Category Archives: Competitions

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

Kentucky Travel Industry Association Names Alltech National Horse Show as Top 10 Fall Event

Leave a comment
The Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park

Lexington, KY – September 6, 2011 – The Kentucky Travel Industry Association named the Alltech National Horse Show as part of their line-up of 2011 Fall Top Ten Festivals and Events.

Founded in 1883 at the original Madison Square Garden, the National Horse Show is America’s oldest indoor horse show, firmly established as a major fixture on the national and international sports and social events calendars. For its 128th edition, the National Horse Show elected to move to the Kentucky Horse Park where it will be housed in the beautiful, new Alltech Indoor Arena. Now called the Alltech National Horse Show, the five-day event will offer $650,000 to the nation’s top riders. There will also be children’s activities, interactive exhibits, and special social events.

The Kentucky Travel Industry Association names its Top 10 Festivals & Events four times a year. To be eligible, festivals or events must be recommended or produced by a Kentucky Travel Industry Association member. A panel of impartial judges selects the winners for each season. Criteria for selection include popularity of the event, its impact on the local tourism economy as well as cultural and historical significance.

The Kentucky Travel Industry Association (KTIA) is a nearly 900 member, statewide association representing all sectors of the state’s travel industry. The Association’s mission is to unite Kentucky’s third largest industry through governmental interaction, communication and education. For more information on KTIA, phone 502.223.8687, email ktia@tourky.com, or visit www.KTIA.com.

The Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition, will be held from November 2-6, 2011, at the beautiful, new Alltech Indoor Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

Continue reading Kentucky Travel Industry Association Names Alltech National Horse Show as Top 10 Fall Event →

Championships, Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

FEI Balkan Jumping Championships 2011 – Zagreb (CRO)

Leave a comment

BIG HAUL OF GOLD FOR THE GREEKS IN ZAGREB by Louise Parkes

Croatia's Kristina Grilec, Mirna Bacic and Janka Krasovec - gold, silver and bronze medallists in the Amazons (Ladies) Individual Championship at the FEI Balkan Jumping Championships 2011. Photo: FEI/ BalkanJChPress.

Lausanne (SUI), 6 September 2011 – Greek riders were in flying form at the FEI Balkan Jumping Championships 2011 staged in Zagreb, Croatia last weekend where they claimed eight of the 10 titles on offer.  Gold in the Ladies Individual and Team events were the only medals to escape their grasp as they ran riot through the remainder of the show programme, producing convincing wins at all levels.

Staged at the Karoca Horse Club in the Croatian capital city, the event attracted competitors from six nations – Serbia, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Greece.  President of the Ground Jury was Russia’s Vladimir Platov and the remainder of the Ground Jury panel were Mrs Mimi Kyrkinis from Greece, Turkey’s Mrs Gulfer Taneri, Bulgaria’s Mr Yuri Valev and Mrs Jasminka Pirs Petrakovic from Croatia.

SENIORS
In the Senior Team Championships, the Greeks clinched gold with a total of 22 faults which give them a significant 14-fault advantage over the silver medallists from Slovenia.  The Croatians took bronze, but with 55 faults on the board were a long way further adrift and 10 points clear of the Bulgarians who just missed out on the medals here.

Course designer, Olaf Petersen Jr., set a 1.30m track for the opening competition in which Alexandros Fourlis and his 12 year old bay mare GZS Cappucino Z, by Calvaro Z, raced home quickest in a time of 61.39 seconds.  From a start-list of 22 runners, it was Croatia’s Denis Gugic (Davita) and Filip Rozmaric (Cezar BB) who slotted into the next two places while Hanna Roberson-Mytilinaiou (Natacha Delaunay) from Greece was close behind in fourth spot.

Continue reading FEI Balkan Jumping Championships 2011 – Zagreb (CRO) →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR

Piaffe-Performance Team Shines at CDI Saugerties with Numerous Wins, the Two Highest Scores of the Show and a Clean Sweep of the Small Tour

Leave a comment
Dr. Cesar Parra (center) stands with his team of riders from Piaffe-Performance at the CDI Saugerties. (Photo courtesy of Piaffe-Performance Farm)

Whitehouse Station, NJ (September 5, 2011) – Dressed in their navy blazers and khaki pants when they weren’t riding, the riders from Piaffe-Performance, led by international dressage rider and trainer Dr. Cesar Parra, were easy to spot at the CDI Saugerties show. The Piaffe-Performance team was on fire, burning up the scoreboard with phenomenal wins, excellent scores and personal bests.

