Wilmington, Ohio – December 18, 2021 – Last Saturday night, seventeen horse-and-rider combinations graced World Equestrian Center’s Sanctuary arena for the final WEC Grand Prix class of 2021. Bobby Murphy of Lexington, Kentucky created the testing track that featured a time allowed of 80 seconds. Eight talented duos qualified for tonight’s jump off, with seven jumping double clear rounds. The competition was fierce and the field was fast, but none could best Kevin McCarthy (IRL) and his own Catch a Star HSS (Sheraton x Tolinda).
McCarthy of K&K Sport Horses in Lexington, Kentucky and his extremely talented 11-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare have now secured two consecutive $30,000 WEC Grand Prix wins during this month’s Winter Classic show series. During tonight’s event, the pair wrapped up the firtst round in just 74.711 seconds. They returned for the jump-off, where they gave it their all and managed a clean and fast run to stop the clock in an beatable 34.141 seconds, well under the allowed jump-off time of 52 seconds.
We caught up with Kevin after the class to chat about his win and plans after the show. “Tonight was a very special win for me. My family back home in Ireland was watching the live feed and it was great to catch a win for my dad and family. I knew going into the class that we had to give it out all because we were up against some other great riders and horses. We can’t wait to be back in January. In the meantime I plan to keep my horse fit and happy.”
Thursday’s Welcome Stake winner Genevieve Munson (USA) of Rogers, Arkansas, and her own Contendro Star (Contendro I x Gloria) captured second place in tonight’s main event. Seventeen-year-old Munson and the big bay Hanoverian gelding completed round one in a clean 75.026 seconds, which secured them a spot in the jump-off. They returned once again to the Sanctuary arena and blazed the jump-off track, leaving all rails up and stopping the clock at 35.286 seconds for a second place finish.
Rounding out the top three was Charlotte Clark (USA) of Kendalwood Farm in Sunbury, Ohio, and her own Kinsella (Capitalist x Jerpoint Mist). Clark and the 11-year-old Chestnut Irish sport horse mare were the fastest finishers in round one, crossing the timers in just 74.214 seconds. They returned to round two where they gave it their all and stopped the clock in 36.017 seconds for a third place finish.
Final Results – $30,000 WEC Grand Prix
1) Kevin McCarthy (IRL) & Catch a Star HSS – 0 / 0 – 34.141
2) Genevieve Munson (USA) & Contendro Star – 0 / 0 – 35.286
3) Charlotte Clark (USA) & Kinsella – 0 / 0 – 36.017
4) Christian B. Currey (USA) & Unesco Do Rouet – 0 / 0 – 36.298
5) Genevieve Munson (USA) & Zonderling – 0 / 0 – 36.710
6) David Q. Beisel (USA) & Vegas H – 0 / 0 – 37.385
7) Darby Pease (USA) & Cumbaya W – 0 / 0 – 40.227
8) Genevieve Munson (USA) & Charlene – 0 / 4 – 38.334
9) Diana Conlon (USA) & PDR Pinion – 1 / 80.917
10) Megan Bash (USA) & Jackson VDL – 4 / 73.103
Source: Press Release from WEC – World Equestrian Center
Photos: © Winslow Photography
Categories: CSN, English, Jumper News Ireland
