Ben Maher and Kavanagh IV Triumph in $30,000 Mar-a-Lago Club Grand Prix

Week one of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) concluded on Sunday with a victory for Great Britain's Ben Maher and Kavanagh IV in the $30,000 Mar-a-Lago Club Grand Prix at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC).

Week one of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, sponsored by The Mar-a-Lago Club, concluded today. FTI WEF 2, sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty, run January 15-19. The FTI WEF, held at the PBIEC in Wellington, FL, features 12 weeks of world-class competition through March 30, awarding $8 million in prize money.

For Sunday's highlight competition, course designer Eric Hasbrouck saw 47 combinations jump the first round, with ten entries advancing to the jump-off. Only two were able to clear the short course without fault, and Ben Maher and Kavanagh IV had the winning time of 35.017.

Paris Sellon (USA) and Heracross finished second with their clear round in 40.053 seconds. Karen Polle (USA) had the fastest time in the jump-off in 33.898 seconds, but incurred four faults to finish third. Ireland's Ronan McGuigan and Capall Zidane placed fourth with four faults in 34.344 seconds. McGuigan and Polle were both victim to a tall plank jump on course that was a problem for many of the riders in both rounds.

Class winner, Kavanagh IV, is a 12-year-old Anglo European gelding by Kannan x Carousel. Maher started riding the gelding this fall and has already had great success with him. He explained, "I took over the ride a few months ago when I was resting the other horses in England back in October, and he went quite well the first week, so John and Laura (Renick) kindly left him with me."

"I begged them to let me take him to Florida because I know he's great in the big arenas," Maher continued. "He jumped very well in the Trump Grand Prix the other week. I couldn't see where I was going (because of the rain), and I ran a little deep and had a mistake, so we saved him for this grand prix this week because he felt good, and the plan paid off."

"He is the most laid back going horse there is," Maher described of the horse. "He is very relaxed and doesn't mind who looks after him or who is riding him. I actually didn't ride him all week. My girlfriend rode him the whole week, so maybe I'll stick to that plan. He takes strides out in a big ring like this; he's pretty fast. A lot of horses had the planks down, so I took a little bit of time there and left a small margin for the others to catch me, but luckily it was the right decision today."

Maher looks forward to another great FTI WEF circuit in 2014, returning with Jane Clark's Cella and Urico, who he had great success with in 2013.

"I am looking forward to riding Cella and Urico," he noted. "They have been great for me the whole year. We rested Urico for the indoor season because he gained some great results. I had a whole new plan with him for the summer, and I think he's in great shape, so he'll start out here next week. Cella, we'll save for the bigger grands prix. They're kind of split up this time, so she's going to come out week three I think, but I've got some great horses. I'm very lucky, and always excited to be here."

In addition to earning top prize in Sunday's grand prix, Maher was presented with a special Champion Equine Insurance Jumper Style Award, presented by Laura Fetterman.

Second place finisher, Paris Sellon, also earned a special award as the Leading Lady Jumper Rider for week one thanks to Martha Jolicoeur of Illustrated Properties in memory of Dale Lawler.

Sellon, 21, is from Los Angeles, CA, and this is her first time competing at the FTI WEF riding with Laura Kraut and Nick Skelton. She purchased Heracross from Skelton one year ago.

"I just started riding with Nick and Laura last May," Sellon exlained. "I went to Europe with them, started traveling with them. I have just been getting to know him, getting to know how to jump clear, and it's all finally paying off now. It has taken a full year, but he's great. He is super straight forward and a super show horse."

Commenting on the day's course, Sellon noted, "It was difficult enough. With the time allowed and everything, you have to keep moving as well as trying to jump clear, but my horse actually benefits from that. The more you keep him going, the more you fire him up. That's when he jumps his best, so it was actually a pretty good course for him."

Karen Polle, also 21, is from New York City and started training with Todd Minikus in October. She has had her horse What Ever for three years, but the mare is coming back from a year and a half off with an injury, and Sunday's class was one of their first grands prix back together. Polle described What Ever, stating, "She is so lazy at home. She's like a pony, but once she gets in the ring she fires up. She leaves out strides and turns really fast, and she's just so fast and fun."

Polle explained that training with Todd Minikus has really helped her. "He has helped me focus on using my leg to really ride the course and guide the horse," Polle noted. "I tend to get a little bit too much hands, and I stop them a little too much and I get them behind me sometimes, so he's really been helping me ride from my leg."

