Emilie Conter Shatters Competition in Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Grand Prix
In a finish befitting of International Women’s Day, Belgium’s Emilie Conter stormed to a win in the $500,000 Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Grand Prix during Winter Equestrian Festival’s (WEF) ‘Saturday Night Lights’ on March 8. Highlighted by 12 weeks of consecutive FEI competition and four five-stars, WEF continues at Wellington International through March 30 in Wellington, FL.
In the irons of Portobella van de Fruitkorf, Conter bested a seven-horse jump-off over the Alan Wade (IRL) built course. From a field that included six of the world’s top ten ranked riders, the 24-year-old claimed the first five-star victory of her career.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet; I’m super happy with my horse and my team for making this happen,” said a beaming Conter at the evening’s press conference. “I saw a really long [distance] to the last oxer and I heard Helena [Stormanns] scream ‘go get it!’, so I took it. I didn’t think it was going to be enough to beat these other riders, but I looked up and saw that I was in first.”
Stopping the clock a second off the winning pace, Olympic team gold medalist Harry Charles (GBR) settled for runner-up aboard Sherlock, a 2013 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Bisquet Balou C x Malito de Reve) owned by Peter Charles & Stall Zet. World no. 1 and reigning FEI World Cup™ Champion Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) took third on his Olympic partner King Edward, a 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Edward 28 x FEO) owned by Dufour Stables AG.
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Emilie Conter Shatters Competition in Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Grand Prix