Parra set the pace for his riders by making a clean sweep of the Small Tour classes aboard Grandioso, owned by Michael and Sarah Davis. “For Piaffe-Performance this was probably our most successful show ever. What an amazing weekend,” Para said. “Grandioso and I scored a CDI personal best of 75.614% in the Intermediaire I class. Our team also had the highest two scores of the show with multiple wins in the 3rd and 4th level classes.”

Kevin Kohmann and Federleicht rode away with the highest score of the show with a 78.9% while Nadine Buberl earned a 77.8% on Lindner. “Bebe Davis won the Pony test and showed her Rotano for the first time ever with a really nice score, showing what a bright future they have,” Parra said. “In the Junior CDI our riders placed first and second with Nicholas Torres Rodriguez and Silver Label winning both classes, with a score of over 70% on the second day. It was their first show together so I am very proud of them. I am also proud of Piaffe-Performance student Dominique Cassavetis who placed second in the same classes.”

The wins didn’t end there, as Chase Hickok and Krista Schrager rode away with first and second in the Young Riders. “John McGinty won his division of 4th level with Windsor, Susie won with Manny, Katie with Leo, Nadine did super with Superman and Aga showed off his new moves schooling through the weekend,” Parra said.

Continue reading Piaffe-Performance Team Shines at CDI Saugerties with Numerous Wins, the Two Highest Scores of the Show and a Clean Sweep of the Small Tour →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Driving, Events

Shelly Temple Takes 5th Place at the Minden CDE in Germany

Leave a comment

On her quest to make the US Pony Driving Team for the second time, Shelly Temple and her Morgan gelding LR Ami B-Line (Cooper) have been training in Germany since August.

Shelly and Cooper competed at the Minden CDE in Germany, August 25-28, 2011.  Minden is a large event featuring the German National Championships.  The first day of competition began with a bang with their win in the Single Pony dressage class with a score of 43.39.

On marathon day Shelly took a conservative approach with Cooper to ensure he was safe on the technical and long course.  However, on day 3, cones, Shelly and Cooper turned it on.  They took 2nd place in cones with a double clear (i.e., making the time requirement with no faults).  “I was very pleased with my cones course; it was very smooth and Cooper went well,” states Shelly.  Overall, Shelly remarks that the German show was great and featured many excellent top pony drivers: “The Germans will be very hard to beat in Lipica [World Championships].”

Accompanying Shelly, Cooper, and her husband to Europe are the feeds, supplements, and equipment of her sponsors: Kentucky Equine Research, Kombat Boots, Purina feeds, Omega Fields, ThinLine, Leather Therapy, and Charles Owens.  Shelly is thankful for the support of her sponsors and donors: “This is truly a team sport as I couldn’t be here without the generosity of my sponsors and all the great people who have donated to Team Catalyst.”

Cooper is currently grazing grass and preparing for the World Pony Championships in Slovenia September 22-25.  She hopes to build upon her 2007 success as a member of the U.S. Bronze medal team as well as silver medallist in dressage.  To follow Shelly and Team Catalyst on their efforts to make the US Team for the 2011 Pony Driving World Championship visit her blog at http://catalystdriving.blogspot.com/.

For more information contact:
Shelly Temple
Windsor, South Carolina
rskydiver@aol.com
www.catalystdriving.com

Championships, Competitions, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI

First European Title for IJsbrand Chardon

Leave a comment
Dutch champion IJsbrand Chardon won his first European four-in-hand title in Breda this weekend. Photo © Rinaldo de Craen.

Breda (NED), 1-4 September 2011 – Four-time world four-in-hand champion IJsbrand Chardon (NED) has added a new title to his long list of successes. Chardon won the first FEI Open European Driving Championships for Four-in-Hand since 1981, which were held in Breda, the Netherlands this weekend. Jozsef Dobrovitz from Hungary won the silver medal; the bronze medal went to Chardon’s fellow country- and teammate Koos de Ronde. The Dutch team took the lead from the very beginning and won the European team gold ahead of Hungary and Germany. Reigning world champion Boyd Exell from Australia won the Open category.

Determined
Although the emphasis of the competition was obviously on the European Championships, IJsbrand Chardon had another goal in Breda and that was to beat Boyd Exell. Exell managed to beat Chardon at every event where both drivers competed this year. Chardon is a winner at heart and is determined to beat Exell. In Breda, he came very close. Exell took the lead after a beautiful Dressage test whereas Chardon won the marathon. The difference between the rivals after the Dressage and Marathon competitions was only 0.10 penalty points in favour of Exell. In the final obstacle driving competition, second to last starter Chardon knocked a ball off the last pair of cones which gave Exell a wider margin, which the world champion did not even need in the end. Exell drove an excellent clear round within the time allowed and was declared winner of the Open category of FEI European Driving Championships for Four-in-Hands.

