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Daniel Coyle sweeps final day of competition at the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival

Monday, 03 April 2017
CSI4* WEF Week 12 2017

Photo (c) Sportfot. Daniel Coyle and Simba de la Roque. Photo (c) Sportfot.

The Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series hosted its $50,000 final event at the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) circuit on Sunday, April 2, with a win for Ireland's Daniel Coyle and Simba de la Roque. With consistent results in classes throughout the 2017 circuit riding Diamonte Darco, Lucas Porter (USA) was the winner of the Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series overall. Coyle also went on to take top honors aboard Dillinger in the afternoon's $50,000 Suncast® 1.50m National Grand Prix.

Olaf Petersen, Jr. (GER) set the final track for the Under 25 Grand Prix Series Final, featuring the top 22 competitors from the series overall, and eight clear rounds to jump-off for the final prize. Coyle and Ariel and Susan Grange's Simba de la Roque cleared the short course in 39.94 seconds fro the win. 

Great Britain's Jessica Mendoza and Horst van de Mispelaere finished second in 41.19 seconds. Shawn Casady (USA) and Abigail Wexner's Vanilla placed third in 43.71 seconds. Ailish Cunniffe (USA) also cleared the jump-off track in 44.66 seconds to finish fourth riding Whipstick Farm's Casper. The final double clear round belonged to Wilton Porter (USA) in 44.71 seconds, guiding Sleepy P Ranch's Delinquent JX to fifth place.

Simba de la Roque was one of many new horses that Coyle got the ride on for Ariel and Susan Grange at the start of the WEF season. He has used the Under 25 Series to gain valuable experience and get to know the 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Kannan x Allegreto) better.

"I have been aiming Simba for this series throughout the circuit, mainly the $35,000 classes and the grand prix today," Coyle (22) stated. "I did get a little lucky today; Jessica had a very good round. Just turning back there to the second to last fence, I lost my stirrup and the last two jumps got a little risky, but Simba is a fantastic horse. He has been great here all year."

Coyle continued, "This is a great division to either get to know a horse, or to bring a horse to the next level. That class today was a real competitive class. It was really hard to win. Under 25 classes are really strong now; it is a really strong division. For me to get Simba going at that level is a big step and now I do not feel like I'm that far away from the next level. I think that horse eventually will be jumping the big grand prixs. I am very happy. I had a great last week winning two classes with the young horses, and a great second place finish in the grand prix last night, and today has been brilliant for me."

In addition to his win on Sunday, Coyle was presented with the Hermès Talented Young Rider Award for the 2017 WEF circuit. The award is given to the top young rider between the ages of 16-25 who receives the most points in FEI competition during the circuit.

Mendoza (20) was also riding a new mount this winter in her ten-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Horst van de Mispelaere (Wandor van de Mispelaere x Polydor).

"This horse is new for me since December, so I kind of used this Under 25 series to get used to him and get him jumping," Mendoza stated. "My plan all along was to do the $35,000 classes, and this final was my main goal at the end of the season. It really worked out well."

Commenting on the series further, Mendoza added, "I thought it was great because we got a few different types of classes. We got to jump under the lights at the other venue; we had the Nations' Cup format, which was a great experience for that horse. Also, the opportunity to jump on the grass was really great. My horse had great experiences in different rings and different formats. I think he is going to be a very versatile horse, and I think this has really helped that."

Competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival for the first time, Mendoza had great experiences with all of her horses, from the Under 25 Series up to the grand prix level.  "I loved it," Mendoza acknowledged. "It is nice to get away from Europe for three months and be based in one place. My horses have completely changed and turned into super horses now, so it was a great experience."

Casady (22), who works for John and Beezie Madden, got the ride on Abigail Wexner's Vanilla this year for the Under 25 Series and had solid results with the experienced mare throughout the circuit. "I started riding her at the beginning of circuit, and our relationship has developed through these classes," Casady said of the 15-year-old Danish Warmblood mare (Nabab de Reve x Clinton). 
"She has her own personality. She is an old mare, so she has her way, and I have to respect that. Throughout the series we had a lot of four-fault rounds, so it is really nice to come have a double clear today."

Remarking on his jump-off, Casady stated, "I just wanted to be smooth and not too risky. Like I said, we have had a lot of four-fault rounds, so I just wanted to be consistent and quick. That is a little bit how you have to ride her - just smooth and nice. She does not want you chasing after her."

