Also highlighting the Longines Masters of New York,
the Riders Europe team scored a fourth consecutive
title in the exciting Riders Masters Cup series. In a concept
unique to the Longines Masters, the Riders Masters
Cup pits five-member teams from Europe and
the United States against each other in two rounds of
head-to-head speed battles.
It all came down to the last match-up for the Riders
Europe team of Darragh Kenny, Edward Levy,
Olivier Philippaerts, Pius Schwizer, and Harrie Smolders
to maintain their lead over the Riders USA team
of Laura Chapot, Lillie Keenan, Devin Ryan, Kristen
Vanderveen, and McLain Ward. “With just a couple
things going differently we could have won it,” said
Riders USA team captain Robert Ridland. “The format,
I think, is tremendous. It’s unique and we will
The Longines Masters of New York made
a resoundingly successful return to
NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans
Memorial Coliseum, in Uniondale, NY, on
April 25 through 28, combining top sport
with thrilling entertainment.
www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com 35
EQUINE Lifestyle
NAYEL NASSAR Steals t h e S H O W at
Longines Masters
of New York
Nayel Nassar made history by becoming the first
rider to win both the Longines Speed Challenge
and the Longines Grand Prix at the same event
riding the same horse. Nassar, who competes for
Egypt but is based in California, rode Evergate
Stables LLC’s Lucifer V to both victories.
“It’s unexpected, really!” said Nassar when
asked what it was like to write Longines Masters
history. “It means the world. Thank you, Christophe
Ameeuw, for providing us with this platform.
We can’t showcase what we do without
a platform to do it on and I’m really grateful.
I’ve always loved these shows and hopefully I
can keep making it a target of mine.”
Lucifer V belongs to Nassar’s girlfriend and fellow
grand prix rider Jennifer Gates. He struck up a
strong partnership with the 13-year-old Hanoverian
gelding quickly. “He’s such a trier and an
athletic horse; he’s faster than anything I’ve
ever ridden before with a natural ability to leave
the jumps up,” said Nassar, V. “He really jumps
with his heart and it’s an incredible partnership
to have a horse like that. He loves to go fast!
You know you have a chance to win every time
you come out.”
be back again in Paris and we hope for a different
result.”
The thrilling action of the Riders Masters Cup and the
Masters One CSI5* classes kept the crowds cheering
all week, and riders in the Masters Two CSI2* division
showed that the future of the sport is bright with big
wins in an electric atmosphere. Fans were also entertained
by the AKC Agility Premier Cup, where top
canine athletes competed over an obstacle course
of their own. Younger riders got their chance in the
spotlight in the IHSA Metropolitan Equitation Invitational,
where collegiate riders competed in front of
judges Brianne Goutal-Marteau and the legendary
George H. Morris.
Photos and more...
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