Risky
IJsbrand Chardon had mixed feelings afterwards. On one hand, he was happy to have won his first European Championships and on the other he was not pleased with his second place behind Boyd Exell. “I am a top sportsman and I like to win,” Chardon said. “I opened the attack on Boyd and focussed completely on beating him, which was very risky. Luckily, it went well and I did not lose but I would have preferred to compete against him in an equal battle.” Chardon, whose eldest daughter Jeannette rode in the two-star Eventing competition at Breda at the same time, competed with the 15-year-old Swedish warmblood Tango and the KWPN geldings Whooper, Zion and Darco in Dressage. KWPN-gelding Tomasson replaced Zion in the Marathon and Cones competitions.

Continue reading First European Title for IJsbrand Chardon →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, FEI, FEI, Para-Equestrian

Freestyle Gold Medals Bring British Haul to a Magnificent Eight

Leave a comment
Denmark's Stinna Kaastrup and Labbenhus Snovs added Freestyle Grade Ib gold to Team and Individual silver at the FEI European Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships 2011 at Moorsele, Belgium yesterday. Photo: FEI/Liz Gregg.

Moorsele (BEL), 5 September 2011 – With the Team and three Individual titles already under their belt, the British brought their gold medal haul to a magnificent eight when adding victory in Freestyle Grades Ia, II, III and IV to their tally on the final afternoon of the FEI European Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships 2011 at Moorsele in Belgium yesterday.  Only Denmark’s Stinna Kaastrup prevented them from making it a complete whitewash in the closing stages of the event that produced fantastic competition and presented many new stars of the future.

It was one of the stalwarts of the sport who took the first Freestyle title on offer in Grade Ia when British veteran, Anne Dunham, claimed top of the podium after a test with the ever-reliable Teddy that earned her a personal best score of 79.200.  “He was just brilliant!” Dunham said of the horse that also helped her take team and individual honours.  Freestyle Silver went to British team-mate Emma Sheardon with Purdy’s Dream on a score of 74.100 while Sweden’s Anita Johnsson and Donar took bronze with 73.950, heading a strong challenge from Helen Kearney who became the first-ever Irish rider to claim a medal at the FEI European Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships the previous day. The 22 year old competitor, who hails from Dunlavin in County Wicklow and who only began riding three years ago, took Individual bronze in Grade Ia, and Irish Chef d’Equipe, Naomi Donoghue, said afterwards, “It was a tremendous day for Helen and the Irish Para Equestrian squad.  We have achieved our first European medal and I firmly believe there will be many more to come.”

CONVINCING MARGIN
Kaastrup won Freestyle Grade Ib by a convincing margin, pinning Austria’s Pepo Puch (Good Boy’s Feeling) into silver medal position ahead of Finland’s Katja Karjalainen (Rosie) in bronze.  The 17 year old Danish rider, double bronze and silver Freestyle medallist at last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, lives on Fyn, the third-largest of Denmark’s islands, and she trains intensively with the help of coach Lotte Straarup.  She began riding as a therapeutic pursuit and learned to really enjoy it with her first pony, whom she said, “was very nice, but a bit big!”

Continue reading Freestyle Gold Medals Bring British Haul to a Magnificent Eight →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Maclay, Show Jumping

Déjà Vu Molly Braswell – 2011 ASPCA Maclay Southeast Regional Champion

Leave a comment
Molly Braswell & El Campeons Danish ©Flashpoint Photography

Green Cove Springs, FL — September 4, 2011 — Molly Braswell of Ocala, FL is celebrating her Birthday weekend the same as last year, by besting 30 top competitors to capture the ASPCA Maclay Regional Championship (Region 3, the Southeast), held during 2011 North Florida Hunter Jumper Association’s Labor Day Horse Show at the Agricultural Center in Green Cove Springs, FL.

Michael Rheinheimer designed a technical 12 fence first round course to aid judges Patricia Harnois and John Roper in narrowing the field of 30 down to one winner – or in this case a repeat victory for Molly Braswell. “It was a good course, for me a little long coming out of the first line, but otherwise I was really happy with it,” Braswell said.

Turning 18 years old today made this competition bittersweet for Braswell as it marks the countdown of her final season as a “Junior” rider.  She trains at Terrapin Hill Farm with her father Bob Braswell and assistant trainer Courtney de Hechavarria and has been partnered with the Elizabeth Dove owned El Campeons Danish a little over a year. When asked for some specifics, such as age on her mount, Braswell giggled and said, “I’m not gonna tell you! He’s a Danish Warmblood and I love him!” A little encouragement and compliments of their performance brought out a confession from a proud Braswell that this stellar gelding is twenty-four years old and in amazing form, and keeping his stride.

