Category Archives: Competitions

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, Show Jumping

Michael Tokaruk and Roger Rabbit Take the Mid-South Classic $25,000 Grand Prix

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Michael Tokaruk and Roger Rabbit accept the blue ribbon from Brownland Farm’s Sissy Anderton. Lili Weik Photography

FRANKLIN, TN – JULY 12, 2011 – On Sunday, July 10, Michael Tokaruk of Memphis, TN captured his second major win in less than two months aboard Roger Rabbit, the 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Castle Point Farm LLC.

The team beat the heat and the competition to easily win the Mid-South Classic $25,000 Grand Prix, which capped off the week at Brownland Farm in Franklin, TN.

Tokaruk, 30, who recently returned to Memphis to act as rider and trainer at Dave Pellegrini’s Spring Mill Farm, piloted the up-and-coming-gray gelding through two clean rounds to earn the top spot.

In the first round, 26 teams navigated the Tim Hott-designed course, but only six went clean.  In the jump-off, only Tokaruk and Roger turned in a fault-less performance for the blue-ribbon win. “I thought the course rode well,” said Tokaruk following the win. “Big enough without over-facing anyone, and technical enough that you had to do some riding out there.

“We were the only double clean and our time was three seconds faster that the 2nd place finisher who had four faults, “ Tokaruk continued. “We could have had a rail down and still won by a good margin. I made a nice inside turn that saved us some time. Going early in the jump-off, I knew I needed to be clean, but I also wanted to be quick enough to put pressure on the rest of the field.”

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Competitions, Events, USEF, Vaulting

Four Top 5 Finishers at Aachen CHIO

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Aachen, Germany – Four American Vaulting Association vaulters placed in the Top 5 at the Aachen CHIO this weekend. Mary McCormick placed third in the Women’s Division; Devon Maitozo & Rosey Ross placed third in the Pas de Deux. The Woodside Team placed fifth in the Nations Cup and the Mt. Eden Sun Team took second in the Sparkasse division.

Watch Mary McCormick’s performance>

The results>

© Copyright 2011 United States Equestrian Federation

Competitions, Events, Show Jumping, USEF

16-Year-Old Makes History at Spruce Meadows

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Caitlin Ziegler and Valencia (photo by Spruce Meadows Media Services).

Spruce Meadows, Calgary, Alberta – History was made at Spruce Meadows Thursday with 16-year-old Caitlin Ziegler (USA) becoming the youngest ever winner of an FEI event in the Spruce Meadows International Ring. Riding her 13-year-old mare, Valencia, Ziegler bested an international field of 32 horse/rider combinations with a convincing double clear, and a 3-second margin of victory in a seven-horse jump-off in the 1.5m AON Cup.

“This is really unbelievable, I really am speechless. Winning here against these riders is very special,” said the beaming teen from Wisconsin. With names like Madden, Spooner, Millar, Simpson and Lamaze falling behind her in the final standings, Ziegler took time to relish the moment.

“I guess I should be worried about my job,” chuckled her coach Eric Lamaze, who finished sixth in the event with four faults in the jump-off and a slower time.

Earlier this season Caitlin Ziegler was recognized at Spruce Meadows for her commitment and dedication to the sport with and RSA scholarship. Clearly that dedication is paying off with her historic win.

Continue reading 16-Year-Old Makes History at Spruce Meadows →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Sweden Soars to the Top of the Promotional League Table

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L to R - Arthur Gustavo Da Silva (La Toya), Christina Liebherr (LB Callas Sitte Z), Claudia Gisler (Touchable) and Niklaus Schurtenberger (Fifty Fifty) pictured during the prize-giving with Chef d'Equipe Urs Gruning in the foreground. Photo: FEI/Drammen Press.

Lausanne (SUI), 12 July 2011 – Sweden holds the lead in the 2011 FEI European Promotional League series following consistently good results over the past few weeks. Carrying 49 faults, they have a good advantage over the Italians and Swiss who are playing cat-and-mouse in second and third places respectively, but with only a single point separating them.  The battle for promotion to the Top League FEI Nations Cup series in 2012 is a tough one, and the Swedes are showing just how hungry they are to return to the elite level of the sport from which they were relegated at the end of last season.