Lucas Porter in the winning Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series overall presentation with ringmaster Steve Rector, Hollow Creek Farm representative Jennifer Ward, and Susie and Timmy Dutta of The Dutta Corp.

For his success throughout the circuit and an overall win in the series, Lucas Porter jumped Diamonte Darco, Sleepy P Ranch LLC's 12-year-old Great Britain Sport Horse mare (by Unbelievable Darco).

As the overall Series winner, Porter (19) will be invited to compete in the CSI2* division of the Chantilly Horse Show, a Global Champions Tour event, from July 13-16, 2017, in France. In addition to his entry, Porter will also receive two tickets to the Chantilly VIP lounge and transportation for one horse generously provided by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte.
 

"I definitely achieved my goal, and it feels great," Porter stated. "Coming back from Europe last November, I really pointed Diamonte Darco at the Under 25 Series this WEF. The past few years, I have been fourth or sixth in the overall. It has been really one of my goals since I started the series to win the overall, so I am very happy to do it this year.

"I have been to Chantilly before, but I was really young the last time I went," Porter added. "I will be over in Europe beginning April 28. I will do a few shows before then, but I will definitely be going to Chantilly, especially now that I get free entry. It is a super show. I am really looking forward to it."

Porter thanked Hollow Creek Farm for sponsoring the series and putting up the impressive increase in prize money for the FEI sanctioning this year. In its seventh season, the 2017 Under 25 Grand Prix Series, presented by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte, expanded to ten events offering a total of $215,000 in prize money. New for 2017, all classes were sanctioned as CSI-U25 events by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), with the exception of the Team event, and were held under FEI rules.

"On behalf of the Andrade family and Hollow Creek Farm, we would like to congratulate all of these promising athletes on fantastic competition throughout the series," said Hollow Creek Farm representative Jennifer Ward. "It has been great watching these riders come into their own, and we would like to give special recognition to Lucas Porter, who has enjoyed fantastic results throughout the years and is now standing on the podium as the overall winner of the 2017 Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series."

Final Results: $50,000 Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series Final

1. SIMBA DE LA ROQUE: 2006 Selle Francais gelding by Kannan x Allegreto
DANIEL COYLE (IRL), Susan Grange: 0/0/39.94

2. HORST VAN DE MISPELAERE: 2007 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Wandor van de Mispelaere x Polydor
JESSICA MENDOZA (GBR), Jessica Mendoza: 0/0/41.19

3. VANILLA: 2002 Danish Warmblood mare by Nabab de Reve x Clinton
SHAWN CASADY (USA), Abigail Wexner: 0/0/43.71

4. CASPER: 2003 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Cardento x Robin Z
AILISH CUNNIFFE (USA), Whipstick Farm Ltd: 0/0/44.66

5. DELINQUENT JX: 2007 Warmblood gelding by Darco x I Need You
WILTON PORTER (USA), Sleepy P Ranch LLC: 0/0/44.71

6. DIAMONTE DARCO: 2005 GBSH mare by Unbelievable Darco x Unknown
LUCAS PORTER (USA), Sleepy P Ranch LLC: 0/4/42.58

7. ZEPHIRE: 2004 KWPN mare by Coriano x Animo
HAYLEY BARNHILL (USA), Barnhill LLC: 0/4/45.06

8. TOSCANE DE L'ISLE: 2007 Selle Francais mare by Mylord Carthago x Diableur
SYDNEY SHULMAN (USA), Jill Shulman: 0/8/40.45

9. CHARLY CHAPLIN S: 2007 KWPN gelding by Harley VDL x Burggraaf
KERRY MCCAHILL (USA), Kerry Anne LLC: 2/89.77

10. TEMPORELLE DE FRITOT: 2007 Selle Francais mare by Diamant de Semilly x Nantoung
ROGELIO PELLERANO (DOM), Rogelio Pellerano: 4/80.79

11. WALIBA VDL: 2003 KWPN mare by Quite Easy I x Wellington
MACKENZIE DRAZAN (USA), Mackenzie Drazan: 4/81.00

12. VICTER FINN DH Z: 2008 Zangersheide gelding by Va Vite x Stakkato
EUGENIO GARZA (MEX), El Milagro: 5/84.07


Source: Press release from Jennifer Wood Media Inc / Photo (c) Sportfot. 



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