WELLINGTON, Fla.--Holding the lead throughout two rounds of competition against the best hunters in the country, Geoffrey Hesslink, 25 of Shelburne, Vt., on Mon Tresor won the $100,000 World Championship Hunter Rider Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular on Saturday, Feb.19, at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Geoffrey Hesslink on Mon Tresor (Photo by Sportfot)Hesslink topped the first round with a score of 90.66, and thus returned for the second round as the final competitor to show over the course designed by Andy Christiansen Jr. that included a walk transition, a post-and-rail option fence and long gallops to the final two jumps.
Heslink rose to the occasion and sealed the win with a high score of 90.5 for a total of 181.16.
“I had a plan from the moment I walked it,” said Hesslink of the course. “I don’t know my horse that well, but he does give me a lot of confidence, so I just wanted to stick to the plan and obviously stay calm and not mess it up.”
Hesslink has only ridden the gelding since last November, but they have been champions every time out, including winning the Performance Hunter 3’6” division at WEF 6 to qualify for Saturday night.
“HE IS EXTREMELY talented and very athletic,” said Hesslin. “Actually, he has a background in three-day eventing, which I think played as a strength in this class in particular. I do know that he is extremely brave and has never spooked at a jump, but yet is quite sharp and athletic and covers a lot of ground. I thought he was confident in doing all of those obstacles today.”
Previously , Hesslink placed eighth in the Hunter Spectacular in 2020, third last year.
“This has to be one of the most special, prestigious wins I’ve ever had,” he said. “I’ve grown up watching this class, and it always held a very special place in my heart. I think it has so much history and prestige that I’ve been fortunate enough just to compete in it, but to win it is really indescribable. I’m very thankful for everyone and everything that helped me get here.”
In second place with a two-round total of 179.16 was 17-year-old Mimi Gochman of New York, N.Y.,, riding Catch Me, scoring 89.66 to be in fourth after the first round,, but a good second round moved her up to second place with a score of 89.5.
Gochman started riding Catch Me last year, taking over the ride from her mother Becky and trainer Scott Stewart.
Catch Me, a 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding known as “Snoopy” in the barn, won this class in 2016 and 2017 with Stewart.
This was Gochman’s second time competing in the Hunter Spectacular.
“I’m super honored to have been in such a great field of riders, and I’m super excited,” said Gochma. “Of course, Snoopy knows what he’s doing, so that makes it a lot easier for me. He always rises to the occasion at these kinds of events. I’m really glad that I get to ride him and thankful to my mom for letting me ride him, Scott for training me up, and for Peter Pletcher and all of my team. I think it’s a huge group effort, and Snoopy always puts the cherry on top.”
Last year’s Hunter Spectacular winners, Amanda Steege of Califon, N.J.,, and Lafitte de Muze finished third, after being second in round one with a score of 90, and a second score of 87.66 which gave them an overall total of 177.66.
“Riding that horse every day never gets old, and certainly showing him and being competitive with such a competitive group of horses never gets old,” she said.
Steege only brought Lafitte this week from her regular winter home in Ocala, Fla,, and, as they had a bye into the Saturday night class thanks to last year’s victory, showed in just one Performance 3’6” class on Thursday.
“He loves showing in any class, but he particularly loves showing in a night class and the night class here with the atmosphere and the amount of people,” said Steege. “I just have a horse that’s a real showman and loves to go out there. I had an amazing time.”
Riders earning champion or reserve champion in the 3'6" and higher rated WCHR hunter sections qualified for the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular, with additional riders qualifying based on points if the qualified riders chose not to compete or were pre-qualified.
In addition, riders also qualified based on their 2021 standings in the WCHR national awards programs.
Surprisingly Scott Stewart, who was champion in three divisions and reserve in two, didn't place in the top 12.
The class, a two-round Hunter classic, was scored by three panels of two judges, including Chris Wynne and Shane George; Mary Lisa Leffler and Tom Brennan; and Wendy Peralta and Mark Jungherr.
The 12 top-scoring horse-and-rider combinations returned for a second round.
Special awards presented included the week's high-score honors:
Professional - Scott Stewart, 95
Developing Professional and the Champion Equine Insurance Trophy - Vivian Yowan, 89
Amateur-Owner 3'6" - Martha Ingram, 90
Amateur-Owner 3'3" - Martha Ingram, 90
Junior 3'6" - Kat Fuqua, 92
Junior 3'3" - Olivia Sweetnam, 90
The Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular Gala returned to the International Club and was once again a great success, raising more than $100,000 to support the WCHR program.
DURING THE AFTERNOON, on the grass field, Spencer Smith on Picobello Full House Ter Linden Z won the $37,000 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic over a field of 82, with seven in the jump-off.
“I thought the course was built properly,” said Smith. “It wasn’t small; it was about like the WEF Challenge Cup yesterday. I didn’t think there would be that many clears. I knew the time was really tight, so I thought it was nicely built and made for us.”
Smith was the first to return for the jump-off, and he blazed across the field, finishing in 37.95 seconds, which would end up a full 2.71 seconds faster than the next clear competitor.
“If we’re going to do it, we do it,” said Smith, who trains with Jimmy Doyle and rides for Georgina Bloomberg as well. “I had a good gallop there and let him let his hair down a bit.”
Smith has only ridden Picobello Full House Ter Linden Zfor a month thanks to Belgian show jumper Gregory Wathelet, David Simpson, and the horse’s owners, Picobello Horses.
Wathelet was the horse’s previous rider, and they competed in 10 five-star shows in 2021.
“They gave him to me to ride for the season and sell,” said Smith. “He’s been a super horse. I’m sure we’ll find the right person for him.”
Smith said the horse enjoys competing on grass, and is “super easy at home. He’s just simple: kick, pull, and jump.”
“It’s great to win here," said Smith. "In this three-star week with almost 100 riders in the class and the top horses and top riders, we’re at the pinnacle of show jumping in America. To beat people here is something worth doing.”
Second place went to Friday's’s co-winner Karl Cook, this time riding Kalinka Van’t Zorgvliet, finishing clean in 40.66 seconds, and Emily Moffitt of Great Britain on Bacara d’Archonfosse was clean in 41.56 seconds for third.
