Wellington, Fla. – February 27, 2026—Future stars gathered under the lights of Wellington International on Friday evening of Week 8 at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) for the $32,000 BrainJuice U25 Semi-Final Grand Prix. After a season of point-chasing in anticipation of the 2026 series finale taking place during WEF 10, riders had one last opportunity to claim their spot with Mexico’s Maya Ines Denis Chambon and her own Callypso de la Hamente Z taking the penultimate grand prix win.
Hosting 12 weeks of international competition, WEF runs through March 29 at Wellington International in Wellington, FL.
Maya Ines Denis Chambon & Callypso de la Hamente Z. Photo ©Sportfot
A stacked field of 42 horse-and-rider combinations took to the Steve Stephens (USA) designed track, with 10 returning for the decisive jump-off. Denis Chambon—a five-time medalist at the FEI North American Youth Championships—rode her 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Chellsini Z x Kashmir van Schuttershof to an early lead. They left fire in their path over the short course, remaining unbeatable in a winning time of 35.87 seconds.
JJ Torano & Lyon 50. Photo ©Sportfot
Denis Chambon and Callypso’s need for speed could not be caught, and the duo was the only pair to break the 36-second mark. JJ Torano (USA) and Lyon 50 (Lord Argentinus x Lex Lugar), owned by North Run and Kadley Farms, took second on a time of 36.78 seconds. Germany’s Tony Stormanns finished in third in 37.66 seconds with RMF Balouwinsky (Balous Bellini x Cornet Obolensky), owned by Rushy Marsh Farm.
Tony Stormanns & RMF Balouwinsky. Photo ©Sportfot
“I base out of Ocala but came down here during week two to specifically qualify for tonight,” said 22-year-old Denis Chambon. “It’s great to be able to compete at a high level with just our age group. It forces us to step up our game and raises the level of competition.”
The U25 Series creates an on-ramp to higher levels for young show jumpers, featuring challenges such as changes in venue, jumping under the lights, jumping the open water, team formats, and more.
Denis Chambon has been partnered with Callypso for five years, after getting the ride when the gelding was just five years old. “He began as a shy and spooky horse, but has always been competitive,” she said. “Having a horse that likes to win and go fast has been so fun to develop.”
Maya Ines Denis Chambon & Callypso de la Hamente Z are presented as winners of the BrainJuice U25 Semi-Final Grand Prix by Lisa Ellis, CEO & CMO of BrainJuice. Photo ©Sportfot
Now with points on the board, Denis Chambon currently sits within the top 25 in the season rankings and plans to return to Wellington for the series finale during WEF 10. The current standings are led by Campbell Brown (USA) after two early-season wins. Fellow American Eva Fisherman is second, with Canada’s Cassidy Rein in third, after winning the WEF 8 welcome earlier in the week.
For full results of the $32,000 BrainJuice Semi-Finale Grand Prix, click HERE.
CSIO4* action continued Friday morning of WEF 8 with the $32,000 Dodd Technologies 1.45m Classic. Canada’s Amy Millar and her trusted partner Christiano (Canoso x Compliment), owned by Future Adventures, took the top call. The pair claimed victory in 58.88 seconds. Karl Cook (USA) and Candy (Coventry x King Louie), owned by Helen Signe Ostby, finished second, and Canada bookended the podium with Gavin Moylan taking third atop Anton 869 (Action-Breaker x Chambertin 3) for owner Priscilla Denegre.
Amy Millar & Christiano. Photo ©Sportfot
Amy Millar & Christiano are presented as winners of the Dodd Technologies 1.45m Classic by Mark Dodd. Photo ©Sportfot
CSIO4* action will reach its peak on Saturday night with the $150,000 FEI Nations Cup, presented by Florida Coast Equipment.
For the full results of the $32,000 Dodd Technologies 1.45m Classic, click here.
Emily Ryan and Vaudeville Find Their First Hunter Tricolor
Emily Ryan of Lake Worth, FL, rose to the top in the Brightview Landscape Services Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 division with her newly turned hunter, Vaudeville, to highlight hunter action on Friday. In a span of two months, the gelding went from doing the amateur jumpers to making a successful debut as a hunter during Week 8 of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at Wellington International.
Vaudeville, a 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Ustinov, made his third appearance in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Arena and came out on top with the champion title. They scored an 80 in Friday’s first round and topped off the day with an 87. Their scores of 85 and 88 from the previous days boosted them to the tricolor.
“This is only his third week in the hunters ever, and we won both [classes] yesterday, so he was great. In the first round, he was a little spooky, and in the second round, he was back on his game,” said Ryan of the gelding she purchased from Diane Little. “He jumps and moves great and he’s much happier being judged on his looks than he is being judged on how fast he is.
“He’s so sweet—a little dopey and always tilting his head looking for a cookie,” continued Ryan of her gelding’s personality. “The more time you can spend with them, the happier he is.”
Emily Ryan & Vaudeville. Photo ©Sportfot
Bought as a seven-year-old, Vaudeville was intended for the low and medium amateur jumpers, but Ryan knew he would be happier doing something else. “I tried to make him a jumper for two years because he has unlimited scope and was thinking, ‘this isn’t working—he’s miserable, I’m miserable and we need to make the career switch.’
“I didn’t think he was going to switch this fast,” admitted Ryan, who originally hails from Colorado. “We didn’t even decide on the career switch until the first week of January, and he was born for it, apparently.”
With Vaudeville as her only hunter now, Ryan spends her time bringing her young horses up through the ranks and will continue to compete in the medium and high amateur jumpers.
The reserve champion title in the Adult Amateur 18-35 division went to Samantha Karp of Great Falls, VA, riding Palantir.
For full results of the Brightview Landscape Services Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35, click HERE.
Scharme Prevost & Harbormaster. Photo ©Sportfot
Earlier in the day, Scharme Prevost of Morrisville, NC, took champion of the IDA Development Adult Amateur Hunter 55 & Over division riding Harbormaster with high scores of 87 and 89. Reserve champion was awarded to Lisa Baugh of Wellington, FL, and Testify with high scores of 85 and 86.
For full results of the IDA Development Adult Amateur Hunter 55 & Over division, click HERE.
Morgan Goodman & Symbolique. Photo ©Sportfot
In the Karina Brez Jewelry Adult Amateur 36-54 division, Morgan E. Goodman of Wellington, FL, took home champion riding Symbolique with a win under saddle and high scores of 87 and 88. Tracy Scheriff-Muser of North Palm Beach, FL, earned reserve champion with high scores of 88 and 86.25 riding Whiskey.
For full results of the Karina Brez Jewelry Adult Amateur 36-54 division, click HERE.
For the full results from WEF 8, click HERE.
