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hunter/jumperTampa Equestrian Festival to Start with Tampa Bay Classic on March 31st Stadium Jumping's Michael Morrissey is looking forward to two exciting weeks of competition in Tampa. © Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com.
Tampa, Florida – Stadium Jumping, Inc. announced today that the first week of the Tampa Equestrian Festival has been cancelled. Michael Morrissey of Stadium Jumping, Inc. made the announcement on Tuesday morning, and said the change in schedule was long overdue. “That first week has always been a transitional week for us,” said Morrissey of the cancellation. “We are listening to what our exhibitors have been telling us regarding that week. They have told us that they feel there is just too much showing.” “Those coming from Ocala which will have just ended, needed an extra week to prepare, and those that were competing at WEF simply told us they needed a week off,” Morrissey detailed. “Over the years, this has always been a lightly attended event and this extra time allows us an extra opportunity to concentrate on the preparations for our big show, the Tampa Bay Classic, which is the host for two very important events this year.” The Suncoast Internationale was scheduled to run March 24-28th. Hillary Dobbs Clears Her First Hurdle towards Securing Slot at the World Equestrian GamesHarvard Senior Joins U.S. Nation’s Cup Teams in Europe to Determine Final 5-Member Squad WELLINGTON, Fla. — March 9, 2010 — Hillary Dobbs of Wantage, NJ and Palm Beach, FL, who celebrated her 22nd birthday today, achieved her first goal toward securing a place on the U.S. show jumping team for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Ky., this fall. After the final Grand Prix selection trial at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida on Sunday, Dobbs finished sixth on the ranking list. A total of 15 horse/rider combinations are being named to the long list from which the Cup teams will be assembled. Dobbs, who led the standings with her mount Quincy B after the second trial, had two errors in the third trial that dropped her down the list by adding 8 penalties to her score. She came back in the fourth trial with only two time penalties and was on her way to a clean round in Sunday’s final Grand Prix trial, when her jumper knocked rails at the last two fences for another 8 penalties. Wilhelm Genn & Happy Z Double Down, Banking Two $25k Prix at Gulf Coast Winter Classics Fifth Week Wilhelm Genn & Happy Z ©Flashpoint Photography
GULFPORT, MS – MAR. 14, 2010 – Lebanon, OH based Wilhelm Genn has done it again, winning both the $25,000 Nordic Lights Grand Prix and the $25,000 Budweiser Grand Prix during the fifth week of the 2010 Gulf Coast Winter Classics. International great Dave Ballard took up the reins of course designing for the double prix week. For Thursday’s $25,000 Nordic Lights event, the co-creator of the 2008 Olympic layouts built a 15 effort test full of curves that had some riders struggling to keep the horses balanced. Add to this the deceptive appearance several obstacles presented and competitors faced quite the challenge to clear the course in less than 96 seconds. “Sometimes when you have a lower oxer and then a higher vertical the horses jump a little flat and then don’t get enough height for the vertical,” Genn offered as explanation for one troublesome spot. From the 25 starters Genn and the Laura Ryan-Barnaclo owned Chantal were third in the order and first to make a clear run, finishing in 88.191. Five spots later owner-rider Kari Frey of Fulshear, TX aboard Solinus guaranteed a jump off round with their clear time of 87.750. Not long after New Jersey’s Amanda Flint with her mount Tiffany E VDL joined the list to return with a faultless ride in 86.677. And then there was Happy Z, Genn’s fearless 12-year-old Dutch bred mare. “With Happy, I looked where I went with Chantal, I went really tight with him, and I didn’t think I could stay on the inside track so I decided to just keep her straight for 1 to 2 extra strides, balance her and then turn her real quickly to get a run back to the oxer,” Genn explained his strategy for that last vital line. The duo’s time was 90.263. Jill Henselwood rides Bottom Line to the blue in the $300,000 Lamborghini Grand Prix of the Desert at HITS Thermal © Flying Horse Photography. Jill Henselwood and Bottom Line on course in Sunday's $300,000 Lamborghini Grand Prix of the Desert, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Thermal.
