Simon McCarthy WINS THE CSI4*-W $50,000 LONGINES GRAND PRIX QUALIFIER AT LIVE OAK INTERNATIONAL
Simon McCarthy took home the win in the CSI4*-W $50,000 Longines Grand Prix Qualifier 1.55m speed class riding the 13-year-old Gotcha on the first day of show jumping competition at Live Oak International.
Over a track designed by German course designer Olaf Petersen Jr. that saw 15 horse and rider combinations complete clear rounds, Simon McCarthy and Daniel Coyle locked out the top two spots for Ireland with American rider Lucas Porter taking the third spot.
“I just have to say a massive thanks to her (Gotcha). It’s our first time here and she performed so well. I came to Live Oak International aiming for this class with her and whenever you achieve your goals it’s always a really special feeling. Having had her for three years now she’s only gone from strength to strength so I’m very very happy with today’s result” – Simon McCarthy.
It was a good day for Zoe Conter who took the win in the CSI4*-W $5,000 Welcome 1.40m Power & Speed abroad Tombola Z, with a time of 35.49 seconds. This result has set her up for success coming into the rest of the week.
Finishing in a close second place with a time of 36.14 was America’s very own, Aaron Vale with 8-year-old gelding, Styles. Narrowly missing out by less than a second showing the high level of competition at Live Oak International this year.
I&H Boogy Woogy and Abigail Mc Ardle took home the win for the CSI1* $2,000 Waldron Private Wealth Welcome 1.30m Power & Speed class with a time of 30.51 seconds. Tori Corts and Bonjovi finished second with a time of 30.82 seconds making it a USA first and second place finish.
In addition to show jumping, today was the start of the Friends of the Tournament Youth Driving Division with Ben Riesse and his horse Glenarvon’s Royal Duke taking the top spot in the 12 and under Dressage phase with a score of 48.40. First in the 13–16-year-old group were Ethan Yeager and Bravo with a score of 45.63.
Kailyn Briggs, coached by Laura DeFazio, from the 12 and under Dressage had this to say about her very first Live Oak International experience, “For us Live Oak International is the biggest competition in the US that we can go to. So In the same way that the senior drivers have the World Cup, we have Live Oak. I have been absolutely loving it, it’s been such a great experience for me and my horse Benny has been great too.”
Read more:
