World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Week, sponsored by KASK, at the 2023 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) came to a peak on Saturday night. The country’s best hunter combinations went head-to-head in the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular. For John French it was a night of firsts as he finally captured the Spectacular win, one that has been eluding him throughout his career.
Patrick Rodes, hailing from Texas, designed the flowing track that offered riders several areas to show off their mounts. The panel one judges consisted of Chris Wynne and T. Whitehead, panel two was Mark Jungherr and Tom Brennan, and panel three held Mary Lisa Leffler and Mary Eufemia. Entries for the night class qualified by winning the champion title in their respective divisions at the 3’6” height or above.
From a 42-horse field at 3’6”, 3’9” and 4’ heights, 12 returned for a handy round. French guided Milagro, a 2015 Hanoverian Gelding owned by Kent Farrington, LLC, to the high score of 94 in the opening round to return for the handy with a few points in his pocket. They impressed again and scored a 93.5, finishing on a score of 187.5 and the victory.
“I think riding in this kind of atmosphere brings out the best in all horses,” said French of the impressive International Ring environment at WEF. “They were all jumping so well tonight, and I think the lights, the crowds and the jumps really showcased the hunters. There aren’t a lot of these classes left, so we get excited for nights like this and so do our horses.
“Originally, I wasn’t sure if I was going to make that inside turn to the second to last jump, but everyone was going so well that I thought I needed to do it,” continued French. “WCHR has done so much for the hunters. The fact that they have these special classes, it gives us something to strive for throughout the year.”
A former West Coast phenom in the hunter ring, French never had the opportunity to point a horse in his regular string at the WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular. “I was usually flying in and borrowing a horse,” he said. “Coming in on a horse I know so well was a nice feeling. I’m just grateful to have a horse like this; he’s the most easy going in the barn and so scopey in the ring. We knew the 4’ height was going to be his calling. When Kent found the horse, we could have sold him but I didn’t want him to leave the barn, so we have him still for special classes like this.”
August Iwasaki, 18, left no room for error as she improved a first-round score of 90.83 with a 93.66 in the handy, the highest of the evening from that round. She and Small Love, owned by Iwasaki & Reilly, took second place and noted how she appreciates how the WCHR Spectaculars celebrate horses from so many different divisions.
“I think it’s really nice there’s classes for great division horses,” she said. “There are a lot of derbies that you can take your derby horses in but there are not a lot of classes like this that really showcase your division horses.”
Iwasaki is enjoying her first year as an amateur after a storied junior career. She is currently a freshman at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, where she competes on their equestrian team and flew to Florida on Thursday for WCHR Week. “It’s a lot of flying, but I had a really great week in my third time showing as an amateur.”
Another rider racking up the frequent flyer miles who rode his way onto Saturday night’s podium was California’s Nick Haness. He and Queen Celeste, owned by Glade Run Farm, LLC, combined scores of 90.33 and 90.08 for third place.
“I’m super proud to be here and representing the west coast,” he noted. “I have definitely been on the airplane a lot, making an effort to be here, but it’s where the best of the best are to compete so it was a great week. I started coming back to Wellington during the Premiere week, and then going back and forth between here and California and strategizing the best plan for the horses to come out this week and have the best chances to succeed.”
Final Results: $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular
- Milagro & John French
Owner: Kent Farrington, LLC
94+93.5=187.5 - Small Love & Augusta Iwasaki
Owner: Iwasaki & Reilly
90.83+93.66=184.49 - Queen Celeste & Nick Haness
Owner: Glade Run Farm, LLC
90.33+90.08=180.41 - Cadouch Z & Victoria Colvin
Owner: Amy Hassinger?
86.66+92.83=179.49 - Paradigm & John French
Owner: Meredith Lipke
90.16+87=177.16 - Gratitude & Christopher Payne
Owner: Provence, LLC
89.25+87.33=176.579 - Pavlova & Havens Schatt
Owner: John & Stephanie Ingram, LLC
88.41+87.66=176.07 - Epic Style & Brady Mitchell
Owner: Rein Family, LLC
86.5+88.66=175.16 - Caristo & Kristy Herrera
Owner: John & Stephanie Ingram, LLC
87+88=175 - For Always & Scott Stewart
Owner: Dr. Betsee Parker
86.41+85=171.41 - Can Can & Christopher Payne
Owner: Stephanie Ring
89+82.33=171.329 - Jenkins & Nick Haness
Owner: Glade Run Farm, LLC
88.91+37.33=126.24
Cassidy Reins in WCHR Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic
Canada’s Cassidy Rein and Golden Glock WS dominated the WCHR Amateur-Owner 3’3” Hunter Classic during Friday evening’s highlight class in the International Ring at WEF.
The competitive classic acted as a precursor to the coveted $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular during ‘Saturday Night Lights’. Forty-three hopeful entries came together all searching for brilliantly smooth rounds and fitting scores to follow.
Horses and riders rose to the occasion of a feature class under lights and soared around the International Ring. The best score of the evening – a 168.5 – went to Rein aboard Golden Glock WS, a 2011 Hanoverian gelding by Goldfever, owned by the Rein Family, LLC. They combined consistent rounds from the opening and handy tracks for scores of 84 and 84.5.
A big victory left Rein smiling from ear to ear and seemingly surprised by the results. “Honestly, I wasn’t exactly sure how it was going to go,” she admitted. “I’ve never jumped under the lights before, and he’s never jumped her under the lights either, but it went really well. He was my junior hunter, so I know him well. He was great tonight and didn’t step a foot wrong.
