Wellington, FL – December 31, 2012 – Equestrian Sport Productions hosted its New Year’s Show on December 26-30, 2012, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. The show featured the $25,000 CitiBank New Year’s Grand Prix as well as a $10,000 Open Jumper Stake and a full schedule of “AA” hunter and 4-star jumper competition.
Wilhelm Genn and Palim Palim Top $25,000 CitiBank New Year’s Grand Prix
The $25,000 New Year’s Grand Prix, sponsored by CitiBank, was held on Sunday, December 30, with 24 entries jumping a course set by Mauricio Garcia Ballesteros of Puerto Rico. Eight of the original entries jumped clear over the first round course to advance to the jump-off, and six of those went double clear. Wilhelm Genn and Nancing Gooding’s Palim Palim had the fastest time of 41.070 seconds for the win.
Palim Palim, is a ten-year-old Westphalian gelding by Polytraum. Wilhelm Genn has been riding the gelding since May of this year and was excited to get the win this weekend.
Wilhelm Genn and Palim Palim
(Photos by Jack Mancini)
“He is fairly green at that level,” Genn said. “I don’t know how many grand prix he has done, but I don’t think he has jumped more than 15 grand prix. He is a good horse. I think with a little more experience he can hopefully start doing some World Cup classes too.”
Genn commented on the class, stating, “I thought it was a very well-built course; a very good class. The jumps were a good size. It was very well done. You could go with a younger horse and not have to worry about getting them scared. The footing was perfect. It was a beautiful class, it was a beautiful day, good competition and all of the horses jumped well, so not more you could wish for.”
Going into the jump-off, Genn explained, “At first I wasn’t planning on going that fast, but the horse felt great. Kirsten Coe had gone and she was pretty fast already. The horse felt so good on the first few jumps, I just kept going with it and it was good enough to win. The horse felt super in the first round too, he jumped really well.”
Genn and his sons, Ryan and Theo, have all been showing in Wellington throughout the last two months and have had lots of success with their horses. The family plans on moving on to a few different circuits for the rest of the winter.
Wilhelm Genn and Palim Palim with Diane L. Bentivegna, Executive Vice President, Division Manager, Florida, of CitiBank
“I used to come here every year and then we didn’t have any horses for the bigger classes,” Genn explained. “We did a lot of sales, so we didn’t want to do just one circuit. We did Palm Beach and then Jacksonville, Gulfport and Houston. That worked really well because that way you approach all of the different markets, not just one market, so that is what we are doing now too. We have been here for about two months, we are still here next week and then we are going to Pensacola for three weeks and then Gulfport, Pin Oak Charity, which is one of the best shows in the country, and then Houston for three weeks. They are all different groups of people going to these different circuits and that gives us a chance to be in contact with a lot more people, which has worked very well for us the last five years.”
Finishing behind Genn, Paul O’Shea placed second aboard Michael Hayden’s Instant Karma with a very close time of 41.289 seconds. Just behind them, Kirsten Coe and Mary Claire McDonald’s Chicago Lyngriis finished third in 41.794 seconds. Georgina Bloomberg and Radio City, owned by Gotham Enterprizes LLC, stopped the clock in 42.209 seconds to place fourth. Lauren Tisbo and Roundthorn Madios, owned by Tequestrian Farms LLC, placed fifth in 43.205 seconds. Wilhelm Genn’s horse Cookie Monster and son Ryan Genn finished sixth with a time of 44.475 seconds. Final Results:
$25,000 CitiBank New Year’s Grand Prix
1. PALIM PALIM WILHELM GENN NANCY GOODING: 0/0/41.070
2. INSTANT KARMA PAUL O’SHEA MICHAEL HAYDEN: 0/0/41.289
3. CHICAGO LYNGRIIS KIRSTEN COE MARY CLAIRE MCDONALD: 0/0/41.794
4. RADIO CITY GEORGINA BLOOMBERG GOTHAM ENTERPRIZES LLC: 0/0/42.209
5. ROUNDTHORN MADIOS LAUREN TISBO TEQUESTRIAN FARMS LLC: 0/0/43.205
6. COOKIE MONSTER RYAN GENN WILHELM GENN: 0/0/44.475
7. UNICO MARIO GAMBOA STRANSKY’S MISSION FARMS INC: 0/4/39.158
8. THOMAS EDISON MAGGIE BRACCO ALEX JAYNE: 0/12/48.544
9. LARGO RAMIRO QUINTANA MAVERICK VENTURES LLC: 4/74.155
10. WINCHESTER THEO GENN BRIDLEBOURNE STABLES LLC: 4/78.428
11. PRIMO DE REVEL PAUL O’SHEA MICHAEL HAYDEN: 4/79.042
12. CORINO SHARN WORDLEY SHARN WORDLEY: 4/80.818
Jumper Highlights
The week’s jumper competition kicked off on Thursday with a win for Darragh Kenny and Atlanta Equestrian Center’s User ID in the $10,000 Welcome Stake. Lauren Hough and Belle Grey Farm LLC’s Zabel D placed second and Emanuel Andrade and Hollow Creek Farm’s Tiny Tim were third.