Week 1 Classic winners:  $15,000 Engel & Volkers, Sollak Carr SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Jumpers - Ali Wolff and Caya

$10,000 Sleepy P Ranch SJHOF High Junior Jumpers - Victoria Colvin and Don Juan

$10,000 Animo USA Medium Amateur-Owner Jumpers - Dana Scott and KM What Ever RV

$10,000 Charles Owen Low Amateur-Owner Jumpers - Christina Firestone and Zodiac

  $10,000 Martha Jolicoeur, Illustrated Properties Adult Jumpers 18-35 - Grisset and Alissa Kinsey

$10,000 Classical South Florida Adult Jumpers 36-49 - Tessa Weise and Carzat

$10,000 Horseware Ireland Don Little Masters - Randy Levesque and Lyla

$10,000 Maria Mendelsohn, Illustrated Properties Low Junior Jumpers - Brianne Link and E Bay

$10,000 Hollow Creek Farm Medium Junior Jumpers - Emanuel Andrade and Black Pearl

Week 1 Champions:

EnTrust Capital Children's Jumper 14 & Under - Kera McCandless and Cayman

FarmVet Adult Modified Jumpers - Lisa Segalot and Florien

National Distaster Solutions Children's Jumper 15-17 - Lilly Higgins and Wenda AK

Griffis Residential Children's Modified Jumpers - Daisy Farish and Ornella R

Equiline Low Adult Jumper 18-35 - Nathan Rolfe and Fly Away

Low Adult Jumper 36 & Over - Sally Slater and Belmondo

Crown Family Low Children's Jumper - Grace Conroy and Herlique

Hunter Highlights - Wednesday through Sunday

Truman and Christopher Payne took home the first division championship of the FTI WEF on Thursday morning in the Equine Tack & Nutritionals First Year Green Working Hunters. Truman, owned by Maypine Farm, won the under saddle class and was fourth in the handy hunter round with Payne on Wednesday before winning the stake round and picking up another fourth place ribbon in the final over fences class on Thursday.

Reserve champion of the division was Enticement, ridden by Kelley Farmer and owned by Glefke, Kensel LLC and Oakland Ventures, LLC. The pair was third in the handy hunter round on the first day of competition before finishing third in the stake round and winning the final over fences class on Thursday

Hunter competition for FTI WEF week one continued on Friday morning with the presentation of championship honors in the Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51 & Over Section A. Laura Lee Montross and Palm Meadow Farm LLC's Nairobi Nights earned the division championship after placing first and second over fences on Thursday and earning second and third place awards over fences on Friday.

Gina Day and Premier finished in reserve. The pair earned a third place ribbon over fences on Thursday and won the under saddle as well as one class over fences on Friday to conclude the division.

Championship presentations continued in the Eugene R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring on Saturday morning, where Ashton Alexander and her 10-year-old mount Lordano, owned by Lynn Seithel, took home the championship ribbon in the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division, presented by EnTrust Capital.

Two firsts and two second places over fences along with a third place under saddle for Alexander topped the field, with Cloe Hymowitz and Rose Hill Farm's Enjoy, who were first, second, third, and sixth over fences and won the under saddle, in the one reserve champion spot.

Lili Hymowitz could not be beat Sunday morning in the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under division, presented by Greenspoon Marder Law, at the FTI WEF. Hymowitz walked away with division champion and reserve champion honors with her mounts Statement and Tiffani, respectively.

Hymowitz and Statement, a seven-year-old Westphalian gelding, won three out of the five classes for the division. The pair picked up wins in two over fences classes and the under saddle in addition to collecting sixth and third place ribbons over fences.

Tiffani, a 10-year-old Holsteiner mare, won the handy round on the first day of competition over fences before finishing second in two other over fences rounds and fifth in the under saddle class.

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

Jumper Highlights - Wednesday through Sunday

Equestrian Sport Productions hosted the first day of competition for the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) on Wednesday with a full schedule of hunter, jumper and equitation competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The day kicked off with a win in the International Arena for 20-year-old Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) of Greenwich, CT, riding Quidam MB in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m. Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist Eric Lamaze also got a win on the first day of competition in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class with Zigali P S. Alexander Zetterman (SWE) won the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m speed round aboard Canora.

