WELLINGTON, Fla.--Caroline Mawhinney on Stella Levista won the $32,000 U25 Semi-Final Grand Prix under the lights of the International Arena on Friday, March 1 at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Caroline Mawhinney on Stella Levista (Photo by Sportfot)The penultimate competition of the series had 50 competing over the course set by Steve Stephens and Nicholas Granat, with seven going clean.
Six of the seven were clean again in the jump-off.
Coming in to a time to beat of 34.99 seconds, set by eventual third place finisher Tom Wachman of Ireland on Obora’s Laura, Mawhinney quickly knocked more than a second off, finishing in 33.11 seconds.
“I've had her for over four years now and she truly is incredible," said Mawhinney. "I couldn't ask for a better horse. She's really small and a little crazy, but has the biggest heart in the world, She's given me so many achievements. She's really made me the rider that I am, and I owe her everything.”
Mawhinney, 18, on Stella Levista also won the same semi-final back in 2022.
“IT'S REALLY an amazing stepping point for a lot of young riders,” said Mawhinney. “The high junior-amateur classics are big enough, but the U25 is definitely that next level, but not quite that two star level. It's a nice in-between, and it teaches riders a lot. It starts to get you familiar with open water, those more technical courses, and it's an important stepping stone that has been vital for me in my career and stepping up to the bigger levels.”
“I know she's naturally fast," said Mawhinney of Stalla Levista. "She has a bit of a left shift, so I knew I wanted to watch out for that. She has a bit of a smaller stride so I tried to be tight in places that I could and let her go and use her ground speed. She is so careful, that I just let her go. The seven stride home was really long, kind of closed my eyes but she's incredible and made it work.”
Francis Derwin of Ireland on Elien placed second, finishing clean in 33.38 seconds, bumping Wachman into third.
Tom Wachman of Ireland on Cathalina S won the $32,000 CSIO4* 1.45m Speed class, clean in 58.37 to win over a field of 38.
Going later in the order, Wachman just caught the time-to-beat of 58.49 seconds, set by runner-up Jad Dana of Lebanon on Fleur-De-Lis’ Cherie.
“I think I was the only one in the class to do five to the double of verticals,” said Wachman, 19. “Cathalina S has a huge stride, and that's one of the big things for her, it's how she can be very quick in the speed classes. I think that's where I probably won."
“I started riding her here in Wellington last January,” said Wachman of the 15-year-old mare. “She won a 1.50m class in Ocala two weeks ago, and she nearly won the WEF yesterday; she's super.”
Cathalina S carried Wachman to team gold and individual silver at the FEI Youth European Show Jumping Championships in 2023.
Wachman was the reserve rider for Team Ireland in the CSIO4* Nations Cup.
“I'm delighted to be the fifth rider here for the team, it's a great experience to jump these classes,” said Wachman. “It's a great experience just to be around the good Irish lads here and learn a lot from them.”
Karima Perez Nunez of Mexico on Felicie De Coquerie was third in 58.99 seconds.
