Hayley Waters and Rapsodi CR jump to the win in the $25,000 Jacksonville Grand Prix. Photo by Randi Muster.
Jacksonville, FL – September 20, 2014 – The second day of the 2014 Southeast Medal Finals featured the $25,000 Jacksonville Grand Prix. The impressive course, designed by Philip J. DeVita, posed no problems for Haley Waters as she sailed to nab the first place ribbon.
The first round included 12 obstacles with three double combinations over which riders had to maneuver. The flowing and straightforward course was set to be ridden comfortably, without a great deal of adjustment.
“I like a lot of bending lines, always keeping the next jump in front of you and creating a really nice flow,” said DeVita. “The reason for three doubles and no use of a triple comes from my horse training days. I feel I can train a horse to do more with three doubles than I can with a triple. I give the horse three different looks to three different combinations and build confidence. Triple combinations often become such a factor in a course design that often times the horse leaves the ring discouraged rather than encouraged. I feel the job of a course designer is to be a teacher and to help bring horses along while building confidence.”
Only three riders had clear rounds and progressed to the jump-off round including Kaley Tomeu of Wellington, Florida, who won the Southeast Medal Finals Welcome Stake on Thursday. Aboard Fidalgo Van Het Leliehof, Tomeu was the first rider to try the shortened jump-off course. Tomeu and her horse tripped after the double at 11A/B combination and incurred 4 faults, finishing with a time of 37.350 seconds. Next in the ring, Diego Vivero on Bandurria Hulmen finished with four faults and a time of 35.887.
Last to return was Hayley Waters with Rapsodi CR. The pair finished in 41.080, the slowest time, yet a clear round, capturing first place.
“He [Rapsodi CR] was great. I just got him a couple months ago from Europe and we got along right away,” explained Waters. “He’s experienced so it’s nice to have one to do the bigger classes who already knows what’s going on and is super careful which was nice for tonight. Going into the jump off, I knew I wanted to go slow enough to go clear. He was so good; I’m so excited.”
After her victory in the $25,000 Grand Prix, Waters hopes to continue her winning streak as she competes with her equitation horse in the ASPCA/NHSAA Alfred B. Maclay Region 3 Championships on Sunday. Look for Waters and Rapsodi CR in the Junior Jumpers in the upcoming season.
The Southeast Medal Finals will continue at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center on Saturday with the new Southeast Children’s/Adult Medal 2’6″ Finals kicking off in the morning, then the featured class of the day is the Phelps Media Group Junior Medal.
On Sunday the 2014 Southeast Medal Finals will live stream the ASPCA/NHSAA Alfred B. Maclay Region 3 Championships on the web. Join us live from the Jacksonville Equestrian Center on September 21, 2014 beginning at 8 a.m. Go to www.southeastmedalfinals.com for more information.
Southeast Medal Finals Fast Facts:
WHAT: The Southeast Medal Finals is an indoor and outdoor hunter, jumper and equitation horse show attracting the top riders.
WEBSITE: www.southeastmedalfinals.com
WHEN: September 18-21, 2014
WHERE:
The Jacksonville Equestrian Center, Jacksonville, FL, featuring a large indoor coliseum with 3,000 seats, two outdoor rings and 500 permanent stalls.
13611 Normandy Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32221
FEATURES
- 4-Day “A”/Jumper Level 3 USEF-Rated Horse Show
- The Phelps Media Group Southeast Junior Medal Finals
- $500 Southeast Adult Hunter 3′ Final
- Southeast Adult Medal Finals 3′ – 3’3″
- $25,000 Jacksonville Grand Prix
- Geddaway Farms $5,000 Welcome Stake
- Region 3 ASPCA/NHSAA Maclay Championship
- HorseGym $1,500 NAL/WIHS Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic
- GGT & Eastwest Arena Construction $500 Southeast Children’s Hunter 3′ Final
- Tenney’s Custom Saddlery Southeast Children’s/Adult Medal 2’6″ Finals
- $500 Southeast Child/Adult Hunter 2’6″ Final
- North Run $2,500 Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic
Managers:
James Lala (561) 906-6668
jdlala@aol.com
Michael Morrissey (941) 915-3449
michael.morrrissey@stadiumjumping.com
Secretary:
Susie Morrissey (941) 527-6602
susiemorr@aol.com
Sponsorship and Advertising:
Christian Palmer (612) 618-8216
clpalmer287@gmail.com
Media and Public Relations:
Carrie Wirth, Phelps Media Group (561) 753-3389
cw@phelpsmediagroup.com
Arianna Delin for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com