Bob Langrish (Laura Kraut and Anthem at Hickstead.)
(Lexington, KY) – Despite what U.S. Chef d’Equipe George Morris calls a “bittersweet show,” the United States’ show jumping riders staged a spectacular performance in Hickstead this past weekend, demonstrating that they remain a solid world power with which to be reckoned. They were second to Germany in the Samsung Super League Nations Cup on Friday by only one point and remain in second place in the overall Super League standings. They then dominated the rest of the weekend’s competition schedule.
First, it was the ladies at bat. Laura Kraut, of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, the grand prix for lady riders, riding Anthem, while Kimberly Prince of Hume, Virginia, on Couletto K James was second. Beezie Madden, of Cazenovia, New York, was sixth on Judgement. The Queen Elizabeth II Cup is a prestigious and highly sought after win for any woman competing in show jumping. Madden also won the Longines Prize for Elegance.
Jeffrey Welles, of Ridgefield, Connecticut, then stepped up to the plate showing what the U.S. men can do. He decisively took the King George V Cup, the grand prix for gentlemen riders, posting the only double clear rounds of the day. This historic class has been contested since 1907, and Welles is now in the history books with previous U.S. legends who have won the Cup, including Bill Steinkraus (1956 and 1964); Hugh Wiley (1958 and 1959); former U.S. Chef d’Equipe Frank Chapot (1974); and Norman Dello Joio (2001). After the class Morris and Welles called Bill Steinkraus. “Billy was my mentor and in a sense the father of American classic equitation,” Morris explained. “He very much appreciated the call and was very excited for Jeffrey and the team, very complimentary. He gave me some history I did not know, the first U.S. rider to win the King George V Cup was Fred Bontecou in 1925 riding on a U.S. Army team.”
Unfortunately, McLain Ward, of Brewster, New York, broke his collarbone as a result of a fall in the first round of the Samsung Super League competition. His horse, Sapphire, was not injured, but McLain will be lost to the team for, as yet, an unknown length of time. He was treated at a British hospital Friday and released that day. He has returned to the United States for further treatment, which will determine when he can resume competition and rejoin the team.
“His loss is a very big blow to the six week Super League tour for us,” said Morris. “He was on a roll, having won the big speed qualifier and then the table A qualifier on Thursday. In fact we took first, second and third in that class. For us, it’s not like it is for the Europeans. We’re so far away and we can’t just ship in another horse and rider so easily.” (Prior to his injury Ward won the Osborne Refrigerators International Stakes on Oasis, with Laura Kraut on Anthem second, and Welles in third on Armani.) Morris gave accolades to the U.S. women riders who took up the challenge in the Super League competition, “With McLain’s fall in the first round and not being able to ride in the second round, those became our two throw-out rounds. But the three girls were wonderful, just marvelous, giving amazing rides.”
As far as regrouping for the next leg of the Samsung Super League competition at Dublin, Morris said Ward will not be replaced, they will go with the current team of four. “It would be too forced, and logistically not correct to rush another horse and rider over to Dublin. It’s too late and too risky. We’re going with the top four riders we’ve got. There’s a chance McLain will be able to join us in Aachen, a better chance for Calgary. We’ll see.”