May 16th, 2011 – It was a busy weekend for the 2011 Atlanta Spring Premiere Horse Show. The first show of a two week series wrapped up yesterday at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, Georgia. “We had a great horse show and unbelievable weather,” said show manager J. P. Godard of Equus Events. Indeed, the week started off quite warm and sunny, but the weekend led way to lovely cooler temperatures and with the rain holding off it made for an absolutely wonderful finale to the week’s events.
The featured class of the weekend was the $25,000 Atlanta Spring Premiere Grand Prix which was held Saturday evening under beautiful skies in the International Arena. An exhibitor and sponsor reception sponsored by Equus Events and the show’s “hospitality” sponsors was also held in conjunction with the class featuring southern delights such as barbeque pulled pork, baked beans, coleslaw, and an assortment of desserts. It was an exciting night as some of the best horses and riders in the southeast contended against a challenging course designed by Pierre Jolicoeur. After the first round, just 6 competitors moved on to the jump off including Daniel Geitner aboard Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bostwick’s Sympa, Jordan Coyne and her Lazaro, Kristin Vanderveen aboard her Bull Run’s La Bamba, Chase Boggio and Aslan 193, and Taylor Land with two mounts Merlin and Nepal. With a fast time of 36.369 and no jumping faults it was all about Lazaro and owner rider Jordan Coyne! They took home the blue ribbon and a custom cooler donated by Integrity Fine Equestrian Linens just edging out professional rider Daniel Geitner and Sympa finishing second with a time of 37.023. St. Charles, Illinois resident Kristen Vanderveen and her Bull Run’s La Bamba took home the third place ribbon with a time of 37.135. Complete Results are as followed:
$25,000 Atlanta Spring Premiere Grand Prix
1) Lazaro owned and ridden by Jordan Coyne
2) Sympa owned by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bostwick and ridden by Daniel Geitner
3) Bull Run’s La Bamba owned by Bull Run Jumpers One LLC and ridden by Kristen Vanderveen
4) Aslan 193 owned and ridden by Chase Boggio
5) Merlin owned by Frances Land and ridden by Taylor Land
6) Nepal owed by Jay Land and ridden by Taylor Land
7) Fieona owned by Kelly Maloney and ridden by Hardin Towell
8) Bull Run’s Amazing Grace owned by Bull Run Jumpers and ridden by Kristen Vanderveen
9) Bull Run’s Platinum owned by Bull Run Jumpers and ridden by Kristen Vanderveen
10) Neville owned by CDS Stables and ridden by Daniel Geitner
11) Uranda owned by Highridge Farm and ridden by Susie Fried
12) Willis owned by Melissa Brown and ridden by Ashton Belcher
Coyne was back in the winner’s circle again on Sunday winning the $7,500 High Junior/AO Jumper Classic on another mount Calisto. The talented young rider is trained by Derek Peterson and his Legacy Farm out of Archer, Florida.
Talent runs in the family as Chase Boggio and sister Alexa of Canton, Georgia both finished up week 1 of the Atlanta series on a high note. Alexa took home top honors in the $1,500 Low Junior/AO Jumper Classic on her mount Straight Guy while Chase took over the reins on Alamo this weekend picking up the Older Large Junior Hunter Championship. Both triumphed in the equitation divisions as well with Alexa winning the Platinum Performance USEF Talent Search Medal and the Pessoa USEF Hunt Seat Medal while Chase took top honors in the WIHS hunter and jumper phase as well as the overall. Chase also placed 4th in the $25,000 Atlanta Spring Premiere Grand Prix on Aslan 193. Both Chase and Alexa ride out of their Arbor Hill Farm in Canton, Georgia and are trained by Christina Schlusemeyer.
Aleece Jarman of Pace Florida had a banner week coming home with multiple classic wins and tricolors in the pony and junior hunter divisions. In the pony ring she picked up the Large Pony Hunter Championship with Trademark and also the Large Green Pony Hunter Championship with Illusion as well as top honors in the Large Pony Classic with Emily Week’s Peterpotomus and the Small/Medium Classic with Exclusive. In the junior hunters Jarman took the tricolor in the Large Junior 15 and under with Haley Farrell’s Picasso and also topped the Small Junior Hunters and the Small Junior Hunter Classic with her Levi. Aleece trains with Michael Newman and Aubry Hill Farm out of Pace, Florida.
Other Champions this weekend included:
Small/Medium Pony Hunter: Epic owned by Aleece Jarman and ridden by Britney Jarman
Large Pony Hunter: Trademark owned and ridden by Aleece Jarman
Small/Medium Green Pony Hunter: Bella Note owned by Kathleen Pahl and ridden by Cara Dodson
Large Green Pony Hunter: Illusion owned and ridden by Aleece Jarman
Children’s 14 and Under – Cadeau owned and ridden by Stella Martin
Children’s 15-17 – Donatello owned and ridden by Melanie Taetle
Adult Hunter 18-35 – Kanadian Ice owned by Carley Lazzari and ridden by Annie Frazier
Adult Hunter 36-45 – Auden owned by Geddaway Farm and ridden by Sherri Geddes
Adult Hunter 46 and Over – Emilion owned and ridden by Laura Tison
Small Junior Hunter – Levi owned and ridden by Aleece Jarman
Large Junior Hunter 15 and Under – Picasso owned by Haley Farrell and ridden by Aleece Jarman
Large Junior 16-17 – Alamo owned by Alexa Boggio and ridden by Chase Boggio
Amateur Owner 18-35 – O. C. owed by Meadow Hill Stable and ridden by Kaitlin Porath
Amateur Owner 36 and Over – Nice owned and ridden by Lori Christman
Amateur Owner 3’3 – Kissme owned and ridden by Anna Wells Sharp
Low Child/Adult Jumper – Bella Luchia owned and ridden by Lucinda Boyd
Children’s Jumper – Linkrus owned by Vick Russell and ridden by James Fisher
Adult Jumper – Mackenzie Park owned and ridden by Andrea Horowitz
Low Junior/AO Jumper – Wonder Pomme owned and ridden by Booth Stevenson Parker
The competition continues this week with the Atlanta Spring Challenge Horse Show starting up on Wednesday May 18th. It will include a $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and Derby Reception Friday evening and the $25,000 Atlanta Spring Challenge Grand Prix and annual Preakness Party sponsored by DFG Stables on Saturday evening. The week will also again feature a daily continental breakfast for all exhibitors and trainers as well as an ice cream party Saturday afternoon.
For complete results and more information please go to www.equusevents.com or call 803-643-5698.