“He’s such a nice horse,”: continued Rein, who has had the ride for more than two years now. “He’s incredibly nice to ride with a great big rhythmical stride.”
Rein is currently balancing her time in the ring with her responsibilities as a student at Penn State’s World Campus.
Following Rein in the victory gallop, Callie Seaman guided Moonshine to second on scores of 82.5 and 85 for owner Hallowell Lane Farm, LLC. Combining an 80 and 84, Bridget Hickton rounded out the top three riding her own Fearless.
Champions of the Day
Voltaire Design Large Junior Hunter 16-17
Incognito, ridden by Eleanor Rudnicki and owned by Halsted Horses, LLC.
Paisley Park, ridden by Lauren Little and owned by Little Brook, LLC.
Marshall & Sterling/IDA Development Adult Amateur Hunter Older
Playbook, ridden by Carolyn Anderson and owned by CH Farm, LLC.
Frosted, ridden and owned by Rindy Dominguez.
Karina Brez Adult Amateur Hunter Middle
Memorable, ridden by Michael Baum and owned by First Blue, LLC.
T&R Development Large Junior Hunter 15&U
Arabesque, ridden by Clara Propp and owned by Aquitane Equine.
KASK Small Junior Hunter 15&U
Acclaim, ridden by Parker Peacock and owned by Parker Peacock.
Weather or Not Equestrian 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35
Small Love, ridden by Augusta Iwasaki and owned by Iwasaki and Reilly
Hunt Ltd. 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunter 36+
Verdict, ridden by Jean Sheptoff and owned by Jean Sheptoff
ActivoMed Adult Amateur Younger
Entourage, ridden by Jamee Crawford and owned by Legado Farms, LLC.
Divine Romance, ridden by Callie Seaman and owned by Hallowell Lane Farm, LLC.
Kenny Comes Back in CaptiveOne Advisors CIS3* 1.50m Classic
After a win in the CSi3* 1.45m slipped from his grasp on opening day of WEF 6, sponsored by KASK, Darragh Kenny (IRL) was determined to check the win column in Saturday’s CHF37,000 CaptiveOne Advisors CSI3* 1.50m Classic. He and Vancouver Dreams did just that from a stacked 15-horse jump-off over courses designed by Ana Catalina Cruz Harris (MEX) on the grass Derby Field at Equestrian Village.
Kenny is making quick work of finding success with a new partnership after recently acquiring Vancouver Dreams from Austria’s Max Kühner. From a starting field of 71 horses, he bested Maria Brugal (DOM) in the jump-off with a winning time of 35.91 seconds over the short course.
Brugal took second in 37.2 aboard the BG Stables, LLC owned J’Adore Flamecnco. Tom Wachman was the one to beat Kenny earlier in the week and continued a recent string of successes with a third-place finish riding Lazzaro Delle Schiave for owner Coolmore Showjumping.
“I’ve actually never done a jump-off on her before, so I wasn't sure what to expect,” said Kenny of the 13-year-old Hanoverian mare (Valentino 240 x Stakkato). “She's unbelievably careful so I knew I could take a bit of a risk at the double and I did and it paid off and she was brilliant.
“Max and I do a bit of business together, so he sent the mare over for me to ride and eventually sell, but I’m having some fun with her first,” admitted Kenny of the talented mare he’s hoping to continue moving up the international levels at WEF. “I entered her for this week just to see where she was at and she jumped fantastic today so I'm quite excited about that.”
Francis Derwin Jumps to Victory in Hermès U25 Welcome
Opening the day on Saturday, Ireland’s Francis Derwin and his aptly named horse, AHG Whiterock Cruise Down, flew around the Derby Field at Equestrian Village and took the win in the CHF10,000 Hermès Under 25 Welcome.
From a starting field of 59, Derwin and AHG Whiterock Cruise Down, a 2009 Irish Sport Horse Gelding (Cruisings Micky Finn x Touchdown) finished on an impressive time of 55.9 with nearly two seconds to spare in the one-round speed format. Second place went to Maya Aryal (USA) and My Girl 52 finishing in 57.22 seconds, and third went to Caroline Mawhinney (USA) and Calisto Blue clocking in at 58.18 seconds.
“I’ve got quite a good partnership with the horse, and I’ve been riding him the last three years now,” said Derwin of the mount that’s been in his family since the horse’s five-year-old year. “My sister had him before me, so we know him well. I think he is very good at being fast without me having to try to be fast. I wasn’t at the end of it today, but he could still win it comfortably.”
This marks Derwin’s second year competing in WEF after earning a bursary to come ride under fellow Irishman Darragh Kenny several years ago. “He’s been giving me some great help and I’ve been getting in the ring on plenty of horses, so it’s been a good opportunity to keep learning.
“I wasn’t really planning on trying to win but when I went in, he jumped one, two and three very good so I thought I’d have a bit of a go when he was jumping good,” continued Derwin, who was also presented with the Champion Equine Insurance Jumper Style Award for AHG Whiterock Cruise Down’s performance.
WEF 6 is the second week of Under 25 competition at Wellington International. The 2023 Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix Series winner will take home an Hermès Saddle, a $10,000 store credit to Hermès, and will be invited to compete at a select show or tour in Europe, with round-trip transportation for one horse generously provided by the Dutta Corp.
