Weekend in Wellington! Here’s what’s happening…
Check out the top billing equestrian events in Wellington this weekend.
$215,000 FEI 4* Grand Prix – Winter Equestrian Festival – Equestrian Village Derby Field
The Equestrian Village Derby Field is the perfect backdrop for a Saturday afternoon watching some of the world’s best showjumpers compete for a pot of money in the $215,000 FEI 4* Grand Prix.
The highest stakes class of week 4 of the Winter Equestrian Festival [WEF], kicks off today at noon on the supreme grass footing at the Derby Field, which, back in the day used to be the number one polo field for the original Wellington equestrian attraction – Palm Beach Polo and Country Club.
Horses and riders love jumping on this surface. World number one, Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann opened his WEF season with a win aboard Glamour Girl on the Derby Field. “It’s not easy to make a field like this,” he commented afterwards. “Something that stays for many, many years doing the maintenance over and over, that’s almost impossible to get.”
Henrik brings out Steely Dan this afternoon and will have tough competition. Germany’s Richard Vogel will be looking for a second win of the season riding the 11-year-old Hanoverian chestnut gelding, Cydello, who also likes the setting. “He really loves those grass fields,” Richard said after they won the $140,000 FEI 3* Grand Prix in WEF week two.
Another one to watch is British Olympian Harry Charles who made his WEF debut in 2024, with a brief appearance, but who is here for the full season this year. He rides the talented 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding Casquo Blue and is last to jump in the line up of 30 horse and rider combinations – often an advantage in having the chance to weigh up the opposition’s moves, before you make your own.
https://wellingtoninternational.com/
Saturday Night Lights – Winter Equestrian Festival – Wellington International
It’s all about money and good causes – some $2million will be awarded tonight. Photo: Sportfot
Tonight is the crowd favorite of the season as the International ring at Wellington International hosts costumes and color for the 16th Annual Great Charity Challenge. Tonight’s theme is Global Music and competitors combine in teams of three to jump a relay course against the clock, while decked out in fancy dress.
The purpose is to raise money for charities – each team is assigned a specific non-profit cause. To date this competition has resulted in over $21.7 million being distributed to 339 charities across Palm Beach County.
Doors open at 5pm before a Pet Parade and Costume Contest at 6.30 pm with a hefty $55,000 on the line in prize money. Show jumping starts at 7pm with the night’s objective to distribute $2 million in one evening.
Click here for more information:
https://wellingtoninternational.com/visitors/saturday-night-lights/
The Ylvisaker Cup – National Polo Center
Sunday polo at the National Polo Center features league play in the 16-goal Ylvisaker Cup, as last week’s winners of the Joe Barry Memorial, Zapican BMW, square up to Texas visitors Willow Bend.
The tournament is named after William ‘Bill’ Ylvisaker who played a pioneering role in Wellington history, bringing high-goal polo to the swamps of south Florida in the 70s before the area blossomed into the winter equestrian capital of the world. Bill was a founder of Palm Beach Polo and Country Club where polo flourished throughout the 80s and 90s. Leading players from the polo nations of Argentina, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and beyond, spent their entire winters in Wellington, much as many leading equestrians do today.
Zapican is a new team this season, founded by two brothers, Felipe and Ignacio ‘Nach’ Viana who set up a base in Wellington several years ago with a view to having an impact on US polo. They did just that last weekend in winning the Joe Barry.
Felipe was sidelined after breaking his hand in tournament play, and will continue to watch from the end zone on Sunday as the talented Steve Krueger takes his place. Nachi – the highest scorer of the season – will meet his match as fellow 7-goal player and former 10-goaler, Agustin ‘Tincho’ Merlos captains Willow Bend, setting up a contest of youth versus experience. The Zapican line up features Toronto, Ontario’s Max Torokvei who has graduated to the 16-goal level this season and makes his debut on the U.S. Polo Assn. Field One on Sunday.
Click here for ticket information:
https://www.nationalpolocenter.com/tickets
Click here for tournament information:
https://www.uspolo.org/calendar/tournaments/ylvisaker-cup-2025
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