Press release from Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. written by Lindsay Brock and Sabrina Brashares

Catherine Tyree topped the $73,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic CSI5* aboard BEC Lorenzo to close week seven of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL, on Sunday, February 23.

Saving the best for last in the seven-horse jump-off, including number-two ranked rider in the world, Martin Fuchs, Catherine Tyree and her 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Bec Lorenzo (Livello x Guidam) blazed to the win in Sunday’s $73,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic CSI5*. They finished double-clear over Varela’s track in 37.39 seconds over the short course for owner Mary Tyree.

“I was able to watch everyone go before me in the jump-off, and I had a plan,” said Tyree. “To be honest, the first three jumps didn’t go according to plan, so I knew I had to really gallop and stay on it to the last three jumps. My horse met the challenge and was great. The CaptiveOne 1.50m series is a very competitive class, and it’s fun to have the championship at the end.

“Santiago Varela has built great courses all week. They have been technical, challenging, and big enough,” continued Catherine, who trains with John Brennan and Missy Clark of North Run. “I was lucky; I had two horses, and I was able to go around one time and fix my mistakes and be there for Lorenzo to give him the best chance to jump a clear round.”

Catherine has had Lorenzo for two years, and the gelding only jumped his first 1.50m last year. “Every time you ask him big questions, he exceeds all expectations I have,” she said. “There was a point where I didn’t know where he would end up, but I always knew he would be very competitive.”

Tyree was a first timer at WEF in 2004 on a medium pony, and is now competitive in the International Arena. “I love being at WEF. Every weekend we’ve seen big jump-offs in grand prix, and that is a testament to not only the quality of horses and riders, but the footing as well.”

In second place, Fuchs (SUI) finished with a time of 37.92 seconds aboard Stalando 2 (Stakkato x Lando), owned by Gospodarstwo Rolne Andrzej Oplatek, ahead of Ireland’s Daniel Coyle riding Farrel (Cardento x Becherry) for owner Ariel Grange. They stopped the clock without fault in 38.60 seconds. Fourth place went to fellow Irish rider and Daniel’s couson, Jordan Coyle, on Centriko Volvo (Centadel x Chacco-Blue) in a time of 39.98 for owner Celtic Park, LLC. Rounding out the top five, Jorge Matte Capdevila rode his own Destiny Van Schore (Ugano Sitte x Quintine Du Houssoit) to a time of 46.889.