2016 Winter Equestrian Festival Leads The Way
in FEI Show Jumping Competition
For Immediate Release
Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Wellington, FL – November 5, 2015 – The 37th annual Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF)
will be held once again this winter at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center
in Wellington, FL. The 12 weeks of competition run January 13 to April 3, 2016.
They will lead the way for the country’s best show jumping with unmatched opportunities
to compete for more than $7.4 million in total jumper payouts, with more than $5
million in elite jumper divisions alone. Prize money at WEF increases every year,
and 2016 is no different with now more than $9 million on offer for the entire circuit.
The 52 FEI World Ranking classes are the best way for riders to gain valuable world
ranking points, and the caliber of riders and horses improves annually at WEF. Riders
from around the world come to Wellington to compete weekly and in the popular “Saturday
Night Lights” grand prix competitions.
McLain Ward and HH Carlos Z won last year’s $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5*.
Riders such as the U.S. Pan American team of McLain Ward (individual Pan Am gold
medalist, World #8), Kent Farrington (world #2), Lauren Hough (individual bronze
medalist, World #31) and Georgina Bloomberg will be at WEF this year, along with
other expected top 50 ranked riders in the world Beezie Madden (USA, #4), Harrie
Smolders (NED, #21), Laura Kraut (USA, #22), Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP, #27), Ben
Maher (GBR, #30), Conor Swail (IRL, #37), Todd Minikus (USA, #40), Eric Lamaze
(CAN, #49), Pan Am individual silver medalist Andres Rodriguez (VEN, #42), and Meredith
Michaels-Beerbaum (GER, #51) (rankings as of 10/31/2015). These are just a handful
of the riders that make the competition at WEF some of the best in the world.
“We look forward to another year of amazing show jumping,” said Equestrian Sport
Productions CEO Mark Bellissimo. “The level gets higher each year and the sport
continues to provide exciting moments at WEF. We can’t wait to see who rises to
the top in 2016.”
Highlights of the 2016 WEF include four weeks of CSI 5* competition and three weeks
of CSI 4* competition. Week 12 concludes the circuit with the feature $500,000 Rolex
Grand Prix CSI 5*, but before that riders will contest three other top grand prix
events, including: the $380,000 Fidelity Investments® Grand Prix CSI 5* on Saturday,
February 13; a $380,000 Grand Prix CSI 5* on Saturday, February 27; and the $380,000
Douglas Elliman Grand Prix CSI 5* on Saturday, March 12.
The popular FEI Nations Cup returns on Friday, March 4, during week eight’s CSIO
4* competition. This patriotic team competition brings horses and riders from around
the globe to compete on Wellington’s international stage in an impressive night
of top sport. The Nations Cup prize money has increased once again this year to
$150,000.
The FEI Nations Cup is a popular class featuring team competition.
“The FEI Nations Cup is an important fixture on our calendar,” said ESP President
Michael Stone. “We raised the prize money again in 2016 to show our commitment to
hosting this team event. It gives many countries an opportunity that they rarely
get in North and South America, and we expect great competition this winter.”
Featured classes will be held on the beautiful grass jumping field at The Stadium
at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Some of the exciting events
scheduled
for this year include the $216,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 4* on Sunday, February
7; the $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Series Speed class presented by
EnTrust Capital, $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Series class, and the
$50,000 Jumper Derby on Sunday, February 21; and the $50,000 Artisan Farms Under
25 Grand Prix Series Final and $86,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic
on Sunday, March 27.
The Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Series, which features $170,000 in prize money
in seven different classes throughout WEF, will be run under FEI rules in 2016
(excepting
the Team event), giving young riders even more experience at competing and managing
their horses at an international level.
This year’s Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Series will feature FEI competition.
Stone stated, “We feel that the Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Series is one
of the most important events that we have at WEF. It offers an unparalleled experience
for the up-and-coming riders in the sport, and with the new FEI status, the classes
will provide even more value.”
The Stadium at PBIEC will also once again host a $86,000 Grand Prix CSI 3* in the
intimate setting of its International Ring on Friday, February 19, and open the
week with the $35,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 6 on Thursday, February 18. Home to
the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival, the Stadium provides a nice change of venue
for horses and riders throughout the circuit.
The Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Series and WEF Challenge Cup Series each
provide increased prize money and more opportunities for international riders to
earn valuable world ranking points every week throughout the winter as well.
WEF has proven a valuable training ground for both riders and horses as the last
three of the last four FEI World Cup champions and the last three Olympic Gold
medal teams, as well as many of the top performers at the 2014 Alltech FEI World
Equestrian Games and 2015 Pan American Games all competed at WEF in preparation
for these championship events. This year will be no different as riders prove
themselves
for team selection in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games with success at the
Winter Equestrian Festival.
Equestrian Sport Productions looks forward to welcoming international competitors
to Wellington for another fantastic season at the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival.
Photos copyright Sportfot and may be used once only in relation to this press release.
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Please visit www.PBIEC.com [http://www.PBIEC.com] or call 561-793-5867 for more
information.