It was the Swiss who held sway at the European Promotional League leg in Drammen, Norway last month, but it was a close call when they only pipped the runners-up from Turkey by a single fault.  Switzerland’s Arthur de Silva (La Toya 111), Niklaus Schurtenberger (Fifty Fifty), Claudia Gisler (Touchable) and Christina Liebherr (LB Callas Sitte Z) completed with a total of eight faults, but a double-clear from former Irish team member Gerry Flynn (SIEC Ledgepoint), who has been flying the Turkish flag in recent years, put Turkey in a strong position.

However Cagri Basel (SIEC Goldrush) followed an opening zero score with 15 faults, and when Omer Karaevli (Dadjak Ter Puttenen) added five more to his first-round time penalty and Burak Azak (SIEC Castelo Branco) lowered just one fence in the second round, then the Turkish total of nine left them frustratingly close to challenging the Swiss to a third-round jump-off.

PARTICULARLY REMARKABLE
Poland finished third with 22 faults, particularly remarkable considering they fielded only a three-man team and particularly impressive as pathfinder, Msciwaj Kiecon (Urbane) produced two flawless performances.  Sweden picked up 10.5 valuable points when slotting into joint fourth with Denmark – Sweden’s Peder Fredricson and H&M Arctic Aurora Borealis producing the third double-clear of the competition – while Italy slotted into sixth ahead of Finland in seventh and the host nation of Norway in eighth place.

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Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, Vaulting

Kevin Babington and Mark Q Capture the $40,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper

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© ESI Photography. Kevin Babington and Mark Q on course in the $40,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix.

CULPEPER, VA (July 11, 2011) — With all new footing in the Grand Prix ring and beautiful weather, the $40,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia, was well suited to highlight the Showday National. Kevin Babington of Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania, could not have asked for much more, as he captured the first place honors aboard his own Mark Q.

Sunday’s course was designed by Jerry Dougherty of Bokeelia, Florida. Four riders went clean, including standout junior and Grand Prix newcomer Hasbrouck Donovan of Gainesville, Florida. Donovan went third in the order, posting her clear round early aboard her own Delilah. Babington showed sixth in the order and earned the second clear round of the class to secure a jump-off.

“I thought it was a great class,” said Babington. “I really enjoyed this show. Today’s class had a nice turnout, and the new footing was fantastic. We had some rain earlier in the week that gave it a good test and it passed with flying colors.”

Babington, like so many others, has circled the Pfizer Million on his calendar this year. “The Pfizer Million is one of my main goals this year since it’s such a great opportunity to jump for that much prize money. This is a new horse that I didn’t realize would be such a strong contender for the Million but I think we’ll be ready.”

Babington plans to return to HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties to help cement his spot in the Pfizer Million lineup. “I will be in Saugerties for three weeks and will hopefully get six qualifiers in then,” he said. “This was my third one so I should be in good shape after Saugerties.”

Continue reading Kevin Babington and Mark Q Capture the $40,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper →

Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Artist Jane Gaston and Lumiere Draw Up a Victory in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix

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©ESI Photography. Jane Gaston and Lumiere in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Culpeper.

SAUGERTIES, NEW YORK (July 11, 2011) — Two of the leaders in the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final Rider Rankings dueled it out in Saturday’s $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix with amateur rider Jane Gaston and her own Lumiere coming out on top to highlight the Showday National at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia.

Gaston, a well known artist, especially in the equine world, entered Saturday’s class ranked third in the current Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Rider Rankings and continues to prove that she is one of the favorites to win it all in the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final.

“This horse is just great,” said Gaston of The Plains, Virginia. “He got his start at HITS Culpeper five years ago as a baby and has won both Devoucoux classes so far here this year, so I feel like this is his home.

“But I am looking forward to going to Saugerties! The place is just beautiful. I have been there as a spectator, but I have never shown there,” said Gaston, looking forward to making her debut at HITS-on-the-Hudson this fall.

Gaston has made it clear that qualifying for the Diamond Mills Final is one of her goals this year. “I love the concept of this class. It really levels the playing field because it eliminates things like riders having multiple rides. And yes, I would say we are one of the favorites in the Final – as long as I stay out of his way!”

