News

Nick Skelton and Heracross triumph in 1.45m

Jan 31, 2013

The fourth week of competition at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival(FTI WEF) began on Wednesday, January 30, with a win for Olympic gold medalist Nick Skelton (GBR) and his mount Heracross in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class.

Nick Skelton earned his first victory of the 2013 winter circuit in Wednesday's $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m class jumping a speed track set by Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios (VEN). Twenty-four entries started the class and 15 completed the course without fault. The fastest time of 58.655 seconds laid down by Skelton and Heracross earned top honors.

Darragh Kenny (IRL) finished second aboard Cavallo Farms' Twister with a time of 59.219 seconds. Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and HH Palouchin, owned by Double H Farm, placed third in 59.528 seconds. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) rode Sweet Oak Farm's Solerina to fourth place honors in 60.049 seconds.

Class winner, Heracross, is a thirteen-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Ramiro B x Clover Hill. Heracross was previously ridden by Irish show jumper Francis Connors as well as Swedish rider Stephanie Finetto. Skelton purchased the gelding at the end of the year, just before Christmas, and showed him at the London International Horse Show at Olympia in December before traveling to Wellington.

Also showing in the International Arena on Wednesday, Italy's Lorenzo de Luca and Jamaika Z, owned by Neil Jones Equestrian, won the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m speed class out of 83 competitors. The $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class went to Laura Chapot and Zealous in a class of 57 entries.

Final Results: $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Speed

Horse/rider/owner

1. HERACROSS NICK SKELTON NICK SKELTON: 0/58.655

2. TWISTER DARRAGH KENNY CAVALLO FARMS: 0/59.219

3. HH PALOUCHIN RODRIGO PESSOA DOUBLE H FARM: 0/59.528

4. SOLERINA SHANE SWEETNAM SWEET OAK FARM: 0/60.049

5. AVENIR CHRISTINE MCCREA CANDY TRIBBLE: 0/60.307

6. AMADORA BEEZIE MADDEN ABIGAIL WEXNER: 0/60.928

7. UNEX BILLY ON SHOW TIM GREDLEYUNEX COMPETITION YARD: 0/62.457

8. UNICO MARIO GAMBOA STRANSKY'S MISSION FARMS: 0/66.699

9. MARANON LS LAURA KRAUT EQUINVEST: 0/66.966

10. CHANTILLY SLOANE COLES SLOANE COLES: 0/67.431

Source: Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.