Another top placing for Warwickshire’s Nick Skelton
Tuesday 08 March 2011
Wellington, Florida - March 6, 2011 - Week 8 of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) came to a close today with a highlight event, the $150,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix, CSIO 4*. The 2011 WEF will continue through April 3 and award more than $6 million in prize money.
There were forty seven entries in Sunday’s Grand Prix class, and they rode over a track designed by Steve Stephens of Palmetto, Florida. Twelve found the way to a clear round and advanced to the jump-off, which proved extremely testing.
The pathfinder in the jump-off was Great Britain’s Gemma Paternoster on her own Osiris. They set a solid time of 48.49 seconds with a clear round, which would hold up for fifth place in the class.
The lead changed hands with the next rider, Amy Millar of Canada on Costa Rica Z, owned by Millar Brooke and Ann Matthews. They were careful throughout the course and with speed to the last jump, they finished clear in 44.40 seconds for third place.
There were forty seven entries in Sunday’s Grand Prix class, and they rode over a track designed by Steve Stephens of Palmetto, Florida. Twelve found the way to a clear round and advanced to the jump-off, which proved extremely testing.
The pathfinder in the jump-off was Great Britain’s Gemma Paternoster on her own Osiris. They set a solid time of 48.49 seconds with a clear round, which would hold up for fifth place in the class.
The lead changed hands with the next rider, Amy Millar of Canada on Costa Rica Z, owned by Millar Brooke and Ann Matthews. They were careful throughout the course and with speed to the last jump, they finished clear in 44.40 seconds for third place.
Nick Skelton for Great Britain was up next riding Beverly Widdowson Carlo 273. With his experience and the talented Carlo 273 the pair galloped through jump-off with ease managing to shave off four second from the previous leading time, finishing on a time of 40.61 seconds.
Although Nick didn't win, he noted that he was very pleased with his horse. "I was pleased with my horse. He's doing great. I couldn't have been happier. I lost it going to the last. I had a really good shot going forward and then two to three strides out, he jumped over the tractor wheels tracks and I had to pull back afterwards and lost a stride there. But I'm still pleased with how he jumped."
Although Nick didn't win, he noted that he was very pleased with his horse. "I was pleased with my horse. He's doing great. I couldn't have been happier. I lost it going to the last. I had a really good shot going forward and then two to three strides out, he jumped over the tractor wheels tracks and I had to pull back afterwards and lost a stride there. But I'm still pleased with how he jumped."
Ben Maher from Bishop’s Stortford (GBR) also made it into the placings finishing in overall fourth. Ben road the stunning black stallion, Tripple X III who he jointly owns with Quainton Stud. The pair put in a solid clear round in time of 45.99 seconds taking their share of the prize fund.
$150,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty CSIO 4* Grand Prix
1st Lauren Hough/Quick Study - 0/0/ 40.18 seconds
2nd Nick Skelton/Carlo 273 CARLO - 0/0/ 40.61 seconds
3rd Amy Millar/Costa Rica Z - 0/0/ 44.40 seconds
4th Ben Maher/Tripple X - 0/0/ 45.99 seconds
5th Gemma Paternoster/Osiris - 0/0/ 48.49 seconds
6th Beezie Madden/Coral Reef - 0/4/ 40.73 seconds
$150,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty CSIO 4* Grand Prix
1st Lauren Hough/Quick Study - 0/0/ 40.18 seconds
2nd Nick Skelton/Carlo 273 CARLO - 0/0/ 40.61 seconds
3rd Amy Millar/Costa Rica Z - 0/0/ 44.40 seconds
4th Ben Maher/Tripple X - 0/0/ 45.99 seconds
5th Gemma Paternoster/Osiris - 0/0/ 48.49 seconds
6th Beezie Madden/Coral Reef - 0/4/ 40.73 seconds
Photo credited to Randi Muster/Mustphoto
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