Wellington, Florida, USA – January 23, 2021 – Belgium’s Zoe Conter won the Martha W. Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Award on Sunday, January 23, during week two of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL.
Conter, who is trained by 2008 Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze, accumulated the highest number of points among all female athletes competing in the $37,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 on Friday, January 21, and the $140,000 Hygain Feed Grand Prix CSI3* held on Sunday, January 23, on the grass derby field. Conter and Davidoff de Lassus, owned by Stephex Stables, jumped clear in the first round of Friday’s class before earning a fourth-place finish on Sunday.
“I’m so honored that I got to be the leading lady this week,” said Conter, 23, of winning her first Leading Lady title. “There are so many great female riders, especially competing here at WEF, so it means a lot to win this award. I didn’t expect it at all. I owe everything to my horse who was amazing all week.
“I’ve had him for about three years,” continued Conter (BEL) of the 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion (Ugano Sitte x Ksar-Sitte). “He is the horse that has brought me up to be competitive at the five-star level. I’ve been jumping him in a lot of five-star classes and he means so much to me because he has really brought me to where I am today. He is like a big, confident teddy bear. He would do anything for me and today he proved it once again. I am so lucky to have him.”
In recognition of winning the Leading Lady Rider Award, Jolicoeur and her husband, Dr. Stephen Norton, presented Conter with a bottle of champagne, a bouquet of flowers, and a gift certificate for a shopping spree at Hunt, Ltd.
A long-time sponsor and dedicated supporter of horse sport at WEF for many years, 2022 marks Jolicoeur’s 12th season presenting the Leading Lady Rider Award. A former competitor herself, Jolicoeur enjoyed a successful international show jumping career before becoming Florida’s number one Douglas Elliman real estate broker.
Throughout WEF, the Martha W. Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Award, given in memory of fellow realtor and horsewoman Dale Lawler, is presented each week to the female athlete who earns the most points in the weekly WEF Challenge Cup Series and grand prix events. During the final week of WEF, the Martha W. Jolicoeur Overall Leading Lady Rider Award will be presented to the female rider who accumulates the most points throughout the 13-week circuit.
Source: Press Release by Jennifer Ward / Jump Media for Martha W. Jolicoeur
Photos: © Jump Media
Categories: Awards, English, Jumper News Belgie