Eric Hasbrouck was the course designer in the International Arena at PBIEC for week one competition. Hasbrouck saw 20 competitors over his $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed track in the morning with seven clear rounds. Adrienne Sternlicht and Quidam MB secured the win with their time of 66.192 seconds. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Spy Coast Farm LLC's Baldev finished second with their time of 67.670 seconds. Lauren Hough (USA) and Reconnaissance, owned by Laura and Meredith Mateo, went first in the class and set the pace with their time of 68.575 seconds and eventually finished third. Jimmy Torano (USA) and Ben Maher's Dolores MB had the fourth place time of 69.997 seconds.

Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist Eric Lamaze rode to a one-two finish in Wednesday's $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class out of 64 competitors. Twenty-three entries advanced to the jump-off and there were 17 double clear rounds. Lamaze won the class aboard Artisan Farms LLC's Zigali P S in a time of 33.628 seconds. He earned second place honors with Artisan Farms LLC's Quelmec du Gery in 34.065 seconds. Laura Kraut and Stone Hill Farm's Wish placed third in 34.268 seconds.

The $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m speed was the final class of the day with a win for Sweden's Alexander Zetterman aboard Canora. The class featured 37 horse and rider combinations with seven clear rounds. Zetterman and Canora finished in 60.181 seconds, well ahead of second place finishers Laura Chapot and Bradberry in 65.012 seconds. Hayley Barnhill and Cara Cheska's Zephire placed third in 73.34 seconds.

The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, hosted its second day of competition for the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) on Thursday with a win for Wilton Porter (USA) and Sleepy P Ranch LLC's Paloubet in the $25,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 1.

In Thursday's $25,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 1, Hasbrouck set the course for 46 entries with nine clear rounds to advance to the jump-off. It was then an exciting race against the clock as six of those cleared the short course without fault.   

Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Solerina, owned by Sweet Oak and Spy Coast Farms, set the pace to beat at 37.498 seconds to eventually finish fourth. Ronan McGuigan (IRL) and Capall Zidane were next to go and upped the ante with their time of 37.222 seconds, which earned the third place prize. Paris Sellon and Heracross also cleared the course and earned fifth place honors with their time of 38.870 seconds. Up next, Wilton Porter and Paloubet raced through the course in 36.052 seconds to take the lead. Their time held up to the end as Charlie Jacobs and CMJ Sporthorse LLC's Flaming Star were just off the mark in 36.797 seconds to finish second. Michael Dorman and Wyndmont's Valinski S also jumped a clear round, and finished sixth with their time of 39.968 seconds.

In addition to the prize money for Thursday's class, Porter earned a special $3,000 bonus as part of the SSG 'Go Clean for the Green' promotion. Each week of the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series, a $3,000 bonus will be awarded to the winning rider if they are wearing SSG 'Digital' Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible. Porter was the first bonus winner of 2014.

Also showing on Thursday, Samantha Senft (USA) kicked off the morning with a win in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m jump-off class with her ride aboard Early Morning. The class saw 27 entries with 17 advancing to the jump-off, and 12 double clear rounds. Senft and Early Morning completed the fastest jump-off round in 36.67 seconds.

Yann Candele (CAN) and Carol Sollak's Brooklyn Blues finished second in 37.038 seconds. Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) and Mike Collin's Cornetiero placed third with a time of 37.905 seconds.

The $2,500 Engel & V�lkers, Sollak, Carr High Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class was also held in the International Arena on Thursday morning with a win for Jay Land and Nepal. The pair had the fastest of six clear rounds out of 20 entries with the winning time of 69.806 seconds. Robert Jornayvaz IV finished second with a time of 73.334 seconds aboard Like A Dream. Kelly Soleau and Centre Ice were third in 74.047 seconds.

U.S. Olympic Team Gold Medalist Laura Kraut earned victory on day three of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) competing with Stone Hill Farm's Wish in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class on Friday, January 10. Alexander Zetterman (SWE) and Canora also got their second win of the circuit in the day's $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge.

In Friday's $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class, course designer Eric Hasbrouck saw 61 competitors with 26 advancing to the immediate jump-off in the International Arena at PBIEC. Fourteen entries were also clear over the short course, and Laura Kraut and Wish completed the fastest clear jump-off round in 38.669 seconds for the win.

