Week One Wrap-Up: Beezie Madden and Simon Take First "Saturday Night Lights" Victory in $30,000 Surpass Grand Prix
 
Olympic gold medalist Beezie Madden (USA) and new mount Simon, owned by Abigail Wexner, took home the blue ribbon in Saturday night's $30,000 Surpass Grand Prix. Nick Skelton (GBR) and Beverley Widdowson's Unique finished second, while Cian O'Connor (IRL) rode Blue Loyd, owned by Ashkirk Ltd and Cian O'Connor, to third place.
 
The class was sponsored by Surpass, a product Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI). Amanda McAvoy, Sr. Brand Manager of the Equine Division at BIVI, was present to awards the prizes for tonight's class, and spoke on behalf of her company. "We are ecstatic to be a part of this and feel very fortunate to be able to be the sponsor of the first week of the event," McAvoy said. "It is pretty neat to sit here with these riders. We really appreciate the partnership that we have with the FTI WEF and we are very thankful that we are able to be here."
 
The course designer in the International Arena was Steve Stephens of Palmetto, FL. There were 36 entries in the class, and seven were clear in the first round. Although they do not have fast jump-off experience together, Madden and Simon were able to speed easily around the course and set the winning time at 40.764 seconds.
 
Simon, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding (Mr. Blue x Polydox), owned by Abigail Wexner, is a new horse for Madden, previously ridden by Jeroen Dubbeldam, and purchased just over a month ago. "We just got Simon six or eight weeks ago," Madden stated. "He has been very successful with Jeroen. He was third in the World Cup Finals last year and he won the CN Grand Prix in Calgary the year before. He has been very good in Nations Cups for the Dutch team and this is actually the first grand prix that I have done with him."
 
"I didn't really know what to expect," Madden said of going into the jump-off tonight. "That was the first time that I have tried to go fast with him. He has a history of being a fast horse, so I tried to just give him a good look and take a shot."
 
Jumper Results: Wednesday through Sunday
 
Olympian Cian O'Connor (IRL) scored the first win of the season on Wednesday with Everything, owned by Abdulla Humaid Al Muhairi, in the G&C Farm 1.45m Jumpers. Nick Skelton (GBR) and Unique (2001 KWPN gelding by Indoctro x Voltaire), owned by Beverley Widdowson, set the time to beat at 61.196 seconds. Skelton's time would hold up for second place. Scott Brash (GBR) and Intertoy Z (1999 Zangersheide gelding by Interadel x Centauer) placed third with a quick, clear round in 62.918 seconds. With Everything, O'Connor decided to change his route on course from his first time around, and it helped him stop the timers in 60.510 seconds for the win.
 
Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward (USA) was able to beat a field of 39 competitors to take the first round victory in the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series at the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. He and Oh' D Eole triumphed in the jump-off over Charlie Jayne (USA) on Chill R Z and Darragh Kerins (IRL) with Hot Wheels. Thursday's grand prix marked the start of an exciting show jumping season, where riders will compete over 12 weeks to win bonus money in the $100,000 FTI Consulting Rider Challenge.
 
McLain Ward (USA) made it two wins in a row on Friday, this time with Louisburg Farm's Esplanade 7 in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Jumpers. He guided Esplanade 7 to victory in a jump-off time of 38.883 seconds over 60 other entries in the class. Second place went to Darragh Kenny (IRL) on Obelix, owned by Missy Clark and North Run, who finished in 40.464 seconds. Hillary Dobbs (USA) and The Dobbs Group's Udento VDL were third in 40.516 seconds.
 
Hillary Dobbs has returned to her winning ways as she and Marengo, owned by The Dobbs Group, took the top prize in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge. Dobbs and the well-known speedster Marengo took the win in 60.343 seconds over Nicolas Paillot and Olympic de Chamant, who finished in 62.428 seconds. Luis Larrazabal (VEN) and G&C Lepanto were third.

Earlier in the day, the $1,500 Griffis Group High Junior Jumper class was held. Sydney Shulman and Fit 3 took first place. In the $2,500 High Amateur-Owner Jumpers, Samantha Senft and Early Morning finished in the top spot. The winner of the $1,500 Adequan 7 Year Old Young Jumper qualifier was Ammy V, ridden by Marilyn Little-Meredith. Laura Chapot and Zealous won the $1,500 Adequan 8 Year Old Young Jumper qualifier.
 
On Saturday, Alexandra Vanderrest piloted Oxsona M to the win in the $15,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. Nathalie Mathers and Windline captured the win in the $1,500 Surpass Medium Amateur-Owner Jumpers. Licapo and Madeline Schaefer won the $1,500 Griffis Group High Junior Jumper class.

In the International Arena on Sunday, the $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic was the main event. Nick Skelton (GBR) continued his solid week of success and capped it with a win on Unique, owned by Beverley Widdowson. Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Wannahave, owned by The Wannahave Group, finished second, while Alexa Pessoa (USA) on Madison was third.