Luis Larrazabal & Baroness are the Best in the First Surf Tour Grand Prix at The Ridge

By Jumper News on 19 19America/Sao_Paulo January 19America/Sao_Paulo 2023

Loxahatchee Groves, FL (January 17, 2023) – Venezuela’s Luis Larrazabal (VEN) and Leeann Albin’s mare Baroness are the first Grand Prix winner of the 2023 Surf Tour season. The pair bested a class of 16 over the course designed by Hector Loyola (PUR). Held at The Ridge at Wellington Groves‘ newly renovated show and training facility in Loxahatchee Groves, Florida,USA, the Surf Tour includes wide range of jumper classes from .80M-1.40M, with Friday’s $15,000 1.40M Grand Prix the first in the weekly series. The Surf Tour/Palm Beach Series continues with weekly classes held Wednesday-Friday at The Ridge at Wellington Groves, in addition to USEF Equitation Tuesdays, which begin Tuesday the 17th, in addition to upcoming recognized and unrecognized hunter classes during Wellington’s equestrian season.

A passing cold front unleashed wind and rain to start off The Ridge’s first $15,000 Grand Prix of 2023, but the uncharacteristically cold and wet weather did not dampen the spirits of its riders, which persevered in both of The Ridge’s two rings of competition. Despite a hard downpour, the newly installed Premier Equestrian ProTex Footing remained ideal for jumping. Premier Equestrian’s Protex Footing is the industry standard for exceptional competition surfaces, and is also used in the International Arena at Wellington International. The Ridge’s Grand Prix course was a welcoming track that included a skinny bicycle jump, three double combinations, and a liverpool oxer as the final fence, to keep competitors on their toes.

Larrazabal (VEN) and Baroness were the second to last to go, and set out to contest the leading times set by the historically speedy Daniel Bluman (ISR) and Ireland’s Jordan Coyle (IRL). But Larrazabal and Baroness were not to be intimidated, and delivered an amazing double clear effort to top both of his competitors, crossing through the jump-off timers in 32.746 seconds.

Coyle finished second and third aboard Costa Diem (34.422) and Eristov (34.658) while Bluman took fourth aboard Ubiluc with a jump-off time of 34.662 seconds.

Final Results – $15,000 Surf Tour Grand Prix 1.40M

1) Larrazabal (VEN) and Baroness – 0 / 0 – 32.4756

2) Jordan Coyle (IRL) & Costa Diem – 0 / 0 – 34.422

3) Jordan Coyle (IRL) & Eristov – 0 / 0 – 34.658

For a full list of dates and the 2023 Prizelists, visit www.RidgeShowJumping.com!

To enter, visit www.HorseShowing.com

More shots from Friday, January 13th’s competition on The Ridge at Wellington Groves 2023 Surf Tour!