Category Archives: Competitions

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

$60,000 Showplace Leading Rider Series Standings

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Maggie Jayne and Caretina III. Photos © 2010 Lauren Fisher/PMG.

Wayne, IL – July 6, 2010 – Following a very successful three weeks of competition at the 2010 Showplace Spring Spectacular Horse Show, many of the Midwest’s best riders are currently sitting at the top of the standings for the coveted $60,000 Showplace Leading Rider Series. Returning for its fourth consecutive year, the Leading Rider Series has made an exciting addition to its lineup this year, adding six divisions of leading hunter awards along with the previous jumper honors. The 2010 Leading Rider Series will offer $32,500 in jumper money and $27,500 in hunter money.

The Showplace Leading Rider Series tracks riders through a series of nine events throughout the season and awards prizes to the top three riders in each category. Riders in the series are ranked according to the prize money won by their top placed horse in the Classic or Grand Prix for their division. The finale for the Showplace Leading Rider Series is at the Showplace Fall Classic Championship Horse Show on September 14-19, 2010. There, the top three riders in each section will win bonus money (first place- 50%, second place- 30%, and third place- 20%), and the top ten will receive awards.

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Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, FEI, Show Jumping

Meydan FEI Nations Cup 2010 – Falsterbo Preview

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FRENCH STILL IN FRONT AS SERIES ARRIVES IN FALSTERBO

Falsterbo (SWE), 6 July 2010 – The defending champions from France still hold the whip hand as the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup series moves to Falsterbo in Sweden this Friday.  Full of flair and confidence they blazed a trail through the first-half of the season with a spectacular hat-trick of wins, and they hold an eight-point lead over Great Britain in second place going into the last four rounds of the eight-leg series.

After a superb victory from the all-girl team in Rotterdam three weeks ago the USA has improved to third with just 3.5 points separating them from the British, while Germany lies fourth, just 0.5 points further adrift.  The Spanish team, newcomers to this top level of team jumping, have shown themselves more than equal to the task and in fifth place hold a single-point advantage over the Irish in sixth.  But neither of these nations can afford to rest on their laurels.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, FEI

FEI Balkan Dressage Championships, Katerini, Greece

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Pictured after winning team gold at the 2010 FEI Balkan Dressage Championships in Katerini, Greece are the Greek team of (left to right) Kelly Sklavounos, Katerina Los, Eleni Myrat and Hara Pouli. Photo: Alexis Vassilopoulos.

Greek Riders Dominate, but Romania’s Alexandrescou Takes Senior Individual Gold

5 July 2010 – Greek riders claimed a colossal medal-haul at the 2010 FEI Balkan Dressage Championships in Katerini, Greece over the weekend including three sets of team gold and two individual titles. However yesterday (Sunday) it was Romania’s Sorin Alexandrescou who was crowned Senior Individual champion with a great performance from Mercur Casino as his Greek opponents had to settle for silver and bronze.

The Balkan Championships, which first took place in Istanbul, Turkey in 1968, have embraced a varying number of disciplines down the years and Dressage first featured in 1992.  The region covers Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey and Moldovia, and, from the outset, the Championships have succeeded in promoting and improving the standard of equestrian sport in south-east Europe.  This year the Jumping and Dressage disciplines have been scheduled for separate locations and from 2 to 4 July, the Pieria Riding Club in Katerini, which hosted the Balkan Jumping Championships in September 2009, opened its gates once again for the 2010 Dressage equivalent.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, JRPR

Cesar Parra and Olympia Ranked Number One Heading to 2010 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Championships

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International dressage rider Cesar Parra and Olympia. (Photo by Susan J. Stickle)

Whitehouse Station, NJ (July 5, 2010) – International dressage rider Dr. Cesar Parra and Olympia, the 13-year-old KWPN gelding owned Dr. Lori Washton, are currently ranked number one for the FEI small tour heading into the 2010 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National I-1 Dressage Championships.

Parra has been riding Olympia for over a year and recently returned from a very successful winter season in Florida. Parra and Olympia returned to New Jersey and made their debut at the ESDCTA Memorial Day Show. The pair won the Prix St. Georges with a score of 71.789 and also the Intermediaire I with a score of 71.000 percent. In total, this pair has shown at this level just over a dozen times and has consistently scored over 70%. Parra started showing Olympia a year ago at the Centerline Events Westbrook Hunt Club show and won the Prix St George with 75%. Last year the pair won 8 out 9 CDI classes and Parra won the coveted High Score FEI Rider Award at Dressage at Devon aboard Olympia. This year, at the New Jersey Horse Park CDI on Memorial Day they continued their victory streak winning both classes. “Olympia has developed into such an ideal horse to show. He is always trying his best,” said Parra.

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Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, FEI, Show Jumping

FEI Resolves Legal Dispute over World Cup Disqualification

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2 July 2010 – After a full investigation into the facts surrounding the disqualification of Sapphire (McLain Ward) at the FEI World Cup Final in Geneva, the FEI has determined that the horse was incorrectly eliminated from the second round on 16 April 2010, however, Sapphire’s disqualification from the final round of the World Cup remains in place.

McLain Ward will immediately be awarded all ranking points and prize money related to his second place finish in the second round of the FEI World Cup Final. This will not affect ranking points and prize money awarded to other riders in the competition.

As a result of this investigation, the FEI has also decided to issue mandatory guidelines to be applied by the Veterinary Commissions appointed for FEI Events in order to strengthen the hypersensitivity protocol that was applied in Geneva. These guidelines will be communicated to all National Federations prior to the CHIO in Aachen (GER).

The USEF, McLain Ward and Tim Ober have stated that they do not agree with the FEI on the question of whether Sapphire displayed a level of sensitivity that justified her disqualification from the third round of the World Cup and also disagree with the process followed however, in the best interest of the sport, they have dropped their legal case against the FEI and will not challenge this disqualification.

