A tale of two cousins – Mark and Daniel Bluman entertain the crowd

What is a tenth of a second or so between cousins…everything in determining the winner of the $150,000 CSI4* 1.50m Series Final at the Winter Equestrian Festival [WEF]. Mark Bluman and Phelina de Septon had victory in the bag on a time of 47.22 seconds until his cousin, Daniel Bluman, knocked him off the winner’s podium with Gemma W – the clock showing 47.1.

Champagne all round for the top three (l to r: Mark Bluman, Daniel Bluman and Kent Farrington) in the 1.50m Hermes Series Final. Photo: Sarah Eakin

“I have to say I really, really wanted to beat Marky,” said Daniel, who won the battle not the war, as his cousin took the overall 1.50m Series title. “I think that if Marky was not in the jump off, I probably would have not gone up to that speed, I really gave it all, there was not much left that Gemma and I had to offer.”

Crowd pleasing finish from the Bluman cousins – Daniel taking first with Gemma W. Photo: Wellington International/Cassidy Klein

Mark was chasing world number two showjumper Kent Farrington and Casynna’s time of 47.43 seconds when he entered the International ring for Saturday Night Lights – the feature event of WEF week 11 – as part of a 12-strong jump off. His jubilation after producing a faster round than Kent’s was put into perspective when his cousin – next to go – went faster.

Kent Farrington – poised as ever – finished third behind the Bluman cousins. Photo: Sarah Eakin

“When I have Daniel and Gemma coming behind me – I knew I was fast, but I knew he could catch me,” said Mark. “So I just tried to celebrate and get the crowd involved a little bit, to try to rattle him up to maybe catch a rail or something. But today the plan didn’t work out, so I’m still very happy, you know. That mare [Gemma] is super consistent. She’s an unbelievable horse, unbelievable winner, and it’s great for my cousin today.”

Carrots first – champagne later. Daniel Bluman, Gemma W and groom Phoebe Leger. Photo: Sarah Eakin

Mark went home with more than just a consolation prize as 1.50m Series winner – a contest that runs throughout the twelve weeks of WEF – and an additional $10,000 store credit for Hermes as a result. “I have a huge string of horses right now. I was able to compete every single week,” he said. “It’s the first time in my career that I have the group of horses that I have. When we started the season honestly, I didn’t really think about the bonus and as the season went on and we were being successful we put it in the back of our head. It shows consistency, it shows that we’re doing something right so it’s very good to win it.”

Close call for Daniel Bluman knocking his cousin, Mark, into second place after the jump off. Photo: Sarah Eakin

The friendly rivalry saw the win kept in the family and Daniel, who finished with a brief sigh of relief, followed by a huge smile, enjoyed his turn in the limelight. “If he wins and I was standing where he’s standing, I probably still would be very happy. We love for each other to win,” he said. “Marky has won the last two meter 50 classes, and I get to take this one. Obviously I’m delighted, but if it was the other way around, I would be just as delighted. Tonight was great sport – that was really, really cool.”

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