Dressage-News

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

WELLINGTON, Florida, Jan. 28, 2020–Riders from eight countries on three continents made up the top 15 money-earning competitors at the Adequan Global Global Dressage Festival after two of the seven international weeks on the winter-long circuit.

Canada’s Jill Irving with $5,500 total prize money was atop the earnings as she was the first week of the circuit at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center’s Stadium complex.

Competitors from several nations, most notably Canada, Denmark, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Spain and the United States, seeking to be at the Olympics in Tokyo in July were among the top 15.

Steffen Peters of the United States, who competed Suppenkasper the first two weeks of Global, was ranked second on $5,200, campaigning to be at the World Cup Final in Las Vegas where he was the champion in 2009 and at Tokyo for what would be his fifth Olympics.

South Korea’s Dongseon Kim, who has spent much of his adult life in the United States including college in New Hampshire, is third on the list with total earnings so far of $4,645.

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz, making a spectacular comeback on Lonoir after an absence of 18 months due to the length of time to recover from botched farrier work, won both the World Cup Grand and the Freestyle to make $4,300. The pair face a possible hectic schedule if she wants to go to Las Vegas as they need to compete in the two remaining qualifiers in Wellington. If Tokyo is in Olivia’s sights, the duo will also be required to compete in Olympic qualifiers simultaneously.

Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu stands fifth in the rankings on $4,125 in their second competition on her 2015 Pan American Games team silver medal mount All In since the start of Canadian Olympic team qualifying on Jan. 1. Brittany, who was out of competition for seven months for the birth of her first child last summer, is the leading contender for Canada’s Tokyo team.

Lindsay Kellock, who helped Canada get the Olympic team start with her gold medal performance at last year’s Pan Am Games, has made a strong start for a Tokyo berth. She has collected $3,275 in prize money so far for sixth place on the prize money standings.

Juan Matute Guimon, returning to his family’s home in Florida for his first competition in two years since moving to his homeland of Spain, was doubly successful. The 22-year-old earned enough points to come close to assuring his first start at a World Cup Final and the two rides earned him $3,050 to rank seventh.

Naima Moreira-Laliberté, a Pan Am team mate of Lindsay Kellock, was No. 8 on the standings with $2,950 while America’s Heather Blitz was ninth on $2,500.

Susan Pape, British by birth but based in Germany and long a key player in the breeding, development and competition for Harmony Sporthorses of Kiowa, Colorado was ranked 10th ahead of Canadians Beatrice Boucher and Ariana China.

Martha Fernanda Del Valle Quirarte, competing in Wellington for the first time in a campaign to represent Mexico at the Tokyo Games, stands 13th.

Sweden’s Caroline Darcourt, who first competed on the Global circuit six years ago, ranks 14th.

Agnete Kirk Thinggaard is in Florida for the first time seeking to earn a place on Denmark’s Olympic team, rounds out the top 15 money earners.

Top money earners after second week of Adequan Global Dressage Festival

Jill Irving CAN $5,500
Steffen Peters USA $5,200
Dongseon Kim KOR $4,645
Olivia LaGoy-Weltz USA $4,300
Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu CAN $4,125
Lindsay Kellock CAN $3,275
Juan Matute Guimon ESP $3,050
Naima Moreira-Laliberté CAN $2,950
Heather Blitz USA $2,500
Susan Pape GBR $2,100
Beatrice Boucher CAN $2,075
Ariana Chia CAN $1,880
Martha Fernanda Del Valle Quirarte MEX $1,675
Caroline Darcourt SWE $1,675
Agnete Kirk Thinggaard DEN $1,600