Ocala, Florida, USA – December 05, 2024 – International competition is in full swing at World Equestrian Center – Ocala during Week I of the 2024 December Show Series. On Thursday afternoon, 61 horse-and-rider combinations from 17 nations gathered at the WEC Grand Arena, all vying for the $63,000 Wheels Up Grand Prix Qualifier CSI 3* winning title. In the end, it was Ireland’s Paul O’Shea (IRL) who soared to the top aboard the lightning-fast Squirt Gun (Diarado x Quick Star), owned by Eye Candy Jumpers and Paul O’Shea.
FEI Level III course designer Catsy Cruz (MEX) set a challenging track for Thursday’s competition, with 15 riders delivering clear first rounds to earn a spot in the jump-off. As the lights illuminated the WEC Grand Arena, transforming it into the magical WEC Winter Wonderland presented by AdventHealth, the stage was set for an intense showdown. Top athletes from Switzerland, the United States, Ireland, Colombia and France returned to vie for the win under the heightened pressure.
The jump-off began with Beat Mändli (SUI) setting a swift pace aboard Kay Grey, clocking in at 36.82 seconds. Richard Spooner (USA) followed as the third to return, riding Halcon (Con Air 7 x Cardento 933), owned by Molly Ohrstrom. Fresh off a recent victory in the $75,000 Barnwalkers Grand Prix during the November Show Series, Spooner and the nine-year-old Argentinian Sport Horse stallion shaved two seconds off Mändli’s time, taking the lead in 34.67 seconds.
Chloe Reid (USA) and her agile partner Crossover 4 (Cascadello x Chacco-blue), a 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Team Reid LLC, gave a strong performance, finishing the short course in 36.04 seconds to claim the second spot for the moment.
Several athletes tried to unseat Spooner, but it wasn’t until Paul O’Shea and Squirt Gun, the second-to-last pair to go, entered the arena that the leaderboard shifted. “I saw Beat have a beautiful round, and then I watched Richard go, and I mean, he was fast. I told myself, ‘I have to go as fast as I can here to get even close to him. He inspired me to go as fast as I could,’” O’Shea shared.
“There was a decision to be made at the last—10 strides or nine. I saw one person do the nine and knock it, so I opted for 10. Luckily enough, it worked out,” O’Shea added.
Flying through the course, O’Shea and Squirt Gun stopped the clock in a blazing 33.82 seconds, securing the win and the lion’s share of the prize money.
The 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding has been a reliable partner for O’Shea for several years. “I’ve been riding him for three or four years now, and he’s been phenomenal. He’s won a lot of classes and has been an incredible partner. He’s got a big personality, which can be challenging at times, but he always gives his best,” O’Shea said. “I’m so grateful to Erica Hatfield of Eye Candy Jumpers for her incredible support—she’s an amazing owner with an outstanding group of horses.”
Final Results – $63,000 Wheels Up Grand Prix Qualifier CSI 3*
1) Paul O’Shea (IRL) & Squirt Gun – 0 / 0 – 33.82
3) Richard Spooner (USA) & Halcon – 0 / 0 – 34.67
2) Chloe Reid (USA) & Crossover 4 – 0 / 0 – 36.04
Source: Press Release from World Equestrian Center
Photos: © WEC / Andrew Ryback Photography
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Categories: CSI 3*, English, Jumper News Ireland
