Bertram Allen on Molly Malone V
Winner of speed leg

“It was great to get in and get that round under out belt,” Allen said. “There was a great atmosphere in the ring. I was trying to be a bit smart and not take a lot of risks, but then when I was in there, the adrenaline kicked in. The fences are almost on top of the crowd—we are used to extremes in our sport but this is really extreme!”

When asked what plans the 19-year-old had to celebrate his win in the speed leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Final, especially since he’s not even of legal drinking age, Allen ducked his head shyly and said simply, “No, I think I’ll keep it quiet and keep my head down.” But when he was asked if he was enjoying Las Vegas, he chuckled a bit evilly and said, “Yeah, definitely!”

Rich Fellers on Flexible
Second in speed leg

“I felt like a kid out there actually!” he said of jumping in front of a crowd that vocally adored Flexible.

On Flexible’s amazing resilience in the sport, Fellers said, “It’s a dream, really. I feel so fortunate in what that horse has done for my life. It’s so consistent that he overcomes everything,” he said.

“I’m as amazed as everybody else because I’ve had a fairly long career but I’ve just never been at this point with a horse before so it’s just take it day by day, jump by jump. I’m going to see how he feels tomorrow and ride accordingly. Again, I’m just going to take it class by class and kind of forget about what happened today and focus on tomorrow,” Fellers said.

Patrice Delaveau on Orient Express HDC
Tied for third in speed leg

“Yes, the feeling is a little special for me. It’s America; it’s Las Vegas!”

Patrice Delaveau of France was leading the class for quite a while, and then Dutch rider Jur Vrieling rode to the exact same time to tie him for the lead.  Delaveau was philosophical about the fact that he thought he actually could have been quicker.

Orient Express HDC slipped between fences 3 and 4. “It wasn’t the best start and there was a bit of a fight for us to keep it together,” he said.

Then Allen and Fellers went even better to snatch first and second, relegating Delaveau and Vrieling to a tie for third.

Jur Vrieling on VDL Zirocco Blue N.O.P.
Tied for third in speed leg

Of the enthusiastic, vocal audience? “Sure, I like it! It’s like a Red Bull; it helps me get wings!” Vrieling said.

It’s the first championship for VDL Zirocco Blue N.O.P., an 11-year-old stallion. Vrieling, who jumped on the Dutch gold-medal team at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (France) has developed the Mr. Blue son from the very start.

“I have had Zirrocco since he was 4 years old and the first time when the saddle was on, I did it myself, he said. “It’s just a fantastic horse. He’s an amazing character—very scopey and very careful—so it’s just a once in a lifetime horse.”

McLain Ward on Rothchild
In 13th in speed leg

How did the boisterous crowd affect him? “I’m normally very serious guy and I actually had a little smile when I went in. It was a very nice reception and it makes you feel very good about the sport,” he said.