The International Jumping Riders Club since 1977 is the voice of the showjumping riders from around the world.
The International Jumping Riders Club since 1977 is the voice of the showjumping riders from around the world.
Wellington, FL - January 29, 2017 - It was a win on the final day for Markus Beerbaum (GER) and Tequila de Lile in the $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic during week three of the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), sponsored by Adequan®, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL.
The 2017 WEF continues with its fourth week of competition, sponsored by Ariat®, on February 1-5, 2017. Week highlights include the $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 4, the $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic, the Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments®, and the $216,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 4*. At Equestrian Village at PBIEC (AGDF show grounds), the $100,000 Land Rover Wellington Eventing Showcase will take place on February 3-4. The 12-week WEF circuit continues through April 2, 2017, awarding over $9 million in prize money.
Course designer Luc Musette (BEL) finished out week three with 47 entries in Sunday's 1.50m Classic and a ten-horse jump-off with six double clear rounds. Katie Dinan (USA) was first to clear the jump-off track, finishing sixth aboard Grant Road Partners' Galan S, with a time of 45.09 seconds. Richie Moloney (IRL) clocked the fifth place time of 44.24 seconds riding Equinimity LLC's Button Sitte. Laura Kraut (USA) placed fourth, riding Cherry Knoll Farm's Constable II through the timers in 41.25 seconds. Daniel Bluman (ISR) guided Bacara d'Archonfosse, owned by Bluman, Kim Douglas, and Alex Schwitzer, to third place in 40.24 seconds.
Remarking on the fraction of time that separated his round from Farrington's, Beerbaum admitted, "That was lucky! I thought I gave it away, because after the double combination I added a stride. I did seven because I did not have the feeling that she was moving forward enough coming out, but actually my start was very quick, and my finish also. I had a really short turn to the second to last, so I got it by that little fraction."
Tequila de Lile, a 10-year-old Selle Francais mare (Luccianno x Etna Paulelle) owned by Artemis Equestrian Farm, began with Beerbaum in 2014. The European Championships and World Equestrian Games team gold medalist began developing the mare as a seven-year-old and feels that she is now stepping up to the next level.
"It is a fantastic mare," Beerbaum described. "She is extremely careful; that is why we have taken our time with her. She is ten now, and she is just getting in her prime. She has won a few two-star grand prixs, and she got a ribbon here in last week's grand prix. This week I did not qualify for Saturday night, so I decided to put her in today, and she feels fantastic and ready to do bigger things."
"That is fun," said Beerbaum of their back-to-back victories. "We have a very good group of horses right now, which we have produced over the last few years here actually. They have all been here at the Winter Equestrian Festival numerous times, and now they are all ready to play and show. We had a great two weeks to start. I hope we can keep the ball rolling."
Also competing in the International Arena on Sunday, Taylor St. Jacques and Qantar des Etisses won the $10,000 SJHOF Sleepy P Ranch High Junior Jumper Classic. Hannah Patten and Curby du Seigneur topped the $10,000 Equiline Medium Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic.
Final Results: $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic