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Mexico is Jumping continued... Wrapping Up the NEW BanBajío Classic, CSI4*-W. The Leon Equestrian Club was Fantastico

Leon, Guanajuato, MX - February 10, 2019 - Looking for some show jumping action with fantastic weather, facilities and FEI competition? From Guadalajara to Leon to Otomi to Balvanera to Mexico City to Coapexpan, Mexico is jumping with 12 CSI events over a four month period from late January through May. Whether it is excellent footing, competition, accommodations or gastronomy, it is all aqui in Mexico.

Sunday February 10th wrapped The BanBajío Classic, CSI4*-W in Leon, a new location on the Mexican calendar this year. With national and international classes, the highlight event, The $1,910,000 MXN ($100,000 U.S.) Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Leon, concluded the Western sub-league qualifiers for the 2018/2019 FEI World Cup™ season.

The BanBajío Classic, CSI4*-W Bits & Bytes

From pony jumpers wrapped in pink to tremendous talent the likes of Big Red, two show rings hosted every age and level of show jumper this week in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico. From 1.30m to 1.60m, the CSI competition began on Wednesday, February 6th.

Wednesday

Seventy-five horses galloped onto the gorgeous green grass in the opening two-phase 1.30m class, with over 30 mastering the first phase to continue on to the second. It was Ireland’s Jordan Coyle aboard Selle Francais stallion Quarto Mail topping the the second phase in a speedy 23.35 seconds for the win. Arturo Navarro and the Westphalian stallion Cornet’s Dream, finished within less than half of a second in 23.72s for second place. With a time of 25 seconds in the second phase, Juan Angel Hernandez and Hakon were third.

While stallions took the top two spots in the first class, in the Amateur CSI 1.30m section the mares dominated. Out of the four double clean efforts it was Mauricio Neumann Priess on Blanca for the win. Andres Diaz and Isabel were second fastest while Christian Roux aboard Qui Dance LS rounded out the top three spots.

Forty-two horse and rider combinations competed in the two-phase 1.40m class ro conclude the first day. Once again the mares were best, as Uruguay’s Juan Manuel Luzardo took the win aboard the Dutch mare Dalien Swally R.P.. Their time of 29.13 seconds was half of a second faster than Darisma VDL with Ruben Dario Ramirez in the irons who were second with a time of 29.64s. Juan Angel Hernandez picked up another third place with a time of 29.85 this time riding Torado Dingeshof Z.

Thursday

The 1.35m CSI two-phase class that kicked off Thursday welcomed 47 competitors. Only 13 rode both phases without fault and Agustin Aguilar crossed the finish line with the fastest time, 28.36 seconds, aboard Duncan. Once again less than half of a second separated the top two with 29.96s putting Quinten and Jose Antonio Herrera into second place. Karime Perez Nuñez piloted Keila des Bruyeres to a very close third spot in 30.08s.

It was son and father as first and third in the 1.40m two-phase competition on Thursday. Of the 39 entries, Gonzalo Azcarraga claimed the top prize with his mare Haiti Z, stopping the jump-off clock in 28.44 seconds. Pedro Mateos and Bandit Savoie came a close second, double clean in 28.70, pushing Jaime Azcarraga and Chacol into third by .01 seconds!

The day culminated with the highlight FEI class, The FEI Jumping World Cup™ Leon qualifier. This time it was brothers that were first and third, as Francisco Pasquel dashed for cash with a double clean performance in 36.27 seconds. Andres Torres Hernandez and Chabacon were next fastest, stopping the clock double clean in 36.51s. First to go in the jump-off, Patricio Pasquel and Babel ultimately finished third, also double clean in 37.77s. (Full press release attached)

Friday

Out of the 45 competitors in the 1.40m class with jump-off on Friday, it was Andres Azcarraga, the younger son, that beat his father this time! Of the five double clear rounds, Andres rode the young 8-year-old gelding Xaman to the victory, with a jump-off time of 33.11 seconds, edging out his father, Jaime aboard Verdinale, who held the lead at 33.46s. Jumping into third was Maria Jose de la Torre Ramirez on the Dutch stallion Elexo.

