Colombia’s Mark Bluman won the CSI5*-W 1.55m $170,000 Mad Barn Big Ben Challenge aboard Ubiluc on Thursday, November 13, at the CSI5*-W Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON. Photo © Ben Radvanyi Photography.
Press release from the Royal Horse Show, edited by World of Showjumping
Mark Bluman of Colombia blazed to his second victory in as many days in the CSI5*-W 1.55m $170,000 Mad Barn Big Ben Challenge on Thursday evening, November 13, at the CSI5*-W Royal Horse Show, held as part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, ON (CAN).
After winning the McKee Family International Speed one night earlier, Bluman rose to the occasion once again in the Mad Barn Big Ben Challenge, this time aboard Ubiluc (Ubiko x Lucian), owned by Daniel Bluman and Over The Top Stables. Mark attacked the short course designed by Olaf Petersen, Jr. of Germany, and laid it all on the line as he flew to the final obstacle, a delicate vertical. Ultimately, he set an uncatchable time at 35.62 seconds.
The German-bred Ubiluc has been a part of the Bluman Equestrian program since the 13-year-old gelding was six. Ridden by Mark as a six and seven-year-old, his cousin, Daniel, then took over the ride and developed the horse to the international level. He handed the reins back to Mark in 2023 and, since then, the pair have collected an astounding 44 top 10 international finishes.
Nina Mallevaey and Nikka vd Bisschop finished runner-up in the $170,000 Mad Barn Big Ben Challenge at Toronto’s CSI5*-W Royal Horse Show. Photo © Ben Radvanyi Photography.
The familial partnership was on full display on Thursday night in the Coca-Cola Coliseum.
“I told Daniel to watch the jump-off because I wanted to concentrate on warming up the horse correctly,” said Mark, 34, who is competing at the Royal Horse Show for the first time. “He told me exactly what I needed to do to make it happen and it paid off. He’s a very fast horse so I had that to my advantage.”
Of his competitive debut in Toronto, Mark said, “Winning the Big Ben, named after a legend in the sport, here at The Royal, a very prestigious horse show, is one of my biggest wins with him. I came with big expectations and wanted to make a statement and try to be top five in every class.”
In addition to his two victories, Mark stayed true to his plan and finished fifth in the opening Strength & Speed Welcome on Wednesday.
Brian Moggre of the United States took third riding MTM Vivre le Reve in the $170,000 Mad Barn Big Ben Challenge at Toronto’s CSI5*-W Royal Horse Show. Photo © Ben Radvanyi Photography.
“This is an unbelievable horse show,” he continued about his experience at The Royal, now in its 103rd year. “It’s not only a horse show, but also an event and one of the best shows I’ve ever been to in my life. The crowd is so involved, and the atmosphere when the crowd is cheering for you is the most amazing feeling. It’s what I have enjoyed the most about being here.”
Also making her Royal debut, Nina Mallevaey, 25, of France jumped a foot perfect jump-off to finish three tenths of a second off the winning pace. She and Nikka vd Bisschop (Emerald x Nabab de Reve) settled for second on a time 35.93 seconds for owners the Rein Family LLC and Tara Dow-Rein. Brian Moggre, 24, of the United States rounded out the podium placings in third riding longtime partner MTM Vivre le Reve (Ustinov x Chello II), owned by Major Wager LLC. They stopped the clock at 36.42 seconds.
Mark Bluman of Colombia and Ubiluc are presented as winners of the $170,000 Mad Barn Big Ben Challenge by Scott Cieslar (right), Founder and CEO of Mad Barn, and Dr. Emily Gilbert (left), Mad Barn High Performance Lead. Photo © Ben Radvanyi Photography.
Mallevaey, the reigning French national champion, won the CSI5*-W 1.50m $45,000 Brickenden Trophy, which served as a prelude to the Mad Barn Big Ben Challenge on Thursday afternoon. She piloted Destine to Be (Diamant de Semilly x Grandilot), also owned by the Rein Family LLC, to the win by more than a second over runner-up Daniel Bluman riding his Rebelline de Kwakenbeek (Aganix du Seigneur x Quidam de Revel).
“I really like indoor shows, especially indoor shows on the World Cup circuit,” said Mallevaey, who had never competed at the Royal Horse Show before this week, but heard about the event’s global reputation for top sport and family friendly entertainment. “There's so much atmosphere here; it is amazing to ride when there are so many people around who cheer for everyone. It’s real sport and I am happy to be here."
“The whole Rein family is here and it’s their country so it’s nice to do well for them here,” continued Mallevaey, who got the ride on the Rein Family’s nine-year-old Diamant de Semilly son at the end of the gelding’s eight-year-old year. “We've been producing him slowly and he is doing his few first five-star shows now. He still needs to get experience, but I think he is a good horse for the future; he has scope, is smart, and very fast.”
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