Elizabeth Bates Wins Low and High Junior/Amateur-Owner Classics on Last Day of Tampa Bay Classic

Elizabeth Bates rode Monsieur Taloubet to the championship with their speedy and accurate double-clear effort in the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Tampa, FL – Sunday, April 1, 2012 – The Covered Arena was alive with an energetic buzz as riders gathered to compete for the top honors on the concluding day of the Tampa Bay Classic held at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, FL. Juniors and Amateurs alike gathered for the chance to compete for the championship title of the afternoon’s divisions. It was Elizabeth Bates and Monsieur Taloubet who came out triumphant in the $2,500 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic.

A field of 17 riders showed over the challenging course designed by Canada’s Michel Vaillancourt. The imposing labyrinth of obstacles tested riders with a liverpool, vertical-vertical-oxer triple combination and an oxer-vertical double combination. The course was set in almost a serpentine, with riders having to pilot their mounts through tight turns, sharp rollbacks and varying distances. Only four were able to master the first course and continue into the grueling jump-off.

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Atlanta Spring Classic II

I am glad that we are done with our 11 weeks of shows in a row but sad that I won’t be with all my friends until June.   We had a great winter and a great last week here in Conyers.  Many more horses than expected so next year we are planning to add a ring.  I do have high hopes for 2013 between the economy that will get better and what seems to be a little change in migration of the exhibitors from Florida.

Anyway, we had a good week.  Great Weather. Last night we had the $25,000 EMO Grand Prix and we had the All-American meal of hot dogs, hamburgers and brownies during the class.   Again this week, it was not a big class; we had 18 riders but it was a great course built by Allen Rheinheimer and an exciting finish.   The class was won by Kenwood, owned by Kenwood Syndicate and ridden to win by Daniel Geitner.

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Adrienne Lyle and Wizard Capture the Freestyle at the $120,000 5* West Palm Beach

Adrienne Lyle and Wizard. Photo: www.susanjstickle.com

Wellington, FL – March 31, 2012 – Adrienne Lyle and Wizard returned to the stadium spotlight and danced away with the win in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle during the Global Dressage Festival (GDF) at the $120,000 5* West Palm Beach, presented by Diamante Farms on Friday evening.   Their score of 77.275% placed them well above the competition and earned prize money totaling $25,200.  Ashley Holzer of Canada on Breaking Dawn was second with 74.000% and collectd $15,360.  Anja Plonzke of Germany on Le Mont d’Or received 73.600% and $12,000 for third.

Lyle, 27, an assistant trainer for Debbie McDonald at Peggy and Parry Thomas’ River Grove Farm,  has the daily riding and training of Wizard (Weltmeyer-Pica, Classiker) and is very pleased with the way her charge is progressing.

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Ashley Prusak Pilots Rabin to Top of Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers at Tampa Bay Classic

Ashley Prusak and Rabin take home the blue with their speedy and accurate double-clear effort in the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Tampa, FL – Friday, March 31, 2012 – The Bob Thomas Equestrian Center was filled with riders as the fourth day of competition commenced. After last night’s Tampa Bay Welcome Stake CSI 2*, it became apparent that the jumper divisions were feeling a competitive edge as the Low and High Junior/Amateur-Owner classes got underway in the Covered Arena. Blue ribbons were awarded to Ashley Prusak and Rabin for their amazingly accurate and speedy double-clear effort during the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers, and to Alexa Adelson who rode Padie Blu Cardu in the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers Power and Speed class. Later in the afternoon, it was Heather Villemaire and Ca Va who took control of the course, mastering the track and riding to the top of the leaderboard in the Adult Amateur Jumpers.

Course designer Michel Vaillancourt challenged horse and rider alike as the jumpers faced his demanding design. He implemented an oxer-vertical-vertical triple combination, liverpool, vertical-oxer double combination and tight rollbacks, testing the riders as they attempted to defeat his intricate course with fast and clear results.

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Hasbrouck Donovan and Fidelia Soar to the Top of the Large Junior Hunters on Day Four of Tampa Bay Classic

Hasbrouck Donovan and Fidelia jogged for two winning ribbons in the over fences, ultimately setting a high standard for Sunday's remaining competitors. Photo By: Elizabeth Vieira/PMG

Tampa, FL – Mach 31, 2012 – Week One of the Tampa Equestrian Series is in its last couple of days with the Tampa Bay Classic, but nothing can hinder the resilience of the hunter exhibitors as they strive for the remainder of championship titles. It was a bright and early Saturday morning as the Juniors and Amateur-Owners flocked to the Main Hunter Ring at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center for their chance to compete. Hasbrouck Donovan and Fidelia jogged for two winning ribbons in the over fences, ultimately setting a high standard for Sunday’s remaining competitors. Robin Swinderman and Inxs came back from yesterday’s results in full swing, adding the Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunter Championship to their season.

The main ring opened with exceptional rides by the Large Junior Hunters, each with a flowing first round. The handy course was slightly more complex, involving a bending line, a rollback to a two-stride combination, and a trot fence. The course forced riders to make decisions and acquire a forward canter. While the majority of the division had clean and careful rounds, it was the dauntless riding of Donovan that impressed the judges. The accomplished junior showed Redfield Farm’s Fidelia, under the direction of Emil Spadone, and gained two well-deserved wins. The most impressive aspect of the win was that Donovan was riding the mare for the first time.

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Daniel Bluman Conquers All-Star Lineup in the $500k FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5*

Kraut Wins $100,000 FTI Consulting Rider Challenge, Skelton Takes $50,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Bonus, Lamaze Triumphs In $32,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final

Daniel Bluman and Sancha LS. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 31, 2012 – Twenty-two-year-old Daniel Bluman, of Colombia, jumped to an exciting victory on Saturday night in the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5* at the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Over 7,000 fans filled the stands to see the best of the best from the winter circuit compete under the lights in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Bluman and his mount Sancha LS earned the top prize in a three-horse jump-off over Canada’s Ian Millar and Star Power and USA’s Lauren Hough and Quick Study.

Alan Wade, of Ireland, designed the course for tonight’s grand prix and set a challenging track for the 45 qualified entries. Only three were able to jump the first round course entirely without fault to advance to the jump-off, and all three had single rails through the short course, making time the deciding factor.

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