It was an exciting week of International competition at the Del Mar International Horse Show, which concluded with the Charity Woof Cup Presented by The San Diego Union – Tribune and the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Del Mar tonight. Enrique Gonzalez and Chacna were victorious in the field of 28 after a challenging course designed by elite course designer Frank Rothenberger of Germany.
“We are very happy to welcome Frank in Southern California,” said second place finisher Eric Navet. “Having the best course designers at the shows helps make the sport better.”
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| Enrique Gonzalez and Chacna win the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Del Mar Photo by Alden Corrigan for West Palms Events |
The course contained 12 obstacles with 15 efforts, including the Longines triple combination across the diagonal and a triple bar at fence 8 to a one stride, 9AB, on the rail. The line to 9AB proved to be a tricky length, with riders having to decipher between a longer four or a collected five strides.
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| Eric Navet and Catypso win second place in the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Del Mar. Photo by Alden Corrigan for West Palms Events | |
“The triple to the combination made the four strides tough, and the five strides short,” said Course Designer Frank Rothenberger. “The point was to do the five strides.”
Brazilian rider Eduardo Menezes and Catalina entered the ring 15th in the order to execute a beautiful round to become the first clean pair, and the first pair to put five strides into the line to the combination. World-renowned French rider Eric Navet and Catypso followed Menezes’ clean round two rides later to challenge he and Catalina in a jump off.
Menezes’ business partner, Enrique Gonzalez, and Chacna went 25th in the order to put up the third and final clear first round score to head into the jump off.
An unfortunate 8 faults for Menezes and Catalina in the jump off allowed Navet and Gonzalez the opportunity to take the lead with zero fault scores. Navet and Catypso did just that, with a clean jump off in a time of 43.15. Last to go, Gonzalez knew he had to keep a tight track to beat Navet’s time and had no room for error on jump faults. Gonzalez and Chacna marched into the arena and performed flawlessly, with a clean jump off in an astounding time of 40.93 to take the lead from Navet.
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| Eduardo Menezes and Catalina take third in the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Del Mar. Photo by Kristin Lee Photography for West Palms Events |
“Having Eric and my partner ahead of me was tough,” said Gonzalez. “Eric is one of the best riders in the world, and Eduardo is on his way to being one. It is not easy to think of beating them. Once I watched Eric go in the jump off, I thought there was a chance if I took a stride out in the first line and it worked out.”
It definitely worked out for him, obtaining one of his biggest victories tonight here at the Del Mar International Horse Show.
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| Enrique Gonzalez accepts his Longines watch from Longines Representative Kristina Havelos. Photo by McCool Photography for West Palms Events |
“We are so happy for Enrique, Eric and Eduardo on their placings tonight,” said Adrienne Karazissis of West Palms Events. “It was an exciting line up and an incredible jump off. The crowd enjoyed every moment!”
Earlier in the evening, Del Mar opened the night with the Charity Woof Cup Presented by The San Diego Union – Tribune: a canine agility speed class in a combined score with a traditional equestrian speed class. The event featured five great charities: Shelter To Soldier Sponsored by Unite, The EQUUS Foundation Sponsored by Platinum Performance, Compton JR Posse Sponsored by Jo Cho Astani, Sam Thompson Memorial for Disabled Jockeys, and Equitarian Initiative.
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| Bentley races against the Longines Official Time Keeping clocks to win the Charity Woof Cup Presented by The San Diego Union – Tribune. Photo by Kristin Lee Photography for West Palms Events |
It was a charming and thrilling relay class, and the winners were Kristin Hardin riding Elle, partnered with agility friends Erin Welch and her Australian Shepherd Bentley. They rode for The EQUUS Foundation, sponsored by Platinum Performance and in true Hardin fashion, went very fast. Welch and Bentley held up the agility competition with an exhilarating round that entertained the crowd.
Results:
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Written by: Danielle Ballard for West Palms Events