Wellington, Fla. – Jan. 27, 2017 – With more than a dozen nations represented, and Olympic medalists dotting the roster from top to bottom, the second edition of the CP Palm Beach Masters, presented by SOVARO®, scheduled for beautiful Deeridge Farms Feb. 2–5, should offer up a highly competitive and entertaining five days of spectacular show jumping in one of the world’s most beautiful settings.
This year’s event will again feature one of the final two East Coast qualifying events in the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League. A total of 14 athletes from the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League will qualify for the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Finals, which will take place this year in North America on March 29–April 2 at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska. The top seven athletes from the East Coast sub league and top three from the West Coast sub league, and the two best-placed athletes from Canada and Mexico, will qualify for the final, alongside winners from 14 other leagues around the world. In addition to the qualifier, the event will also feature additional classes for both junior and amateur riders.
Topping the star-studded roster for the 2017 CP Palm Beach Masters are three of the four members of the U.S. Olympic show jumping team that scored a hard-fought silver medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. It’s no surprise that the three riders, Kent Farrington, McLain Ward and Beezie Madden, are also three of the highest ranked riders, not only on the American USEF Show Jumping Ranking List, but also in the highly competitive Longines World Rider Rankings. Laura Kraut, the traveling reserve rider for Rio, is also scheduled to compete at the Palm Beach Masters.
Fifteen of the top 20 riders on the USEF Show Jumping Ranking List will also be making an appearance at Deeridge Farms in February. In addition to the four riders mentioned above, Lauren Hough, Lauren Tisbo and Jessica Springsteen will also be competing. Todd Minikus, Ali Wolff, Hardin Towell, Charlie Jacobs, Leslie Howard and Katie Dinan round out the top nationally ranked riders. Furthermore, 2011 Pan American Games gold medalist Christine McCrea and husband Jonathan will be onsite as well.
The CP Palm Beach Masters will also host an all-star field of international athletes, highlighted by 2012 London Olympic Games team gold medalist Ben Maher of Great Britain. Ten-time Canadian Olympian Ian Millar will compete as will Irish superstars Paul O’Shea, Conor O’Regan, Richie Maloney, Darragh Kerins, Darragh Kenny and Conor Swail. Sergio Alvarez Moya, one of Spain’s top Olympians, will make his first appearance at the Palm Beach Masters and Switzerland’s Beat Mãndli, Olympic silver medalist from the 2000 Olympics Games in Sydney, is also scheduled to appear.
The up and coming stars from the Under 25 show jumping series adds to the already challenging roster. They include North American Junior and Young Rider Championships individual gold medalists Lucy Deslauriers, Lillie Keenan and Wilton Porter of the United States as well as Eugenio Garza of Mexico.
The list continues with too many top riders to name but suffice it to say, this year’s Palm Beach Masters will certainly provide top-notch show jumping and entertainment.
The Palm Beach Masters will be held at the scenic and convenient Deeridge Farms in Wellington, Florida. Set on a 300-acre oasis of serenity and beauty in the Village of Wellington, this will mark the second time that Deeridge Farms will host an affair of this caliber.
