The BrainJuice Under 25 Series came to a thrilling close Sunday of Week 10 at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Featuring some of the top young show jumpers in the world, the qualifying pairs all gave everything they could in the grand final; the $50,000 BrainJuice U25 Grand Prix Series Final. Ultimately, Tim Brennan (IRL) took the top call in the class, and Hallie Grimes’ top-five placing awarded her the overall BrainJuice U25 Grand Prix Series title.
Brennan had a fantastic first season in Wellington, winning both the BrainJuice U25 Semi-Final under the lights during WEF 8 and Sunday’s Final—both on the same horse, Diadema Della Caccia, a 10-year-old Italian Sport Horse mare.
“It’s been an absolute dream,” Brennan, 19, said of his success in the BrainJuice U25 Series at WEF. “My horse has been incredible, she has improved and improved. To me it’s been a massive experience. She’s only 10 so it’s brought her along too. It’s been great for both of us; jumping under the lights and here today. It was two fantastic classes.”
The success he had this season reflects well on his thoughts of the venue, but regardless of results Brennan is hoping it’s not his last season in Wellington. “I’d love to come back next year,” he continued. “It’s a very nice place to be because there’s not a lot going on at home in Ireland. I’ve learned a lot over here so I’d love to come back again.”
The U25 Series creates an on-ramp to higher levels for young show jumpers, featuring various challenges like change in venue, jumping under the lights, jumping the open water, team formats and more. Brennan has big goals even in the immediate future, and success in this division will pave the way for upcoming goals, including the European Championships and the Dublin Horse Show on home soil.
Working on her own now after training under various professionals, Grimes was double clear and quick Sunday afternoon with Karoline of Ballmore, owned by Can We Keep It? LLC. Grimes’ accomplishment was actually a goal she set very early as the season got underway. Taking a step back from the five-star level, she brought this partnership into the BrainJuice U25 and consistency paved the way for them.
“This was the only goal I had for all of WEF,” Grimes, 22, said after earning her title. “I’m really glad it worked out because it's show jumping and anything can happen.”
There’s much more ahead for Grimes, as well as all the other U25 competitors, but what echoes from all participants is how much the series prepares them for the higher levels of the sport.
“This is my fifth year and I’ve done a lot of horses in the series,” Grimes continued. “It’s a really important series for us; being able to jump at all the different venues with top course designers. What I’ve taken from it is invaluable and I’ll carry that experience with me when I go to jump five-stars.”
For her title, Grimes was awarded the coveted series final prize: a branded 2025 Honda “Metropolitan” European Scooter, highlighting BrainJuice’s inspired dedication to the U25 Series as a whole.
Carlee McCutcheon (USA) was second in the Final with Aaralyn Blue, owned by Ann C Thompson.
“This is my third year to do the U25 Series and my second year as a professional,” McCutcheon, 19, said. “It’s a great stepping stone between the junior ranks and the higher-level FEI ranks. For me, the competition is always great. These are some of the best up-and-coming riders and that makes me ride better. It makes me more competitive and it’s really a wonderful series.”
Campbell Brown (USA) and Caiam d'Ivraie, owned by MMK Equestrian LLC. Brown, 17, is newer to the U25 ranks but put in a stellar double-clear with a fast jump-off for a podium finish on Sunday.
“I just recently started doing U25 last May,” Brown shared. “We’ve been trying to figure it out over the last 10 weeks but it really came together this week. It’s nice to step up from the junior jumpers and compete against people who are jumping five-stars and have more experience. It pushes me to try a little harder and dig a little deeper.”
Lisa Ellis, CEO and CMO of BrainJuice, reflected on another spectacular season of U25 jumping at Wellington International, saying. “Every season you’re seeing such a diverse group of riders with different training backgrounds, different access to horses, and the theme here is that all of you took advantage of this to take it to the next level of competition. That’s what we’re so proud of. We want this to be a model for show jumping throughout the world where the next riders will break out of and into the grand prix level.”
Behind Grimes in the overall ranks, Brenna finished runner-up and USA’s Emily Dehoff was third after a consistent season of top finishes.
To see full results from the $50,000 BrainJuice U25 Series Final, click HERE.
Earlier in the day on Sunday, U.S. Olympian Mclain Ward and First Lady, owned by Robin Parsky, got another big win in the $62,500 Hermès CSI5* 1.50m Classic. Alessandra Volpi (USA) and Glamour were second, and Spencer Smith was third aboard Tulara Colmine for Gotham Enterprizes, LLC.
Caitlin Burns and Nashville Nail LAURACEA Amateur Owner 3’6” 36+ Division
Caitlin Burns hasn’t known Nashville for a long time, but they’re definitely having a perfect match. With the 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, all the pieces came together for them in the LAURACEA Amateur Owner 36+ division, earning them championship honors for WEF 10.
“He's new to me,” Burns remarked on her partnership. “I basically picked him up and brought him to Florida at the beginning of season, which seemed like a bold choice, but it's been really fun. He's learned a lot and we started off just figuring things out and then to be able to be champion this week has been really awesome and rewarding. It’s fun to be part of his progress.”
When asked if she thought they’d see success like this so quickly, Burns replied, “Absolutely not. He’s taking every little nugget of info and he's a really good sport and just wants to be really good. It's remarkable how much he's blossomed. He's young at heart; his experience doesn't reflect his age.”
Part of the fun of developing horses is watching them reach new milestones, which is something Burns has thoroughly enjoyed with Nashville, competing him in the 3’6” for the first time this year.
“I’m really proud of him,” she said of his improvement over time. “Hearing when you get a big score, it's like ‘Oh my gosh, dude.’ I was excited when we got an 80 and then on Friday, he got an 88. It's just a great feeling.”
Burns, of Denton, TX, typically comes and goes from Wellington, but she decided to make a change this year to avoid all the travel.
“It's been a dream, really,” she said of her 2025 WEF season. “This is the first time I've stayed for the whole season and I didn't know what to expect and it's been just awesome. It's nice to be in one place for a few months.”
As for her goals with Nashville moving forward, “They're kind of lofty,” she remarked. “I jumped the [International] Derby last week on the grass and I would love to try to do Derby Finals in August, if that seems like that's doable. And then we’ll try to do indoors in the fall.”
Grand Remo was named champion of the Kiton Amateur Owner 3’6” 18-35 division, with Stella Propp aboard for Acquitaine Equine. Prior to this week, the pair held the leading spot on the circuit standings by a margin of over 100 points.
To see full results from WEF 10, click HERE.
