Lindsey Tomeu Wins WIHS Adult Jumper Championship

Credit: Shawn McMillen Photography

Lindsey Tomeu Wins WIHS Adult Jumper Championship


Jumpers took over the spotlight at the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) presented by MARS Equestrian™ on Thursday, October 22, at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) for the $10,000 WIHS Adult and $10,000 Children’s Jumper Championships presented by MARS Equestrian™. Adult competitor Lindsey Tomeu of Wellington, FL, and children’s rider Leigh Nanda of Wilmette, IL, both saved the best for last by claiming victory as the final rides in their respective classes.

Under the lights of the Tryon Stadium, Tomeu, 26, celebrated the perfect culmination to a spectacular career with her 19-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, Bonapart, by Parco, to win the $10,000 WIHS Adult Jumper Championship, an honor that had alluded them until this year.

“He has won everything there is to win,” said Tomeu of Bonapart, owned by DBHC, Inc., and a member of her string since 2014. “This was the last thing for him; everything is accomplished. He’s my heart horse and I don’t know what I’m going to do without him when he retires.”

Tomeu and Bonapart have competed at WIHS since 2015 and took the qualifying process day by day this year. “This is my favorite horse show every year,” she said. “I don’t show Bonapart as often as I used to because he’s 19 now, but we were focused on being here this year. Being able to show at all this year is very special, and what makes WIHS so special is the atmosphere. They were able to recreate that here and everyone involved did such a great job.”

Returning last in a six-horse jump-off, Tomeu and Bonapart crossed the timers in 33.675 seconds after a foot-perfect inside turn to the final line and all-out gallop to the last fence.

“My weakness with Bonapart is right inside turns, but I was able to set the turn up just right and he was so great to land and run to the last jump,” said Tomeu. “I’ve been in the position to go last a few times. I’ve cracked sometimes and pulled through lots of other times, so I just have to have my mindset right.”

In a jump-off speed battle over a course set by Anthony D'Ambrosio, Molly Athey of Enid, OK, posted a jump-off time of 35.021 seconds on SL Olada to finish second for owner Daneli Miron. Leslie Kopp of Bethany Beach, DE, rounded out the top three riding her own Doman to a fault-free time of 36.74 seconds.