McLain Ward Claims Stunning Victory in Longines Grand Prix of New York

McLain Ward (USA), hailing from Brewster, NY, thrilled a hometown crowd with a flawless triumph in the $382,800 Longines Grand Prix of New York during the final day of the highly-anticipated Longines Masters of New York on Sunday, April 29. Making its long-awaited debut in the heart of the Empire State as the American Grand Slam, the Masters celebrated its 25th competition with an event on American soil as part of Season III of the Longines Masters Series after events in Paris and Hong Kong earlier in the season.

In front of an exhilarated crowd at NYCB LIVE, Home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping champion and three-time U.S. Olympic medalist led a victory gallop that represented the world’s greatest show jumping talent. Ward and Clinta, an 11-year-old Oldenburg mare by Clinton x Lord Pezi, were the pair to beat in a star-studded jump-off over courses conceived by Dutch course designer Louis Konickx.

The Longines Masters of New York saw top sport throughout four days of competition and Konickx’s tracks rose to the occasion each day. Stopping the short-course clock in a blistering 34.92 seconds, Ward commented on the course designing team, saying, “[Course design] is a real art and I thought it was fantastic for the inaugural event. You have a big crowd, an exciting jump-off, and the course was challenging but it allowed for a few clear rounds and great sport in the jump-off, which is great for the fans.

“It’s always nice to win on your home soil in the U.S. and extra special in New York,” continued Ward. “I can remember years ago when I was a young kid, I won a grand prix at [Madison Square] Garden and that was very special because it was the home state and the home city. It was very special again today here.”

Erynn Ballard (CAN) was poised to become only the second woman to ever win a Masters Grand Prix along with Pénélope Leprévost of France, who earned a Paris title in 2011, when she went clear from the first position in the order. Setting the pace again in the jump-off, Ballard sat in the lead on a time of 35.89 seconds riding Fantast, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Toulon x Rubens du Ri d’Asse owned by Sagamore Farms.

“New York has always been good to me and I would say this is a career best for me from start to finish,” said Ballard after a banner week that also included a win in the $100,000 Longines Speed Challenge on Friday evening. “I had a big win in the Maclay Finals at Madison Square Garden [in 1998] and everyone was saying New York was my place. I think that’s true for this week. I was hoping for two top 10 finishes and I got three podium finishes. There’s not much more you can do than that.”

Two-time Olympic silver medalist Peder Fredricson (SWE) was hungry for a win and gave a lesson in speed with Hansson WL, the 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding by Indra WL x Iowa owned by Måsel AB. He stopped the clock at 35.43 seconds to claim second and bump Ballard to third, but was no match for Ward.

“It’s always difficult to beat McLain,” said Fredricson, who is the reigning Longines FEI European Champion. “He is always quick, but I was really happy with my round. My horse jumped fantastic. If I could have done something, maybe I could have turned tighter to the second to last [jump].

“As a rider, it’s fantastic to ride here,” continued Fredricson on his time in New York. “You really feel the crowd and also in the prize giving, you get really good contact with the people in the audience. I really enjoyed my time here.”

Rounding out the top placings, Olympic team gold medalist Kevin Staut (FRA) took fourth in 36.26 seconds riding Vendom d’Anchat HDC, while Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) was fifth aboard Cristalline in 38.35 seconds.

Ward and his winning mount recently joined forces after he added the ride to his already stacked string, which is made up of five grey mares including Clinta along with his World Cup champion HH Azur.

“It’s great to see her showing all that I thought she could be,” said Ward of the mare he owns with Sagamore Farms. “I saw her in Aachen last summer and fell in love with her, but it took me seven months to get her. She made a great effort today and it was my day.”

A New York native, Ward was complimentary of the Longines Masters of New York and the efforts of its management to introduce unparalleled sport and entertainment to the American market, saying, “They’re really making this an entertainment spectacle, which is phenomenal. It’s something that’s been missing in promoting our sport; making it more exciting to a more diverse audience.”

McLain Ward is now the new contender for the Grand Slam Bonus of €1,000,000 for winning three Longines Grand Prix consecutively in New York (Season III), Paris (Season IV), and Hong Kong (Season IV).

Christophe Ameeuw, CEO and Founder of EEM, had dreamt of bringing the Longines Masters to New York since he conceived the idea of a high-performance show jumping series.

“On behalf of the entire team at EEM and the Longines Masters Series, we want to thank the riders, our partners, our exhibitors, and most importantly, our fans, for making Season III a successful and historic event,” said Ameeuw. “The past four days have exhibited the world’s top athletes and showcased some of the best performances in show jumping history. Bringing the Longines Masters Series to New York has always been a dream and we’re thrilled to have received such a warm welcome. We look forward to continuing this legacy for years to come.”

