Wellington, United States – March 08, 2026 – The third five-star week of the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) ended on a win for Colombia’s Mark Bluman (COL) riding Ubiluc in the $62,500 Hermès Classic CSI 5* – 1.50m on Sunday afternoon to close out Week 9. WEF hosts 12 weeks of FEI competition—four of which are five-stars — running through March 29, in Wellington, FL.
Nine different nations were represented in the second round over Alan Wade’s (IRL) final international track of the week, where the top 12 from the opening round jumped again on a clean slate to determine the winner. Bluman, who is on an exceptional run of form with 14 international podium finishes since November, returned with his 14-year-old Mecklenburg gelding (Ubiko x Lucian) owned by Bluman’s cousin Daniel and Over the Top Stables, to post the eventual winning time.
“My horse is naturally a bit quicker than the rest of the others across the ground,” said Bluman, who stopped the clock at 32.77 seconds. “As I was walking in the ring, I asked my cousin if he thought I could get the seven to the double. He said ‘absolutely,’ and I think that’s where we caught the time. “My turn from one to two was super slick, and then doing the seven was good enough to take the win.”
Bluman bumped Canadian Olympian Erynn Ballard (CAN) to second before she was pipped again by Ireland’s Jordan Coyle (IRL), who took second riding 15-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding Ariso (Casall Ask x Contender) in 32.80 seconds for owner Elan Farm.
Ballard and Ilan Ferder’s mare Dior, another 15-year-old Swedish-bred mount, finished on a time of 33.15 seconds to hold on for third.
“He’s super comfortable jumping 1.50m,” said Bluman, who admits he’s chasing the Hermès 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final, which will take place on March 21, under the shine of Saturday Night Lights during WEF 11.
Ubiluc’s next task will be the Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 12, with hopes to qualify barn mate Landon de Nyze for the Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix during Rolex Finale Week at Wellington International.
Of his successful end of 2025 and subsequent start to 2026, Bluman said, “I have many great supporters, and many people investing in my career right now. I’m very lucky—in the last six months, we’ve climbed over 30 spots in the world ranking, so the goal is to keep going that way.
Final Results – $62,500 Hermès Classic CSI 5* – 1.50m
1) Mark Bluman (COL) & Ubiluc – 0 / 0 – 32.77
2) Jordan Coyle (IRL) & Ariso – 0 / 0 – 32.80
3) Erynn Ballard (CAN) & Dior – 0 / 0 – 33.15
Source: Press Release Wellington International
Photos: © Wellington International / Sportfot / Cassidy Klein Media
