As reported by dressagedaily.com, the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach was a resounding success with competitors and fans.

The 2011 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach finished in spectacular style on the evening of Friday March 11th, as eight of the world’s top dressage pairs performed Grand Prix Freestyles for a sold out audience of 1200 at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. The performances got progressively more exciting as the evening progressed, with the final competitor, Olympic and World Equestrian Games medalist Steffen Peters of the United States, putting the crown on the evening with a dynamic and nearly flawless ride on Ravel that earned him 84.55%, the highest score ever awarded at the WDM Palm Beach. Tinne Vilhelmsson Silfven of Sweden rode Favourit to 77.975% and second place, while Peters’ team-mate from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Tina Konyot was third with 76.775% on Calecto V.

Peters’ victory was just one of several causes for celebration for the WDM Palm Beach’s sponsors, organizers and participants. The fact that the event took place at all in 2011 is a remarkable achievement in itself. Following the announcement from the hosts of the 2009 and 2010 WDM Palm Beach in late November that the event had been canceled, it appeared that the North American leg of the world’s richest dressage series, which is also North America’s only CDI5*, would disappear from American soil. But in January, Wellington Classic Dressage made a three year agreement to produce the WDM Palm Beach. When the Goodman family and International Polo Club Palm Beach stepped up to become presenting sponsors, the WDM Palm Beach’s future was secured. Financial support also came from Ravel’s owner, Akiko Yamazaki.

In little more than a month, International Polo Club, International Polo Club Catering and Wellington Classic Dressage spared nothing in their preparations. Paying attention to every detail, they created an event that served not only the dressage community, but also a wider public – giving North Americans a rare opportunity to witness top international dressage at close proximity. “I want to thank the organizers for setting up this competition in such a short time,” said WDM founder and CEO Anthony M. Kies on Friday evening. “To the Goodman family, we thank you very much. Without you and Akiko this was not possible. I think we had a fantastic show tonight.” The Grand Prix Freestyle, whose competitors received 60,000 of the 100,000 Euros in prize money awarded at the WDM Palm Beach, was the center piece of a Southern France-themed gala affair. Featuring a five course dinner and wine from many of France’s top wine regions – from Champagne to Bordeaux – International Polo Club Catering literally transformed the arena at the Jim Brandon Center to resemble an elegant evening in the French countryside.

WDM Rider Rankings Following WDM Palm Beach 2011 (top 10):

1. Anja Ploenzke (GER)
2. Michal Rapcewicz (POL)
3. Tinne Vilhelmsson Silfven (SWE)
4. Anne Van Olst (DEN)
5. Christa Laarakkers (NED)
6. Valentina Truppa (ITA)
7. Steffen Peters (USA)
8. Adelinde Cornelissen (NED)
9. Evi Strasser (CAN)
10. Anky Van Grunsven (NED)

Dressage Masters In Palm Beach Has Been Sold Out

Recently reported by dressagedaily.com, the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach has been Sold Out.

The World Dressage Masters Palm Beach CDI5 presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach got off to an auspicious start on Wednesday, March 9th as all 15 horses were presented to the FEI Ground Jury and passed the mandatory inspection. They will go on to compete in the Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle over the next two days. The highlight of the WDM Palm Beach is Friday evening’s Grand Prix Freestyle, which will be accompanied by a ringside gala dinner inspired by the food and wine of Southern France. Friday evening’s performance, which will accommodate 1200 spectators, is now sold out. Following the CDI3* Grand Prix of the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge II, which is being held concurrently with the WDM Palm Beach, two combinations from that class have accepted invitations to compete in the WDM Palm Beach. Gary Vander Ploeg of Canada and Yvonne Losos de Muñiz of the Dominican Republic will join the 15 American, European and Canadian riders who were previously invited. Additionally, there has been one change to the original list of competitors: following the withdrawal of Canada’s Evi Strasser, another Canadian, Jacqueline Brooks, will take her place with Gran Gesto. Brooks has been a member of the Canadian Dressage Team at the Olympics and World Equestrian Games, and is a Pan American Games team silver medalist. A total of nine nations will be represented at the WDM Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach, including several of the world’s leading horse and rider combinations.

Prior to the start of competition on Thursday, riders had an opportunity to train and familiarize their horses with the competition arena. Danish Olympian Anne van Olst, whose horse Exquis Clearwater moved to the competition venue on the weekend, says she is impressed with the work the organizers have done to create a world class atmosphere. “So far everything looks great. They have created a beautiful ambience and the stables are very good. The people are incredibly friendly and have done their best to make us feel comfortable and welcome.”

