Winter Classic 13 of the Winter Series of the Midwest hosted plenty of thrilling equestrian sport along with a myriad of fun activities. On Friday, exhibitors gathered in the Paddock Club for a delicious dinner of barbecue ribs and fried catfish as some joined in on a Spring-themed painting party. Saturday welcomed the Clinton County Humane Society to Vendor Village where one lucky dog found a forever home. Saturday also hosted a fun Sip and Shop event with wine and snacks in Vendor Village. Saturday night, the kids rushed the Sanctuary Arena after the Grand Prix for a fun game of Wak-A-Mole.
Thursday saw Ireland’s Kevin McCarthy return to World Equestrian Center to snag another win aboard the scopey mare Catch A Star HSS (Sheraton x Tolinda). This was the pair’s third trip to the winner’s circle during the 2019 Winter Series of the Midwest and second win in the $5,000 Welcome Stake 1.35 m sponsored by CWD Sellier. The class hosted plenty of stiff competition on Thursday afternoon with five entries jumping quick, double clear rounds, challenging one another for the ultimate prize. McCarthy and Catch A Star HSS strode into the ring this afternoon with confidence, jumping a clear first round in 76.928 seconds. McCarthy and Catch A Star HSS continued to the jump off, and the scopey Swedish Warmblood mare cleared each fence with room to spare. The pair navigated the short course with plenty of pace, crossing the timers at 30.006 seconds and taking over the top spot. Though the pair held their lead throughout the remainder of the Welcome Stake, they were nearly beaten by Doug Boyd and Sapphire Riding Academy’s Berkley III (Pall Mall H x Resina), who galloped through a clear jump off in 30.044 seconds, just fractions of a seconds behind McCarthy and Catch A Star HSS.
Friday was a good day in the R+L Arena as twenty two entries contested the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby. Kristjan Good rode a total of five mounts in the Derby, three of which finished in the top ten and Augustin Walch’s Diamo Blue (Diarado x Verb. Pr. St. Elfenblau) took first place. Good and Diamo Blue navigated the course effortlessly, taking all four high options in stride as the Oldenburg stallion snapped his knees at each fence, ultimately earning a first round score of 89. The pair returned for the handy round, taking every possible inside turn and wowing the judges with effortless style and finesse. The pair took all four high options again, earning a 91, the highest score of the Derby, which brought their two round total to 180 for the win in the class.
Watch Richard Cheska and Casme VDB Z’s winning round, courtesy of ShowNet
Saturday saw thrilling Jumper action in the Sanctuary arena for the $25,000 WEC Grand Prix where Richard Cheska and his own Casme VDB Z (Carosso VDL x Anastasia Z) jumped double clear to win the class. Eight horse and rider combinations went clear in the first round of the Grand Prix, but Cheska and Casme VDB Z were the only pair to jump double clear. In the first round, the duo jumped a steady and consistent first round in 79.449 seconds, saving plenty of energy for the jump off. When they returned for the jump off, Cheska noted that each entry before he and Casme VDB Z had taken a rail, so the pair opted for a more conservative approach to the jump off. Their strategy was a success and the pair jumped the only clean jump off of the evening, stopping the clock at 37.094 seconds to win the $25,000 WEC Grand Prix.
Watch Kevin McCarthy and Gwen MC 1’s winning round, courtesy of ShowNet
The $7,500 Futures Prix 1.30 m sponsored by Voltaire Design on Saturday also saw the only double clear round of the class take the win, executed by Kevin McCarthy and his own Gwen MC 1 (Quidam). The pair have taken multiple first place finishes in 1.25 m classes throughout the Winter Series at World Equestrian Center, and were well prepared for the Futures Prix. McCarthy and Gwen MC 1 were quick and agile, never touching a rail in a time of 73.823 seconds. The pair continued straight to the jump off of the Table II event, picking up even more pace and clearing each fence with ease. McCarthy and Gwen MC 1 crossed the timers at 32.156 seconds with all rails up for the win in the class.
The Roberts Ring also saw fantastic Hunter action on Saturday in the $2,000 Non Pro Hunter Derby 2’6″ sponsored by Chagrin Saddlery. Haylee Moore took both first and third place aboard Brooke Moore’s The Great Gatsby (His Highness 2 x Fulisa) and Fairfield’s Lunar Landing (Llanarth Senator x Heidelied). Moore also took top placings aboard The Great Gatsby in the Intermediate Children’s Hunter and Equitation divisions throughout the week, as well as top placings aboard Fairfield’s Lunar Landing in the Large Pony Hunters.
Join us at the World Equestrian Center for the remainder of the Winter Series of the Midwest. The prize list is available online at www.wec.net, and entries are being accepted via www.horseshowing.com and through Equestrian Connect. Reservations for stalls, hay and bedding as well as RV spaces may all be made online at www.horseshowing.com. Be sure to watch the live stream daily on www.shownet.biz or from our home page at wec.net.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.