David McPherson and Scott Brash Share British Victory in The $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 9

Friday 09 March 2012

David McPherson and Scott Brash Share British Victory in The $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 9

Top British riders David McPherson and Scott Brash each took home their winner's share on Thursday in a split class for round nine of the $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).
 
Held in a 'California Split' due to the large number of entries, the class awarded two sets of placings, each with $32,000 distributed. David and his own Silver Spring and Scott and Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham's Sanctos Van Het Gravenhof were both awarded top honours.
 
Yesterday’s $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup featured ninety-nine horse and rider combinations jumping a course set by Venezuela's Leopoldo Palacios. With only ten returning for the jump-off, five were able to jump double clear. David and Silver Spring were fastest overall, completing the jump-off course in 39.56 seconds to become the winner of Section A. Scott and Sanctos Van Het Gravenhof finished in 39.74 seconds, earning the top prize in Section B.
 
Section A awarded 2nd place to Jeffery Welles (USA) and Aries, who cleared the jump-off course in 40.42 seconds. 3rd place went to Marie Hecart (FRA) and Opal Du Golfe, for their clear round in 41.91 seconds. Brianne Goutal (USA) and Nice De Prissey, finished with 4 faults in the jump-off in 43.63 seconds to claim Section A's 4th place prize.
 
In Section B, Kent Farrington (USA) and Voyeur finished in 2nd place with a clear round in 41.49 seconds. Scott and his second mount, Whisky Mac IV, finished 3rd with a 4 fault round in 38.93 seconds, and Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Vornado Van Den Hoendrik placed 4th with 8 faults in 42.28 seconds.
 
Top finisher Silver Spring is a 13 year old KWPN gelding by Larino x Glendale, owned by
David. Davis explained that, although he has owned the gelding for a few years, Silver Spring has had some time off. "This is his first show in well over a year," David stated. "We built up steadily from the 1.40m and then the 1.45m. His worst score in six or seven classes is a rail down. He has jumped wonderfully and today he jumped great." 
                                                                                                        
"The course builder did a wonderful job today," David added. "It was a tough track; a really tight time. It was good. My first horse had an amazing round and just tickled the last fence; I'm delighted with this one. He is as brave as a lion and has all of the scope; he is a lovely horse." 
 
Commenting on his round in today's jump-off, David stated, "It sort of suited me today because it was pretty much galloping. You could use the stride that I have. My little grey horse would have had no chance, but the line across the middle, I could just give gas and it worked in my favour. Scott (and Whisky Mac) did beat me at the time, (but had the rail). He's deceptively fast always. I can only say luck was on my side for a change. I've had so many good rounds that just kind of missed on this tour. I had almost accepted second, but I got lucky."
 
Scott made it to the jump-off with each of his two mounts in the class, finishing first and third in Section B of the standings. He went fast and clear with Sanctos Van Het Gravenhof to finish at the top. Scott had the time in hand with his second mount, Whisky Mac IV, but had an unfortunate rail at the last fence. The skies opened up as Scott entered the ring for his jump-off round with Whisky Mac, but the rain did not affect his ride. 
 
"I'm from Scotland, so I'm used to it," Scott laughed. "Obviously it's a bit of a disadvantage if your horse is uncomfortable with it, but you've just got to knuckle in and get on with it, don't you?" 
 
Scott was pleased with both of his horses in today's class. His winning mount, Sanctos Van Het Gravenhof is a 10 year old SBS gelding by Quasimodo Vd Molendreef x Nabab De Reve, jointly owned by Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham. This was the pair's first win together.
 
"He is a new horse for me, I've not had him long," Scott noted. "I've just had him since the start of January. The first few weeks I was just getting to know the horse. I changed his bit a few times and juggled about. Hopefully we're on the right track now. He jumped very, very good today. Hopefully we can go on from here." 
 
For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.  
 
Final Results: $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 9 Section A 
1. (GBR)DAVID MCPHERSON / SILVER SPRING: 0/0/39.56
2. (USA) JEFFERY WELLES / ARIES: 0/0/40.42
3. (FRA) MARIE HECART / OPAL DU GOLFE: 0/0/41.91 
4. (USA) BRIANNE GOUTAL / NICE DE PRISSEY: 0/4/43.63
5. (USA) JEFFERY WELLES / MERLIN: 0/11/51.04 
6. (USA) KIRSTEN COE / COMBINA: 1/81.80  
7. (CAN) KAREN CUDMORE / CEONTO: 2/85.28
8. (USA) LAURA KRAUT / AZZARO VAN'T HAGENHOF: 4/75.47 
9. (IRL) SHANE SWEETNAM / AMARETTO D'ARCO: 4/76.41
10. (CAN) IAN MILLAR / STAR POWER: 4/77.18
11. (GBR) NICK SKELTON / CARLO: 4/77.41
12. (VEN) ANDRES RODRIGUEZ / CABALLITO: 4/77.71

Final Results: $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 9 Section B 
1. (GBR) SCOTT BRASH / SANCTOS VAN HET GRAVENHOF: 0/0/39.74
2. (USA) KENT FARRINGTON / VOYEUR: 0/0/41.49
 3. (GBR) SCOTT BRASH / WHISKY MAC IV: 0/4/38.93
 4. (USA) JESSICA SPRINGSTEEN / VORNADO VAN DEN HOENDRIK: 0/8/42.28
5. (GER) DAVID WILL / GIOVANNI 151: 0/Elim.
6. (GBR) BEN MAHER / TRIPPLE-X III: 1/82.06
7. (IRL) CONOR SWAIL / OCEANE DE NANTUEL: 4/75.16
8. (USA) LAURA KRAUT / TEIRRA: 4/75.53
9. (USA) MARGIE ENGLE / ROYCE: 4/76.53
10. (USA) CHRISTINE MCCREA / AVENIR: 4/77.41 
11. (AUS) HARLEY BROWN / CASSIATO: 4/77.57
12. (DEN) EMILIE MARTINSEN / BOGEGARDENS APOLLO: 4/77.83 

Photos © Sportfot, Official Sport Photographer of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, www.us.sportfot.com.

 
Recent More News
Appointment of Independent Non-Executive Board Directors Appointment of Independent Non-Executive Board Directors
28/03/2024
POYS PREVIEW 2024 POYS PREVIEW 2024
27/03/2024
Charlie Hancox from Worcestershire is February’s NAF Shining Star Charlie Hancox from Worcestershire is February’s NAF Shining Star
26/03/2024
British riders hit the heights in Spain with Grand Prix wins as siblings Ellen and Donald Whitaker dominate at two major shows British riders hit the heights in Spain with Grand Prix wins as siblings Ellen and Donald Whitaker dominate at two major shows
25/03/2024
New champions spring into action at the British Showjumping Spring Championships New champions spring into action at the British Showjumping Spring Championships
25/03/2024
view news archive »