Greenwich, Connecticut – September 28, 2024 – Despite cloudy skies and drizzle for much of the Major League Show Jumping Team Competition, presented by Trelawny Farm, there was much excitement at the Greenwich Polo Club on Saturday. In the end, an interesting duel unfolded: the Maccabi United’s Vanessa Hood (USA) & Burlington Riverland, up against the heavily-favored McLain Ward (USA) & Contagious, both dynamic duos going all out for gold and glory in the team decider!
Keeping it simple, each of the league’s eight teams lined up 3 combinations in the first round, with the top four teams advancing to round 2, setting standings to determe which 2 teams would jump-off for bronze honors and the other 2 for the title.
Stellar names were distributed amongst the teams, highlighted by the likes of the Roadrunners’ McLain Ward (USA), Team KPF’s Kent Farrington (USA) and Tiffany Foster (CAN), Maccabi United’s Shane Sweetnam (IRL), the Trailblazers’ Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Daniel Bluman (ISR), Eye Candy’s Amy Millar (CAN), Helios’ David O’Brien (IRL), and others….
After the first round, three of the top 4 teams in the season standings managed to stamp their passports to the next phase. The Archers, Roadrunners, Northern Lights and United Maccabi qualified for the second round, then each team selected two of their three combinations to compete in round 2.
Coming off a clean sheet in round 1, the Archers’ Grant Sieger (USA) & Frieda and Mckayla Langmeier (USA) & Pepita vd Rollebeek each had a rail down, thus being out of contention for the gold. The Northern Lights were knocked out of the race too, since Ali Ramsay (CAN) & Conrado 12 were eliminated and Nicole Walker (CAN) had a fence down aboard Atout des Trambles.
Despite having 8 penalty-points in the first round, just managing to squeeze in for the 2nd phase, the Maccabi United‘s Mark Bluman (COL) & Ubiluc and Shane Sweetnam (IRL) & RR Combella delivered the goods, propelling them ahead to the showdown in pursuit of the blue ribbon. Their adversaries turned out to be the Roadrunners, who had counted on Ashlee Bond (ISR) & Elka de La Pomme and Erynn Ballard (CAN) & Gakhir‘s perfect perfomances to qualify for the grand finale too.
One rider for each team, two rounds to seal the deal! The Macabbi United selected Vanessa Hood (USA) & Burlington Riveland to represent them while the Roadrunners chose McLain Ward (USA) & Contagious.
Despite being considered the underdog according to most equestrian fans, Vanessa Hood (USA) would need to be aggressive aboard the 13-year-old grey Selle Français gelding (Mylord Carthago HN x Dollar du Murier) to win it. Talking to one of her teammates after the contest, he told me that team membershad encouraged to go for the win, and that they believed she could do it. The task was not easy since McLain and Contagious were heavily favored, even more so after having won the $62,500 Cabana Coast Qualifier CSI 5* the previous day.
Vanessa took off in fast mode and never looked back, using her horse’s long stride and speed to charge through the course while still soaring over the fences to go clear before crossing the timers in 36.45 seconds. Maybe she had McLain’s number, the drama was about to unfold…..
As many times he has done before, it was up to Ward to produce the goods and the win, once again under what most would consider immense pressure, maybe for him, just a walk in the park. Ward set off, going neck-to-neck with her much of the way on the 15-year-old chestnut German Sport Horse (DSP-ZWEIB) gelding (Contagio x For Keeps) before the rollback and a check along the final stretch for one more stride, resulting in their time of 35.65 seconds.
She had done it, Vanessa Hood (USA) had clinced the victory for the Maccabi United! Truly an amazing feat for a rider who is striving for more spotlight at the top of the noble sport!
Text: Jumper News, no reproduction without permission.
Photos: © Hannah Stephens / Elysian Media for Jumper News
