Wellington, United States — February 19, 2026 — Irish Olympian Darragh Kenny (IRL) took to the International Arena with Eddy Blue to stake their claim on the $116,100 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 CSI 5* on Thursday to open Week 7 at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Hosting 12 weeks of international competition, WEF runs at Wellington International through March 29 in Wellington, FL.
Eleven advanced to the tiebreaker, and not a stride was out of place for Kenny aboard his 2025 European Championships partner Eddy Blue, a 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Carol A. Sollak. Over course designer Andy Christiansen’s (ECU) jump-off track, the pair stopped the clock at 37.90 seconds.
Fellow countryman Bertram Allen (IRL) was right behind in 39.12 seconds, riding Conquest de Rigo, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood owned by Aloga Stables.
Taking third was Charlotte Jacobs (USA) in a time of 40.01 seconds riding North Star’s Playboy JT Z, an 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding.
“I knew Bertram’s horse has a massive stride; he did seven [strides] from one to two. I wasn’t sure if I could do that, but it showed up for me. I think my horse is more experienced than his in jump-offs, so that’s probably where it got him,” said Kenny of his jump-off round with the Eldorado VD Zeshoek TN x Chacco-Blue gelding.
Kenny was officially cleared to return to international competition on February 13 after the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) lifted a provisional suspension issued on October 13 following a positive drug test during the FEI European Championships.
“This is my first week back—Bertram rode Eddy for me recently and did a fantastic job on him,” said the Tokyo Olympian. “The horse feels ready to go, and he was amazing today as he always is. I’m very lucky to have such a fantastic group of owners and staff who kept the horses in great shape. I was lucky Bertram was able to ride them for me —I’m very thankful to everybody who was involved in that.”
Final Results — $116,100 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 CSI 5*
1) Darragh Kenny (IRL) & Eddy Blue — 0/ 0 — 37.90
2) Bertram Allen (IRL) & Conquest de Rigo — 0/ 0 — 39.12
3) Charlotte Jacobs (USA) & Playboy JT Z — 0/ 0 — 40.01
Source: Press Release from Wellington International
Photos: © Wellington International / Sportfot / Cassidy Klein
