Daniel Coyle and Farrel Finish First in the WEC Ocala $200,000 Grand Prix

Ireland's Daniel Coyle, aboard the 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Farrel, won the $200,000 Grand Prix FEI CSI4* at WEC Ocala. Coyle, who galloped into the arena as fifth to go in the jump-off, put the pressure on the remaining four horse-and-rider combos when he stopped the timers at 39.24.

France's Nina Mallevaey directly followed Coyle with the 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare Nikka Vd Bisschop, jumping clear but falling short of catching Coyle. Mallevaey finished third. (Mallevaey won the $32,000 CSI4* Speed class earlier in the day with Destine to Be.)

Immediately following Mallevaey, Great Britain's Jessica Mendoza piloted her own In The Air, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, across the timers less than half a second behind Coyle in the 1.55-meter class, and ended up in second place.

Seven of the nine who qualified for the jump-off went double clear.

A night for Ireland

Irish riders finished in four of the top 10 spots -Daniel Coyle in first; Max Wachman in sixth and his brother Tom Wachman in eighth; and Francis Derwin in tenth, who was the fastest four-faulter in the first round.

The highest placing American was Carlee McCutcheon with Aralyn Blue, in 12th place, with four faults in the first round.

Tom Wachman and Do It Easy were the last to go in the jump-off and a threat to win the class. Though the pair clearly went for it, and clocked in with the fastest time - more than one second faster than Coyle - the effort came with four faults at the final fence.

The fans who braved the unseasonably frigid temps cheered the clear rounds from beneath parkas, winter hats, and blankets. In fact, organizers had moved up the Grand Prix to 5 pm from 7 pm because of the frigid forecast.

Top Eight Results

1 Daniel Coyle (Ireland) - FARREL - 0/39.24

2 Jessica Mendoza (Great Britain) - IN THE AIR - 0/39.70

3 Nina Mallevaey (France) - NIKKA VD BISSCHOP - 0/40.11

4 Jelmer Hoekstra (The Netherlands)- LORDY-P - 0/40.63

5 Eduardo Menezes (Brazil) - H5 KNOCKANDO - 0/41.10

6 Max Wachman (Ireland) - LEXINGTON - 0/41.99

7 Hilary Scott (Australia) - OAKS MILKY WAY - 0/43.97

8 Tom Wachman (Ireland) - DO IT EASY - 4/38.67