. I was very happy that it didn’t cost us tonight. It’s always a real privilege to be able to jump for Ireland. I’m very grateful for Michael selecting me.”

Eighteen-year-old Wachman felt similarly grateful to be a part of Team Ireland, and he gave a stunning double clear performance, one of only five in the class. “I’m delighted, and it’s a great feeling to win,” he noted.

Wachman has been riding Berlux Z, an 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Berlin x Major de la Cour, only since October. Berlux Z was on the team for France under the saddle of Simon Delestre at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

“My horse is a very good horse,” noted Wachman. “He’s been able to bring me to bigger levels, because he’s quite experienced and he’s not green. I’m very grateful to be riding him. It’s special to be on a winning team with [my trainer] Cian. All the lads are great.”

Five-star show jumping returns in WEF 9, sponsored by Douglas Elliman Real Estate, on March 9-13, with the featured event, the $406,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate Grand Prix CSI5* on Saturday, March 12, at 7 p.m. Pony hunter riders get their chance to compete on the grass Derby Field at Equestrian Village on Friday, March 11, at 9 a.m. in the USHJA Pony Hunter Derby, while the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby 2*, presented by Sam Edelman is on the grass Derby Field on Saturday, March 12, at 8 a.m.

Over at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival, national competition is featured on March 11-13, while international Para Dressage competition takes place with the Perrigo CPEDI3* presented by Mission Control, Fair Sky Farm, Adequan, and Nutrena, when Para Dressage riders get their chance to shine in the Global International Arena.

Saturday Night Viewing Packages

Secure your table in The Gallery for all of the 4* and 5* grand prix classes! Full tables of four, six, and eight seats are offered as an allinclusive package for our top Saturday night events. Enjoy prime viewing of the competition in a semi-enclosed venue with general parking, full buffet, and signature bar package included. For more information or to reserve your table, please contact Courtney Schintzius, Event Operations Manager, at events@equestriansport.com or 561-7841132.

Another option is seating within the Veuve Clicquot Suites, which are located in an open-air venue to the east of the International Arena, offering a full buffet and signature bar package with the ticket. Full tables can be purchased during WEF 9, 10, and 11 in eight seats per table for front row, six seats per table for second row, as well as four seats per table and two seats per table for the third row. Tickets are $200 plus tax per seat. Parking is not included. Cost for general parking is $20 per car and valet is $30 per car. Suites tickets are available for purchase at PBIEC.com. Further inquiries can be sent to Patti Miele at pmiele@ equestriansport.com or 561-784-1125.

Looking Ahead

WEF 10 on March 16-20 features CSI4* competition sponsored by Horseware Ireland. On Friday, March 18, the $25,000 Lövsta Future Challenge 7 Year Old Young Jumper Final will take place in the International Arena, along with the $15,000 North Star Developing Jumper 6 Year Old and $10,000 MSporthorses Developing Jumper 5 Year Old Finals. The feature event of the week, the $216,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI4* is on Saturday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, March 20, the $50,000 Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix Series Final takes place in the International Arena and is followed by the $75,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic CSI4*.

At the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival, international competition returns in force with their Nations Cup week. The Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup CDIO3* will be held on March 17-20 with the Grand Prix/ Prix St. Georges, the first round of the Nations Cup, on Thursday, March 17, followed by the second round of Grand Prix Special/Intermediate 1 on Friday. Riders will contest for individual medals on Sunday, March 20, in the Grand Prix Freestyle/Intermediate 1 Freestyle. The “Friday Night Stars” will feature the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3*, presented by Buffalo Wild Wings.

Riding in the third spot for the Irish team, Bourns and Seatop Blue were coming off a strong WEF circuit, having won the CSI4* grand prix during week three. They recorded just an unlucky four faults in Round Two.

“I was very happy with him tonight,” said Bourns of the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Chacco-Blue. “This is his first Nations Cup. I was a little worried he might come out in the second round and think it was a jump-off. But, after the second or third fence, realized that I was right on the money with him.

“I’m very grateful, bringing a horse that hasn’t jumped in a Nations Cup before, to be on a team like this and to be given a chance to develop a horse in an atmosphere like this,” continued Bourns. “It really makes a big difference to professionals like me. To watch the likes of Max and Eoin go in and do so well is a very proud night. I think it was a good plan and well executed in the end.”

O’Connor was the anchor rider for Ireland, and he and Cerruti Van Ter Hulst Z, a 12-year-old Zangersheide mare by San Patrignano Cassini x Corrado entered the ring in Round Two for their first shot at the course. With refusals at fence four, they were eliminated.

“Cerruti has been going quite well,” remarked O’Connor. “She jumped double clear in the 1.50m and double clear in the WEF and clear in three-star grands prix. I just haven’t showed her the last couple of weeks. wanted to let her freshen up. That’s always the thing with the schedule here. You don’t want to overjump.

“She just seemed a little more on her toes tonight,” he explained. “She took a serious dislike to the wall as soon as I turned the first time. felt it, but she dug her heels in. But listen, that’s horses. We’ll regroup and school the wall probably and build her back up. She’ll be back to fight another day.”

With 38 Irish riders to choose from competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival, Blake sat in an enviable position with a wealth of choices for his team. He chose horses and riders with solid recent results but also team members where horses or riders had less experience.

“I like giving opportunities to people that think deserve them,” he said. “I have to say, we did our job very, very well tonight, and I’m delighted with the boys. Max is 18 years of age, and it was a phenomenal effort from him. Even though Eoin is not a whole lot older, he’s also a veteran. Andrew has been in the States for quite a while, and we needed his shot. He rode very well. I thought he was a little unlucky to have the last fence down. It would’ve been nice to finish with no pole on the ground, but you know, we still did our job, and we’re very happy. And Cian has always been an amazing, amazing rider for Team Ireland. He has been on so many Nations Cups teams and has pulled us out of a hole so often. I’m very proud of all of my team.”

O’Connor, who was on the winning team at the WEF Nations Cup in 2016 and 2017, is excited about the future for his country. “When you see guys like Eoin and Max and Andrew and how well they’re able to get stuck in and do the job, it’s really bodes well for the future of Irish show jumping,” he said. “Michael gives a fantastic chance to all the young people, and he fields from a mixture of experience for the team. It’s very healthy and lets people develop. We’re very fortunate to have that in Ireland.”

Ireland finished on five total faults for the win. Canada and the United States both had a total of 12 faults after two rounds. The teams’ cumulative times were the tiebreaker, with Canada taking home second place and the U.S. finishing third. Great Britain was fourth on 16 faults, Mexico finished fifth with 20 faults, and Australia placed sixth on 29 faults. Argentina took seventh place with 30 faults, and Belgium was eighth with 32 faults.

Along with Wachman, other double clear performances came from Lillie Keenan (USA) and Argan de Beliard, owned by Equivarandas, LDA., Eugenio Garza (MEX) on El Milagro’s Contago, Lauren Balcomb (AUS) riding her own Verdini d’Houtveld Z, and Tiffany Foster (CAN) on Figor, owned by Artisan Farms, LLC.