Darragh Kenny and User ID
The Tackeria NAL Child/Adult Jumper Classic was held on Saturday with a win for Isabel Sanchez aboard Jorge Verswyvel’s Tigger. Lynn Yoos and Timba placed second. Tatianna Verswyvel guided Jorge Verswyvel’s Charlie Chaplin to third place.
The Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic saw a win for Heather Hooker and Perle on Sunday. Gabrielle Stern and Levantino L placed second with Barbara Ruziska and Redfield Farm’s Quite High in third.
In the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, Barbara Ruziska placed first and second. Ruziska piloted Haley Schaufeld’s Kaskade to top honors and finished second aboard Stephanie Barnes’ Victoire Van Het Dingenshof. Kate Morrison and Craig Morrison’s Windoctro placed third.
In the Reist Low Children’s Jumper Classic, Carly Coles and Paige Coles’ Pacific Touch were the winners. Scarlet Jasperson and Sher-Al Farm’s Bentley placed second. Catherine Sullivan and Wish Boy were third. The Reist Low Adult Jumper Classic was won by Maggie Botkin aboard Jed Cogan’s Fardela. Kathryn Haefner and Kaberle were second, John Tredennick and Wood Run Farms’ Desperado finished third.
The M&S Children’s Jumper Classic was won by McKayla Langmeier and Missy Clark’s Looping Star. Samantha Kasowitz and Fair Play Farm’s Opening Statement placed second. Langmeier also finished third aboard Linda Langmeier’s Skyfall.
The M&S Adult Jumper Classic saw a win for Cynthia Screnci and Kasimir with Lynn Yoos and Timba in second and Heather Villemaire riding Ca Va in third.
Hunter and Equitation Highlights
The hunter divisions began with the professional classes and a championship win for Kelley Farmer and Gelfke and Garber’s Mythical in the First Green Working Hunters. Avignion, ridden by Jennifer Bauersachs and Francesca Migliore finished in reserve. In the Green Conformation Hunters, Farmer was once again champion aboard Glefke, Garber and Petersen’s Beyond Words, with David Glefke’s Quotable and Holly Orlando in reserve.
In the Performance Working Hunter 3’3″/3’6″, Jennifer Bauersachs swept the division, earning the championship aboard Lee Kellogg Sadrian’s Sterling and finishing in reserve with Gail Morey’s Safe Haven.
In the Regular Conformation Hunters, Kelley Farmer and Beyond Words earned the championship with CH Farm LLC’s On Q and Holly Orlando in reserve. The Second Year Green/High Performance Hunters saw another championship for Farmer aboard Mythical with Orlando and Voice of Reason, owned by David Glefke and Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Garber, in reserve.
In the Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35, Sheila Motley and Ken and Selma Garber’s Praise were the champions with Kathryn Haefner and Columbus in reserve. In the Adult Amateur Hunter 36 & Over, Toltec and Victoria Autry took the championship with La Bagatelle LLC’s Boulevard Deir and Cathy Zicherman in reserve.
In the CitiBank Amateur-Owner Hunters, Silhouette and Lyn Pedersen were champions with Graffiti and Lauren Cechini in reserve. The CitiBank Amateur-Owner Working Hunter 3’3″ championship went to BLK Sporthorses LLC’s Batman and Bonnie Kretchik. Winter Rules and Sarah Ingram finished in reserve.
The #1 Education Place Junior Hunter divisions were next to show with a sweep for Victoria Colvin. Colvin earned the Small Junior Hunter championship with Betsee Parker’s Cheverny and was reserve aboard Scott Stewart’s Canadian Blue. She was also champion in the Large Junior Hunters aboard Scott Stewart’s She’s Cool. Elizabeth Foster and Rose Hill Farm’s Paramour were reserve.
The pony divisions concluded the hunter competition for the week. In the Large Pony Hunters, Emma Kurtz rode Scott Stewart’s Westside to the championship and also guided Rose Hill Farm’s Enjoy The Laughter to reserve honors. Kurtz also dominated the Medium Pony Hunter division with a championship win aboard Scott Stewart’s Show Me Love and reserve honors riding All Seasons Farm’s Rock The Boat. In the Small Pony Hunters, Hana Bieling and Aleece Jarman’s Bluetiful earned the championship. Kurtz and David Gochman’s All The Glory finished in reserve.
In the equitation classes, Victoria Colvin won the Pessoa/USEF Hunt Seat Medal riding Scott Stewart and Alexandra Crown’s Amore Mio. Lucille Oken rode Accord to a win in the ASCPA Maclay class.
For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.