In the Amateur section that followed at 1.35m, three were clean to return. Double clean and fastest by over a second, Jesus Orantes on Big Casanova earned the win. Second was Andres Villanueva on Cartujo LS and third went to Jorge Canedo on Bagni de Lucca, who was actually fastest in the jump-off in 36.59s, but had two rails for a score of right faults.

It was a great day for Andres Azcarraga. He led the victory gallop once again, this time aboard the Danish stallion Al Capone in The BMW Euromotors del Centro 1.45m class. In a jump-off of seven, first to go was the older Azcarraga, Gonzalo, who set the time to beat in the jump-off at 40.11 seconds, which was ultimately fourth. Then Luis Alejandro Plascencia and Jack White managed to stop the clock in 37.37s which seemed unbeatable. Not so! The crowd cheered when Andres upped the ante, taking the lead in 37.11s. Most definitely a fierce competitor to contend with, Francisco Pasquel and Naranjo were the last to go. The crowd fell silent watching an excellent attempt that looked to be quite fast. As the clock stopped at 37.24, just .13 seconds too slow, Andres held his lead and Pasquel earned an admirable second place.

Saturday

With ideal weather, footing and an excellent course, the Leon Equestrian Club served as an ideal host for the inaugural Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Leon on Saturday. The day began with the 1.35m CSI, presented by SLORA, with over 50 entries and a jump-off of fourteen. Of the eleven double clears, it was Ireland’s Jordan Coyle who started his day off with a win riding the Selle Francais stallion Quatro Mail. He sizzled in the jump-off as his time of 29.65 seconds could not be touched, with second place going to Carlos Rodolfo Molina and C Dallas LZ who clocked in clean in 31.01s. Spain’s Pedro Mateos riding Berry de Maillet was third, with a time of 31.90s.

The day continued with the amateur section of the 1.35m CSI where some riders rode with speed but had rails in the process, the fastest jump-off round had 8 faults for fourth. The win went to Claudia Michel and the Dutch mare Wupp. Andres Villanueva on Cartujo LS, just like yesterday, sat in the second place. While Juan Carlos Alvarez del Castillo picked up third riding Puertas Irtesano.

There were triumphs on the ground as well as on the horse this week, but especially for Saturday’s Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Leon. As the first Longines FEI North American League event held in Leon, it was also the first World Cup course design for the up and coming Brazilian talent, Anderson Lima (whom Mexico sometimes claim as their own!) and to make it a trifecta, it was the biggest win of Jordan Coyle’s career to date. He piloted Eristov, Elan Farm’s 10-year-old gray Dutch gelding, to the win after negotiating a challenging track and putting the pressure on in the jump-off. The only other pair to go clean in the first round, Salvador Oñate and Big Red, the winners in Guadalajara, were second. Both riders jumped double clean rounds with a 1.7 second difference in their final times. Third was awarded to Mexico’s Federico Fernandez and Davidoff, who jumped the track without a rail but incurred a single time fault. The fastest four fault score was awarded fourth, the winner of Thursday’s Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ qualifier, Francisco Pasquel with Coronado. (Full press release attached)

Sunday

The 1.35m speed class for the Amateurs, presented by Reserva de la Familia, kicked off the final day of international competition at the Leon Equestrian Club. Jorge Canedo and Bagni di Lucca were fastest by seconds, stopping the clock in 66.14 seconds. After winning on Saturday, Jesus Orantes rode Big Casanova to second in 68.99s. Rounding out the podium finishes was Santiago Attias with Antar in 69.94s. BanBajío presented the final 1.45m Longines ranking class of the week. With 58 starters, seven were clean, two had a single time fault and eight had a single rail. Coyle put the icing on his sweet week of success by adding another win, this time aboard the Polish stallion Bold Prinz. First to go in the jump-off round, Coyle was once again double clean and put the pressure on the remaining riders. By trying to catch his time the next five entries had rails. Last to go, Lorenza O’Farrill aboard her mare Calvira, opted for a clean and conservative second place finish. The fastest four fault score was awarded third, Luis Alejandro Plascencia and Jack White.

Two 1.25m National classes competed on the grass to culminate the classes for the week. Most certainly a win for Mexico, The BanBajío Classic, CSI4*-W was by all accounts an excellent event for competitors, their horses, families and friends. Both show arenas were surrounded by spectators, enjoying good sport in the sun.