By Liz Leamy
Last weekend was, by all accounts, an affair to remember as dozens of premier Olympic, World and U.S. equestrians convened at the Greenwich Polo Club to face off against one another at the 2nd annual CSI Greenwich event that featured prize money totaling nearly three hundred sixty-six thousand dollars.
Centered around much of riding’s royalty, this two-day international show jumping competition was held on Friday, October 7th and Saturday, October 8th and sanctioned by the FEI, the international governing body of equestrian sports and was a resounding success on all fronts as its entrants, both human and equine, thrilled the crowd of nearly 3,000 spectators with their superb jumping acumen and skills.
Throughout this competition, this dedicated and talented contingent of U.S. and world-ranked equestrians and their horses scaled lofty fences that stood at more than five feet high on professionally designed tracks at this illustrious Greenwich-based locale that has been known as a main U.S. summer-season base for high-goal polo since its founding back in 1981.
“This has been a fantastic event,” said Christian Coyle of Ireland who trains in Ridgefield, Connecticut and Wellington, Florida and placed first among a field of 28 entries in the thirty-seven thousand dollar La Bastide Winning Round CSI2* showdown with Ma Pomme de Tamerville, his gorgeous charge who is owned by IN Showjumpers. “The organizers have done a brilliant job, the grounds are fantastic and this is one of the best courses I’ve ever ridden.”
In addition to Coyle, the impressive roster of this year’s CSI Greenwich event included McLain Ward, a former Greenwich resident who is a two-time U.S. Olympic champion and five-time U.S. Olympian; Nayel Nassar, the 2021 CSI3* Grand Prix of Greenwich champion and Egyptian Olympic and world contender; Kent Farrington, the U.S. Olympic and World Championship medalist who helped formulate and develop this competition; Alex Matz and Carly Anthony, U.S. jumpers who were third and fourth at the 2021 CSI3* Grand Prix of Greenwich respectively, and Georgina Bloomberg, the U.S. Pan Am Games medalist whose father, Michael Bloomberg is the former Mayor of New York City and founder of Bloomberg LP, the global business and financial information media outlet, among others.
“You can see this is an incredible world championship lineup of equestrians,” said Philip Brous, a Greenwich resident and partner of the New Canaan Foreign Car, an automotive service company specializing in fine European and classic automobiles. “It’s wonderful to watch the horses and riders fly and to see them in motion. They are so graceful and it’s been a perfect day here.”
McLain Ward scores top honors in the CSI3* Grand Prix of Greenwich showdown
McLain Ward of the U.S. and his powerful charge, Lazaro, an 11 year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Stella Wasserman of Los Angeles, triumphed to take top honors in the CSI3* Grand Prix of Greenwich event that featured a total purse of two hundred and sixteen thousand dollars.
Competing among a formidable field of 25 total entrants, Lazaro and Ward, who is based out of Brewster, New York and is ranked 16th in the world, catapulted to the top of the leaderboard upon flying around Alan Wade (of Ireland)’s 1.55 short meter track with great command, power and strength.
Clearing a total of eight fences (one of which was a two-hurdle combination) in 40.74 seconds, Ward and Lazaro faced off against six other entrants who had qualified for the finals upon executing clean runs in the preliminary round.
In the final tally, Ward and Lazaro edged out second-place U.S. finishers, Devin Ryan of Long Valley, New Jersey and Eddie Blue, owned by LL Show Jumpers in New Hope, Pennsylvania whose penalty-free run earned a time of 40.84 seconds, by a close one-tenth of a second.
Mario Deslauriers, the three-time Canadian Olympian and Bardolina 2, owned by Wishing Well Farm LLC in Sands Point, New York, clinched third with their pristine run which they ran in 43.90 seconds.
At the conclusion of the competition, Ward talked about his run with Lazaro, pontificating on the intensity and excitement of the event.
“I wanted to ride strong and steady,” said Ward, a four-time Olympic medalist who was a student at Greenwich Country Day School growing up. “It’s been great to have been competing here, especially since I have roots here in Greenwich.” (A few years ago, Ward was the commencement speaker at Greenwich Country Day School, a memory that he recalled with fond regards.)
Ward said in terms of competitive show jumping, preparation and training are everything.
“I’m always training and preparing,” said Ward.
Ward also mentioned that the New York City metropolitan area represents a vital geographical training ground for a host of numerous equestrian factions.
“I think the tri-state area, particularly in New York City area, has always been at the center of high-level show jumping, hunter-jumper [sport] and dressage,” said Ward. “I think it’s great that we have these events and you see the interest level that comes up.”
Mark Bluman of Colombia strikes gold in CSI2* Grand Prix of Greenwich competition
Mark Bluman of Colombia, meanwhile, claimed first in the CSI2* Grand Prix of Greenwich event that featured a total purse of thirty-seven thousand dollars in prize money.
Competing among a field of 28 total entrants, Bluman soared to the top of the leaderboard with Ester de Maugre, his stunning eight year-old chestnut mare owned by Sarah Dhennin and Nicolas Normand who was the youngest equine entry of this competition.