Madison Goetzmann Wins Prestigious Masters Two Sam Edelman Grand Prix

In a thrilling finale to the Masters Two division at the inaugural Longines Masters of New York, 17-year-old Madison Goetzmann (USA) displayed talent well beyond her years to win the $35,000 Sam Edelman Grand Prix following a seven-horse jump-off.  Riding Prestigious, her 11-year-old Westphalian gelding, Goetzmann of Skaneateles, NY, took every risk in the jump-off before galloping through the timers in 35.55 seconds.  With 1984 World Cup champion Mario Deslauriers (CAN) last to go in the jump-off, the crowd was on the edge of its seat as the two-time Canadian Olympian gave it his best effort aboard Bardolina 2, a nine-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Wishing Well Farm.  It was close, but not close enough, as the pair stopped the clock in 35.70 seconds to finish runner-up.  Megan McDermott (USA) rounded out the top three after incurring four faults in the jump-off in a time of 35.42 seconds.

“It’s amazing!” said Goetzmann of her Longines Masters debut.  “I wasn't really sure what to expect but it's managed so perfectly, it’s a beautiful atmosphere, and the crowds are amazing.  I'm really sad that it's over!”

With top results throughout the Masters Two division, including a win in Saturday’s Mark Cross Trophy riding Curo, Deslauriers, who resides in New York City, was crowned the Stephex Leading Rider.  His reward was a one-year lease on a Stephex STX 2 horse van.

Serena Marron Saves the Best for Last!

The Masters Three Devialet Grand Prix 1.15m kicked off the final day of show jumping competition at the Longines Masters of New York with a nail-biting finish for Serena Marron (USA) riding Donar J.  Clear rounds were elusive in the opening round until the final two riders, Alexandra Cherubini (USA) riding her 16-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Lando, and Marron aboard her 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding both jumped clear to ensure a two-horse jump-off.

First to go in the tie-breaker, Cherubini was going for broke when she ran into trouble at the double combination, forcing her to circle and costing her a total of 13 faults.  With some breathing room, Marron was able to incur four faults yet still take the win.  Joining Marron and Cherubini on the third step of the podium was fellow American Gabrielle Freund riding No Sunday Sales.

Following four days of intense competition in the Masters Three competition, Summer Paulos (USA) captured the Leading Riding Title with three podium finishes, including two victories.  In recognition of the honor, Paulos was presented with a custom Top Jock x Longines Masters Double Door Trunk, Blanket Box, and Saddle Rack.

Final Results: $382,800 Longines Grand Prix of New York
1 CLINTA: 2007 Oldenburg mare by Clinton x Lord Pezi
MCLAIN WARD (USA), Sagamore Farms: 0/0/34.92

2 HANSSON WL: 2008 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Indra WL x Iowa
PEDER FREDRICSON (SWE), Mäsel AB: 0/0/35.43

3 FANTAST: 2005 BWP gelding by Toulon x Rubens du Ri d’Asse
ERYNN BALLARD (CAN), Sagamore Farms: 0/0/35.89

4 VENDOME D’ANCHAT HDC: 2009 Selle Français gelding by Diamant de Semilly x Allegreto
KEVIN STAUT (FRA), Haras des Coudrettes: 0/0/36.26

5 CRISTALLINE: 2008 Bavarian Warmblood mare by Cristallo 1 x Caretello B
ADRIENNE STERNLICHT (USA), Starlight Farms 1 LLC: 0/0/38.35

6 S&L SAGE: 2007 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Wandor van de Mispelaere x Radiator
DAVID RAPOSA (USA), S&L Farms: 0/0/39.21

7 CHALOU: 2009 Oldenburg stallion by Chacco Blue x Baloubet du Rouet
EMANUELE GAUDIANO (ITA), Equita Kft: 0/4/36.04

8 CORNWALL BH: 2008 Holsteiner stallion by Con Air x Cambridge
AMANDA DERBYSHIRE (GBR), Gochman Sport Horses: 0/4/39.04

9 CHAVENTYNO: 2006 Oldenburg gelding by Chacco Blue x Aventyno
TODD MINIKUS (USA), Legacy Stables LLC: 0/4/39.65

10  CURIOUS GEORGE: 2009 Rheinlander gelding by Codex One x Dutch Capitol
LAURA KRAUT (USA), Old Willow Farms LLC: 0/4/39.87

11 CAS 2: 2007 KWPN gelding by Indoctro x Numero Uno
HARRIE SMOLDERS (NED), Copernicus Stables LLC:0/8/38.12

12 BACARA D’ARCHONFOSSE: 2007 Belgian Warmblood mare by Asca Z x Kannan
DANIEL BLUMAN (ISR), Daniel Bluman, Kim Douglas, and Alexa Schwitzer: 0/8/39.21

With the close of the 2018 Longines Masters of New York, the event and its participants now turn their sights to Season IV and the series kick-off in Paris.

