Wilmington, Ohio, USA – February 18, 2023 – The stands were packed in the Sanctuary Arena at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington as show jumping competition came to a head with the $30,000 CWD Grand Prix of Winter Classic 10. In the end, it was Megan Bash (USA) and Jackson VDL (Zirocco Blue VDL x Design O) that galloped away with a grand applause as the only duo to jump a fault-free effort.
Robert Barton (USA) crafted the technical 12-obstacle track for the field of athletes with only two starters jumping clear over the fences.
Bash of Cleveland Equestrian spoke on the towering track, “I thought that the track was nice and smooth. I wanted to have a good pace and a flow all the way around. I knew coming in with nobody clear that I needed to be pretty fast in case I had a rail, so I was really moving around the ends of the ring.”
Entering the arena as the second to last to contest over the course, Bash needed a fault-free effort to ensure a place on the podium. Aboard her longtime partner, Jackson VDL, she perfected the technicality of the track and posted an effortless, quick clear round.
Bash was effusive in her praise for her mount, “I got Jackson as a six-year-old when he was still very green. This is so satisfying because I brought him up through the ranks all by myself. He and I have a very special relationship because we know each other really well. The horse is so amazing and I am so impressed with him and can’t wait to see where he goes. He went clear in the Welcome and I made a mistake in the jump-off, so he was such a good horse to come back tonight and try even harder.”
This time on her nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Bash earned her second grand prix win of the 2023 Winter in the Midwest Series.
Devin Milan (USA) of Ann Arbor, Michigan, found another impressive podium placing in the Sanctuary. As the second-place finisher in the $10,000 Welcome Stake, Milan looked to add another top finish to her growing record of successes. The young professional guided Garo Kazan’s seven-year-old Zangershiede gelding, Conquest (Colestus x Excellenta C), to a seamless clear ride over the fences. A single unfortunate time fault earned them the red ribbon.
Rounding out the podium once again was Sam Pegg (CAN) and Gin Tonic 158 (Graf Top x Sanjador). Pegg of Ten Sixty Stables in Uxbridge, Ontario, piloted his new ten-year-old Hanoverian gelding to a confident round with an unfortunate four-fault score putting them in third place.
WEC – Wilmington sponsor Vitalize presented the Blazin’ Fastest Four Faulter $500 bonus in the $30,000 CWD WEC Grand Prix to Sam Pegg and Gin Tonic 158, who earned 78.007 seconds in the first round, finishing third in the class overall.
Final Results – $30,000 CWD Grand Prix
1) Megan Bash (USA) & Jackson VDL, Cleveland Equestrian – 0 – 80.803
2) Devin Milan (USA) & Conquest, Garo Kazan – 1 – 85.910
3) Sam Pegg (USA) & Gin Tonic 158, Ten Sixty Stables – 4 – 78.007
4) Sam Pegg (USA) & Big Girl Z, Ten Sixty Stables – 4 – 84.115
5) Kevin McCarthy (IRL) & Jadina Sweet Oak Farm – 4 – 84.136
6) Megan Bash (USA) & FF Dior, Cleveland Equestrian – 4 – 84.57
7) Sam Pegg (USA) & Formidable Diamant, Phyllis Harlow – 8 – 79.894
8) Izzy Beisel (USA) & Diaz Barbotiere, Izzy Beisel – 8 – 82.5
9) Shannon Sullivan (USA) & Downtown’s Main Event, Shannon Sullivan – 8 – 84.025
10) Izzy Beisel (USA) & Vegas H, David Beisel – 11 – 87.738
Source: Press Release from World Equestrian Center
Photos: © Andrew Ryback Photography
Categories: USEF Rated, World Equestrian Center
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