Show jumping competition resumed for the fourth week of the 2019 Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, LLC, with a CSI2* rating attracting international exhibitors. In Friday’s $35,700 Devoucoux Welcome Stake CSI2*, six nations were represented by the 46 entries, and in the end it was Abigail McArdle of the United States riding Victorio 5 who emerged victorious ahead of a nine-horse jump-off.
Hailed as one of the world’s most respected course designers, Alan Wade (IRL) was at the helm in the Grand Prix Ring during Week IV, and posed a fair but technical track for the horse-and-athlete pairs in the $35,700 Devoucoux Welcome Stake CSI2*. Following the first round of riding, nine combinations qualified for a spot in the jump-off after successfully navigating the course. Aboard their respective horses, Ali Wolff (USA), Gavin Moylan (CAN), Tomas Yofre (ARG), Mattias Tromp (USA), Samantha Kasowitz (USA), Lauren Tisbo (USA), Molly Ashe Cawley (USA), Maria Costa (USA) and McArdle each turned in fault-free trips within the time-allowed to advance to the final round of riding.
The first to return, Wolff and Quirie 2, owned by John Wolff, set the pace to beat as the early clear pathfinders, laying down the first double-clear performance of the evening and a high standard in 33.450 seconds. Subsequent pairs attempted to chase down the early leaders over the abridged track, but McArdle and Victorio Equine Group LLC’s Victorio 5 proved to be the only contenders up for the challenge near the end of the pack. Tripping the timers in 32.430 seconds with all of the fences still standing, McArdle and Victorio 5 usurped Wolff and Quirie 2 to take the lead and eventually capture the winning honors in the $35,700 Devoucoux Welcome Stake CSI2*. Wolff and Quirie 2 settled for second position, while Molly Ashe Cawley and Louisburg Farm’s Berdien rounded out the top three in 33.770 seconds, the third of seven double-clear partnerships.
New in 2019, the $25,000 CaptiveOne Open Jumper Rider Bonus will be awarded at the conclusion of the circuit in August, with points calculated based on prize money earned throughout the six-week festival in Open Jumper classes 1.45m and above. McArdle’s victory earned her valuable points towards the bonus at the circuit’s finale, but Wilhelm Genn (GER) still sits atop the leaderboard following a series of wins in welcome stake and grand prix competition in the first weeks of the series. Fans and athletes can follow along and check the $25,000 CaptiveOne Open Jumper Rider Bonus leaderboard, posted on www.greatlakesequestrianfestival.com, to track their favorite riders and see who is leading in the standings.
The highlight event of the week, the $71,200 Flintfields Farm Grand Prix CSI2*, will take place Sunday afternoon at GLEF. Sunday’s show jumping action will conclude the fourth week of the 2019 GLEF and the second FEI week of the series, but FEI competition will continue at GLEF for two more weeks with Weeks V and VI touting a CSI3* rating.
From the winner's circle
On Victorio 5:
“Last year, this was my first show with him. After that we started showing FEI. He won the U25 finals at the end of last year and has been moving up. He is so with me right now and is such a good horse. I can’t say how good of a horse he is; he makes my life.”
On her jump-off strategy:
“I saw Ali [Wolff]. She went first, so that was great because it was the only one I was able to watch. I had walked a number on the first line between the two oxers, and she did a galloping eight strides. My horse cuts to the right and he has a huge stride so I knew I could beat her if I got that in seven. Everywhere else, we were the same.”
Hailed as one of the world’s most respected course designers, Alan Wade (IRL) was at the helm in the Grand Prix Ring during Week IV, and posed a fair but technical track for the horse-and-athlete pairs in the $35,700 Devoucoux Welcome Stake CSI2*. Following the first round of riding, nine combinations qualified for a spot in the jump-off after successfully navigating the course. Aboard their respective horses, Ali Wolff (USA), Gavin Moylan (CAN), Tomas Yofre (ARG), Mattias Tromp (USA), Samantha Kasowitz (USA), Lauren Tisbo (USA), Molly Ashe Cawley (USA), Maria Costa (USA) and McArdle each turned in fault-free trips within the time-allowed to advance to the final round of riding.
The first to return, Wolff and Quirie 2, owned by John Wolff, set the pace to beat as the early clear pathfinders, laying down the first double-clear performance of the evening and a high standard in 33.450 seconds. Subsequent pairs attempted to chase down the early leaders over the abridged track, but McArdle and Victorio Equine Group LLC’s Victorio 5 proved to be the only contenders up for the challenge near the end of the pack. Tripping the timers in 32.430 seconds with all of the fences still standing, McArdle and Victorio 5 usurped Wolff and Quirie 2 to take the lead and eventually capture the winning honors in the $35,700 Devoucoux Welcome Stake CSI2*. Wolff and Quirie 2 settled for second position, while Molly Ashe Cawley and Louisburg Farm’s Berdien rounded out the top three in 33.770 seconds, the third of seven double-clear partnerships.
New in 2019, the $25,000 CaptiveOne Open Jumper Rider Bonus will be awarded at the conclusion of the circuit in August, with points calculated based on prize money earned throughout the six-week festival in Open Jumper classes 1.45m and above. McArdle’s victory earned her valuable points towards the bonus at the circuit’s finale, but Wilhelm Genn (GER) still sits atop the leaderboard following a series of wins in welcome stake and grand prix competition in the first weeks of the series. Fans and athletes can follow along and check the $25,000 CaptiveOne Open Jumper Rider Bonus leaderboard, posted on www.greatlakesequestrianfestival.com, to track their favorite riders and see who is leading in the standings.
The highlight event of the week, the $71,200 Flintfields Farm Grand Prix CSI2*, will take place Sunday afternoon at GLEF. Sunday’s show jumping action will conclude the fourth week of the 2019 GLEF and the second FEI week of the series, but FEI competition will continue at GLEF for two more weeks with Weeks V and VI touting a CSI3* rating.
From the winner's circle
On Victorio 5:
“Last year, this was my first show with him. After that we started showing FEI. He won the U25 finals at the end of last year and has been moving up. He is so with me right now and is such a good horse. I can’t say how good of a horse he is; he makes my life.”
On her jump-off strategy:
“I saw Ali [Wolff]. She went first, so that was great because it was the only one I was able to watch. I had walked a number on the first line between the two oxers, and she did a galloping eight strides. My horse cuts to the right and he has a huge stride so I knew I could beat her if I got that in seven. Everywhere else, we were the same.”