Kraut narrowly edged out fellow U.S. Olympic Team Gold Medalist McLain Ward, who finished second aboard Ramses du Lavillion in 38.885 seconds. Nicholas Dello Joio (USA) placed third aboard Nathalie de Gunzburg's Fiego van de Zoneweide in 39.510 seconds. Emanuel Andrade (VEN) finished fourth with his time of 40.326 seconds riding Hollow Creek Farm's Crossfire 10.

A $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge was also held on Friday with 41 entries and a win for Alexander Zetterman (SWE) aboard Canora. The pair also won the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m speed class on Wednesday to kick off a great week of competition. They had the fastest of five clear rounds on Friday with a time of 68.352 seconds. Brittni Raflowitz (USA) and ESI Show Jumpers' Elios placed second in 68.807 seconds. Leslie Howard (USA) and Jane Clark's Whistler finished third in 70.544 seconds.

The crowds were out in full force at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Saturday night to watch the women's team earn their sixth consecutive victory in the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival's (FTI WEF) $75,000 Nespresso Battle of the Sexes. The three-phase contest included speed rounds, match races, and a six-bar competition.

The women's team was captained by Candice King and also included riders Pippa Allen, Nicole Bellissimo, Danielle Goldstein, Brianne Goutal, Lauren Hough, Maggie Jayne, Laura Kraut, Catherine Pasmore, and Debbie Stephens.

Charlie Jayne led the men's team, which included riders Stefano Barcho, Mark Bluman, Lorenzo de Luca, Todd Minikus, Richie Moloney, Samuel Parot, Nick Skelton, Shane Sweetnam, and Hardin Towell.

The first round of competition was the speed round, with a 6 to 4 win for the men. The match races followed, with the men and women competing side by side over identical courses. The men and women tied in that round, each winning five races, to bring the total up to 11 points for the men and nine for the women.

The final six-bar competition was the deciding factor of the evening with the men leading by two points going in. Four men and four women returned from each team with the opportunity to earn two points per clear round. The competition started at 1.60m (5'3") in height and moved up to 1.70m (5'7") through two rounds.

Todd Minikus was the only man to jump a clear six-bar round and earned two points for the men, bringing their total up to 13 points, but he then had a rail down in the second round. Maggie Jayne and Catherine Pasmore each cleared round one to bring the girl's total up to 13 as well and tie the teams. The girls moved on to round two, but Jayne had rails down in her second attempt. It was all left to Catherine Pasmore, and she and Bibi Sijgje were the only pair to clear the six-bar in round two to clinch the win for the women.

The $25,000 Suncast� 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic was held on Saturday afternoon with 13 entries and a six-horse jump-off that yielded four double clear rounds. Canada's Eric Lamaze qualified two horses for the jump-off and was first to go over the short course with Artisan Farms LLC's Quelmec du Gery. The pair had the fastest jump-off time of 30.398 seconds, but finished the course with eight faults to earn sixth place honors. Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Oakland Ventures LLC's New Look de Mescam posted the first clear round in 33.233 seconds to eventually earn the third place prize.

Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Spy Coast Farm LLC's Diktator van de Boslandhoeve jumped next and had a rail down at the final fence with a time of 34.583 seconds to place fifth. Gemma Paternoster (GBR) had a clear round in 44.314 seconds aboard her own and Julia Harrison Lee's Osiris to place fourth. Up next, Lauren Hough (USA) and Karina Rotenberg's B�ckmanns Lazio cleared the course in 31.643 seconds to take the lead. Eric Lamaze was last to go with his second mount, Artisan Farms LLC's Zigali P S, but finished just shy of the time to beat in 31.654 seconds to earn the second place prize.

The Junior and Amateur-Owner Jumpers got the chance to show in the International Arena on Sunday morning. In the $10,000 Sleepy P Ranch SJHOF High Junior Jumper Classic, Victoria Colvin and Don Juan, owned by Brigid Colvin and Karen Long Dwight, completed the only clear round out of 17 entries to earn top prize. Emanuel Andrade and Hollow Creek Farm's Carboni had the fastest four-fault round to finish second.

The $10,000 Animo USA Medium Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic saw 51 entries with 18 clear rounds and ten to go clear in the jump-off. Dana Scott and Nod Hill Farm's KM What Ever RV were the winners with the fastest jump-off time, and Sarah Hubbard and Athina Z finished second.

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