Category Archives: Competitions

Jumper Classics Cap Off Colorful First Week of Brandywine Valley Summer Series

Julia Fowler aboard Presco. Fowler was High Junior Amateur-Owner Jumper Division Champion at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. Photo By: Robyn Keyster/PMG.

Devon, PA – July 3, 2011 – It’s not the Fourth of July yet, but fireworks were already on display this afternoon in the jumper ring at Brandywine Valley Summer Series, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services. Countering the overcast skies, two rousing Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics lit up the Dixon Oval of the Devon Show Grounds. Julia Fowler and Alex Matz both earned championship honors in the the Junior Amateur-Owner Jumper Division, while Fowler and Saly Glassman garnered blue ribbons in today’s highlight events.

The $3,500 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic was the first jumper event of the day, with Julia Fowler and her own horse, Presco, getting off to a promising start. The duo soared to a clear round, despite the many brightly colored jumps that stopped several horses in their tracks this afternoon. Fowler and Presco sailed smoothly to – and through – the jump-off, finishing in a brisk 33.03 seconds. “I’m definitely not the fastest rider generally,” commented Fowler after her win, “so it was a good week for me. My horse was awesome, he jumped fantastically, and he just genuinely tries really hard out there.”

After picking up her blue ribbon for her win in the Classic, Fowler returned to the ring to receive the championship tricolor for topping the division. “It feels really good to be champion,” laughed Fowler. “This is a cool horse show, and given that it’s everyone’s first time at Brandywine, it’s just been really great to be here and participate.” Fowler hails from West Hartford, CT, and trains with Andre Dignelli of Heritage Farm, located in Katonah, NY.

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Pope, Cosper and Hartman Claim 2011 USEF National Youth Reining Championship Titles

Oklahoma City, OK – Michael Pope’s 7-year-old horse, Whizota, “tried his heart out” and that determination edged the pair over their competitors into first place. Pope, Elizabeth Cosper and Olivia Hartman were crowned USEF National Youth Reining champions of three separate age groups at Saturday’s 2011 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby.

The Youth qualified for the USEF Championships by earning points in Qualifying Classes throughout the country in 2010-2011.

Pope, a 21-year-old from Theodore, AL, won the 19-21 age division on a score of 141 over Pilot Point, TX-rider Breanne Bertrand, who took the reserve spot on Stoned Chick on 140. Pope also claimed the third-place position, riding Whizn Freckle on a score of 139.5.

“The show is always fun and people were great,” Pope said. “I am very proud of my horse he did great.  It was a long trip to get here but it paid off big. Tim McQuay did a great job training this horse and I really enjoy showing him.”

Pope’s victory is just the latest in a long string of accomplishments that include: showing at all three NRHA Non Pro levels and leading the nation in USEF Youth 19-21 division and Adult Amateur division; 2009 Mississippi Reining Horse Association Year-End Champion Youth 14-18; 2008 Mississippi Reining Horse Association Year-End Reserve Champion Youth 14-18; 2005-2007 Mississippi Reining Horse Association Year-End Champion Youth 14-18; 2009 Year-End Champion Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2; and 2009 Year-End Reserve Champion Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1.

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

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

Allison Toffolon Excels in Junior Jumpers at Brandywine Valley Summer Series

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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Greenwich Park Eventing Invitational (CIC**)

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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Clean Sweep of Musical Freestyles for Yvonne Barteau at Dressage by the Bay

Yvonne Barteau and GP Delano. Photo Credit: Diana Hadsall

Traverse City, MI – July 1, 2011 – For Yvonne Barteau and KYB Dressage, the journey north from Maple Park, IL proved to be quite fruitful as she and her mounts GP Raymeister and GP Delano took home both blue ribbons in this week’s feature money events.

GP Raymeister scored a 74.5% to win the $2500 FEI Grand Prix Musical Freestyle while GP Delano won the $1500 FEI Intermediare I Musical Freestyle with a score of 75%.  Both horses are owned by Grand Prix Equestrian/Gina Frantz, who also resides in Illinois.

Today’s two events attracted several hundred people who enjoyed a total of 10 horse and rider combinations performing their routines to carefully choreographed music. A private fundraiser, sponsored by Hampton Green Farm, was also held with donations from the party and the gate going to the local Leelanau and Grand Traverse County 4-H.

KYB Dressage attended last season’s competitions and, due to the vacation-like atmosphere, including the gaming action at the Turtle Creek Casino, they decided to return again this summer for their “family vacation”.

Local resident Betsy VanDyke also did well today, as she and crowd favorite Cantana placed second next to Barteau.

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

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.”

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Kaitlyn Skog and Wilco Earn Grand Champion Performance Hunter Prize at Brandywine Valley Summer Series

Kaitlyn Skog and Wilco Earn Grand Championship Honors at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. Photo By: Robyn Keyster/PMG.

Devon, PA – July 1, 2011 – The performance hunters excelled this afternoon at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services. In the Dixon Oval of the famous Devon Show Grounds in Devon, PA, the highlight divisions included the Performance 3’3″ Hunters and a Performance 3’6″ – 3’9″ Hunters. Both included a handy round over fences, giving riders and their horses ample opportunity to show off their skills.

Kaitlyn Skog and Wilco, owned by Caren Seidle of Wayne, PA, were today’s big winners in the Performance 3’6″ – 3’9″ Hunters. The duo took home a first place ribbon, a second place ribbon, and a third place ribbon to finish the day as both the division champion and win the Grand Champion Performance Hunter title.

“The toughest part about being out there this afternoon was that my horse was a little quiet today,” said Skog. “I guess he was a little tired from yesterday, so I had to put on my extra big spurs. I’ve had Wilco since the beginning of May, and he’s so much fun; I’ve learned so much from him already. I just leased him for the summer, so he’s been awesome so far. We’ve been having a good time here at Brandywine and it’s been great to have something so close.”

Skog continued, “I want to move up and do the High Performance Hunters soon. Wilco can do it, it’s just me that needs to learn a bit. We just moved up to the 3’6″ height, and it’s important to get him out in front of me, he still sometimes goes behind my legs.” In addition to her equestrian pursuits, Skog is a sophomore at Oklahoma State University and studies biosystems engineering.

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

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.

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Falsterbo Next Port of Call for FEI Nations Cup 2011 Series

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.

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