Ocala, Florida, USA – July 05, 2023 – The final week of international competition during the nine-week 2023 Ocala Summer Series opened with a slew of the world’s best athletes vying for the win in the $40,000 1.45m Speed CSI3*. FEI Level III course designer Peter Grant (CAN) crafted the speed tracks where Kristen Vanderveen (USA) piloted Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili (Colandro x Amethist) to an uncatchable time early in the order to ultimately gallop away with the blue ribbon.
Eighth to go in the order, Vanderveen strategized a track that would suit her longtime partner Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili, “I really liked the course today, because it was set to where I could use his stride to my advantage and his ability to turn. No one else had attempted the inside turn to the combination and it worked out well for us, because with us going that quick on an open stride, doing the inside turn backed him up a little bit to set him up well for the double,” said Vanderveen. “I was going in thinking, I want to win this class and see how the cards fell – it turns out today was our day.”
Vanderveen and the seasoned 18-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion made light work of the track, stopping the clock at an unbeatable 65.31 seconds.
Vanderveen is excited to be back at World Equestrian Center – Ocala, “Frosty loves it here. He carries over the ground very well and for it being our first class here this summer, it’s a nice for him to start with a win.”
Ocala is now home for Vanderveen and her business, “I have been doing a lot of traveling and my business partner Bryn Sadler has been able to stay here and base our operation out of Ocala. We have clients and I have my high-level horses, so it’s amazing to have international competition practically in our backyard. The clients love it and we will finish out the Summer here as one big team.”
Second place ended with a tie between Luiz Francisco de Azevedo (BRA) and Will Simpson (USA). Thirteenth in the order Azevedo navigated a speedy round in 66.44 seconds aboard Collin (Colandro x Amethist), a 16-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Santa Cecelia Stables LLC.
Will Simpson (USA) followed immediately after aboard 5 Roosters’ Whoop De Doo (Mr. Whoopy x Double Trouble X). Simpson and the 12-year-old Warmblood mare mirrored the same track stopping the clock at 66.44 seconds for a tie.
Finals Results – $40,000 Speed Challenge CSI 3* – 1.45m
1) Kristen Vanderveen (USA) & Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili, Bull Run Jumpers Five LLC: 0 | 0 | 65.31
2) Will Simpson (USA) & Whoop De Doo, 5 Roosters: 0 | 0 | 66.44
2) Luiz Francisco de Azevedo (BRA) & Collin , Santa Cecelia Stables LLC: 0 | 0 | 66.44
4) Marcello Ciavaglia (BRA) & HST Cartouche, Marcello Ciavaglia: 0 | 0 | 68.04
5) Erynn Ballard (CAN) & Nanini Van D’abelendreef, Sydney Shulman-Desiderio: 0 | 0 | 68.42
6) Erynn Ballard (CAN) & Coconet, Wight Show Stables LLC: 0 | 0 | 68.93
7) Natalie Dean (USA) & Dotcom D’authuit: , Marigold Sporthorses, LLC: 0 | 0 | 69.75
8) Aaron Vale (USA) & Cristo Beech, Thinkslikeahorse: 0 | 0 | 70.69
9) Marcello Ciavaglia (BRA) & Premier 2S, Marcello Ciavaglia: 0 | 0 | 73.08
10) Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR) & Miki Puigroq , Sigma Stables LLC: 0 | 0 | 74.44
11) Gonzalo Busca (ESP) & Cristiano Obolensky, Gonzalo Busca: 0 | 0 | 75.37
12) Chloe Reid (USA) & Luis P, Live Oak Plantation LLC: 0 | 0 | 76.07
Source: Press Release from World Equestrian Center
Photos: © Andrew Ryback Photography
Categories: Jumper News USA
