Ireland Wins $150,000 FEI Nations' Cup for Second Consecutive Year
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WEEK 9 March 8-12, 2017 EDITOR: JENNIFER WOOD Ireland Wins $150,000 FEI Nations’ Cup for Shane Sweetnam and Chaqui Z Take Second Consecutive Year $216,000 Grand Prix CSIO 4*, presented by Lugano Diamonds Ireland captured their second consecutive Nations’ Cup title at WEF, while the Shane Sweetnam had an incredible week with a Ruby et Violette WEF United States was second and Brazil finished third. ©Sportfot Challenge Cup win, helping Ireland win the Nations’ Cup, and then capping it with victory in the $216,000 Grand Prix CSIO 4*, presented The Irish team of Cian O’Connor, bit of a plan and tell them in time where by Lugano Diamonds. ©Sportfot Paul O’Shea, Conor Swail, and Shane they are going, they are going to turn Sweetnam emerged victorious in Friday up. That is what they did on both occa- Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam conclu- also received in 2011. His winning night’s $150,000 FEI Nations’ Cup at the sions. People asked why I changed the ded an exceptional week of CSIO mount for Nations’ Cup and grand 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) winning team from Ocala (switching out 4* competition at the 2017 Winter prix competition was Chaqui Z, an in Wellington, FL. The team from USA Kevin Babington and Richie Moloney). Equestrian Festival in Wellington, 11-year-old Zangersheide stallion finished second, and Brazil placed third. I changed because I was looking at FL, with a win aboard Chaqui Z in (Chacco-Blue x Quinar Z) Friday’s Nations’ Cup consisted Paul and Conor, and I think their form is Sunday’s $216,000 Grand Prix CSIO fantastic. I did not think they were quite 4*, presented by Lugano Diamonds. “It was brilliant. Honestly, this is of two rounds shown over a course ready in time for Ocala, but I knew they a dream week for me,” Sweetnam set by Ken Krome (USA). Teams of would be ready now, and they were After winning Thursday’s $35,000 acknowledged. “Any week of WEF, four represented the nations of Great fantastic.” Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup if you can win the WEF (Challenge Britain, Canada, Ireland, USA, Brazil, Round 8 aboard Cobolt, and Friday’s Cup) and the grand prix, it nearly Argentina, and Venezuela competing in Sweetnam was the team’s first rider $150,000 FEI Nations’ Cup riding can make a WEF [circuit]. So to win that order, followed by a team of three in each round on Friday night, ear- Chaqui Z for team Ireland, Sweet- the WEF, the Nations’ Cup, and then for El Salvador. After the first round, ning the drop score of one time fault nam led the round of honor ahead of the grand prix, it is amazing.” each team dropped their highest score. in round one, and four faults in round teammates Conor Swail and Rubens In the second round, the top six teams two, aboard Chaqui Z. He also rode LS La Silla in Sunday’s feature event. Remarking on his win on Sunday, returned in order of highest to lowest the 11-year-old Zangersheide stallion Ali Wolff and Casall placed third af- Sweetnam stated, “It was a fantastic total faults. The winner was determined (Chacco-Blue x Quinar Z) to victory in ter also helping team USA to a silver first round, but then there were 17 in by the lowest total of each team’s top Ocala. medal in Friday’s Nations’ Cup. the jump-off, and I was thinking that three riders from each round. I had no hope. Chaqui is very good Friday night was Sweetnam’s tenth Course designer Ken Krome at turns, which he proved, but he is Ireland finished round one tied for straight year competing on the Irish (USA) concluded the week with not always the fastest. I was quick, first place with Brazil on a score of zero. team in Nations’ Cup at WEF, and he 43 entries in Sunday’s grand prix and Chaqui did the turns super. They then completed round two with spoke of Blake’s strategy for the team. and a 17-horse jump-off. The large Lucky enough, my time lasted.” four faults to take the win. Brazil moved number over the short course set into third place with 16 faults in round “Michael made a good plan and Sweetnam is a fan of Ken Krome’s talked to all of the riders that were an interesting challenge, as riders courses after the success he had two. USA carried five faults from round here in Wellington,” Sweetnam stated. raced against the clock, and only one, and added eight in round two to seven cleared the tiebreaking course throughout the week. The rider no- secure second place on a 13-point total. “Obviously Cian and I were lucky enou- ted, “I think all week he did a great gh to be on both teams that won, but without fault. Sweetnam and Spy job. I was impressed with the WEF The winning nation was represented Kevin and Richie were also here in the Coast Farm’s Chaqui Z took the win starting off, because it was not just a by Shane Sweetnam aboard his own practice ring tonight helping out. The in 41.79 seconds. Swail and Vanessa speed class. It was a lot of jumping, and Spy Coast Farm’s Chaqui Z; Paul team spirit is fantastic. I have to give it Mannix’s Rubens LS La Silla were but you did not have to run your O’Shea riding Skara Glen, Whipstick, to Michael; it is just amazing.” close behind in 41.82 seconds. Wolff horse off its feet. Friday night, he Hurter, and Agnew’s Skara Glen’s Ma- and Blacklick Bend Farm’s Casall O’Shea jumped double clear on clocked in at 43.02 seconds. only had three double clears, which chu Picchu; Conor Swail with Vanessa Friday night with Skara Glen’s Machu was a great course. Today, okay Mannix’s Rubens LS La Silla; and Cian Picchu, a ten-year-old Dutch Warmblo- USA’s Beezie Madden jumped there were probably more clears O’Connor aboard Ronnoco Jump Ltd.’s od gelding (Silverstone x Matterhorn), Abigail Wexner’s Coach to a fourth than you would want, but then it Seringat, led by Chef d’Equipe Michael and was happy with his first time on the place finish in 43.11 seconds. Great was a very good jump-off. That is the Blake. team in Wellington. Britain’s Jessica Mendoza and Toy way the sport seems to be going. It “I am a very proud Irishman. I am Boy placed fifth in 43.23 seconds. makes it more exciting, and it makes “Nothing really fazes him, so I was people want to come watch. It just absolutely delighted,” said Blake, who not worried,” O’Shea said of his mount. Sweetnam swept international also led the team to victory in Ocala two competition during WEF 8 to be gets faster and faster. There were a weeks ago. “We came here to win, and “He has such a good mind. He is a very lot of good horses, and it made for a straightforward horse, very easy, and awarded the Niall Grimes “Cheers” very good class.” we went to Ocala to win. It is very easy very adjustable.” Perpetual Trophy as the top Irish to win with these guys because they rider during CSIO week, an honor he are really good. Basically, if you have a Please turn to page 6 Please turn to page11 Page 1 WEEK 9 March 8-12, 2017 PBIEC Week 9 Upcoming Events LUNCH & LEARN SERIES Tickets are $100. For more information, please SAVE THE DATE! PBIEC WEEKS 10 & 11 On Thursday, March 9, the Lunch & Learn contact Tara Bieling at 239-200-2230 or email UPCOMING EVENTS Series will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. [email protected]. GLADIATOR POLO™, PRESENTED BY at The Wellington Club. The topic is “Common $10,000 USHJA NATIONAL U.S. POLO ASSN. 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