Tina Konyot & Calecto V Win Wellington Classic World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle
15 years ago StraightArrow Comments Off on Tina Konyot & Calecto V Win Wellington Classic World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida, Feb. 13–Tina Konyot on her stallion, Calecto V, moved another steo closer to a World Cup berth with a victory Saturday night in the Wellington Classic Dressage Grand Prix Musical Freestyle.
All five judges placed the U.S. combination first for their score of 72.150 per cent over Melissa Taylor and Schumacker Solyst on 69.800 per cent and Susan Jaccoma and Wadamur third on 69.650 per cent.
Although the event was not strictly outdoors but in a covered arena, the weather was unusually cold for South Florida — below 45 degrees fahrenheit (7C).
Tina, of North Stonington, Connecticut, said she is considering the World Cup to be held in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, late next month.
The North American League is allocated two places in the World Cup. But league-leading Ashley Holzer of Canada has announced she will forego the event to focus on the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky later in the year. As defending champion, Steffen Peters and Ravel would not fill one of the two North American slots, but they, too, have ruled out a title defense because of the travel involved and instead are focusing on the WEG.
Only one World Cup qualifying event remains on the North American calendar, the Palm Beach Dressage Derby in Loxahatchee, Florida, Mar. 4-7.
On Friday, Tina and Calecto posted their highest ever score at Grand Prix with 70.95 per cent.
Pierre St. Jacques and Lucky Tiger were second on 69.660 per cent and Susan Jaccoma and Wadamur in third place with 68.213 per cent.
“He’s getting better and better all the time,” said Tina.
She said, however, that she’s taking it one day at a time although her focus is on seeking to compete in the selection trials in August for the U.S. team at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Tina, 48, rode Calecto in last week’s Exquis World Dressage Masters Final in Palm Beach.
Canadian Shannon Dueck, who lives in Loxahatchee, Florida and had declared U.S. nationality but switched back to Canada, rode Ayscha, in the nine-year-old mare’s first CDI and finished in fifth place with 66.170 per cent.
Shannon had a double mastectomy at the end of October, then broke her right wrist in January. Ayscha by Welt Hit II, put her leg through a fence a week before Friday’s class so she could be schooled only at the walk.
Results of the Grand Prix Freestyle:
Results of the Grand Prix:
