Category Archives: Show Jumping

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Meredith Lipke and The Specialist Lead the Way in the $3,000 Johnson Horse Transportation USHJA National Hunter Derby at Brandywine Valley Summer Series

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Meredith Lipke and The Specialist won the $3,000 Johnson Horse Transportation USHJA National Hunter Derby at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG.

Devon, PA – July 2, 2011 – The Brandywine Valley Summer Series presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services featured an exciting evening of competition in the Dixon Oval this Saturday. The top horse and rider combinations gathered to showcase their skills during the $3,000 Johnson Horse Transportation USHJA National Hunter Derby. Meredith Lipke and The Specialist led the class from start to finish and eventually garnered the winning honors after earning a total score of 357. Lexi Graham and Landmark jumped up from the 11th place position to finish second, while Devon Yacka piloted Furst Laugh to the third place award.

Tonight’s courses were designed by Michael Rheinheimer and simulated riding over a hunt country with all of the fences set to 3′ with four 3’5” options and three handy options. Meredith Lipke of Buffalo, NY, took an early lead with The Specialist, scoring an 86 and an 87 during the first round with four bonus options for a 181 total. They were the last to return during the handy round, but the duo did not hold back. After executing a beautiful inside turn to the first fence they held a big gallop throughout the course, receiving scores of 85 and 83 with four bonus points. Their two-round total of 357 points would net the winning title.

“This is my first derby, so I am very excited,” beamed Lipke after her victory gallop. “The Specialist has done quite a few of them, so he knew exactly what he was doing, which really helped me out. He had a great turn to the first fence in the handy and was really on it for every jump. He was just happy to be out there after having a month off!”

Lipke continued, “I need to have a definite plan and I wanted to make sure The Specialist knew exactly where he was going. My trainer Kristy McCormack had me do a different turn to the first fence, which allowed us to keep flowing.”

Continue reading Meredith Lipke and The Specialist Lead the Way in the $3,000 Johnson Horse Transportation USHJA National Hunter Derby at Brandywine Valley Summer Series →

Competitions, Events, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Allison Toffolon Excels in Junior Jumpers at Brandywine Valley Summer Series

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Allison Toffolon and Furalissa, Junior Jumpers at Brandywine Valley Summer Series. Photo By: Robyn Keyster/PMG.

Devon, PA – July 2, 2011 – Timing was everything this afternoon at Brandywine Valley Summer Series presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services, with a speedy Low Junior Amateur-Owner Jumper class taking place today in the Dixon Oval of the scenic Devon Show Grounds. A slew of swift riders took on Jose Gamarra’s latest jumper course, giving onlookers an exciting display of genuine horsepower.

Taking first in the speed class was Allison Toffolon on her own gray mare, Furalissa. She cleared today’s colorful course in just 57.001 seconds, after quickly correcting an imprecise distance to the first jump. She and the enthusiastic Furalissa quickly recouped their time, finishing with the fastest fault-free round of the afternoon.

“All in all it was a good round,” commented Toffolon. “We went a little too deep to the first jump, which kind of slowed us down. After that we had to regroup and make some tighter turns. If we would have had a better distance to that first jump, we probably would have been able to go even faster.”

Toffolon added, “Furalissa is a really fast horse who loves to gallop around. She really wants to win, so it’s easy to have a good round with her. On Furalissa, I like the speed class better because there are more opportunities to go faster than someone else, or turn tighter than someone else. We are a good match because she has the heart to win and so do I. She will take risks that I will take, too. That’s why we got her, she really wants to win.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Show Jumping

Greenwich Park Eventing Invitational (CIC**)

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New Zealand's Mark Todd pictured presenting Viscount George, the ride of his fellow-countryman Andrew Nicholson, at the first horse inspection for the Greenwich Park Eventing Invitational (CIC**). Photo: Peter Llewellyn/FEI.

Biographies of all competing riders can be found here: http://goo.gl/tqVqx.

EXCITING BUILD-UP TO OLYMPIC TEST EVENT by Louise Parkes

London Prepares Series (GBR), 3 July 2011 – There was a huge buzz of anticipation and excitement as the first horse inspection for the Greenwich Park Eventing Invitational (CIC **) got underway in London (GBR) this afternoon at the first LOCOG test event in the build-up to London 2012.

Over the next three days, the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games will test key aspects of the Greenwich logistics and operations in preparation for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, including the field of play, timing and scoring technology, venue installation and workforce.

A total of 40 riders from 23 countries will take part in the Greenwich Park Eventing Invitational, which offers the normal grading points for an international CIC**, and which will involve Dressage tomorrow (Monday 4 July), Cross-Country on Tuesday and two rounds of Jumping on Wednesday in order to reflect the Olympic format.

There will also be demonstrations of the other Olympic equestrian disciplines of Dressage and Jumping, along with Para-Dressage to further test the facilities.

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Community/Charity, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

$10,000 Chester County Food Bank Mini Prix Victory Goes to Samantha Schaefer and Trezebees at Brandywine Valley Summer Series

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Samantha Schaefer and Trezebees won the $10,000 Chester County Food Bank Mini Prix at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG.

Devon, PA – July 1, 2011 – It was a beautiful night at the historic Devon Show Grounds as riders gathered at the Dixon Oval for the $10,000 Chester County Food Bank Mini Prix. A competitive group of horse and rider combinations tackled the challenging course for the highlight event at the first annual Brandywine Valley Summer Series, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services. The top prize went to Samantha Schaefer and Trezebees after they completed a double clear effort in 25.279 seconds over Tracey Weinberg and Larone, who scored the second place honors.

Jose Gamarra set a challenging first round track for the competitors, which featured a triple bar, a liverpool, a vertical-oxer double combination, and a oxer-vertical-vertical triple combination. Seven of the horse and rider combinations were able to master the first round without fault and advance to the short course. They began over an oxer-vertical bending line before making a sharp turn to the double combination. They then turned to a single vertical before galloping towards the finish line over the final oxer.

Samantha Schaefer was fifth in the return order aboard Trezebees, owned by Addison Phillips of New York, NY, and the duo was ready to win it. They picked up a quick gallop to the first fence and never held back. Schaefer was able to nimbly guide Trezebees through each of the difficult turns and they jumped straight to the top of the leaderboard with a blazing double clear effort in 25.279 seconds.

“Tracey [Weinberg] had set a very quick time so I knew I had to go for it,” explained Schaefer. “Trezebees has a lot of scope so I knew I had to be very quick across the ground. She turned really nicely after the second jump and after the combination.”

Continue reading $10,000 Chester County Food Bank Mini Prix Victory Goes to Samantha Schaefer and Trezebees at Brandywine Valley Summer Series →

Media/Radio/TV Sources, Show Jumping

Jumping Radio Episode 69 – Profile of a Legend

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Australian veteran Laurie Lever is our featured profile this week and we also hear from Hickstead Derby winner Tina Fletcher. Carol Phillips from Horse & Hound fills us in on the rest of the British jumping scene and we have another WOW moment for you. Tune in right here.

Jumping Radio Episode 69 – Show Notes and Links:

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Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Jumpers Continue to Impress on Second Day of Brandywine Valley Summer Series

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Amanda Hood and Boy-O-Boy won the $1500 NAL/WIHS Children's/Adult Jumper at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. Photo By: Robyn Keyster/PMG.

Devon, PA – June 30, 2011 – With seemingly boundless energy, the jumpers put on an exciting display of athleticism today at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services. Amanda Hood repeated yesterday’s success in the jumper arena, taking the blue ribbon in the $1500 North American League (NAL)/Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) Children’s/Adult Jumper class aboard her longtime ride Boy-O-Boy. Janice Syphers won the 1.40m Open Jumper class, riding Cover Girl to a double-clear finish after a quick jump-off. Syphers came back in the 1.20m Open Jumper class on GK Calluci to clinch the win a second time later today.

Riders, their horses, and everyone in attendance enjoyed the warm weather at the famed Devon Show Grounds this afternoon. All of the jumper courses were designed by Jose M. Gamarra, and the tight turns and bright colors made for an action-packed second day at Brandywine. All three jumper classes took place in the Dixon Oval, whose central location made it the perfect place to catch today’s fast-paced jumper action.

