Wilmington, Ohio – Featured competition for the 2025 Winter in the Midwest Series came to a close Saturday evening with the $30,000 Shires Equestrian Grand Prix of Winter Classic 17. Bobby Murphy designed the course that saw six horse-and-rider combinations move onto the jump-off. It was a foot race to the finish, but Sarah Meier and her own Nightshade SCF were uncatchable.
The first-round track suited Meier and her 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, resulting in an easy clear effort to secure their spot in the jump-off.
“I thought this course was fantastic. In fact, it was a little bit similar to the December course when my horse was so good. I walked it and thought he would love it, and it was a good course for us.”
Luke Rinehart set the pace with his seasoned 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Captain America 10 (Contendro), as the first to jump a double clear effort in 36.951 seconds.
Rinehart held the lead until Meier entered as the fifth to go. With Nightshade feeling fresh and ready, Meier stepped on the gas pedal around the short course.
“He was a little bit fresh on Thursday in the Welcome, but he has been so good all week. I just got the feeling he was happy to be here. He rode fantastic. I was not planning on the six in the last line at the end, but it was right there, and he said no problem. He was great,” she shared.
The duo was more than three seconds faster, with a time of 33.741 seconds moving to the top of the leaderboard and moving Rinehart into second.
“I love coming here to show. We love the outdoor shows as well. The barn loves it too! It makes for a fun Saturday night. We have a great group of people, and they are really into it. They are so supportive, and I couldn’t ask for better people,” Meier commented on her supportive team at Punchestown Stables.
Aiden Udelson also had a banner night, jumping his first double clear grand prix effort with Rileigh Tibbott’s 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Curious George (Clarimo x Camira), rounding out the top three in 40.512 seconds.
$30,000 Shires Equestrian Grand Prix Results:
1 Nightshade SCF, Sarah Meier, Sarah Meier | 0 | 33.741
2 Captain America 10, Luke Rinehart, Catherine Rinehart | 0 | 36.951
3 Curious George, Aiden Udelson, Rileigh Tibbott | 0 | 40.512
4 The Diamant Rose Z, Luke Rinehart, Luke Rinehart | 4 | 34.479
5 Comme Cartani, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg | 4 | 35.738
6 Rochas Van De Brouwershoeve, Michael Janson, Kimberly Janson | 8 | 40.274
7 Ringo Star PS, Michael Janson, Kimberly Janson | 4 | 70.756
8 Casadimo, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg | 4 | 73.051
9 Triskel De Kerliven, Liz Hutchinson, Liz Hutchinson | 4 | 74.019
10 Formidable Diamant, Sam Pegg, Harlow Investment Enterprises LLC | 4 | 74.943
Megan Bash & Jackson VDL Lead the Way in the $10,000 Futures Prix at Winter Classic 17
Eighteen horse-and-rider combinations contested the $10,000 Futures Prix of Winter Classic 17, but Megan Bash and her own Jackson VDL (Zirocco Blue VDL x Design O) proved unbeatable, leading the way at the second to go in the posted order.
Bash felt that “the track was super. It was very well thought out and it asked a lot of questions, but it was still very fair.”
Jackson VDL is a familiar face in the winner’s circle at WEC – Wilmington, with both Megan Bash and her son Aiden Udelson. Bash took over the ride for the week, “I wanted Aiden to just focus on his grand prix horse, so I took back the ride on Jackson just for this week!”
“It is so fun to get a chance to get back on my horse that I developed. Just to have it be like riding a bike is so special. It was a great way to finish a great winter. We stayed here all winter, and we had an amazing circuit, so this is a great way to cap it off,” she continued.
The 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding proved his competitiveness around the jump-off track, landing an unbeatable time of 28.967 seconds to take the win.
“This horse is so fast. I even did one extra step in the first line, but he turns so well. He is quick across the ground, and I made tight turns, so that is where I think I made it up,” Bash commented where she made up the time.
Dalya Balk and her own 15-year-old Danish Warmblood mare, La’velle (Bogegardens Lansini x Lille Skyttehus Amanda), came to a close second place with a double clear effort in 29.45 seconds.
Rounding out the top three was Michael Janson and Kimberly Janson’s 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, Kasandra (Durango VDL x Aranebel), in 29.706 seconds.
$10,000 Futures Prix Results:
1 Jackson VDL, Megan Bash, Cleveland Equestrian | 0 | 28.967
2 La’velle, Dalya Balk, Dalya Balk | 0 | 29.45
3 Kasandra, Michael Janson, Kimberly Janson | 0 | 29.706
4 Karlina T, Melissa Donnelly, Garo Kazan | 0 | 30.076
5 K T Miel, Claire Austin, Claire Austin | 4 | 30.689
6 Eldoranda Z, Alexandria Nelson, Thinkslikeahorse | 4 | 30.837
7 May, Lani Hutchison, Lani Hutchison | 4 | 31.743
8 Ivy, David Crawford, Australian American Equine Partners LLC | 8 | 29.004
9 FF A’lady, Megan Bash, Cleveland Equestrian | 4 | 71.757
10 Gold D’elle, Charlotte Clark, Charlotte Clark | 4 | 72.203
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.