Edited Press Release

Aaron Vale took home the win in the CSI4*$55,000 Longines Grand Prix Qualifier 1.55m speed class riding 10-year-old mare I. Adermie R on the first day of show jumping competition at Live Oak International 2023. 

Over a track designed by course designer Olaf Petersen Jr. (GER) that saw 14 horse and rider combinations complete clear rounds, Vale and I.Adermie R were not to be beat with an impressive time of 64.20 seconds.

“It was a great win for me here at Live Oak International. I’ve had I.Adermie R for a year and a half and this is her third win in a row. She’s a winning machine,” Vale said. “It is just a beautiful place here and the footing was just perfect. It felt great out there.”

Americans took the first and second spots, with Will Simpson abroad Chacco P finishing second with a time of 65.51 seconds. Ireland’s Daniel Coyle finished third aboard Gisborne VDL with a time of 67.01 seconds. 

It was a good day for Simpson, who also took the win in the CSI4* $5,000 Welcome 1.40m Power & Speed abroad 12-year mare Whoop de Doo, with a time of 27.13 seconds. 

“I’ve been looking forward to Live Oak International for quite a while, and today Whoop de Doo was in rare form. I enjoyed every stride of it out there today. Whoop de Doo is a fighter, and she wants to go clear. It’s fun to take her up against the clock as she’s going to always give her best effort. She is bred to do this, and I love riding her,” Simpson said.  

Finishing in a close second place with a time of 27.46 was show jumping veteran McLain Ward (USA) with 10-year-old mare, First Lady owned by Robin Parsky. Third place went to Coco Fath (USA) with gelding Harley D with a time of 28.67.

Bonjovi and Tori Corts took home the win the CSI1* $2,500 Waldron Private Wealth Welcome 1.30m Power & Speed class with a time of 30.88 seconds. 

“It felt amazing out there. The grass is a bit of a change to what we are used to as we have been jumping on sand footing for the last six months so the grass here is just great. The audience is incredible, and it was fun course. Bonjovi is 17 years old now, so I save him for the more important classes and the ones I think he’d find exciting. It is my first time at Live Oak International and I’m so happy. I love it here,” Corts said. 

Sophia Ayers and Chassana finished second with a time of 31.06 seconds and For Gold with Jordan Coyle aboard were third with a time of 31.20 seconds.