In the exciting $1500 NAL/WIHS Children’s/Adult Jumper class, Hood proved that second is the best, riding second in the jump-off to ultimately finish first with a time of 28.971 seconds. Jennifer Imhoff took second place on Sand Dollar with an impressive time of 29.109 seconds. Picking up a third place ribbon was A. J. Deleyer with Figaro, who traversed the course in only 30.212 seconds. Deleyer also rode Skylark in the jump-off, and rode away with only four faults in that effort. A total of ten riders and their horses qualified for the jump-off, with half of them making clear efforts. Hannah Baumann and CR Erin Go Bragh finished in 32.717 seconds, and close behind was Isabelle Caccamise who, aboard Qrocus Landais, completed the jump-off in 33.902 seconds.

Continue reading Jumpers Continue to Impress on Second Day of Brandywine Valley Summer Series →

Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Falsterbo Next Port of Call for FEI Nations Cup 2011 Series

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Lausanne SUI, 1 July 2011 – The eight-leg FEI Nations Cup 2011 series reaches the halfway stage when it resumes, after a four-week break, at Falsterbo, Sweden next Friday (8 July), and with The Netherlands holding a solid lead at the top of the league table.  Once again this will be a nine-nation contest as the host country is entitled to compete despite being relegated to the Promotional League last season.  They cannot earn Top League points, but the Swedes could well pull off a big result because they won here on their home turf last summer and they have been fighting hard, and very successfully, in this year’s Promotional League series.  They may well be on their way back to the elite level of the sport.

Swedish Chef d’Equipe, Sylve Soderstrand, named his side earlier this week and it includes the young lady who set the Gothenburg leg of last season’s Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series alight with a superb winning performance.  Riding the Cruising mare Midtown du Tillard, 24 year old Angelica Augustsson became an overnight sensation when producing a devastating turn of speed in the 12-horse jump-off which left Australian star Edwina Alexander and German ace Ludger Beerbaum in her immediate wake.  Beerbaum was moved to comment afterwards, “This is the cream – it doesn’t come better than this, and we will remember today for a very long time.”  And Augustsson will be in the distinguished company of Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, Malin Baryard-Johnsson and Peder Fredricson.  It seems the Swedes really do intend to make an impression next Friday afternoon.

SUPER-CONFIDENT
The Dutch will be feeling super-confident after their back-to-back double of victories in Rome (ITA) and St Gallen (SUI) which have ensured their 4.5 advantage at the head of the leaderboard.  Team manager Rob Ehrens said from the outset that he wanted to do most of the hard work early this season to ease the pressure closer to the FEI European Championships in Madrid in September – and it has worked like a dream.  He is, however, still taking a strong squad that includes Piet Raymakers Jr, Leon Thijssen, Maikel van der Vleuten, Vincent Voorn and Albert Zoer.

Continue reading Falsterbo Next Port of Call for FEI Nations Cup 2011 Series →

Community/Charity, Competitions, EQUUS Foundation, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Double H Farm’s HH Narcos Du Marais & Christina Kelly Win the $32,500 Fairfield Grand Prix to Benefit The EQUUS Foundation

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HH Narcos Du Marais owned by Double H Farm and ridden by Christina Kelly piloting the GMC Jump. Photos courtesy of Reflections Photography.

WESTPORT, CT – June 30, 2011 – Christina Kelly aboard HH Narcos Du Marais owned by Double H Farm emerged victorious over a field of 24 competitors at the $32,500 Grand Prix on Saturday, June 25, 2011, the culminating event of the Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show held in Westport, Connecticut.

Due to torrential rains earlier in the week, the decision was made on Friday to move Saturday’s Grand Prix from the grass Jumper Field to the Emerson Burr Ring with all weather footing.

George N. Venizelos representing Wells Fargo Advisors was on hand to present the well-earned blue ribbon, along with Laura Totten of Coca Cola and Michel Nischan of Wholesome Wave and The Dressing Room, Show Co-Chairs, Alison Ashman, Catherine Herman, and Jennifer Ross, and Lynn Coakley, President of The EQUUS Foundation.

Thanks to the professional expertise of Show Manager William Glass and the Fairfield County Hunt Club staff led by General Manager Carla Nelson, spectators and over 400 guests at The EQUUS Foundation Grand Prix Benefit Luncheon were afforded ringside views to watch these riders and horses triumph over the difficult course designed by Olympic Course Designer Steve Stephens.

