Posted February 5, 2006

Wicked Wellington Weather Sends Saturday Competitors Scurrying for Cover

Wellington, FL – February 4, 2006 – A strong storm front with heavy rains, high winds and lightning moved through the South Florida area late this morning causing most of the thousands of exhibitors on hand for the 2006 Winter Equestrian Festival to call it a day early on. The show, the Gold Coast Jumper Classic Presented by Carlisle, CSI 3*, was delayed for two hours, and when the call came to resume, many riders had already made the decision to take the balance of Saturday off. Although the winds and lightning had died down, the heavy rains continued on into the afternoon. A heavy overnight rain had already forced management to shut down the Internationale Arena for Saturday’s competition.

The main event, the $20,000 1.50m Jumper Classic, rescheduled to the DeNemethy Arena, failed to fill, and was eventually cancelled.

Tomorrow’s schedule features a 7:30 a.m. start in all jumper locations.

According to Winter Equestrian Festival Executive Director Michael Morrissey, “If the rain lets up, the Sunday schedule should remain pretty much intact. With no hunters showing this week, if I do run into some necessary rescheduling, at least I’ve got some room to work. I’d like to hold the main event, the $60,000 Wellington Cup, presented by Carlisle, on the grass if possible,” he said.

The Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club has seven different “all weather” rings that can be used rain or shine.

Regardless of the location, on Sunday the long-awaited official presentation of the Team Gold Medal and Individual Silver Medal for U.S. show jumping athletes who competed in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games will take place. The presentation is scheduled to take place immediately prior to the $60,000 Wellington Cup Presented by Carlisle, the featured event of Week 2 at WEF.

Following the competition in the Sunday Grand Prix, the newly gilded Gold Medal Olympians will be available to meet with fans for photos and autographs. Autographed photos of the Olympians will also be available to fans.

All four athletes that competed on the Gold Medal show jumping team in Athens will be present: Chris Kappler, Beezie Madden, McLain Ward, and Peter Wylde, who will fly in from Europe for the occasion. In addition to the Team Gold, Kappler will also officially receive the Individual Silver Medal.

In honor of the 2004 Olympic Medalists, equestrian legends will present the medals to them. Presenters include will be USEF President and Olympic Gold Medal Eventing athlete David O’Connor; and 1984 U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team members Conrad Homfeld, Joe Fargis, and Leslie Howard.

The presentation of the medals to the show jumping athletes follows a 2005 decision made by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which stipulates that the Team Silver Medal originally awarded to the U.S. team in 2004 at Athens be replaced with Team Gold, and that the Individual Bronze Medal awarded to Kappler in 2004 at Athens be replaced with Silver.

PHOTO CREDIT: Storm front moves through Wellington, Florida on Saturday. Photo by Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com.