The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) began its sixth week of competition, sponsored by Salamander Hotels & Resorts, on Wednesday with a win for Harrie Smolders (NED) and Exquis Walnut de Muze in the first international jumper class of the week. Smolders and his veteran partner of eight years blazed to victory in the $34,000 1.45m speed class to kick off the week. Held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, WEF 6 runs February 11-15, 2015, featuring a full schedule of “AA” hunter and CSI 3* jumper action. The week features the coveted World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition, with hunters taking to the International Arena at PBIEC for their daily classes, weekly championships, and a chance to compete in Saturday night’s $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular. As the hunters are featured on the main show grounds at PBIEC, the highlight jumper competition will be held on the adjacent grounds at The Stadium at PBIEC. The $85,000 Salamander Hotels & Resorts Grand Prix CSI 3* will the feature event in the International Ring at The Stadium on Friday night. Richard Jeffery of Great Britain is the course designer in the International Ring at The Stadium for week six. On Wednesday, Jeffery began the day with 47 entries in the $34,000 1.45m speed class with 16 clear rounds. Harrie Smolders and Exquis Walnut de Muze, owned by Team Exquis, had the winning time of 64.06 seconds over Canada’s Vanessa Mannix and Dooley’s Deluxe. Mannix took an early lead that held through most of the class in 66.21 seconds, but eventually settled for second. Peter Leone (USA) and My Pleasure jumped the third place round in 67.18 seconds. source: Press/ Equnews - photo: Sportfot