Continue reading Artist Jane Gaston and Lumiere Draw Up a Victory in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

John Pearce Finishes First and Second in the $30,000 Colorado Circuit Opener Grand Prix

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John Pearce and Son of a Gun bested a jump-off field of seven competitors to win the $30,000 Colorado Circuit Opener Grand Prix Presented by Nutrena. Photo credit: Flying Horse Photography

Parker, CO — Seven horses and riders returned for the second round over the Peter Holmes-designed course in the $30,000 Colorado Circuit Opener Grand Prix Presented by Nutrena. Twenty-five horses and riders started in the featured event on Saturday July 9, 2011 during week four of the Colorado Summer Circuit at The Colorado Horse Park. Canadian WEG riders John Pearce and Karen Cudmore each had multiple rides in the jump-off, with the two of them galloping off with the top four ribbons.

Course designer Peter Holmes, Cowichan Bay, B.C., planned to use the Park’s Derby Field to full advantage. “It’s a beautiful big arena on two levels, which is not that common. I wanted to use the slope as part of the course; it’s a balance test that we don’t often get to see.”

In his pre-ride course walk Olympian John Pearce speculated that four fences could be problematic for riders in the first round of the class: fence #3, a vertical off of an inside turn; the double combination, an oxer to a vertical; the triple combination of vertical, oxer vertical, that was set completely on its own and faced into the crowd, and the line from fence #9 to #10. And he was right. All four jumps presented problem spots for the class. The result — an excellent selection of horses that advanced to the second round. “I thought the course designer did a great job all week,” Pearce said. “He nailed it.”

In the jump-off Pearce was first to go with his eventual winner, Son of a Gun, delivering a clear round with a 36.148. This put the pressure on the rest of the class, who each faulted, until Pearce returned with Chianto. This was his partner in last year’s World Equestrian Games, where they finished in eighth place overall. The duo was clear, but finished with 36.474, leaving Son of a Gun in the lead. Cudmore was last to go with her mare Shea; the perennial favorite in Colorado didn’t disappoint her loyal fans. Cudmore put in a great run, but pulled the last rail to finish in third.

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

FEI European Jumping Championships for Children, Juniors and Young Riders 2011

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A DOUBLE GOLD FOR BELGIUM AND ITALY AS NEXT GENERATION TAKES CENTRE STAGE by Louise Parkes

Pictured (L to R): Nicola Philippaerts (team and individual gold), Victor Kumps, Jessica Geurts and Olivier Philippaerts, (front) Chef d'Equipe Rik Deraedt. Photo: FEI/Michael Steiger.

Lausanne (SUI), 11 JULY 2011 – Rising stars, and many with familiar names, shone brightly at the FEI European Jumping Championships for Children, Juniors and Young Riders 2011 staged in Comporta (POR) over the weekend.  Nicola and Olivier Philippaerts, twin sons of long-time Belgian senior team rider Ludo Philippaerts, were members of the victorious Belgian Young Rider side, and 18 year Nicola also took the individual Young Rider title.  Meanwhile Virginia Caruso confirmed the competitiveness of Italian jumping right now when helping to scoop Junior team gold before also taking the individual honours yesterday.

Ireland clinched the first gold medals on offer in Saturday’s Children’s Team decider. But it was Lisa Nooren, daughter of world-famous coach Henk Nooren who is currently managing the French senior team, who came out on top in the Children’s individual competition the result of which, like so many of the other classes at these championships, had to be decided by a jump-off.  The quality of competition was extraordinary, with the top four riders producing flawless performances over five tough rounds, but Nooren and the 10 year old Dutch-bred Ubalia produced a superior turn of foot against the clock that left them with an advantage of more than 2.5 seconds over silver medallist Paul Delforge (Kaloubet d’Toureelle) from France, while Belgium’s Maxine de Pelsmaeker (Whippersnapper) claimed the bronze. Hungary’s Zoltan Lazar Jr (Afrodite) finished just outside the medal placings when second-quickest across the line, but with a single fence on the floor this time out.

Individual Children’s Champion Nooren said her victory was a family effort.  “It is a great privilege to have a father like mine.  He cannot often be at the competitions with me, so my mother coaches me, but at home the three of us work together as a group,” she explained.

