Wilmington, Ohio – The crowd in the Standlee Sanctuary went quiet Saturday evening as Sarah Meier (USA) entered for the jump-off in the $30,000 Grand Prix of Christmas in the Midwest. Bobby Murphy (USA) designed the final track for 15 athletes that allowed only five to return for the tie breaker.
Meier saved the best for last, jumping one of only two double clear efforts aboard her own Nightshade SCF (Baldev x Olisina) to cap off the 2024 season with a grand prix victory.
Meier followed Sam Pegg (CAN) as he had just posted the only double clear effort aboard his own 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Casadimo (Cachas x Orissa S).
“Going into the jump-off, there were only five in it and three had rails. I know Sam [Pegg] is hard to beat, but I didn’t feel like he went smoking fast,” she shared. “If I can put it together good enough, Nightshade always tries hard as long as I don’t mess it up,” Meier laughed.
Pegg stopped the clock in 40.795 seconds, ultimately good enough for second place.
Meier and her 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding were in top form, never touching the brakes around the track for a time of 38.893 seconds.
“I had a little blip in October. I went home and did my maintenance, and he has jumped five consecutive clear Saturday nights here,” Meier was beaming about her mount.
“He loves this job, and he just gets it. You pull him out on Saturday evening and he knows. He doesn’t like to sit at home, he wants to go to the show. He basically jumps on the horse trailer!”
The team at Punchestown Stables waited at the in-gate with open arms to congratulate Meier, walking away with the final featured blue ribbon to close out Christmas in the Midwest.
“WEC is amazing. Everybody here is as nice and accommodating as can be. There is no other horse show out there like this one. You won’t go anywhere else where everyone tries to help you out like they do here. It is affordable, close to us, the footing is great and there are plenty of schooling opportunities,” Meier discussed her thoughts on WEC – Wilmington.
Richard Rinehart and the 13-year-old Zangersheide mare, The Diamant Rose Z (Toulon x Diamant Z), rounded out the top three with the quickest time of 35.502 seconds and an unfortunate four faults.
$30,000 Grand Prix Results:
1 Nightshade SCF, Sarah Meier, Sarah Meier | 0 | 38.893
2 Casadimo, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg | 0 | 40.795
3 The Diamant Rose Z, Richard Rinehart, Luke Rinehart | 4 | 35.502
4 Vegas H, Izzy Beisel, David Beisel | 4 | 36.921
5 Downtown’s Main Event, Shannon Sullivan, Shannon Sullivan | 8 | 36.251
6 Duc De Jentiere, Lani Hutchison, Lani Hutchison | 4 | 74.568
7 Icarus, Patricio Rodriguez, Ashland Farms | 4 | 74.759
8 Queen Bee Z, Ragan B. Roberts, Ragan B. Roberts | 4 | 78.892
9 Darius Du Reel, Kait Meggenhofen, Windara Farms | 4 | 79.535
10 Liber T, Molly Kindness, Mole Hill Jm Ltd | 8 | 76.47
Izzy Beisel & Diaz Barbotiere Save the Best for Last in the $10,000 CWD Futures Prix
Izzy Beisel (USA) saved the best for last in the $10,000 CWD Futures Prix of WEC – Wilmington Christmas in the Midwest, where Bobby Murphy’s track saw 12 horse-and-rider combinations move onto the immediate jump-off.
Second in the posted order, Kait Meggenhofen (USA) claimed an early lead with her own VDL Ivar (Gaillard De La Pomme x Zoberlina).
The 11-year-old KWPN gelding stopped the clock in 29.09 seconds with Meggenhofen in the irons, holding the top spot until the very end of the class.
Beisel entered with her fastest mount with one goal in mind, “I wanted to go slow. I was having a similar issue to what I was having earlier this year. I was going too fast. I just need to not get in my head; we both want to go in and win, so I need to focus on just jumping the jumps.”
Even on their slowest day, the 11-year-old Selle Francias gelding still bests the field with his natural footspeed.
“Sam [Pegg] and my dad gave me a little pep talk yesterday about just mentally slowing myself down and taking a deep breath. Today was a good confidence booster!”
Crossing the timers in 28.746 seconds, the duo snagged the lead once again, moving Meggenhofen into second place.
“Thank you to my friends Casey and Leah for coming to cheer me on and my whole barn family! Leah drove 45 minutes today and she was my lucky charm,” Beisel shared.
Sam Pegg (CAN) piloted his own eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Comme Cartani (Comme Il Faut x Wilora) to third place in 29.744 seconds.
$10,000 CWD Futures Prix Results:
1 Diaz Barbotiere, Izzy Beisel, Izzy Beisel | 0 | 28.746
2 VDL Ivar, Kait Meggenhofen, Windara Farms LLC | 0 | 29.09
3 Comme Cartani, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg | 0 | 29.744
4 Kinsella, Charlotte Clark, Charlotte Clark | 0 | 29.865
5 Chagrand, Michael Burnett, Michael Burnett | 0 | 30.355
6 Casey H, Sam Pegg, Harlow Investment Enterprises LLC | 0 | 30.366
7 Goldfish, Melissa Donnelly, Fawn Lake Farm LLC | 0 | 31.632
8 Georges D’ecaussinnes, Tyler Petrie, Julia Rice | 0 | 31.906
9 Kasper, Karston Gundry, Kim Gundry | 0 | 32.657
10 Namelus R, Sam Pegg, Carly Tabaczka | 0 | 35.810
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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.