IRELAND’S Darragh Kenny got his 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival off to a good start with a win in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm jump-off class. Riding Windbreaker, Kenny was one of 15 clears in the first round and from this number just seven delivered double clears.

Windbreaker, a 12-year-old KWPN gelding by Heartbreaker is a temporary mount for Kenny, who was schooling the horse for its owner, Kerry McCahill.

David Beisel, riding LLC’s Ammeretto, set the bar high when he delivered the first double clear in 32.69 seconds over the Eric Hasbrouck-designed course. Despite the good start, his lead held only briefly as Darragh Kenny lowered the target to 31.89 seconds.

Victoria Colvin, riding Dwight’s Chanel B2, jumped into second place towards the end of the class when clear in 32.59 seconds, and in the process demoted Beisel in third.

Kenny also featured in the $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic, fininishing in ninth place with Valencia when incurring eight faults in 68.86 seconds. The class was won by Fernando Cardenas, riding Quincy Car, clear in 34.80.

BATTLE OF THE SEXES

Kenny also formed part of the men’s team in the ever popular $75,000 Battle of the Sexes competition in Wellington. The class was a three-phase contest and included speed rounds, match races, and a six-bar competition. In the past, women riders have domimated this competion, having won it for six consecutive years. This year, the lady riders had to settle for a tie.

The women’s team was captained by Candice King and included riders Erynn Ballard, Nicole Bellissimo, Amanda Derbyshire, Margie Engle, Abigail McArdle, Catherine Pasmore, Alison Robitaille, Debbie Stephens and Kelsey Thatcher.

Charlie Jayne led the men’s team, which included Darragh Kenny, David Beisel, David Blake, Daniel Bluman, Mark Bluman, Alex Granato, Angel Karolyi, Samuel Parot and Andrew Ramsay.