Nick Skelton Scores Again at the Winter Equestrian Festival

Friday 20 January 2012

 Nick Skelton has accumulated another win at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) yesterday in the $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup 2. 

This week's course designer in the International Arena is Luc Musette of Belgium. Skelton commented, "Luc is one of the best course builders. He‘s very underestimated and he's one of the best course builders in the world for me. For the amount of people in it today, it was a good course and a good jump-off. It wasn't crazy big. You don't have to go in there every time and jump massive courses. The horses will last longer doing what we're doing instead of keep testing them every day to the maximum."

The $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series had 59 entries, and there were 18 first round clears. The best in the jump-off round was Nick partnering Beverley Widdowson’s 11 year old grey gelding Carlo, who were able to clear the shortened course in 38.39 seconds for victory. The final line, which included a double combination in eight strides to the last oxer, was where Nick considered he could make up time, but changed his mind on course.

"They said you could do seven (strides) there and I went for it, but then I thought, 'No, that's too far away.' I think if it had been in 10 weeks time, I might have gone a bit harder at it. For now I have to leave a bit in the tank. He was happy coming out of the ring," Nick said.

Irish rider Richie Moloney and Slieveanorra, a 10 year old Irish Sport Horse, were just behind in 39.16 seconds. Fellow Irish Rider Cian O'Connor and Blue Loyd 12, a 12-year-old gelding, had a time of 39.76 seconds.

Fourth place in the class went to British rider Ben Maher riding Quainton Studs 12 year old brown stallion Tackeray, who finished in 39.87 seconds.

For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

Final Results: $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 - Friday 19^th January 2012
1. Nick Skelton (GBR) riding Carlo - 0/0 in 38.39 seconds
2. Richie Moloney (IRL) riding Slieveanorra - 0/0 in 39.16 seconds
3. Cian O’Connor (IRL) riding Blue Loyd 12 - 0/0 in 39.76 seconds
4. Ben Maher (GBR) riding Tackeray - 0/0 in 39.87 seconds
5. Andrew Bourns (IRL) riding Roundthorn Madios - 0/0 in 40.40 seconds
6. Eric Lamaze (CAN) riding Derly Chin De Muze - 0/0 in 40.77 seconds

Photo © Sportfot, Official Sport Photographer of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival

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