[DEL MAR, CA] - The Del Mar International Horse Show wraps up two weeks of intense competition with an exciting finish of the Rancho Valencia World Cup Grand Prix of Del Mar tonight at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. With 43 competitors in the World Cup Qualifier, a thick competition of world-class athletes faced off on a course designed by Bernardo Cabral, from Portugal.
The field of competitors included: Richard Fellers, Jos Verlooy, Harrie Smolders, Vinton Karrasch, Eduardo Menezes, and Darragh Kenney. These competitors are competing for the opportunity to compete in the FEI Longines World Cup Jumping Finals, which returns to the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, April 15-19, 2015!
The course for the Rancho Valencia World Cup Grand Prix was a lovely mixture of lines and combinations with many tight roll back turns. "The course looked challenging, but fun," commented a spectator of Cabral's creation. The course allowed 10 into a tough jump-off, which included two tight left turns and a long gallop to the last fence, the Rancho Valencia Oxer.
Harrie Smolders of the Netherlands and Richard Fellers and Tiffany Sullivan of the United States were all outstanding with double clear rounds tonight. The riders kept their tracks tidy and their stride upbeat, with Smolders and his Regina Z narrowly beating Fellers and Flexible by only .04 seconds, with a speedy time of 37.40! Smolders took third on his second mount, Enjoy Louis, with a time of 41.19 and Sullivan came in fourth on her ride Tristan, with a time of 42.68.
"It was a great competition tonight," said Dale Harvey of West Palms Events. "The riders were outstanding, the course was wonderful and the crowd had a blast watching all of these amazing athletes!" It was a memorable night with a tight jump-off! The evening's performance also included the national anthem, sung by Billy Ray Cyrus, a Zombie Horse performance, a Thriller Flash Mob, and a costume contest for spectators and their dogs! It was an eventful night at the Del Mar International Horse Show!
