Wellington, FL – December 19, 2017 – Emanuel Andrade of Wellington, FL, and his own U took top honors in the $25,000 Ultima Fitness Grand Prix at ESP Holiday I hosted at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Thursday, December 14, after stopping the jump-off timers in 41.904 seconds.
Liza Finsness of Wellington, FL, and Shiver, captured second place with a jump-off time of 43.292 seconds ahead of Michael Morrissey of Wellington, FL, and QBS Equestrian LLC’s La Lopez 3, who narrowly missed first place and finished the course, designed by Mauricio Garcia, with a time of 38.617 seconds but with four added faults.
Later in the week, Todd Minikus of Lake Worth, FL, and Carlo, owned by North Face Farm, captured a speedy win in the $25,000 ProElite Grand Prix at ESP Holiday II, besting a class of 44 entries on Sunday, December 17.
The pair finished a strong first round on the course, also designed by Garcia, and proceeded to stop the jump-off timers in 37.549 seconds, just tenths of a second faster than Alvaro Tejada of Guatemala, and Voltaral Palo Blanco, owned by Agroprosa, who completed the round in 38.187 seconds. Liza Finsness of Wellington, FL, once again rode Shiver to another top three finish, this time finishing the short course in 39.33 seconds.
The ESP Holiday Series will continue with three more weeks of top hunter, jumper, and equitation competition before the start of the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) on Wednesday, January 10, which will continue through Sunday, April 1.
Jumper Highlights:
Ian Millar of Perth, ON, and Vittorio 8, owned by Future Adventures, championed the ESP Holiday I $10,000 Ultima Fitness Open Stake after completing their jump-off round in 34.838 seconds to best the class. Emanuel Andrade of Wellington, FL, and Jenni’s Choice, owned by Andrade, collected second place with a time of 35.787 seconds, as well as third place aboard his own Gran Mamut, rounding out the top three with a time of 35.138 seconds and eight faults.
The ESP Holiday II $10,000 ProElite Welcome Stake was won by Alex Granato of Wellington, FL, and Beorn, owned by Moyer Farm, LLC, after crossing through jump-off timers in 32.49 seconds. David Oberkircher of Collegeville, PA, and Upper, owned by Southfields Farm LLC, earned second place with a time of 34.037 seconds. Alejandro Karolyi of Wellington, FL, and Willow, owned by Amalaya Investments, finished in third place after finishing in 34.042 seconds.
The ESP Holiday I Child/Adult 1.10m Jumper Classic saw Julia Strawbridge of West Grove, PA, and his own Ailee rise to the top of the class. The pair completed their round in 77.308 seconds with two time faults for the win ahead of Strawbridge and her second mount C’est La Vie, also owned by Strawbridge, who completed the track in 78.878 seconds and with three faults. Christina Castillo finish with a third-place ribbon aboard Eduardo and Isabel Castillo’s Waltaire Palo Blanco, who stopped the timers in 69.142 seconds and with four faults.
Sophia Thomson of Jupiter, FL, and her own Bull Run’s Eternal, rode to victory in the $1,500 Low Child/Adult Jumper Classic during ESP Holiday I, stopping the jump-off timers in 40.549 seconds. Joshua Baird of St. Charles, IL, and Lollipop S secured second place with a time of 41.661 seconds, while Juliett Johansson of Fort Lauderdale, FL, and her own Viva’s Roxanna W took third place after adding four faults to their jump-off time of 41.292 seconds.
Elizabeth Kirby of Wellington, FL, and Cor de Pomme, owned by E.K. Equestrian LLC, finished in first place in the ESP Holiday I $2,500 M&S Child/Adult Classic after finishing their second round in a time of 43.542 seconds, during ESP Holiday I. Bevo Tarika of Fairfield, CT, and Kanneau, owned by Tarika, took second place as the only other combination to advance to the jump-off round. The pair finished in 41.658 seconds with four faults. Lisbeth Hazoury of Wellington, FL, and Los Establos Sporthorses Corp.’s Valmach des Abbayes finished in third with 4 faults in the first round.
