Erynn Ballard Rides to a Commanding Win in the Hermès CSI5*

Canadian Erynn Ballard steered De Flor 111 Z Santa Rosa, a 15-year-old Zangersheide stallion, to a decisive win in the CSI5* Hermès classic to close out week five of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington. She jumped double clear in both rounds in the 1.50-meter class, in which the top 12 in the first round of 42 competitors returned for the second round. Ballard prevailed by more than four-and-a-half seconds over the runner-up.

That runner-up was Germany's Rene Dittmer and his 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding Cody 139, who delivered the only other double clear first and second rounds.

Tom Wachman of Ireland and Genghis Khan, a 10-year-old Selle Francais gelding, rounded out the podium, carrying one time fault from the first round.

Mark Bluman and Phelina de Septon, along with Nicola Philippaerts and Que Sera, crossed the timers in the second round more quickly than Erynn Ballard, but each carried four jumping faults from the first round.

Irish riders placed four times in the top 10 (Simon McCarthy and Leonardo S were ninth).

Carly Anthony was the highest-placing American rider in 11th place.

Top Eight Results

1 Erynn Ballard (Canada) - DE FLOR 111 Z SANTA ROSA - 0/0/45.9

2 Rene Dittmer (Germany) - CODY 139 - 0/0/50.43

3 Tom Wachman (Ireland) - GENGHIS KHAN - 1/0/49.78

4 Cian O'Connor (Ireland) - CANBELLA BLUE PS - 2/0/47.21

5 Michael Duffy (Ireland) - MISTER QERLY Z - 2/0/47.96

6 Mark Bluman (Colombia) - PHELINA DE SEPTON - 4/0/42.33

7 Nicola Philippaerts (Belgium) - QUE SERA - 4/0/43.05

8 Nayel Nassar - (Egypt) - ESI ALI - 2/4/47.07

Photo credit: Wellington International // Cassidy Klein