Liz Schmid and Air Apparent.
Parker, CO – June 16, 2013 – On Sunday, the Juniors and Amateurs competed in two prestigious classes in the Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix Arena at the Colorado Horse Park, the $5,000 North American League Low Junior/Amateur Classic and the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Junior/Amateur Classic.
Riders donned their white breeches and traditional attire to compete on the last day of week two of Summer in the Rockies II over Danny Foster’s challenging courses.
Twenty-five entries battled it out in the $5,000 NAL Low Junior Amateur Classic. Of the 25 in the first round, 15 progressed to the jump-off round.
Liz Schmid was the first to go double clear aboard Air Apparent, laying down a time of 50.68. The next clear round came from Isabel Ikast. In her jump-off round, Ikast added another clear round. Next, Chelsea Babcock and Bull Run’s Guardian delivered a flawless and faultless performance that put them in first place with a time of 46.344. Babcock trains with Kristen VanderVeen, of Bull Run in St Charles, IL. The Bull Run team also celebrated VanderVeen’s win of the $30,000 Summer in the Rockies II Grand Prix on Saturday.
“I was very proud of her,” VanderVeen said. “I thought she rode really well. Her first round was great. She has a very nice horse. She really smoothed it out for the jump-off and laid down a great round. I think it is actually the first classic she has won on this horse.”
Babcock was pleased with her rides. “The first round was great,” she said. “Zinnia (Bull Run’s Guardian) was great, she really helped me out on a couple of jumps and then the jump-off, there weren’t so many clean rounds so I was just going for a clean round so I just rode it nice and smooth and Zinnia’s step is so big, she takes care of the speed. Zinnia is just 9 years old. We just imported her during the middle of the WEF season and we’re just starting to click and get in sync now.”
Babcock commented on the encouragement that VanderVeen gives her and that since she’s been in training with her, she’s helped to build her confidence.
“I love the program,” she said.
As the entries for the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Junior/Amateur Owner Jumpers were schooling, the wind began to pick up at the Colorado Horse Park. The skies became a bit darker and rain threatened. Due to the weather, the riders were asked to complete their jump-off rounds immediately following their first rounds.
The first clear round belonged to Hannah Holik riding Cupido de Laubry. She proceeded to her jump-off round, completing it without faults in 50.720 seconds.
The next rider on course, Clare Leach on Pallas Athena, also put in a clear round and went on to the jump-off. The pair had a rail and left with four faults.
Two rounds later, Jackie Smith and Diego went clean in the first round. In the jump-off round they became the fastest four-faulter with a time of 50.729.
Another two rounds later, Kelsey Van Ackeren and Vernon G also went fault-free on their first round.
With a blustery wind picking up and spectators running for cover, Van Ackeren and Vernon G stayed focused and achieved a clear but slower round, breaking the beam at 57.630. Holik maintained her lead and earned the win.
Holik who trains with Randy Henry, has had an especially fruitful second week of Summer in the Rockies II. She earned the championship of the Junior Hunters and won the $1,000 Junior Hunter Classic, all aboard Tache Rouge. She won both of her over fences classes in the Equitation 15-17 and won the ASPCA Maclay class with Dahlila. She also won the $500 Low Junior Amateur Owner Jumpers with Santiago in addition to the $10,000 High Junior Amateur Jumper Classic with Cupido de Laubry.
“He’s a new addition to our barn,” said Holik about Cupie. “I’m excited that everything has been going smoothly. I’m really proud of Cupie. We’ve only had him a couple of months. I am excited to move up with him and maybe do a couple of grand prixs.
“He’s quite big at 17.2,” she said. “For how big he is, he is unbelievably sweet and soft. You can cuddle with him and kiss him.”
Summer in the Rockies III will begin on Wednesday June 19 and runs through June 23. Highlights include a $15,000 Welcome Stake, a $30,000 Grand Prix, a $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, a $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and a full array of hunter/jumper competition.
The Colorado Horse Park Summer in the Rockies Fast Facts
What: Summer in the Rockies AA-Rated Hunter Jumper Show Series
Event Dates:
Summer in the Rockies I June 5-9, 2013
Summer in the Rockies II June 12-16, 2013
Summer in the Rockies III June 19-23, 2013
Summer in the Rockies IV July 3-7, 2013
Summer in the Rockies V July 10-14, 2013
Summer in the Rockies VI July 17-21, 2013
Prize List:
Click here for an online version of the prize list. For a hard copy of the prize list, please e-mail prizelist@cohorsepark.com with your name, address and phone number and specify which prize list you would like (spring/fall or summer).
Entries:
Mail to The Colorado Horse Park, 7522 South Pinery Drive, Parker, CO 80134 or fax to (303) 841-7879. Opening date for Stall Reservations: April 1, 2013. Closing date May 20, 2013.
Contact Information:
Pat Boyle, Show Manager (847) 274-6834
Brian Curry, Show Manager (303) 918-2908
Show Office (303) 841-7461
Show Office Fax (303) 841-1419
Colorado Horse Park Main Office (303) 841-5550
Colorado Horse Park Main Office Fax (303) 841-7879
Tentative Schedule:
Wed – Sun: Show starts daily at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noted
Directions:
Address: 7375 E Bayou Gulch Rd, Parker, CO 80134
From North: I-25S exit Ridgegate Parkway – go east under the freeway. Ridgegate Parkway to S. Chambers Road, approx 3 miles (Traffic light) – turn right/south onto Chambers Road. At end of Chambers Road turn left/east onto Hess Road. Hess Road to Parker Road/Hwy 83 – turn right/south onto Hwy 83 approx 4 miles to Bayou Gulch Road. (Traffic light). Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.
From South: I-25N, exit Founder’s Parkway. Founder’s Parkway to Highway 86, approx 4 miles (traffic light). Turn east/left onto Hwy. 86 to Franktown/Hwy 83. At Franktown go north on 83 approx. 7 mi. to Bayou Gulch Rd. (Traffic light), turn right/east onto Bayou Gulch Rd. Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.
About the Colorado Horse Park
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the Colorado Horse Park was founded by visionary Helen Krieble who acknowledged the need for a high-volume horse show and horse boarding facility to serve Colorado. The Colorado Horse Park welcomes more than 75,000 visitors per year and hosts over 40 competitions annually. CHP features a derby arena designed by Olympic-designer Linda Allen and a cross-country course designed by Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor and eventing super-star James Atkinson. There are 300 permanent stalls with capacity for more than 1,000 stalls.
The picturesque property, located only minutes from the town of Parker, hosts international equestrian events in multiple disciplines. Visitors enjoy the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountain surroundings and access to miles of trails and open space. The Colorado Horse Park is committed to supporting equestrian education and amateur athletics, preserving open space, fundraising for local charities and supporting the community.
Carrie Wirth for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
To view an online version of this press release with more photos, please visit: http://www.phelpsmediagroup.com/viewarticle.php?id=7969.
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