Lauren McCaulley of Lake Charles, IL, and Umano de la Ruche, owned by Ilan Ferder, rode to victory in the ESP Holiday II $1,500 NAL Child/Adult Jumper Classic with a jump-off time of 42.241 seconds. Alexandra Elkins of Dallas, TX, and Shosy TSP, owned by Elkins, finished in second after stopping the jump-off timers in 43.747 seconds. Bruna Silva of Windermere, FL, and Lorenza Jmen secured third place with a time of 47.401 seconds.
Anne Meyer of Plymoth, MN, and Stella Luna, owned by Meyer, took home the blue ribbon in the ESP Holiday II $2,500 M&S Child/Adult Classic with a speedy jump-off time of 41.725 seconds. Phoebe Alwine of Delray Beach, FL, and Zenith Dance, owned by In The Clover Equestrian, finished the class with a jump-off time of 42.328 seconds for second, while Kaila Robert of St. Bruno, QB, captured third aboard Ninja, owned by Ecuries La Montee, after riding the fast track in 42.889 seconds.
The ESP Holiday II $1,500 Low Adult Jumper Classic was championed by Catherine Kenny of Wellesley, MA, and Nubia 11, owned by Maggie Savoie, as the pair finished with a jump-off time of 36.248 seconds, ahead of Nicole Sarett of Vero Beach, FL, and Vaya Con Dios, owned by Alexandra Vanderrest, who finished their jump-off round in 42.92 seconds. Jenny Swanson of Dover, MA, and Patriot K, owned by Swanson, secured third place with a second-round time of 35.682 seconds and four faults.
Hunter Highlights:
Margaret O’Meara of Kirkland, WA, and Woodland Way, Inc.’s Just Nick, championed the ESP Holiday I Child/Adult Amateur Hunter Division, while Sidney Jefferson of Toronto, ON, and her own Socialite took home reserve champion honors.
The Green Hunter 3′ Division of ESP Holiday I saw Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL, and Fortitude, owned by Debi Maloney and Sarah Cressy, capture the divisional championship. Hannah Isop of Pawling, NY, and Calica, owned by Christine Watkins, rode to reserve.
The ESP Holiday I USHJA Hunter 2′, 2’3 & 2’6″ Division was won by Kelly Mullen of Franklin, TN, and Three Wishes, owned by Warioto Farms Inc. Wendy Picard of Boca Raton, FL, and her own Extrodinary, captured reserve champion honors.
Penny Lombardo of Loxahatchee, FL, and Northampton, owned by Catherine Bray, finished atop the division in the ESP Holiday I USHJA Hunter 2’9″ Division. Lombardo also collected reserve champion with First Star, owned by Bray.
The Score At The Top Small Pony Hunter Division saw Cecilia Perry of North Venice, FL, guide Sparkle, owned by Fielding Stichman, ride to the divisional title in ESP Holiday I, ahead of Sterling Malnik of Ocean Ridge, FL, and Amber Asbell-Jackson’s May-B-Tango, who were awarded with reserve champion.
Adam Edgar of Leesburg, VA, and Honor, owned by Salter Hydinger, took champion honors in the ESP Holiday II Adult Amateur Hunter Division. Catherine Kenny of Wellesley, MA, and her own Bliss, received reserve champion honors.
The ESP Holiday II Cross Rail Hunter Division was captured by Orly Antvey of Plantation, FL, piloting Heaven Scent Raindrop, owned by Melanie Antevy. Reserve champion went to Matthew Scharbo of Winnetka, IL, and Lanes End’s Shimmer.
Libbie Gordon of Statesville, NC, and Unexpected, owned by Derby Lane, LLC, were champions of the ESP Holiday II Junior Hunter 3’3″ Division. Reserve champion was also awarded to Gordon, riding her own More Fun.
Alexa Elle Lignelli of New York, NY, was awarded champion of the Score At The Top Small/Medium Green Pony Hunter Division during ESP Holiday II. Her winning ride was Just Right, owned by Agatha Lignelli. Reserve champion was also presented to Lignelli and Entourage, owned by the Lignelli Family.
Competition will resume at PBIEC on Wednesday, December 20, with the ESP Holiday Series, featuring Holiday III continuing through Friday, December 22. For more information please visit www.pbiec.com.
PIEC Press Release
