Wellington, Florida, USA – October 16, 2024 – Crooks Show Jumping has added championship experience to its team, welcoming European jumping athlete James Wingrave. Wingrave, who represented Hungary at the 2006 World Equestrian Games and 2017 European Championships, has chosen to base in North America, joining the staff at the multi-coast operation, which has stables in both Wellington, Florida, USA and Snohomish, Washington, USA.
Wingrave spent a week in Wellington, working alongside trainers Lauren Crooks-Brennan, James Brennan, and Tom Davison, before transitioning to the west coast operation based out of Clearview Farm, just outside Seattle, on October 8.
Wingrave’s resume speaks for itself. Still an active competitor at the international levels of show jumping sport, he has represented both Hungary and Great Britain at the highest level, riding in more than 20 Nations Cups and recording 16 FEI victories up to the CSIO4* Grand Prix level. In his youth, he earned a Team Gold at the European Championships for Young Riders and finished individually with a silver medal.
A native of Great Britain, Wingrave trained under and learned from the likes of Ludger Beerbaum (GER), Beat Mändli (SUI), the late Tim Stockdale (GBR), and more recently Chris Kappler. Carrying that knowledge forward as a coach in his own right, he has trained riders at the five-star level and has been represented by competitors at the European Championships for Young Riders.
“I’m really looking forward to this opportunity with Crooks Show Jumping,” Wingrave said. “The team has been exceptionally welcoming, and I’ve heard so many wonderful things about the growth of shows on the west coast. I’m eager to get to work with our horses and riders, up to the international level.”
Wingrave also shares Crooks Show Jumping‘s passion for breeding and developing young horses, having bred his World Cup winning mare Sissi (Calvados x Déva xx) to Catoki, along with several other homebreds. Crooks Show Jumping has supported and grown the Crooks Show Jumping Young Horse Showcase at Thunderbird Show Park for the last five seasons.
“We’re incredibly excited to add James Wingrave to our team. I know he will be an asset to our program,” Crooks-Brennan said. “Jamie not only has Championship experience, but he is also still actively competing and is a super horseman. He has so much knowledge to share with our west coast-based riders.”
About Crooks Show Jumping
Run by Lauren Crooks-Brennan and James Brennan, Crooks Show Jumping is a high performance multi-coast competition stable, with training programs out of both Wellington, FL and Snohomish, WA. Led by an accomplished team of active international competitors, Crooks Show Jumping is proud to offer exceptional training opportunities for passionate and ambitious equestrian athletes. The Crooks Show Jumping team specializes in the production of horses for the top sport, high quality sales for the American market, and the competitive pursuit of premier shows across the continent.