Continue reading Déjà Vu Molly Braswell – 2011 ASPCA Maclay Southeast Regional Champion →

Breeds, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, USEF

Ooh Ah Named 2011 Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF National Hunter Breeding Champion

Leave a comment
Ooh Ah, 2011 Best Young Horse West Coast and Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF National Hunter Breeding Champion. Photo: Maria Morgan

Warrenton, VA – The chestnut filly with the large blaze was the best in the west – with judges then determining Ooh Ah the 2011 Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF National Hunter Breeding Champion.

Ooh Ah (Nob Hill x Holy Cow by Fire Jade), bred and owned by Leslie Nelson and handled by John Ducharme, is an 18-month-old Thoroughbred cross. She competed against several dozen other horses in Southern California at the Del Mar Horse Park on August 31, with the Best Young Horse and Reserve Best Young Horse that day going on to challenge the East Coast victors for the title of National Best Young Horse.

“I really didn’t think this day would ever come,” Nelson said. “I was in such a state of shock.”

It’s not that Nelson isn’t used to winning West Coast. With Ooh Ah, it was her third West Coast victory. But the overall Grand Champion trophy was always just out of reach.

But not this time, not with Ooh Ah, known around the barn as Josie. “This time, the stars aligned,” Nelson said. “She is without a doubt the quietest, nicest, most uncomplicated filly. She’s just really simple.”

Simple enough – and perfect enough – to get the top votes of judges on both coasts.

Continue reading Ooh Ah Named 2011 Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF National Hunter Breeding Champion →

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

William Fox-Pitt Wins Record Sixth Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials

Leave a comment

American Boyd Martin Defies the Odds with Neville Bardos

Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos. Photos: www. stockimageservices. com

Lexington, KY – There are incredible stories and then there is the story of the 2011 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. Not only did William Fox-Pitt ride Parklane Hawk to a record sixth win of his career, but a little American horse named Neville Bardos defied every possible odd to finish seventh in the world’s toughest four-star.

Fox-Pitt and the New Zealand Thoroughbred added one time fault in the show jumping to his dressage score in an otherwise flawless effort over the four days of competition. His dressage score of 39.7 was good enough for second place after the first phase but when overnight leader Simone Dietermann fell off Free Easy NRW on the cross country, Fox-Pitt inherited a lead he then defended with style.

But the story of the competition continued to be a scrappy little failed racehorse from Australia. Neville Bardos fulfilled Boyd Martin’s dream of competing at Burghley and with his tenacity and bravery put a nightmare of a summer behind his family. A barn fire ripped through Martin’s barn in May, and Neville Bardos was trapped in the fire the longest of those horses that survived. They lost six horses in the blaze and Neville Bardos was pulled out of the flames by Martin and Phillip Dutton. He then recovered miraculously after inhaling a massive amounts smoke and burning his throat and lungs.

This nightmare was followed closely by the loss of both Martin’s father in a biking accident in Australia and then his wife Silva’s father to illness in the following weeks – Martin hit rock bottom.

Continue reading William Fox-Pitt Wins Record Sixth Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials →

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

HSBC FEI Classics – Fox-Pitt Makes History with Sixth Burghley Win

Leave a comment
William Fox-Pitt (GBR) made history with a record sixth Burghley victory when winning on Parklane Hawk with just a single Jumping time penalty to add to his Dressage score. Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI.

4 September 2011 – William Fox-Pitt (GBR) earned a standing ovation from the rain-soaked crowd as he clinched a record sixth title at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR), second-last leg of the HSBC FEI Classics.

Fox-Pitt showed all his famous finesse and calmness as he conjured a clear round with just one time fault on the sodden ground from Catherine Witt’s Parklane Hawk, an 11-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred by Grosvenor.

He has now beaten the five Burghley victories apiece for Ginny Elliot (GBR) and Mark Todd (NZL), and has equalled Lucinda Green’s (GBR) Badminton record of six wins on six different horses.

“This ranks as one of the best achievements of my life,” said a visibly emotional Fox-Pitt afterwards.

“I pretend to look relaxed, but deep down this really matters to me. It’s such an honour to win six times and to be among such legends as Mark, Ginny and Lucinda – and Mark’s still going, so perhaps he’ll beat me next time!

“I can’t believe what’s happened today. The horse was superb because the conditions were against us. I’m so lucky to have him to ride.”

Continue reading HSBC FEI Classics – Fox-Pitt Makes History with Sixth Burghley Win →