January 7, 2021 – Wellington, FL – In the first week of the 2021 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), competition continued on Thursday, January 7, 2021, with the $35,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Premiere Round at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), and Erynn Ballard (CAN) riding Ilan Ferder’s Walter White sped to victory.
Thirty-seven entries went to the post in the $35,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Premiere Round over a course designed by Eric Hasbrouck (USA). There were 14 clear rounds to advance to the jump-off.
Riding out of the third spot in the jump-off, Ballard was chasing fast times set by the first two in the ring. U.S. Olympic team gold medalist McLain Ward and Poden Farms’ Kasper van het Hellehof were clear in 37.062 seconds, which would hold up for third place. Just tipping Ward was Shane Sweetnam (IRL) riding Ideal, owned by Sweet Oak Farm & Seabrook. They posted a time of 36.901 seconds, which would hold up for second place.