Las Vegas, N.V. - The first of three legs of competition in 2015 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final got underway this evening in the Thomas & Mack Center Arena in Las Vegas, N.V. Forty athlete-and-horse combinations from 19 nations went to task over Anthony D'Ambrosio’s 13 obstacle course in the Speed Leg, which utilized the faults converted format. The U.S. contingent of 11 combinations had some unfortunate moments, but landed five in the top twenty including Rich Fellers who sits second.

Fellers (Sherwood, Ore.) and Harry and Mollie Chapman’s Flexible left all rails in the cups and stopped the timers in 66.11 seconds. The pair, who claimed the first Jumping Final win for the U.S. in 25 years at the 2012 Final, had the advantage of going 34th in the order and handily cruised through the tight turns and short lines.

“I thought our worst fence was our first fence because we were both so excited. After that though, everything went really smooth and came up as I wanted it to,” said Fellers. “I’m in a good position going into the next rounds, but I am going to see how he feels tomorrow and take it jump by jump, class by class.”

McLain Ward (Brewster, N.Y.) and Sagamore Farm’s Rothchild put in one of the fastest times of the night, but had an unlucky rail at the oxer at fence 10. Stopping the timers in 65.35 seconds the pair added a score of four to their time to place 13th.

Setting a fast pace from the start, Beezie Madden (Cazenovia, N.Y.) and Abigail Wexner’s Simon were clear till the end when the last rail tipped out of the cups to place the 2013 Final winners in 15th place. Close behind in 16th was Lucy Davis (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Old Oak Farm’s Barron who had a rail down at the first element of the triple combination to finish on 71.39.

Turning in one of the few clean rounds of class was Kirsten Coe (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) and Lovsta Stuteri’s Czardas 30, their time of 72.55 placed them in 19th.

First time Final competitors Hardin Towell (Camden, S.C.) and Vinton Karrasch (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) came into the arena with confidence and speed and now sit in 21st and 22nd , respectively. Towell and Jennifer Gates, LLC’s Lucifer V put in a brave and forward round, but had costly rails at fences nine and 10. Karrasch and Coral Reef Ranch’s Coral Reef Follow Me II did not hold back in their debut Final performance, stopping the timers in 67.52, but adding eight seconds with downed rails in the triple combination and final oxer.

Veterans Laura Kraut (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) and Todd Minikus (Loxahatchee, Fla.) also added eight seconds to their time with downed rails. They sit in 25th and 27th respectively. Karl Cook (Woodside, Calif.) had three rails down to finish in 78.90 for 28th place.

Katherine Dinan (Wellington, Fla.) and Grant Road Partners, LLC’s Stakorado had a tough go as the second in the order. With refusals at the C element of the triple combination and at fence 12, the pair was eliminated.

Heading into Friday’s second round of competition, Fellers is well within striking distance with 39 World Cup points behind Ireland’s Bertram Allen who jumped Molly Malone V to the win in 65.45 seconds and leads with 41 points. Tied for third following day one with 38 World Cup points is Patrice Delaveau of France and Jur Vrieling of the Netherlands.

Competition continues Friday evening with the second round beginning at 7:00pm.

For complete results visit worldcuplasvegas.com.