Fifteen-year-old Eric Krawitt from Canada proved that age is just a number in the 1.30m $5,000 NorthStar Tour Welcome CSI2*, the first class of Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Week CSIO5*/CSI2* at the Palm Beach Masters Series®.
Riding the 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding High Jack, Krawitt was 17th to jump in the competitive two-phase class. The Canadian held onto the lead for nearly 30 subsequent riders, securing his win on a time of 26.87 seconds. Just one second slower, Blythe Masters (GBR) took the runner-up spot aboard Damn Smooth (27.90 seconds), while Rodrigo De Paula Pessoa (BRA) rounded out the podium with My Jewel’s Magic Touch on 28.70 seconds.
“It’s a good first day,” Krawitt exclaimed after the class. “[High Jack] is very quick over the jumps, and he has a huge stride. He doesn’t look like he’s going too fast, but he’s actually going really fast.”
Krawitt, who purchased High Jack three years ago from Canadian Olympian Beth Underhill, has only recently stepped up to the 1.30m level. He said his win came courtesy of a particularly tidy turn to an oxer midway through the course.
“I was really tight to Jump 7, and my horse was really fast, and we left one out,” he said, “and to the last [jump], he did six [strides], and a lot of people did seven.”
“It’s my first time here [at the Palm Beach Masters Series®],” added Krawitt. “It’s a great venue, a great ring. [I’m happy with] my horse today.”
Kicking Off a Big Week at Deeridge Farms
It’s officially Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Week at Deeridge Farms, featuring the $230,000 Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ USA CSIO5* on Sunday, Feb. 16. at 1:30pm ET. The only qualifier in the country for the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final in Barcelona, Spain, the event is also particularly meaningful this year with the Tokyo Olympic Games on the horizon.
Eight teams—Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, and the United States—will face off for qualifying points, national pride, and to impress team selectors with an eye toward Tokyo. Each team will consist of four riders that have been hand-selected by their National Federations and boast elite credentials.
On Saturday, Feb. 15, there will also be CSIO team competitions for Children (12-14), Juniors (14-18), and Young Riders (16-21), a pipeline for show jumping’s rising stars.
Friday’s CSIO5* Longines Grand Prix is another highlight on a schedule that features a cast of some of the sport’s very best. On the start list are four of the world’s top 10-ranked riders: Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs (No. 2), Team USA’s Beezie Madden (No.7), Darragh Kenny of Ireland (No. 8), and American Kent Farrington (No. 9). The CSIO5* schedule kicks off Thursday, Feb. 13, following a horse inspection on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 11:00am ET.
Watch PBM Live here.
Results: $5,000 NorthStar Tour Welcome CSI2*
1- Eric Krawitt (CAN), High Jack 0/26.87
2- Blythe Masters (GBR), Damn Smooth 0/27.90
3- Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA), My Jewel’s Magic Touch 0/28.70
4- Isabella Russekoff (USA), Calvero IV 0/28.96
5- Rie Rose Lindegren Roed (DEN), Embaia M 0/30.75
6- Erynn Ballard (CAN), Equifit Salvatore 0/31.20
7- Laura Munt (AUS), Biarado de Riverland 0/32.49
8-Dana Gattuso (USA), Halocia 0/33.35
9- Maud Christal (USA), Favorita de Muze 0/34.25
10- Jessica Leto (USA), Cimbura 0/36.67
Full Results here.
More from News:
