Friday: Mark Bluman Wins Head-to-Head Duel
Mark Bluman was celebrating with his helmet in the air moments after he and Concare PS cleared the final fence in Friday night’s $200,000 BrainJava 5* Jumper Classic at MLSJ – The Final in La Quinta, CA. The time on the clock beamed proof that he had won a head-to-head duel against U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Laura Kraut in a two-horse jump-off.
“It’s my first major five-star grand prix win, so I’m quite happy to have it on a horse that I just recently acquired,” beamed Bluman, who got the ride on Concare PS in May and put a group together to purchase the mare last month. “It still hasn’t sunk in all the way. She’s a super horse with all the scope. Classes like this with not that many clear suit her because she’s not the fastest.”
Mark Bluman and Concare PS. (Atalya Boytner / MLSJ)
Concare PS—now a permanent member of Bluman’s string—is the former ride of Great Britain’s Matthew Sampson and Mexican Olympian Nicolas Pizarro.
Speed was not a problem on this night, however, as Bluman handily piloted the 10-year-old Oldenburg mare (Conthargos x Cornet Obolensky) now owned by Norma Leticia Coello Garrido to a time of 37.48 seconds to pip Kraut’s pace of 37.93 seconds. Kraut settled for second riding Tres Bien Z for owner St. Bride’s Farm.
“In fairness, when I walked the course, I thought there was going to be plenty clear, but as the class went on it was riding more difficult than it walked.” admitted Bluman. “That’s the beauty of having Alan Wade (IRL) building here. He’s an unbelievable course designer; he got faults everywhere. I was happy when I jumped the clear round, and I knew there wasn’t many behind me; it was a good day to jump a clear round.”
When asked where exactly he edged out Kraut, Bluman said, “She did nine strides down the middle from jump three to the new fence. I did eight, so I think that’s where I shaved those literal milliseconds off her time.”
Emilie Conter (BEL) and Portobella van de Fruitkorf finished the first round on one time fault to take home a podium finish in third. A tight time allowed from Wade settled six athletes with faults against the clock in the opening round. (Ed. note: Amy Millar was the top-placed Canadian in the class, finishing 4th riding Jagger HX with just a single time fault.)
Results here.
Saturday: Trelawny Trailblazers Claim MLSJ Season Title
It was anyone’s title to win … or lose on Saturday night. The 2024 MLSJ season came down to the wire at MLSJ – The Final at Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) in La Quinta, CA, with the Trelawny Trailblazers winning the $1M CabanaCoast Team Final and the overall Season 4 championship.
Heading into the final, the Trailblazers sat third in the overall standings. Team owner Cara Raether Carey gave the nod to Daniel Bluman (ISR), Lillie Keenan (USA) and Conor Swail (IRL) to bring home her second title in as many years.
Daniel Bluman and Corbie V.V. led the team with two clear rounds. (Atalya Boytner / MLSJ)
Clear rounds from Bluman on Corbie V.V. and Swail riding My Lady Lavista guaranteed a return with the top four in the second round with double points on the line.
“I jumped [My Lady Lavista] last night, and it didn’t go as planned. I wasn’t just brimming with confidence, but I trusted the mare,” said Swail, who also collected the 2024 MVP title at the conclusion of the evening. “I knew I needed a clear round to make sure we were going to go through [to the second round]. Lady felt so comfortable, and I was clear with my plan and how to ride her. Everything came up perfectly.”
After an unfortunate eight faults in the opening round, Keenan rallied in the second round aboard Kick On by posting a clear round that was coupled with another fault-free trip from Bluman.
“It all comes down to putting the team before you put yourself,” explained Bluman. “We managed to do that well with the guidance of Cara. We understand that whatever the decision is, we need to give it a good shot and deliver. So, we’re putting good horses and good riders.”
Keenan, a force in all MLSJ Team Competitions, noted after the victory, “My favorite events are always the team events, whether it’s team USA or for the Trailblazers. This season, I had an opportunity to jump a younger horse; Kick On is a horse that has only started jumping this level. I used these events to develop my partnership with him, and obviously he ended up being a star for these types of classes. It really was a matter of growing by doing, and obviously riding amongst these riders, you want to always give your best because every event we have a chance to win.”
The gold medal round pitted Swail against Archers’ Patricio Pasquel, with Swail ultimately emerging victorious. (Ed. note: The Northern Lights team, which included Canadians Vanessa Mannix and Sean Jobin, placed 3rd in this event)
The Trailblazers finished the year with a winning 136 points. Second place in the overall standings with 122 points went to the home team, the DIHP Roadrunners. Rounding out the top three and taking home a piece of the $500,000 season-end bonus money was Maccabi United on 115 points. The Northern Lights finished just behind them with 114 points.
With the 2024 season now in the books, MLSJ co-founder Keean White is now focused on Season 5, saying, “Season four was great; we had the most competitive field, the most competitive teams, the best group of team owners, which goes a long way. When the riders and the team owners and the sponsors and the organizers all work in the same direction, I think it’s incredible what we can do. Hats off to the Desert [International Horse Park]; they do an incredible job. I’m happy to say that we’ll be back here for two events next year again. We jump for $12 million next year, which is a big step up, and we want to keep creating opportunities for the sport to grow here in North America.”
The 2024 season of Major League Show Jumping came to a celebrated close on Saturday evening. You can re-live all the action from the $1M Cabana Coast Team Final and Season 4 on-demand on MLSJ TV.
Results here.
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