The historic FEI Nations Cup CSIO 4* is set to take place during WEF 8
(February 27-March 3) and for the second year in a row will take place on
Saturday evening, bringing out fans and supporters of countries from around
the world. Teams of three and/or four represent their home nations in a thrilling
double round battle in front of an always packed house. The $205,000 Lugano
Diamonds Grand Prix CSI 4* will take place on Sunday, March 3, to conclude
the week.
Hunter competition will be on display weekly and feature two major international
hunter derby competitions during WEF 6 (February 13-17) and WEF
12 (March 27-31), alongside some of the nation’s top equitation competition
for children, juniors, and adults. The Winter Equestrian Festival will begin on
Wednesday, January 9, and continue through Sunday, March 31. PBIEC is free
and open to the public from Wednesday-Sunday. For more information, please
visit www.pbiec.com or call (561) 793-5867.
PBIEC 2019 Overview
The Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) once again returns to the world’s most
prestigious horse show grounds of Palm Beach International Equestrian
Center (PBIEC) from January 9 – March 31, featuring twelve straight weeks
of top equestrian competition. The 2019 WEF is set to host eleven weeks of
Fédération Equestre International (FEI)-sanctioned competition, the highest
level of international jumping competitions available in the sport, alongside
twelve weeks of top-rated hunter and equitation competition for many of the
best riders in the world.
With the annual start of WEF, also resumes the highly popular “Saturday Night
Lights” evenings, which are free and open to the public each week. Offering an
array of family activities including face painting, entertainment, carousel rides,
and more, “Saturday Night Lights” has become a pinnacle for the community
during the winter season. Each Saturday night features the highlight competition
of the week, the Grand Prix, which regularly feature Olympians, world
champions, and the sport’s top talents jumping obstacles at 1.60m height.
“We’re anticipating another fantastic season at PBIEC, as we welcome back
riders from around the country and the globe to what has become a home base
for many,” said Michael Stone, President of Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC.
“Each year we see more competitors and the strength of the circuit continues to
grow solidifying it as one of the most elite competitions in the world.”
WEF will begin on Wednesday, January 9, with the first week of competition
of the circuit, featuring national level competition for hunters,
jumpers, and equitation riders, and will welcome back the annual
Wellington Regional Medical Center Battle of the Sexes competition
on Saturday, January 12, at 7:00 p.m. The Battle of the Sexes pits a
team of male riders versus a team of female riders to see who will
reign supreme after completing several different variations of jumping
competition.
The fourth week at PBIEC will bring together excitement and philanthropy,
hosting the 10th annual Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments.
The Great Charity Challenge has raised over $10 million for Palm
Beach County charities since its inception by Mark and Paige Bellissimo over
a decade ago. In a Professional-Amateur relay race, participating teams,
dressed in themed costumes, are paired with a locally-based charity, for which
their placing in the competition delineates the amount of money donated to the
charity’s cause. The winning team will earn $150,000 for their partnered charity,
while all participating charities will receive at least $15,000.
Four weeks of FEI CSI 5* competition, the highest designation of Jumping
competition available in the sport, will highlight competition during the WEF
season. Each CSI 5* Grand Prix offers $380,000 in total prize money and will
be hosted during WEF 5 (February, 9), WEF 7 (February 23), WEF 9 (March
9), and WEF 12 (March 30). The CSI 5* competitions continuously see the
top riders in the world go head-to-head in a two-round format, with an exciting
jump-off finishing against the clock determining the ultimate winner. The likes of
Beezie Madden, Margie Engle, McLain Ward, Steve Guerdat, and Lorenzo de
Luca have all graced the top podium in years past. The conclusion of WEF will
feature the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5* as the final evening competition
of the season and the most highly-anticipated class of the entire circuit.
“The CSI 5* classes at WEF are some of the greatest competitions seen all
year in shows around the world,” continued Stone. “It’s truly incredible to have
this caliber of sport available to enthusiasts and fans during the winter here in
Wellington. The crowds make the atmosphere electric for the horses and riders
and you can see that reflected in their performances in the arena.”
26 www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com
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