Wellington, United States – January 03, 2026 – The opening “Saturday Night Lights” event of the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) started off with a redemption win for the girl’s team in the $75,000 Battle of the Sexes, presented by LeMieux, under the sparkling lights of Wellington International. 

Breaking a three-year win streak for the boys, the girls pocketed their eleventh Battle of the Sexes title in the event’s 16-year history. In a tie-breaking match race between Jessica Mendoza (GBR) and Luis Larrazabal (VEN), the girls emerged victorious. The team was led by captain Kelly Soleau and her roster that included Mia Bagnato (USA), Alexis Bodo (USA), Kyla Makhloghi (USA), Samantha Mackenzie (USA), Caroline Mawhinney (USA), Mendoza and Kelly Taggart (USA).

The runner-up squad consisted of team captain Charlie Jayne (USA) and included veterans Christian Coyle (IRL), Daniel Geaney (USA), Alex Granato (USA), Luis Fernando Larrazabal (VEN), Tony Stormanns (GER), Söhnke Theymann (GER) and Michael Tokaruk (USA).

The Battle of the Sexes consists of three phases. The first is a Table C faults-converted speed course where the riders are matched and compete one at a time over the course. The rider with the fastest time gains a point for their team. Following the first phase, the score showed a dead heat with both teams tied on four points.

In the second phase, each team had two relay groups, where a trio of riders faced a section of the course with five points up for grabs. Bagnato, Mendoza and Mawhinney led off with a win for the girls, but the boys answered with five more on the board. Coyle, Theymann and Tokaruk kept the score tied with only one round remaining. 

The final phase was a match race where riders competed head-to-head at the same time over a course that mirrored itself in the ring. Three points for each race were on the line, and the round ended with both teams tied once again. The fate of the evening was decided in the extra match race where Mendoza bested Larrazabal, who pulled three rails to the ground. 

Show jumping fans saw horses and riders decked out in blue and pink as they cheered for their favorites. In front of a sold-out Wellington International crowd, the final score stood at 24 to 21 in the girl’s favor.

“I’ve never seen the final round come down to the wire like that, but that made it even more fun,” said Mendoza. “Everyone comes together and there’s a little bit of rivalry between the boys and the girls. This crowd is so fun, and it’s great for the horses to come out and have fun in a night class.”

Breaking a three-year win streak for the boys, the girls pocketed their eleventh title in the Battle of the Sexes, presented by LeMieux, in the event’s 16-year history. They were joined by Lauren Ferrari, Florida Market Manager for LeMieux. Photo ©Sportfot

Jayne is already making plans for a 2027 comeback for the boys teaming, and concluded by saying. “It was tense but fun, and that playoff at the end coming down to that final round was really exciting.”

Competition during the long-awaited opening week of WEF 2026 concludes in the $75,000 Dodd Technologies Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon.

Source: Press Release from Wellington International

Photos: © Wellington International / Sportfot

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