Will Martin Makes Winning WEC – Wilmington Debut in $25,000 Grand Prix

01 AUG 26 Wilmington, OH

A rider on a brown horse jumps over a blue obstacle during an equestrian event, with a white building and trees in the background.

Wilmington, Ohio – World Equestrian Center – Wilmington (WEC) played host to the $25,000 Grand Prix early Saturday afternoon, where Will Martin made his first trip to the venue a winning one.

Equestrian rider and horse jump over an obstacle in an outdoor show jumping competition arena.
Will Martin & One and Only. Photo by Winslow Photography.

Designed by Robert Barton, the track saw four horse-and-rider combinations advance to the jump-off. Riding Katherine Kaneb’s One and Only(Diktator Van De Boslandhoeve x Bellefleur), Martin set the pace as the first to enter the ring and delivered the first clear round of the class to secure his place in the jump-off.

Despite their new partnership, Martin was quick to recognize the mare’s talent.

“She is a huge talent. I’m looking forward to jumping some bigger tracks with her. She’s still a little green, but she shows all the ability in the world. We’ll just keep doing this and keep working our way up the ranks with her,” Martin shared.

A rider on a brown horse jumps over a red and yellow obstacle during an equestrian event at an outdoor arena.
Will Martin & One and Only. Photo by Winslow Photography.

Returning for the jump-off, Martin and the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare left all the rails intact and stopped the clock in an unbeatable 34.57 seconds to ultimately take top honors.

“I was really just trying to get to know the horses this week, but I figured out quickly that they’re all really talented,” Martin laughed.

A man on horseback poses with two people holding a large prize check in front of a show jumping obstacle at an outdoor equestrian event.
Will Martin claiming his first and fourth place honors. Photo by Winslow Photography.

Making his first appearance at WEC – Wilmington, Martin was impressed with the venue and the experience. “It’s been amazing. It’s a really horse-friendly venue, and all the staff and everyone here has been super welcoming, generous and nice. I felt right at home here.”

Martin also expressed his appreciation for the opportunity. “I’d like to thank the Orpen’s for trusting me with the horses and giving me the opportunity to ride them. Hopefully we’ll win some more together!”

A rider on a brown horse jumps over a red and white obstacle during an equestrian competition; spectators are visible in the background.
Ragan Roberts & Queen Bee Z. Photo by Winslow Photography.

Ragan Roberts and his own 10-year-old Warmblood mare, Queen Bee Z (Quincy Car x Can Get You), showed off their consistency once again earning a second place finish with a double clear effort in 38.014 seconds.

A rider in equestrian gear jumps a chestnut horse over a red and orange obstacle during a show jumping event, with spectators in the background.
Colleen Holton & Quick Release Sho Z. Photo by Winslow Photography.

Colleen Holton rounded out the top three with Quick Release Sho Z (Quaid II x Chulanda), a 12-year-old Zangersheide mare owned by Liberty Farms LLC with four faults in the jump-off.

$25,000 Grand Prix Results

Explore the daily class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and final results on HorseShowing.com.

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