Wellington, Florida, USA – January 18, 2025 – From the time he was 11, Tony Stormanns (GER) would sit ringside at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and dream about competing in the International Arena. During ‘Saturday Night Lights’ of WEF 2, the 17-year-old made that dream come true in winning fashion in the $50,000 Palm Beach Equine Clinic Grand Prix riding Donjon d’Asschaut from the strongest national grand prix field ever seen at Wellington International. Highlighted by 12 weeks of consecutive FEI competition, WEF continues through March 30 in Wellington, Florida, USA.
“This means a lot to me because I’ve spent nearly every winter here since I was 11 years old,” said Stormanns after beating out the likes of reigning Olympic Champion Christian Kukuk (GER), world no. 6 Mclain Ward (USA), and Olympic team gold medalist Harry Charles (GBR). “Now I’m here winning the classes I used to watch with my friends. It hasn’t quite set in yet, but it’s really special.
“It’s awesome to have this crowd of spectators who are new to horses come and watch,” continued Stormanns of the packed house at Wellington International on Saturday night. “You have this every week and it’s quite impressive and makes it a little more exciting.”
From an opening round rich with talent and set by course designer Ana Catalina “Catsy” Cruz Harris (MEX), 12 combinations jumped clear to advance to the all-deciding jump-off. With four to jump behind him, Stormanns gave it everything he had to stop the clock at 37.195 seconds.
“The course was very difficult. There were a lot of jumps in the first round that I had to take a lot of care of,” said the young rider who holds two gold medals from the FEI Junior European Championships. “In the jump-off, it was possible for me to keep getting quicker and quicker. I was a bit late on my decision to do six strides after the double because I heard the crowd and thought I had it down. Then I heard them scream ‘go!’, but otherwise I don’t see where I could have done much better.”
Both Kukuk—winner of the 2024 Rolex Grand Prix at WEF—and Irish Olympian Bertram Allen (IRL) took their best shots but couldn’t catch Stormanns.
The Olympic champion raced Just Be Gentle over the final timers in 37.337 seconds to take runner-up. Allen piloted Qonquest de Rigo to third in 37.656 seconds.
Stormanns has had the ride on Donjon d’Asschaut, a 12-year-old Selle Français gelding (Vigo Cece x Nonstop) owned by HS Sportpferde GmbH, for only a year but has already set and accomplished big goals. “I jumped my first big classes on him; 1.50m, two-star grand prix and we’ve gotten to know each other very well. We won the [Junior] German Championships this fall and now we’re here.”
When asked about the horse’s character, Stormanns replied, “You could compare him to an old grandpa; he’s very kind, very sweet, never takes anything personally and he’ll always like you no matter what mistakes you make.”
Stormanns is helped on the ground by Ireland’s Michael Duffy (IRL) and his mother and decorated international show jumping rider in her own right, Helena Stormanns.
“My plan over the first course was to stick to whatever mom said,” laughed Tony. “I stuck to the numbers and didn’t try to concentrate on the time. In the jump-off, [the pan] was to not rush jump number one, but make sure to rush everything else.”
Stormanns ended a banner day after also finishing second in the BrainJuice Under 25 Welcome earlier in the day. His goal for the season is to now win a U25 grand prix in Wellington.
Final Results – $50,000 Palm Beach Equine Clinic Grand Prix
1) Tony Stormanns (GER) & Donjon d’Asschaut – 0 / 0 – 37.195
2) Christian Kukuk (GER) & Just Be Gentle – 0 / 0 – 37.337
3) Bertram Allen (IRL) & Qonquest de Rigo – 0 / 0 – 37.656
Source: Press Release from Wellington International
Photos: © Wellington International / Cassidy Klein / Sportfot
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