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

$30,000 Grand Prix Is Grand Finale to Bustling First Week at Horse Shows by the Bay

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Brian Shook and Courage 68. Photo Credit: Robyn Keyster/PMG

Traverse City, MI – July 10, 2011 – Overcast skies couldn’t dull the excitement at Horse Shows by the Bay this afternoon, as the $30,000 Open Jumper Grand Prix of Traverse City ignited the Grand Prix ring. Brian Shook and Courage 68 took home the top prize, while Erynn Ballard and Robin Walker came in second and third, respectively. A suspenseful jump-off kept fans on the edge of their seats, as Shook, who rode last in the second round, was the only competitor to clear the course twice. This event was the first of four $30,000 Open Jumper Grand Prix that will take place at Flintfields Horse Park this summer.

Horse Shows by the Bay’s first 2011 Grand Prix got off to a dramatic start, as the first horse and rider both fell at a particularly challenging oxer. It wasn’t until the seventh rider, Robin Walker aboard Ilian-de-Taute, took the course that a clear round was achieved. Despite the much-appreciated lack of rain today, the rails seemed especially slippery on designer Chris Brandt’s intimidating course. Nearly all of the riders who entered today’s competition accidentally introduced a few rails to the Grand Prix ring’s new footing. Nevertheless, the challenge was met with delight by fans, whose “oohs” and “aahs” could be heard as each horse and rider bravely confronted the course.

Erynn Ballard and the appropriately-named Fun 2 Fly sure had fun this afternoon, as they were the second to go clear in the first round. They also had the fastest first round time, breezing through in under 70 seconds, the only pair to do so without incurring faults. Foreshadowing his jump-off success, Brian Shook was the third and final rider to clear the course in the initial round. He and Courage 68 teamed up to avoid the knockdowns and refusals that thwarted other participants. Of those whose rounds had only one fault, David Jennings and Nandy Fontaine turned in a great first round time of 69.534 seconds, finishing fourth overall. Denise Wilson also did well aboard Casey Jones, finishing with just four faults and a fifth place standing.

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Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group

A Blue Ribbon Day for Junior Hunters at Horse Shows by the Bay

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Jessica Blum and The Real McCoy. Photo Credit: Katie Anich/PMG

Traverse City, MI – July 10, 2011 – An overcast morning gave way to a rather blustery but pleasant day on the final day of week one of Horse Shows by the Bay in Traverse City, MI. The R. L. Polk Family Main Hunter ring bustled with many junior riders vying for the Grand Junior Hunter Champion title. There was no stopping Jessica Blum and The Real McCoy, who topped them all when they earned first place in every Large Junior 15 and Under class this weekend. Also highlighting the day was the $2,000 Junior Hunter Classic and the $30,000 Grand Prix of Traverse City, both drawing quite impressive crowds.

The Large 16-17 Junior Hunters kicked off the Junior Hunter division today. Madison Hayes and Santiago, owned by Ilan Ferder, won the hunter round with a smooth and consistent showing of her handsome horse. Sydney Glazer and Emily Arneson’s Amika jumped with beautiful form into the second place position in the hunter round, followed by Mary Abbot aboard Devotion, who is owned by Jessica Warren. Laura Baginski and Jordan Weaver’s Devout showed off their skills in the handy hunter round, easily making the turns right into first place in the class. Hayes and Santiago grabbed the red ribbon and Sydney Glazer and Amika snagged its yellow counterpart in the handy round. After all the points were tallied-up, Hayes and Santiago accumulated the most points over the weekend – 38 total – and took home the champion prize. Laura Baginski and Devout took home reserve champion honors with 28 points.

It was the Large 15 and Under Junior Hunters who stole the show today, with Blum and McCoy earning first place honors in every class of their division, including the under saddle class. Blum and her own “Mac” closed out the weekend with a total of 50 points in the section, as well as the sought-after champion ribbon. These incredible 50 points allowed the judge to announce early, before the Small Junior Hunters, that the pair could not be topped by any other pair in the Junior Hunter division, making them the Grand Junior Hunter Champions. Lauren Westerhouse and her horse, Debonaire, took home the reserve champion ribbon, with a total of 26 points. Westerhouse and Debonaire earned second place in both classes today.

Continue reading A Blue Ribbon Day for Junior Hunters at Horse Shows by the Bay →