In the jump off, Bluman and Ester de Maugre commanded the complex and challenging 1.45 meter course with the precision and power of world-class champions, clearing all of the hurdles with a time of 35.15 seconds to finish first among the formidable final 13-entry field of horses and riders.
For Bluman, it was all about enjoying the experience of being part of the CSI Greenwich championships.
“It was amazing to be out there today,” said Bluman, who trains in Wellington, Florida. “I had a great time.”
Georgina Bloomberg lights up competition
Georgina Bloomberg, the Pan Am Games bronze medalist who placed ninth in the CSI3* Grand Prix of Greenwich event with Manhattan, her stunning charge who is owned by Gotham Enterprizes LLC, was a big crowd favorite, earning big applause from the crowd for her one-two series of impressive runs.
Bloomberg, who trains in New York City, Westchester, New York and Wellington, Florida, is the owner of the New York Empire Equine Team, author of four young adult novels centered around the equestrian show circuit and founder of The Rider’s Closet, a non-profit organization, which, in tandem with the Equus Foundation, helps to provide riding apparel to various factions of individuals.
CSI Greenwich steered by esteemed Olympic and World medalist Kent Farrington
CSI Greenwich, triumphantly launched back in 2021, is the brainchild of Kent Farrington, the 2016 Olympic silver medalist and 2014 World bronze medalist who was a finalist in this year’s CSI3* Grand Prix of Greenwich showdown where he placed sixth with Landon, his powerful charge who is owned by Haity McNerny.
Farrington, who hails from Chicago, is as focused as ever to help keep the CSI Greenwich event on an upward trajectory so that it continues to play an integral role in the sport of show jumping.
“I’m really pleased to be able to continue this relationship with the Greenwich Polo Club and bring CSI Greenwich back to such a unique, historic venue,” said Farrington, who is ranked eighth in the world. “Last year’s event was very successful and I’m grateful for the support and great feedback we received. It’s great to see both the local and sport communities get behind this and there is still a lot of room for growth as we look toward the future.”
Farrington, who also has special ties with Conyers Farm as he had spent time riding at various barns there over the years, expressed heartfelt gratitude toward the Brant family and Greenwich Polo Club for helping make this event happen. (Peter Brant, the business mogul and longtime patron of the decorated White Birch high-goal polo team, is the founder of the Greenwich Polo Club, while his son, Christopher Brant, is a prominent member of the current White Birch team.)
“The Brant family and the whole community here have been incredibly wonderful and supportive,” said Farrington. “The riding community has also been amazing. There are people from all over the country and from around the world competing at this event, which is really exciting. The goal was to make this an autumn-season event that is unique and different and I just hope that everyone has a great time.”
Over the next few years, Farrington is also hoping the event will continue to attract more competitors and expand its impact and role upon the sport.
“Greenwich is such a beautiful, inspirational and dynamic place and I think that is reflected through this event,” said Farrington. “I’m looking forward to seeing CSI Greenwich continue to evolve and will keep working as hard as I can to help make that happen.”
Thrilling new chapter for Greenwich Polo Club
Certainly, the enormous success of this event reflects yet another important chapter in the role and impact of the Greenwich Polo Club upon the equine world as well.
With the electricity and presence of CSI Greenwich, the only non-polo equestrian event that has been held at this famous venue, the Greenwich Polo Club has managed to further expand itself and gain added exposure among additional legions of fans, supporters, world-class athletes, business partners and the like.
For all of those who have been and continue to be involved with the Greenwich Polo Club over the years, its continuous growth, energy and success are reasons as to why it has come to be regarded as such a unique, integral and spectacular professional outdoor sports and social destination, for certain.
“I’ve been so happy to be part of the Greenwich Polo Club. It’s such a fantastic place and everyone here is great. The coolest part is that the horses and athletes are at the center of everything,” said Adrian Hurtado, owner and proprietor of the Taco Guy food truck based out of Norwalk, Connecticut, a spot that has consistently been a main stopping ground for Greenwich Polo Club attendees at its events. “It’s all about a gold standard here and this competition has been incredible. It’s been all about the fineness and exactitude of the game and it’s been amazing to see.”
Winners of the 2022 CSI Greenwich:
-CSI2* Winning Round 1.45 meters/$37,000: Christian Coyle/Ireland and Ma Pomme de Tamerville/IN Showjumpers (28 entries)
-CSI3* Speed event 1.55 meters/$74,000: /Adrienne Sternlicht/United States and Benny’s Legacy/Starlight Farms 1 LLC (24 entries)
-CSI2* Two Phase 1.40 meters/$1,000: Rodrigo Pessoa/Brazil and Chili/Artemis Equestrian Farms LLC (2 entries)
-CSI3* Two Phase 1.50 meters/$1,000: Katherine A. Dinan/U.S. and Atika des Hauts Vents/Grant Road Partners LLC (4 entries)
-CSI2* Grand Prix 1.45 meters/$37,000: Mark Bluman/Colombia and Ester de Maugre/Nicolas Normand and Sarah Dhennin (28 entries)
-CSI3* Grand Prix 1.55 meters/$216,000: McLain Ward/United States and Lezaro/Stella Wasserman (25 entries)
