International jumpers moved back to the stunning derby field at Equestrian Village during KASK-sponsored WEF 6. A who’s who of show jumping battled for a qualifying place in Sunday’s CSI3* Grand Prix over tracks designed by Ana Catalina Cruz Harris (MEX) in the CHF37,000 CSI3* Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 6.
After 101 horses tested the course, 20 returned for the tie-breaking jump-off. In a California Split, Mclain Ward (USA) and René Tebbel (UKR) shared top call. Ward and Vins vd Tojopehoeve Z, a 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Vagrant Z x LBH Calvados) owned by Ardencote Stud topped Section A of the class. Ward and Vins vd Tojopehoeve Z stopped the clock at 37.89 seconds in their jump-off debut together.
“That’s the first time I’ve ridden the horse in a jump-off and he gave me a great feeling in the first round,” said Ward, who recently took over the ride from fellow U.S. athlete Laura Kraut. “Laura and Nick Skelton were kind enough to let me ride this horse and bring him along in Wellington this season. He’s done young horse classes at places like Aachen, so he has a lot of experience.”
Vins vd Tojopehoeve Z was previously campaigned to the CSI3* level by Julie Welles (USA) and is now stepping up even further with Ward, a two-time U.S. Olympic team gold medalist. “We felt it was time for him to come back to the states and move up. We started in the 1.35m this season and the horse responded beautifully.”
Fellow U.S. rider Jimmy Torano took second in Section A with his own Chewbacca HCC (Clarimo), and Kraut took third riding Dorado 212 (Diarado's Boy) for owner St. Bride’s Farm.
Tebbel, who hails from Germany and represents Ukraine in international competition, was just fractions of a second off Ward’s pace to win Section B in 38 flat aboard Chanyon. Chanyon is a 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Chacco-Blue x Grand Canyon) owned by Gut Einhaus, LLC, and was previously campaigned to the Olympic Games in Tokyo by Japan’s Daisuke Fukushima.
“I watched Mclain and I thought in the second corner my horse was moving so I had to do one stride more there,” said Tebbel, who is back in Wellington training U25 rider Ansgar Holtgers JR.
“It wasn’t fast enough to beat Mclain, but it was good enough,” continued Tebbel. The plan for Chanyon is to be Holtgers Under 25 mount while Tebbel keeps him legged up in select events.
“The horse has all the experience, and it’s exciting for me to be back here competing in Wellington.”
Cathleen Driscoll (USA) took second behind Tebbel riding Arome for owner Plain Bay Farm, while Canada’s Samantha Buirs was third on her own Chic D Emma Z.
After 101 horses tested the course, 20 returned for the tie-breaking jump-off. In a California Split, Mclain Ward (USA) and René Tebbel (UKR) shared top call. Ward and Vins vd Tojopehoeve Z, a 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Vagrant Z x LBH Calvados) owned by Ardencote Stud topped Section A of the class. Ward and Vins vd Tojopehoeve Z stopped the clock at 37.89 seconds in their jump-off debut together.
“That’s the first time I’ve ridden the horse in a jump-off and he gave me a great feeling in the first round,” said Ward, who recently took over the ride from fellow U.S. athlete Laura Kraut. “Laura and Nick Skelton were kind enough to let me ride this horse and bring him along in Wellington this season. He’s done young horse classes at places like Aachen, so he has a lot of experience.”
Vins vd Tojopehoeve Z was previously campaigned to the CSI3* level by Julie Welles (USA) and is now stepping up even further with Ward, a two-time U.S. Olympic team gold medalist. “We felt it was time for him to come back to the states and move up. We started in the 1.35m this season and the horse responded beautifully.”
Fellow U.S. rider Jimmy Torano took second in Section A with his own Chewbacca HCC (Clarimo), and Kraut took third riding Dorado 212 (Diarado's Boy) for owner St. Bride’s Farm.
Tebbel, who hails from Germany and represents Ukraine in international competition, was just fractions of a second off Ward’s pace to win Section B in 38 flat aboard Chanyon. Chanyon is a 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Chacco-Blue x Grand Canyon) owned by Gut Einhaus, LLC, and was previously campaigned to the Olympic Games in Tokyo by Japan’s Daisuke Fukushima.
“I watched Mclain and I thought in the second corner my horse was moving so I had to do one stride more there,” said Tebbel, who is back in Wellington training U25 rider Ansgar Holtgers JR.
“It wasn’t fast enough to beat Mclain, but it was good enough,” continued Tebbel. The plan for Chanyon is to be Holtgers Under 25 mount while Tebbel keeps him legged up in select events.
“The horse has all the experience, and it’s exciting for me to be back here competing in Wellington.”
Cathleen Driscoll (USA) took second behind Tebbel riding Arome for owner Plain Bay Farm, while Canada’s Samantha Buirs was third on her own Chic D Emma Z.