Articles: Horse News
Victory for Poland's Michal Rapcewicz in Grand Prix Special at World
Dressage Masters Palm Beach
Grand Prix Special winners, Michal Rapcewicz and Randon
Susan J. Stickle for Phelps Media Group
Contact:
Karen Robinson for
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
at (561) 753-3389 or at pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
Wellington, FL - March 11, 2011 - In the second day of competition at the
World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm
Beach, history was made in the Grand Prix Special as Michal Rapcewicz of
Poland claimed the first victory ever for his country at a CDI5* event.
Riding Randon, the same horse with which he competed at the Olympics, World
Equestrian Games and World Cup Dressage Finals, Rapcewicz improved
significantly on his Grand Prix result of the previous day. His score of
69.771% in the Grand Prix Special put him on top of the international field
of European, American and Canadian competitors.
"This is an amazing feeling, to be breaking a record for Poland," said
Rapcewicz after the prize giving ceremony. "Today I am really proud of my
horse. He really enjoyed all the exercises. The weather is great and not
too hot, which kept him fresh." Randon showed particular highlights in the
most difficult movements of the Grand Prix: the passage, piaffe and one
tempi flying changes.
Rapcewicz is no stranger to the World Dressage Masters presented by Axel
Johnson Group, which is the world's most prestigious and richest dressage
series, and the only five star dressage competition in North
America. Following the 2010 WDM season, Rapcewicz sits second on the Nuremberger WDM Rider Ranking list, but this is his first visit to the
WDM Palm Beach. "Palm Beach is like a small paradise for horses,"he
said. "I have had a holiday here and won a big competition too. It's
like a big dream, and I don't want to wake up."
Following closely on Rapcewicz's heels in the Grand Prix Special was Pierre
St. Jacques of Anthony, Florida, who earned 69.417% with his 16 year old
Danish Warmblood gelding Lucky Tiger. This was St. Jacques' second WDM Palm
Beach appearance, having competed at the 2010 event. "I'm so ecstatic with
my horse," he said. "It's wonderful to ride with this electricity and
crowd. My horse showed up for his job today, and he was very fun to ride."
Fellow American Shawna Harding of Aiken, South Carolina placed third on her
12 year old Danish Warmblood gelding Come On III, with a score of
68.958%. She was pleased not only with her horse's performance, but also
with her first WDM Palm Beach experience. "The organizers have been
fantastic with everything we need," said Harding, "and the footing is
spectacular. I am excited to be part of the Masters for the first time."
The WDM Palm Beach was nearly cancelled in 2011, but thanks to the immediate
commitment of presenting sponsor International Polo Club Palm Beach and show
producer Wellington Classic Dressage, the show has not only gone on - it's
done so in great style. "It was an incredible roller coaster ride from the
end of November until now," says WDM Managing Director John Van de Laar. "We
have to thank the dressage community in South Florida and the rest of the
United States, the presenting sponsor and organizer, as well as Akiko
Yamazaki and Steffen Peters," he said. "For such a wonderful competition to
have been produced in such a short window of time is incredible. It's a
wonder we have this show."
A total of 100,000 Euros will be given out at the 2011 WDM Palm Beach
presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach, 60,000 of which will be
awarded at tonight's Grand Prix Freestyle. Eight of the world's top riders
and their horses will perform uniquely choreographed programs set to music
while a sold out audience of 1,200 enjoys the culture, cuisine and wine of
France at ringside. The last pair to enter the arena this evening will be
yesterday's Grand Prix winners, Olympian Steffen Peters of San Diego,
California and Ravel, whose score of 80.872% represented a personal best in
the pair's FEI career.
Eurosport Events is the official broadcaster of the World Dressage Masters
series, and will show highlights from the Grand Prix Freestyle as part of
"Wednesday Selection", a weekly prime-time program that features equestrian
among other sports, such as sailing and golf. The USEF provided a live
webcast of Friday's Grand Prix Special and will have live coverage of the
Grand Prix Freestyle beginning at 7:30 pm EST this evening. Following the
completion of the WDM Palm Beach, the USEF coverage will be available on
demand at http://www.usefnetwork.com/WDM2011.
World Dressage Masters Palm Beach CDI5*
Grand Prix Special Results
1. Michal Rapcewicz (POL) - Randon
69.771%
2. Pierre St Jacques (USA) - Lucky Tiger 69.417%
3. Shawna Harding (USA) - Come On III
68.958%
4. Elisabeth Austin (USA) - Olivier
66.854%
5. Gary Vander Ploeg (CAN) - Cezanne
64.563%
6. Jacqueline Brooks (CAN) - Gran Gesto
63.750%
7. Yvonne Losos de Mu>
8. Valentina Truppa (ITA) - Chablis 62.125%
9. Shannon Dueck (CAN) - Ayscha 61.125%
World Dressage Masters Palm Beach Fast Facts:
What: North America's only CDI5*, and part of the richest dressage series in
the world. Up to twenty of the world's top dressage stars will compete for
100,000 Euros in prize money at the WDM Palm Beach.
Media Contacts: Mason Phelps 561-371-0118 or Karen Robinson 561-383-1425
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