The show’s generous individual and corporate sponsors included: the show’s Official Vehicle Sponsors, Buick & GMC; Magazine Sponsor, Moffly Media; Gold Medal Sponsors Avenue Capital Group, Fairfield Equine Associates, and Newmark Knight Frank; Silver Medal Sponsors, Coca Cola, Corinthian Partners, LLC, D’Addario Industries, Gary Goldberg Financial Services, Hi Ho Petroleum, Hospital for Special Surgery and Imperial Dental Associates; and Bronze Medal Sponsors, Agriventures Agway and Margaret Bondy Interiors. These sponsors presented awards all week long to the winners of the 250 separate equestrian competitions, which culminated with the Grand Prix on Saturday.

Continue reading Double H Farm’s HH Narcos Du Marais & Christina Kelly Win the $32,500 Fairfield Grand Prix to Benefit The EQUUS Foundation →

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Grand Champion Green Hunter Title Goes to Sandy Ferrell and Showman at Brandywine Valley Summer Series

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Sandy Ferrell and Showman won the Grand Champion Green Hunter prize at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG.

Devon, PA – June 30, 2011 – Once again, the weather was perfect as riders gathered at the Devon Show Grounds for the second day of the first annual Brandywine Valley Summer Series, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services. Today, riders competed for top honors in the professional hunter divisions in the Dixon Oval. Sandy Ferrell and her Second Year Green Working Hunter mount Showman were the day’s big winners, claiming the Grand Champion Green Hunter title after earning the Second Year/High Performance Hunter Championship.

This morning in the Second Year/High Performance Hunter, Ferrell was presented with the championship honors for her ride aboard Showman, owned by Krista and Alexa Weisman of Sherborn, MA. The division was sponsored by Meralex Farm, and the duo earned three first place ribbons, a second place ribbon, and a third place ribbon this week. They truly showed the way during their handy class, earning a high score of 90 for their efforts. Ferrell and Showman were then presented with the Grand Champion Green Hunter award after earning the most prize money in the Green Hunter divisions. The division’s reserve championship prize went to Louise Serio and Phillipa, owned by Jennifer Burger of Buffalo, NY.

Ferrell smiled, “I am thrilled! This was our first show back after Florida, and it is nice to know that after a break Showman can come back and still be the same super star he was earlier this year. He’s a horseman’s horse, he’s a winner, and he has a huge fan club.”

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Community/Charity, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Maclay, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Ireland’s Louise Parkes Joins Phelps Media Group Team for Alltech National Horse Show

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Louise Parkes, pictured aboard her pony after winning the Connemara class and the Reserve Supreme title at her Riding Clubs Championships in Ireland. Louise is pictured with her husband, noted equestrian photographer, Tony Parkes.

Wellington, Florida – June 30, 2011 – Phelps Media Group announced this afternoon that they have reached an agreement with distinguished equestrian writer Louise Parkes to join the PMG team for coverage of this year’s Alltech National Horse Show, 128th edition, to be held from November 2-6, 2011, at the beautiful new Alltech Indoor Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

“We’re bringing the entire Phelps Media Group team to Lexington for the Alltech National Horse Show,” said Phelps Media Group President Mason Phelps. “Louise Parkes has worked with PMG in the past and we felt this year’s event would be the perfect time for a reunion. To be honest, the show wouldn’t be complete without her. Her exceptional and wonderfully written reports from the equestrian world add a special international flair to our already first class coverage.”

Parkes reports on major equestrian competitions around the world, including the FEI Nations Cup series, the World Equestrian Games and the Olympic Games, for the FEI, the governing body of equestrian sports.

Married to photographer Tony Parkes, Louise inherited her passion for horses from her father who spent many of his happiest years in the hunting field. In between her busy cycle of assignments she competes at amateur level with the second-greatest love of her life – her Connemara ponies.

Having abandoned the camera for a pen back in 1994, her intuitive writing skills were quickly recognized by the FEI and she has been working on a contract basis for the governing body for equestrian sport ever since. She is also Equestrian Correspondent for the biggest-selling daily newspaper in Ireland, ‘The Irish Independent’, and her distinctive writing style has made her a much-sought-after contributor to top-selling equestrian publications. She has also worked in radio and TV and for media organizations and press rooms around the world. Last year, a book she co-wrote with author and commentator Michael Slavin, which details the history of the Irish Army Equitation School, was a big seller in the Christmas market.

Continue reading Ireland’s Louise Parkes Joins Phelps Media Group Team for Alltech National Horse Show →