The class welcomed 43 entries under the lights in the International Ring at PBIEC and Guilherme Jorge (BRA) designed the evening’s course. The class was run in an FEI two-round format with the first round determining placing based on jumping faults and time. The second round then featured the top 11 horse and rider combinations in reverse order of penalties as they raced against the clock to determine final placings.
Trailing just behind Vanderveen was Margie Engle (USA) and Royce, a 2004 Oldenburg stallion (Café Au Lait x Grandilot) owned by Gladewinds Partners, LLC, who earned a second place finish for their time of 46.47 seconds. Third place was presented to Beat Mändli (SUI) and the 2008 Dutch Warmblood mare Dsarie (Veron x Ahorn) owned by Grant Road Partners, LLC, after crossing through the timers in 49.63 seconds.
“He [Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili] felt really happy this whole week,” explained Vanderveen. “I’ve had a great feeling with him and he did jump the qualifying class very well. This is really the first proper night class that I’ve done in Wellington with him, as he’s jumped under the lights in Tryon and in other locations, so it was time to bring him out here.”
“This was kind of a test as to where we are going this season and to see if I want to use him as my main horse here at WEF. I think that he proved that we are ready to go, so I was really pleased with him. Walking the course I thought that it was fair and a nice first way to ease into a night class. It obviously wasn’t too easy, but not quite as big as it possibly could have been,” she continued.
Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili have had a stellar 2017 season, adding ten FEI wins to their resume leading into the Holiday & Horses CSI 4* and most recently collecting top finishes at Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina and in Las Vegas, NV. After their trip out west, the duo returned to Wellington to prepare for the approaching winter season.
Margie Engle (USA) was honored with the FEI Leading Lady Rider Award presented by Martha Jolicouer and Jill Townsend, recognizing her outstanding performances in FEI competition throughout the week.
Earlier in the afternoon, Alvaro Tejada representing the country of Guatemala, piloted Voltaral Palo Blanco, owned by Agroposa, to victory in the $10,000 The Wanderers Club 1.40m Open Jumper Stake after stopping timers in 38.358 seconds. Ilan Ferder of Wellington, FL, and Catoki’s Son Z, owned by Ferder, finished in second place with a time of 39.088 seconds.
Third place went to Alberto Michan of Mexico aboard Jolander Van’t Kloosterhof, owned by Ilan Ferder, after completing the short course track in 41.472 seconds. The class featured 21 entries with seven combinations advancing to the jump-off round.
Competition for the Holiday & Horses CSI 4* will conclude tomorrow, December 3, at PBIEC with the $25,000 Omega Alpha Grand Prix beginning at 12:30 p.m. The ESP Holiday Series will resume on December 8, with the ESP Year End Awards competition. For more information please visit www.pbiec.com.
To view the final results for the $10,000 The Wanderers Club 1.40m Open Stake, click HERE.