PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN CENTER
WEEKLY WIRE EDITOR: JENNIFER WOOD
WEEK 9
McLain Ward and HH Azur Return to Winner’s Circle
MARCH 9-13,EDITOR: 2022 JENNIFER WOOD
Ireland Takes Home Victory in $150,000 Nations Cup CSIO4*, Presented by Premier Equestrian
in the first round over the course designed by Nick Granat (USA) and Steve Stephens (USA). Fortunes changed dramatically in the second round as more rails fell, but with solid performances from the Irish team, they came away with the win. Pathfinder McMahon and Chakra 9 had just one time fault in Round Two. It was an excellent performance for McMahon, who represented Ireland in last year’s European Championships, and his horse, who tallied three clear rounds out of four in two Nations Cup performances in 2021.
Olympic partners McLain Ward and HH Azur won the Sunday Grand Prix. © Sportfot
Competition for week 8 at the 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), presented by Premier Equestrian, concluded on Sunday, March 6, with the $216,000 CSIO4* Grand Prix, presented by JTWG, Inc. Four-time Olympic medalist McLain Ward (USA) and his veteran partner HH Azur, owned by Double H Farm, led the victory gallop. There were 48 starters in Sunday afternoon’s grand prix, and they contested a course designed by Nick Granat (USA) and Steve Stephens (USA). Eight were clear to advance to the jump-off. Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and Cornwall BH started the short course first but a rail for four faults in 36.75 seconds left them in fourth place. Karl Cook (USA) and Helen Signe Ostby’s Coachella 4 also had four faults in a slower time of 38.05 seconds for seventh place. Ward and HH Azur were next into the ring and “Annie” stretched her stride out to blaze around the course clear in 35.22 seconds, setting an unbeatable time. “She was really covering the ground great,” affirmed Ward. “She really performed beautifully, and we were able to get the nine [strides] home and put just enough pressure on these guys that we held up.” Ward’s student Lillie Keenan (USA) and Agana van het Gerendal Z, owned by Chansonette Farm LLC, were quick in 37.20 seconds but with four faults; they finished in sixth place. Hilary McNerney (USA) rode her own Captain Cooper to
eighth place after eight faults in 38.28 seconds. At just 24 years old, Ioli Mytilineou (GRE) continues to show her growth in the sport. She and Levis de Muze, owned by Elia Construction SA, stopped the timers in 36.84 seconds with a clear round and slotted into second place at the end of the class.
Andrew Bourns, Eoin McMahon, Michael Blake, Max Wachman, and Cian O’Connor celebrate their Nations Cup victory. ©Sportfot
Of her top grand prix finish, Mytilineou expressed, “It means absolutely everything, to be honest. Last year here I was mostly fourth or fifth place, so I never actually got into the prize-giving ceremony. To be in it between McLain and Ben, two of the best riders in the world, is insane to me.
Eleven nations brought forth teams to compete in the $150,000 Nations Cup CSIO4*, presented by Premier Equestrian, the highlight event of the eighth week of the 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL. The flag for Ireland was raised at the end of the night as the team, consisting of Andrew Bourns, Cian O’Connor, Eoin McMahon, and Max Wachman, led by Chef d’Equipe Michael Blake, won their fourth Nations Cup in the 21-year history of the class at WEF.
“When I went into the ring, the last thing my trainer said to me was, ‘Don’t risk a rail. You can be quicker than McLain anyway.’ I just looked at him and laughed, but I tried to go as fast as I could and go clear,” she recalled.
Teams from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, the United States, and Venezuela competed in Round One, and the top eight returned for Round Two under the lights in the International Arena.
Her mount Levis de Muze, an 11-year-old BWP stallion by Elvis Ter Putte x Tinka’s Boy, helped her to a top-12 finish at last year’s European Championships, but has had a quiet start to the 2022 season. They will compete in next week’s CSI5* competition.
Heading into Round Two, Ireland was tied with Canada at zero faults after three clear rounds from McMahon and Beerbaum Stables’s Chakra 9, Wachman and Berlux Z, owned by Coolmore Show Jumping, and Bourns on Sea Topblue, owned by QBS Equestrian LLC. With three clear rounds, O’Connor did not have to compete with Cerruti Van Ter Hulst Z, owned by Ronnoco Jump Ltd.
She has ridden Levis de Muze since he was seven years old. “He’s honestly my best friend,” said Mytilineou. “I feel like we know each other so well. Of course, I’m still very green, but he’s also still very green, so there’s a lot of stuff we still need Please turn to page 13
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Week 9
Just one rail behind and tied for second were Great Britain, Australia, and Mexico. Belgium and the USA sat on eight faults, while Argentina had 10 faults. There were 16 clear rounds March 9-13, 2022
“Coming here, it was my plan to jump Chakra in the Nations Cup, so we planned our weeks up to tonight. She’s been a very good horse for me,” he said of the 12-year-old Holsteiner mare by Casall x Quidam de Revel. “Even though she’s 12, she’s not that experienced. She improved a lot from last year to this year. She’s been very consistent since we got here. “She jumped fantastic in the first round, and she jumped great in the second round as well,” he continued. “I was a bit too slow; that was a rider error. I was very happy that it didn’t cost us tonight. It’s always a real privilege to be able to jump for Ireland. I’m very grateful for Michael selecting me.” Eighteen-year-old Wachman felt similarly grateful to be a part of Team Ireland, and he gave a stunning double clear performance, one of only five in the class. “I’m delighted, and it’s a great feeling to win,” he noted. Wachman has been riding Berlux Z, an 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Berlin x Major de la Cour, only since October. Berlux Z was on the team for France under the saddle of Simon Delestre at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. “My horse is a very good horse,” noted Wachman. “He’s been able to bring me to bigger levels, because he’s quite experienced and he’s not green. I’m very grateful to be riding him. It’s special to be on a winning team with [my trainer] Cian. All the lads are great.” Please turn to page 4