Save the dates for Season IV:
• Paris: November 29 - December 2, 2018
• Hong Kong: February 15 - 17, 2019
• New York: April 25 - 28, 2019

The Riders Masters Cup Second Season will be back with the second transatlantic duel taking place in Paris on December 1, 2018 and returning to New York April 27, 2019.

If you missed the action, tune into EEM.tv where you can relive the inaugural Longines Masters of New York or watch the highlights on May 7 on RideTV beginning at 3:00 pm ET.

Photos are available at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/124mPfIZZl2RJNn6p2wcPlE3u5eprmvUW

ABOUT EEM
A passionate of equestrian sports, Christophe Ameeuw - CEO of EEM and Founder of the Longines Masters Paris-Hong Kong-New York Series - founded the Ecuries d’Ecaussinnes in 1997. Based in Belgium, the stables are internationally reputed for their activities in trading sport horses and high-standard breeding. They are also home to an offering some of the best teaching available in the field. In opening

EEM, Christophe Ameeuw and his teams were in pursuit of a challenge: to reinvent show jumping by organizing equestrian events of an entirely new kind. The company built its development by creating the concept of the “Masters”, which together, under the same roof, the best of show-jumping, resplendent displays and art de vivre. After the successes of the Audi Masters in Brussels and the Gucci Masters in Paris, EEM came out with one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian events, the Longines Masters Series, on three continents, in Paris, Hong Kong and New York. Inspired by the Grand Slam in Tennis, EEM created a concurrent “Grand Slam Indoor of Show Jumping”, approved by the FEI, this intercontinental challenge is offered to the world's elite in show jumping, with two prize levels: The Super Grand Slam - a €2,250,000 super bonus for the three consecutive wins in the Longines Grand Prix, in the season order -  The Grand Slam - a €1,000,000 bonus for three successive victories at Longines Grand Prix straddling two Longines Masters seasons.

In 2017, EEM created a new iconic competition, the Riders Masters Cup. Offered to the public alongside the EEF (European Equestrian Federation) and alternating between Europe and the United States, this battle pits the world's two leading powers in show jumping against one another: Europe and the United States. On the Asian continent, “Asia Horse Week”, rallying point for the international equestrian community there, also serves as a prime setting for the Longines Masters of Hong Kong, illustrating EEM's determination to develop the sport's international arms in the Asia-Pacific Region. Firmly set on putting equestrian sports front and center and making them accessible to all, EEM rolled out a new digital TV channel on November 14, 2017. EEM.tv offers viewers the chance to follow live and free of charge all EEM events worldwide.

ABOUT THE LONGINES MASTERS
Set in the three of the world's most emblematic metropolises - Paris, Hong Kong and New York - the Longines Masters series is recognized as one of the most prestigious events in the equestrian world. Created by EEM and inspired by the Tennis Grand Slam, the series quickly expanded their international reach (Hong Kong in 2013, Los Angeles in 2014). In 2015, the intercontinental trilogy turned into the Longines Masters Series.  Alongside it, EEM created the “Grand Slam of Indoor Show Jumping”, approved by the FEI, the Grand Slam Indoor is the ultimate challenge for the world's elite in show jumping, with two levels of prizes:The Super Grand Slam: a bonus of 2.25 million Euros for winning 3 consecutive Longines Grand Prix in the same season. The Grand Slam: a bonus of 1 million Euros for three successive victories in the Longines Grand Prix from one season to the next. The TV broadcast of the Longines Masters Series reaches, to over 120 countries, almost 320 million households, a coverage increased this year by the launch of EEM.tv, the new digital channel of EEM. It allows everybody to freely livestream the all competition and events during the four days. Save the date: Paris 2018 November 30th – December 2nd Hong Kong 2019 : February 15th – February 19th New-York 2019: April 24th – April 28th
For more information, see www.longinesmasters.com

ABOUT LONGINES
Longines has been based at Saint-Imier in Switzerland since 1832. Its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. Longines has generations of experience as official timekeeper of world championships and as partner of international sports federation. Known for the elegance of its timepieces, Longines is a member of Swatch Group Ltd, the world’s leading manufacturer of horological products. With the winged hourglass as its emblem, the brand has outlets in over 150 countries.

Information: Longines International Public Relations - 2610 Saint-Imier, Switzerland
Site: www.longines.com - Email: publicrelations@longines.com