USA’s Little wins final Longines FEI World Cup Jumping North American League qualifier at Ocala

Riding Corona, the 34-year-old rider, and double-gold medalist in Eventing at the 2015 Pan American Games overcame the challenge of seven other riders who reached the jump-off to claim her second win in as many days after also winning the $35,000 Live Oak International CSI3 star class on Saturday.

Recognised as one of the most prestigious equestrian events in the United States, the Live Oak International Combined Driving and Show Jumping event, located on the grounds of the 5,000-acre Live Oak Plantation, brings together leading drivers, trainers, coaches and owners from all over Europe and North America.This year the event celebrated both the Combined Driving competition’s 25th Anniversary and the $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping in Ocala.

A starting field of 32 from 13 countries – half of which came from the USA, faced a 1.40-metre to 1.60 metre course, with 14 obstacles and 17 jumping attempts. After the first two riders on course incurred time faults, the time allowed was extended by three seconds to a new limit of 90 seconds with the first round seeing only 10 horses and rider combinations go clear to advance into the jump off.

Here, the remaining rider faced seven obstacles with a maximum height set at 1.60 metres, and only three of the eight riders in the jump-off posted clear rounds.

Little and Corona achieved the first, stopping the clock in 43.34 seconds to set the mark to beat. The next clear round was posted by fellow American Chloe Reid who finished in a time of 45.19 on Codarco to claim second. Last to go Katie Dinan on Dougie Douglas claimed third place posting a clear round time of 48.61 seconds.

A total of 14 athletes from the new North American League will qualify for the prestigious Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final which will be held in Gothenburg, Sweden, on 23 to 26 March 2016.

The top seven athletes from the East Coast U.S., top three from West Coast U.S. and the two best-placed athletes from Canada and Mexico will qualify for the Final, alongside winners of the 13 other leagues from around the world.

Longines FEI World Cup Jumping North American League
Results – Ocala, Florida, USA

1. Corona (Marilyn Little), USA 0 faults/43.34 seconds (Jump-off)
2. Codarco (Chloe Reid), USA 0/45.19
3. Dougie Douglas (Katie Dinan), USA 0/48.61
4. Uppie de Lis (Andrew Kocher), USA 4/42.35
5. HH Whisky Royale (Quentin Judge), USA 4/44.64
6. Indigo (Margie Goldstein-Engle), USA 4/45.85
7. Callisto (Cian O’Connor), Ireland 4/47.03
8. Casper (Sharn Wordley), New Zealand 4/47.61

Longines FEI World Cup Jumping North America West Coast League 2015/16
Final standings (Top 10)

1 Karl Cook USA 43
2 Richard Fellers USA 41
3 Richard Spooner USA 40
4 Will Simpson USA 35
5 Eric Navet France 30
6 Simon Nizri Israel 27
7 Lisa Carlsen Canada 25
8 Nayel Nassar Egypt 24
9 Ben Asselin Canada 23
10 Jenn Serek Canada 23
Longines FEI World Cup Jumping North America East Coast League 2015/16
Final standings (Top 10)

1 Kent Farrington USA 63
2 Jack Towell USA 50
3 Quentin Judge USA 48
4 Callan Solem USA 47
5 Mclain Ward USA 46
6 Laura Kraut USA 46
7 Elizabeth Madden USA 45
8 Samuel Parot Chile 40
9 Katherine Dinan USA 39
10 Peter Lutz USA 36