Wilmington, Ohio – World Equestrian Center – Wilmington (WEC) played host to the $30,000 Grand Prix of Winter Classic 6 Saturday evening in the Standlee Sanctuary. FEI Level III course designer Ben Townley (GBR) laid the first-round track that allowed eight horse-and-rider combinations to move onto the jump-off phase, where Amy Krebs (USA) ultimately prevailed aboard her own, Ike (Spartacus x Twister).
Krebs felt nervous returning for the competitive jump-off with fast horses and riders to follow her.
“I was nervous. Sam [Pegg] had three and Izzy [Beisel] had two, so I knew they had a higher chance than me since it was all on Ike,” Krebs shared. “In my mind, I wanted to be double clear most importantly for my confidence with him. Another side of me wanted to win!”
Izzy Beisel (USA) returned with the first of her two qualified mounts, Vegas H (Valentino x Cobrah), to set a quick pace of 35.84 seconds.
Krebs and her 12-year-old KWPN gelding jumped a tidy track, stopping the clock in 34.545 seconds to snatch the lead.
“I wanted to make up a lot of time from one-to-two, but he bucked so it slowed me down. I was really tight back on the oxer and then did seven strides to the combination where everyone else did eight. I angled the vertical after the combination so that I could do the six without having to slow down. I gave it all to the last vertical!”
Sam Pegg (CAN) and his own 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Casadimo (Cachas x Orissa S), were quick and clear in 35.73 seconds to slide into second place and move Beisel into third.
$30,000 Grand Prix Results:
1 Ike, Amy Krebs, Amy Krebs | 0 | 34.545
2 Casadimo, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg | 0 | 35.73
3 Vegas H, Izzy Beisel, David Beisel | 0 | 35.84
4 Formidable Diamant, Sam Pegg, Harlow Investment Enterprises LLC | 0 | 35.997
5 Casey H, Sam Pegg, Harlow Investment Enterprises LLC | 0 | 37.681
6 La Belle SCF, Summer Justus, Andrea Simpson | 4 | 36.425
7 Contigo, Izzy Beisel, David Beisel | 4 | 37.042
8 Imago Z, Kat Barkema, Jeanne Mccusker | 4 | 40.855
9 Eldorado’s Edition, Vanessa McCaughley, Vanessa McCaughley | 2 | 87.063
10 Jabantos, Amy Krebs, Amy Krebs | 4 | 76.897
Maria Blankemeyer Scores Special Win with Reina Van Hellehof in the $10,000 Futures Prix
Saturday afternoon at WEC – Wilmington proved special for Maria Blankemeyer (USA) who scored the $10,000 Futures Prix win of Winter Classic 6.
Ben Townley (GBR) crafted the appropriate tracks for the class that allowed Blankemeyer to showcase Reina Van Hellehof’s (Gino H) natural speed to take the win.
With the assistance of her mother and trainer, Angela Moore, Blankemeyer has played a pivotal role in the coming eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare’s development, bringing her up from the .80m to her first double clear Grand Prix effort.
“I got Reina when I graduated from college. She was five and she is turning eight this year. She had some girl trauma,” Blankemeyer laughed. “She loved to rear. We did a ton of liberty training with her. My mom is magic, but my mom is especially magic with young horses. She is amazing at what she does, and she really understands them.”
“I have done everything at WEC. I started with her in the .80m in the Robert’s Arena and we went double clear in our most recent $30,000 Grand Prix. She is my woman; I love her,” Blankemeyer shared.
The duo jumped an easy clear first round to move onto the immediate jump-off to contest Aiden Udelson’s (USA) time.
Udelson and his 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Jackson VDL (Zirocco Blue VDL x Design O), held the lead with a time of 30.634 seconds.
Blankemeyer left one stride out in the jump-off, crossing the timers in an unbeatable 29.924 seconds.
“I wanted to give her a great ride today. I want to keep producing her and get as far as I can with her. I am so fortunate to have her. I have loved producing her with my mom and I think we are really luck to do it together.”
Izzy Beisel (USA) and her Diaz Barbotiere (Messire Ardent x Quambera Barbotiere) rounded out the top three in 30.658 seconds, just shy of second place.
$10,000 Futures Prix Results:
1 Reina Van Hellehof, Maria Blankemeyer, Angela Moore | 0 | 29.924
2 Jackson VDL, Aiden Udelson, Cleveland Equestrian | 0 | 30.634
3 Diaz Barbotiere, Izzy Beisel, Izzy Beisel | 0 | 30.658
4 Miss Cloe Z, Elizabeth Naber, Elizabeth Naber | 0 | 32.71
5 Victory Rw Broekkant Z, Emma Linton, Shady Lane Ranch LLC | 0 | 33.451
6 Corland Star, Liza Shoaf, Liza Shoaf | 4 | 80.421
7 Css New Groove, Violet Wiley, Violet Wiley | 4 | 80.445
8 Everytime Anywhere B, Erin Schalick, University of Findlay | 8 | 77.838
9 C’Est Lumpi, Eliza Potterfield-Zara, Sara Potterfield | 8 | 78.678
10 Farmer’s Apple, Michaella Del Greco, Elizabeth Harris | 8 | 79.759
Make sure to visit the WEC Blog and follow us on social media @worldequestriancenter for full coverage on all feature classes!
Results can be found at horseshowing.com.
All horse show images are provided by Winslow Photography and can be purchased onsite at WEC – Wilmington or online through their website.