WELLINGTON, Fla.--Kayla Langmeier on Jiselle NS won the $30,000 Grand Prix, the highlight of the ESP Holiday II show, on Saturday night, Dec. 14.
Langmeier won over a competitive field of 42.
McKayla Langmeier on Jiselle NS (Photo by Cassidy Klein)Course designer Andy Christiansen of Ecuador set a challenging track that had 12 riders advance to the jump-off.
Second to go in the jump-off, Langmeier was clean in 39.825 seconds, a time that held through the class.
Kevin Gallagher of Ireland on Ballerina-Hoem, was a full second slower, finishing in a time of 40.879 seconds to place second.
Pieter De Brabandere on MTM Caden was third, clean in 41.397 seconds.
“I think Jiselle and her groom have the best partnership,"said Langmeier. "They definitely understand each other really well. And she's definitely a 'mare' kind of horse, so she needs someone that, you know, takes their time and really gives her the extra carrot when she needs it and tells her she's a good girl. So I really do have an amazing groom that looks after my horses immaculately.”
THE ESP Holiday II show began on Friday with the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, Hunt & Go, with 22 entries competing over a course designed by Robert McGregor.
Held in combined rings 7 and 8, Marcus Au on Designer dominated the field with two outstanding performances, finishing first and third.
Au had two scores of 88 for a winning total of 176, while Jennifer Bliss on Sugarman was a close second with scores of 87 and 86 for a combined 173.
Au also placed third on Quintessa WSS with a total score of 166.
Also on Friday, Steven Bluman of Israel on Cachemire De Braize,won the $10,000 1.40m Open Stake.
Bluman was clean in the jump-off in 39.931 seconds.
Amanda Derbyshire of Great Britain on Sade De Rialfo Z narrowly missed winning with a clean round in 40.068 seconds to place second, and Molly Ashe Cawley on Jahzara Sinaa was third, clean in 40.84 seconds.
The $5,000 1.35m Open Stake, with a field of 38, concluded the weekend on on Sunday in the International Arena.
Max Routledge of Great Britain on Janeiro was clean in the jump-off in 37.851 seconds.
Marie Hecart of France on Vahinee was a close second, clean in 38.142 seconds, and Alejandro Karolyi of Venezuela on Kroon was third, clean in 41.07 seconds.
