The first “Saturday Night Lights” event of 2024 started off with a repeat win for the men’s team in the $75,000 Battle of the Sexes, presented by Wellington Regional Medical Center. The crowd-favorite event highlighted Premiere Week of the 2024 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), which runs through March 31 at Wellington International.
The men have now buoyed their win tally in the Battle of the Sexes to four in the event's 14-year history with two wins in a row. The winning team on Saturday evening was led by captain Charlie Jayne, and also included James Billington, Christian Coyle, Jordan Coyle, Luis Larrazabal, Simon McCarthy, Sohnke Theymann and Michael Tokaruk.
The women’s team for Battle of the Sexes consisted of team captain Nicole Jayne, Carly Anthony, Taylor Land, Kelly Soleau-Millar, Samantha Alexis Mackenzie, Abigail McArdle, Audrey Schulze and Elin Uppling.
The Battle of the Sexes is made up of three phases, with the first being a Table C faults-converted speed course where the riders go head-to-head over the same course. The one with the fastest time gains a point for their team. Following the first phase, the men’s team had a commanding lead at six to two.
In the second phase, each team had three relay groups, where a trio of riders each did a section of the course with five points up for grabs. The men swept the round by winning both phases of the relay. After round two, the team total stood at 16 for the men and still only two for the women.
The final phase was a match race where riders competed at the same time over a course that mirrored itself in the ring. Three points for each race won were up for grabs, and the fate of the evening was decided in the third round when McCarthy beat out Mackenzie. The final score was 28 to 11 in the men’s favor.
“My original plan was to go smooth and fast, but that went all out the window when I almost missed the first jump and was sitting in a chair seat over the fence,” said McCarthy of the start to his winning match-race on Mr. Earl, owned by McCarthy’s student Bobby Malmrose. “When that happened, speed came to mind and I tried to go as fast as I could. When I heard Samatha had one fence down I knew that I could take the win as long as I finished the course.
“It’s a brilliant class,” continued McCarthy. “This is my third year doing it and we’ve won the last two so it’s been a great experience so far. It’s good for the crowd; the format of boys versus girls is easy for everyone to understand and allows them to root for their team. I think it’s also great for us as riders to compete as a team with people we normally compete against.”
Despite the women’s loss, team captain Jayne was positive in defeat on Saturday. “We all get so serious when season comes around so it’s nice to start off with a class that we take seriously, but can still have fun with,” she said. “Everyone brought their A-game; we were so close throughout the rounds but we didn’t have luck on our side this year. As hard as it is to admit, the boys brought great horses and their best, and I have to respect that.”
Pam Tahan, Chief Executive Officer of Wellington Regional Medical Center participated in the prize giving for the $75,000 Battle of the Sexes and concluded the night by noting, “As always it was an exciting and fun night here in Wellington. We love to see the community come out and support the equestrians. We are thrilled to be part of everything that happens [at WEF], and we look forward to the great year ahead.”
Ansgar Holtgers Jr and Tulum Take Home First Title of Hermès Championship Jumper Series
Eighteen-year-old Ansgar Holtgers Jr (USA) could not be caught in the $25,000 Hermès Championship Jumper Classic on Saturday of opening week at the 2024 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). He and Tulum, a fifteen-year-old stallion (Chacco Blue x Captain Paul I), owned by Gut Einhaus, bested a six-horse jump-off designed by Eric Hasbrouck (USA) to take the first victory of the Hermès 1.50m Championship Jumper Series.
Holtgers Jr and Tulum made an inside turn from the second fence on course look easy as they jumped the short course in a clear 37.80 seconds for the win. After adding Tulum to his string in 2022 from previous rider Vladimir Tuganov (RUS, Holtgers Jr has learned the stallion’s winning strengths.“He’s a quick horse naturally. When I saw the jump-off – especially that first inside turn – I figured it would be pretty easy for me to do because before you even think about the turn, he’s ready for it,” said Holtgers Jr.
Clear around the track but unable to catch the clock was Venezuelan rider Luis Fernando Larrazabal and Abril Kontendra, owned by San Francisco Stables LLC. The pair took home the red ribbon with a time of 40.57 seconds. Completing the podium was Alvaro Tejada (GTM) and One Eleven 111, owned by Andrea Muller. The pair was fast on time but had one rail down for a four-fault score.
Holtgers Jr plans to make the Hermès series part of their WEF routine, saying, “It’s been a goal to do this series for 2024 and it definitely started off with a bang.”
“I’m fortunate enough to live here in Wellington, so I get to enjoy it all year around, but when WEF begins the competition really steps up,” continued Holtgers Jr. “As a rider you get excited for each week and make a plan for the entire season. It’s a big honor to be here competing amongst the best riders and the best horses so I’m going to make the most of it.”
The 2024 Hermès 1.50m Championship Jumper Series will take place weekly throughout WEF, culminating during Week 11’s Saturday Night Lights. Riders who consistently compete in the series will accumulate points towards the series’ title, a $10,000 Hermès store credit and a bespoke Hermès horse rug.
Blythe Goguen Tests to the Top in Ariat Adult Medal
The Ariat Adult Medal took place on Saturday to kick off the WEF 2024 adult equitation season. Thirty-two riders entered the class with a goal of breaking into the top six to return for testing. Of those six returning riders, Blythe Goguen of Lexington, KY, and her own Common Sense took the top prize.
As the test began with riders returning in reverse order, Goguen sat in second with a first-round score of 85. The test consisted of an immediate hand-gallop to the first fence, a trot fence, halt and counter canter to the final obstacle.
“I really liked the test today. I thought there was a lot of room across the ring to really go for it. I knew I had to give it my all and try to move up to that top spot,” said Goguen. She did just that with the help of her mount Common Sense, an eighteen-year-old equitation veteran that has been in her string for several years.
“I’ve had him for two years. We did the equitation together when I was still a junior, and now we’re just starting the adult equitation together and he’s been perfect. He’s great in tests like this so I was excited to go in and perform with him,” explained Goguen.
At eighteen-years-old, this is Goguen’s first full year as an amateur. Taking a gap year before enrolling at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, Goguen plans to make the most of it. “Common Sense and I will continue the season in the adult equitation with a possibility of some national derbies,” said Goguen.
Following Goguen on the podium was Frankie Nicklaus, of Duluth, GA, and her own Concorde SR. They entered the test with the third highest score of 84.5 but rose to the second spot after both rounds. Taking third was Hensley Humphries, from Austin, TX, and her own Imaginator.