Media Contact:

Grania Willis
FEI Director Press Relations
Tel: +41 787 506 142
Email: grania.willis@fei.org

Classic Company, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Charleston Summer Classic

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July 1, 2010 – The Charleston Summer Classic starts in two weeks from today and we still have about 50 stalls for week one and about 100 for week two still available.  The temporary stalls will go up right after the July 4th weekend so if you need stalls, call our office so we put up the right number.  We will only have 450 stalls this year.

Three other things.

1. If you are interested in renting a golf cart, please call the office.  We do not have an onsite vendor and are trying to find carts in town.  843 768 5503 – speak to Tissy.

2. You are welcome to arrive on Saturday the 10th of July if you like.  We will have a VERY limited staff but if you call about shavings early, you are welcome to come. Please do not arrive without calling us.  843 768 5503.

3. There was a misprint in the prize list for the $7,500 Jumper Classic.  The specs implied that the class was only for Jr AO Jumpers.  That is not true.  It is an open jumper classic, open to all horses and riders.

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Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Events, JRPR

Chester Weber Reigns Victorious at Canada’s Premier Bromont International Driving Competition

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Eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driver Chester Weber continues his winning streak -- winning the Bromont International Driving FEI Four-In-Hand Competition in Bromont, Quebec, Canada. (Photo courtesy of Elizabeth-Ann Tuppert)

Bromont, Quebec, Canada (July 1, 2010) – American Combined Driver Chester Weber continued his winning streak – this time on Canadian soil – when he won the FEI Four-In-Hand division at the Bromont International Driving Competition at the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park in Quebec. Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion, captured the title with a 45-point lead over second place winner Josh Rector, also of the USA.

Weber was pleased with his win, and said that the marathon and cones courses at Bromont proved to be very challenging. “I had my less experienced team of horses and I am really proud of them because the marathon course was on the level of a world championship course,” Weber said, adding that he really felt that Reno stood out. “My young horse is coming together and proving to be consistent.”

Weber took Grumus, Para, Boy W, Reno W and Horus Du Bois to the Canadian competition, considered the most important driving show in Canada. “I am very proud of Reno as it was his best show yet,” Weber said. “Reno is really showing that he can be a valuable asset to my team.”

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Community/Charity, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, EQUUS Foundation, Events, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

McLain Ward & Vocas Win the $25k Fairfield Grand Prix to Benefit The EQUUS Foundation

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Vocas, owned by Louisburg Farm and ridden by McLain Ward, winner of the $25,000 Fairfield Grand Prix and the Callari Cup presented by Wells Fargo Advisors. Photo courtesy of Reflections Photography.

WESTPORT, CT – June 29, 2010 – McLain Ward, aboard Vocas, owned by Louisburg Farm, emerged victorious over a field of 27 competitors at the $25,000 Grand Prix on Saturday, June 26, 2010, the culminating event of the Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show held in Westport, Connecticut.

Urged on by spectators and over 350 guests at The EQUUS Foundation Grand Prix Benefit Luncheon, Ward and Vocas claimed victory in an exciting jump off. Ward also placed 4th aboard Esplanade 7 owned by Louisburg Farm, and 12th aboard Miel D’Amuray owned by Gabby Slome. George N. Venizelos representing Wells Fargo Advisors was on hand to present the well-earned blue ribbon, along with Jonathan Moffly of Moffly Media, Show Co-Chairs, Alison Ashman and Catherine Herman, Jenny Belknap Kees, Chairman of the Board of The EQUUS Foundation, and Lynn Coakley, President of The EQUUS Foundation.

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Associations/Breeds, Breeds, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, More/Other, Racing Sources, Training/Clinics, Western/Reining

Live Video Coverage of American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup

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The American Quarter Horse Journal, June 29, 2010 – Live video coverage will be available for spectators wanting to watch this year’s American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup July 3-11 in Oklahoma City.

With teams made up of American Quarter Horse Youth Association members from 16 countries, spectators from all over the world can enjoy the exciting leadership and educational clinics, and Olympic-style competition thanks to America’s Horse TV.

To watch the Youth World Cup, visit www.americashorse.tv/youthworldcup.html for free live-streaming videos starting Saturday, July 3, through Sunday, July 11. To view the schedule of events, including clinics and competition times, visit www.aqha.com/youth/activities/ywc/2010/YWC_schedule.pdf. Please note trail will be judged “at-will” on Thursday, July 8, and Saturday, July 10. Video coverage of all trail competitors will be replayed 30 minutes following the last class each day.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, FEI, Para-Equestrian, Phelps Media Group, World Equestrian Games

USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships Awarded

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Rebecca Hart Tops USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships with Kazan (pictured) and Norteassa. Photos © 2010 Lindsay McCall/PMG.

Long List for 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Announced

Wayne, IL – June 28, 2010 – The final day of intense competition for the USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships and the USEF Para-Dressage Selection Trials for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games concluded Sunday.  Earning both the championship rosette and cooler and the reserve championship rosette and cooler was Rebecca Hart.  Hart rode both of her mounts to top honors over the last three days. Hart and Kazan earned the National Championship and Hart and Norteassa earned the reserve championship. Hart was surrounded by top coaches including her trainer and Chef d’Equipe of the USEF Para-Dressage team, Missy Ransehousen; top judges Chris Porterfield (GBR), Lillian Iannone (ARG), and Carlos Lopes (POR); and top competition.

The weekend’s competition was a chance for the riders to not only compete among their peers, but to gain experience in front of international judges.  The three days of Para-Dressage competition included the team test, individual test and freestyle competition.  On Sunday, the freestyle test added the music element to the test where riders showcased their artistic abilities on horseback.

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