Excitement is mounting for the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach, which gets under way in just one week.
The World Dressage Masters presented by Axel Johnson Group is the richest dressage series in the world; over half a million dollars in prize money was awarded at four WDM competitions in 2011. The WDM Palm Beach is the only WDM event outside of Europe, and the only five star CDI in North America. International Polo Club Palm Beach became the presenting sponsor for the WDM Palm Beach in 2011.
An elite group of horses and riders, including several of the world’s top ten ranked pairs, will compete at the 2012 WDM Palm Beach. Six nations are represented by 14 riders who have now confirmed their participation. The 2011 WDM Palm Beach champions, Steffen Peters of the US and Akiko Yamazaki’s charismatic horse Ravel, will seek to defend their title against stiff rivals from Europe and North America. The number of Swedish competitors has now swelled to three, following the addition of Per Sandgaard and his horse Lomumba Havdal to the list of entries. Sandgaard represented his native Denmark at the 2004 Olympics in Athens before moving permanently to Sweden and changing his citizenship.
The WDM Palm Beach CDI5* will take place concurrent to the Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CDI3* at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. The top two placed horses in the three star Grand Prix competition will receive invitations to compete in the five star WDM Palm Beach.
The FEI ground jury for the WDM Palm Beach Grand Prix Freestyle has five FEI judges, four of whom have a five star (Olympic) ranking. Wim Ernes (NED) will be President of the ground jury. Also on the ground jury for the Freestyle is Stephen Clarke (GBR), who has been appointed President of the ground jury for the 2012 Olympic Dressage competition. Isabelle Judet (FRA), Gary Rockwell (USA) and Lois Yukins (USA) are the other three judges.
Confirmed entries for WDM Palm Beach presented by IPC Palm Beach
Jacqueline Brooks (CAN) – Gran Gesto
Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) – Valegro
Todd Flettrich (USA) – Otto
Carl Hester (GBR) – Wie Atlantico
Adrienne Lyle (USA) – Wizard
Ashley Holzer (CAN) – Pop Art
Tina Konyot (USA) – Calecto V
Yvonne Losos de Muñiz (DOM) – Dondolo Las Marismas
Steffen Peters (USA) – Ravel
Anja Plönzke (GER) – Le Mont d’Or
Pierre St. Jacques (USA) – Lucky Tiger
Per Sandgaard (SWE) – Lomumba Havdal
Minna Telde (SWE) – Deinhardt
Tinne Vilhelmsson-Silfven (SWE) – Favourit
Competition schedule January 26 – 28, 2012
*Gates open at 11:00 am each day. Spectators are encouraged to arrive for Saturday evening’s Grand Prix Freestyle at 5:30 pm.
Thursday January 26:
o 11:30 am – CDI 3* Horse Inspection
o 12:30 pm – CDI 5* (WDM) Horse Inspection
o 2 pm to 5 – CDI 3* Grand Prix (top two horses to receive invitations to CDI5*)
Friday January 27:
o 2 pm to 5 – CDI5* Grand Prix
Saturday January 28:
o 2 pm to 4:30 – CDI5* Grand Prix Special
o 7:30 pm to 10:30 – CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle
A very limited number of VIP tables are still available for the 2012 WDM Palm Beach. For information on pricing and availability go to www.internationalpoloclub.com, or contact Maria Feola at 561-282-5334, 561-282-5301 or mfeola@internationalpoloclub.com.
World Dressage Masters Palm Beach Fast Facts:
What: North America’s only CDI5*, and part of the richest dressage series in the world. Up to twenty of the world’s top dressage stars will compete for 100,000 Euros in prize money at the WDM Palm Beach.
When: January 26 – 28, 2012
• Thursday, January 26th
11am – 8pm
• Friday, January 27th
11am – 8pm
• Saturday, January 28th
11am – 9pm
Where: Jim Brandon Equestrian Center – Okeeheelee Park South, 7500 Forest Hill Blvd,
West Palm Beach, FL 33413