Rowan Willis (AUS) arrived in Traverse City just a few hours before the course walk for the $138,600 Premier Equestrian CSI5* 1.50m during week five of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by CaptiveOne Advisors. He adjusted quickly, and with his longtime partner Blue Movie, secured the win in a 12-horse jump-off.
“I’m lucky that I’m on a naturally very fast horse,” Willis said of the Anglo-European mare (Chacco-Blue x Pilot). “It really suited ‘Carrots,’ as she’s known, and I could trust her. I don’t need to think fast with her. I just have to keep it smooth for her and she’s always fast enough.”
With the advantage of jumping late in the order, several other pairs had jumped double-clear, including Alex Matz (USA), who led before Willis stepped in. Using the mare’s natural speed, Willis set a new time to beat of 37.70 seconds. Matz and Dorothy Matz’ Cashew CR took second in 38.43 seconds.
Willis will be the first to admit Blue Movie is not the easiest ride, and getting to know her was a challenge as well. “It took me a long time to work her out,” he commented. “She didn’t jump her first 1.40m until she was 9. It took her many years to understand her but once that happened when she was 11 or 12, she really rewarded me.”
Final Results: $138,600 Premier Equestrian CSI5* 1.50m
1. BLUE MOVIE: 2006 AES mare by Chacco Blue x Pilot
ROWAN WILLIS (AUS), Rowan Willis: 0/0/37.70
2. CASHEW CR: 2008 HOLST gelding by Cassini II x Quinar
ALEX MATZ (USA), Dorothy Matz: 0/0/38.43
3. NARCOTIQUE V/H DINGENSHOF: 2013 BWP mare by Harley VDL x Chacco Blue
SYDNEY SHULMAN DESIDERIO (ISR), Ilan Ferder: 0/0/38.55
4. BIRDY DU THOT: 2011 SF mare by Magic D’Elle x Le Tot De Semilly
SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), Ashley Vogel: 0/0/39.79
5. BULL RUN’S RISEN: 2006 KWPN gelding by Utopie x Indoctro
KRISTEN VANDERVEEN (USA), Bull Run Jumpers, Inc.: 0/0/39.87
6. KALINKA VAN’T ZORGVLIET: 2010 BWP mare by Thunder VD Zuuthoeve x Flipper d’Elle
KARL COOK (USA), Signe Otsby: 0/0/40.11
7. GARANT: 2011 KWPN gelding by Warrant x Verdi TN
CALLIE SCHOTT (USA), Southern Arches LLC: 0/0/41.45
8. KINKY BOY VAN HET GILDENHOF: 2010 BWP gelding by Nabab De Reve x Darco
JUAN ORTIZ (VEN), Blue Trim LLC: 0/0/42.40
9. CHATOU 7: 2009 OS gelding by Chacco Blue x Toulon
NICOLETTE HIRT (USA), Iron Horse Equestrian: 0/0/46.44
10. HESTER: 2005 BWP gelding by Wandor Van De Mispelaere x Palestro VD Begijnakker
LUCY DESLAURIERS (USA), Lisa Deslauriers: 0/4/38.33
11. CAPTAIN Z: 2012 ZANG gelding by Calvino Z x Voltaire
SAMUEL PAROT (CHI), Samuel Parot: 0/4/41.77
12. HELLCAT: 2011 BWP mare by Cassander Van Het Bremhof x Conan Z
PAUL O’SHEA (IRL), Team Eye Candy: 0/4/42.61