Pierre St. Jacques is one of six Americans competing in the WDM Palm Beach, and he agrees with Van Olst’s first impression of the venue. “In the short amount of time they’ve had to put this together, they have done a fantastic job,” he says. “The atmosphere is as nice as any show in Europe. This is what we need more of in the US.”

In addition to a complete transformation of the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center to resemble the countryside of Provence, the footing for the competition arena and warm up areas has been enhanced with German Geo Textile footing, a state of the art fibre that is used at many world class venues. “The footing is great,” says WDM Palm Beach competitor Shannon Dueck.

The West Palm Beach event, the World Dressage Masters is unique in the United States, as the only five star FEI dressage competition on the North American continent. Worldwide the show is also the richest dressage series in history, with 400,000 Euros in prize money – 100,000 of which will be awarded at the World Dressage Masters in Palm Beach this year.

The American leg of the Exquis World Dressage Masters CDI5 is back on. Wellington Classic Dressage and the World Dressage Masters (WDM) are working together to host North America’s only CDI5*in Palm Beach Florida, during the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge II CDI currently scheduled for March 10-13, 2011. “The Exquis World Dressage Masters would not be complete without a show in the U.S. We belong here,” said Anthony M. Kies, CEO of the World Dressage Masters. “We are very proud that Wellington Classic Dressage, which has an excellent reputation, has offered to stage WDM in Palm Beach for the next three years, starting with this year.”

“The Exquis World Dressage Masters CDI5* is the premiere Dressage circuit in the World, open to the top international riders, and offering an unprecedented 100,000 Euros in Prize Money. On behalf of Wellington Classic Dressage, we are honored to have the opportunity to host this very prestigious event,” said Noreen O’Sullivan, show manager for Wellington Classic Dressage.

The World Dressage Masters CDI5*already has strong support from America’s top dressage competitors, including Steffen Peters. Peters is already making plans to compete with Ravel in Florida with the full backing of Ravel’s owner, Akiko Yamazaki.

“It is very important for our riders and audiences to have the first-hand exposure to world-class dressage, which the World Dressage Masters shows provide. I am very grateful for WDM’s commitment to keep the show in the U.S. and for Wellington Classic Dressage and the other sponsors who have stepped in to make a 2011 show a reality. Quick actions and decisions were necessary and it all came through thanks to great efforts by all involved,” Yamazaki said.

Peters echoed her sentiments saying that he was “very excited about the successful rescue efforts for the World Dressage Masters. A tremendous team effort will assure the momentum for dressage in the United States. I would like to thank the entire WDM team and I’m looking forward to another world class competition in America.”

John van de Laar, managing director of WDM, thanked the U.S. dressage community for its support in making the American leg of WDM a reality. “I am so glad that the US dressage community has pulled together to make this happen. If it weren’t for people like Akiko Yamazaki, Steffen Peters and John Wash, president of the International Polo Club, we would have lost WDM for the U.S. They deserve big credit for their support and commitment,” he said.

Support has also come from the International Polo Club Palm Beach, which has pledged to serve as presenting sponsor and plans to bring polo action to the special WDM weekend on the Sunday of the nearly week-long dressage action. John Wash, president of Club Operations for IPCPB, said “ International Polo Club is proud to be a WDM sponsor.”

“This prestigious event belongs in the Wellington area now and in the future,” he said. “Many of the best equestrians and performance horses in the world descend on our region each winter for world-class competition in dressage, polo and show jumping. International Polo Club is pleased to be a part of this and we look forward to our continued working relationship with the equestrian world.”

The World Dressage Masters CDI5* Palm Beach will be held at the Palm Beach County Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, pending final approvals, making it one of four Masters competitions being held in 2011. The other three are Munich June 2-5 (also the final Nürnberger WDM Rider Ranking,) Falsterbo July 7-11 and Hickstead July 29-31.

Van de Laar proudly announced that WDM has found a new presenting partner until 2014. “The name of the company will be presented during WDM Palm Beach,” he said.

While WDM and dressage supporters give much credit to Wellington Classic Dressage for stepping in to host the Florida Masters competition, O’Sullivan called it a group effort. “This will be the only CDI5* in North America and it is a great undertaking and a tremendous effort to host this prestigious event. We are honored that Akiko Yamazaki and Steffen Peters immediately stepped up to offer their support to us in our efforts to host this show, and we are excited that International Polo Club Palm Beach has also joined us as our Presenting sponsor. This truly is a ‘Team Effort’ and we are excited to work together to present the World Dressage Masters CDI5*Palm Beach Florida, pending approval for 2011 and beyond!”

Source dressagedaily.com