THERMAL, CA (March 15, 2010) — Jill Henselwood can start to make her reservations for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. The Canadian Olympian rode Bradon Construction’s Bottom Line to the blue ribbon in Sunday’s $300,000 Lamborghini Grand Prix of the Desert, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at the HITS Desert Horse Park, in Thermal, California. A large and boisterous crowd of spectators came out to see the ultimate battle of horse power as Henselwood raced past 40 other starters to test International Course Designer Olaf Petersen, Sr.’s first-round track, which featured a rare quadruple combination, and the seven riders that returned for the jump-off en route to the win. After pocketing the $90,000 first-place check from Sunday’s feature class, Henselwood and Bottom Line are now on the top of the mountain in the Pfizer Million Eligible Rider Rankings with $104,100 in prize money and are certain to remain within the Top 40 for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix that will take place on September 12, at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York. “What an unbelievable finale to the 2010 HITS Desert Circuit,” said Henselwood, who celebrated with fellow Canadian John Pearce, after the class. “I will be in Saugerties, New York for the big class. There is a show the week before, so I will come early and get my horses accustomed to the show grounds.” Peter Leone Tops $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic with Select at the FTI WEF Peter Leone and Select. All Photos © 2010 Randi Muster
Wellington, FL – March 14, 2010 – Olympic silver medalist Peter Leone (USA) returned to the winner’s circle today in the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic at the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. He rode Select, owned by Lionshare Farms and Ger Poels Horses, to the win over Clementine Goutal (USA) on Kelline Fonroy and Alexander Hufenstuhl (GER) of Germany with Lacapo 4. The ninth week of the FTI WEF was sponsored by CN and concluded today. The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 4, 2010, and they will be awarding almost $6 million in prize money through the circuit. In a class of 45 entries, there were eight clear trips over the Leopoldo Palacios designed course. “Leopoldo really hit it right on. The time allowed was tight, but not inappropriately tight. My focus was to keep my horse’s concentration in place by the end of the course,” Leone recalled. The Countdown Is On to the Camden Spring Fling Debut Roger & Thomas Ltd logo
Harrodsburg, KY — March 15, 2010 — As time ticks away towards the debut of the Camden Spring Fling show, April 7-11, new sponsors and additions to the grounds continue to mount. Chairman Robert Hunt announced the newest sponsorship of the event comes from Roger & Thomas Ltd. Roger & Thomas ltd, whose home base is in Camden, have been a major force in the sporting antique world for over twenty five years. Owners Roger Widener and Thomas Walter, both lifelong horsemen, have amassed one of the country’s largest collections of antiques, estate jewelry, and collectibles much of which revolves around equestrian themes. The company will be the sponsors of the Amateur Owner Hunters 36 and Over Division, as well as a prominent vendor at the Camden Spring Fling. “After doing sporting shows nationally, we are thrilled to have something right back home in Camden!” Roger Widener said. Given the crazed schedule that keeps the business on the road attending major equestrian events across the US often for weeks at a time both Widener and Walter welcome the opportunity for their home town to play host. “I think it will develop into a major show in the near future as people will be returning from Florida and the northerners will be thrilled to hit the sunshine!” Roger said. He went on to describe the plans for their vendor space. “We intend to make as big a splash as possible with our Essex Crystal Collection, as well as some beautiful estate jewelry and new antique sporting pieces.” Over the years customers across the country have come to rely on Roger & Thomas, Ltd for decorating their homes and those unique gifts to the horse lover in their lives and the Camden Spring Fling will no doubt be a haven for discreet shoppers. 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival Week Nine Wrap-up: March 10-14, 2010Wellington, FL – March 15, 2010 – The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) week nine, held March 10-14, 2010, featured many winners in the equitation, hunters, and jumpers, including the leader in the $200,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix, CSI 3*, presented by CN. The week nine title sponsor was CN. CN is North America’s railroad with a commitment to speed and precision, and they are proud to support the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Along with their weekly title sponsorships, they were the presenting sponsor of the $75,000 FEI Nations Cup and the title sponsor of the $150,000 CN U.S. Open Grand Prix, CSIO 4* during week eight. In week nine, they were the presenting sponsor of the $200,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix, CSI 3*. They were also the title sponsor of the $50,000 CN Palm Beach Jumping Derby, which was held at The Stadium during week six. For more information on CN, please visit www.cn.ca. Double H Farm’s Night Train sped to the win with Olympic gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) in the $200,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix, CSI 3*, presented by CN, on Saturday evening. McLain Ward (USA) on Sapphire, owned by Ward and Blue Chip Bloodstock, was second, while Lauren Hough (USA) and Laura Mateo’s Quick Study were third. Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela designed a 14 numbered obstacle track for the opening round, and seven of 45 entries were clear to continue to the jump-off. SequentialT Embraces the Great Charity Challenge at FTI’s Winter Equestrian Festival Peter Kraft, Tracy Howe, Katherine and Mark Bellissimo of Equestrian Sport Productions SequentialT Shirts Will Be Sold to Raise Funds for 24 Participating Charities and SequentialT Founders Ride on March 20th Wellington, FL – March 13, 2010 – SequentialT has embraced the philanthropy of the “The Great Charity Challenge,” a team riding event to benefit 24 specially selected charities slated for March 20th, conceived by Equestrian Sport Productions, producers of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Long sleeved SequentialT t-shirts and short sleeve polo shirts will be sold to raise added funds for the 24 participating charities. SequentialT founders Peter Kraft and Tracy Howe along with teammate Olympic Gold Medalist Will Simpson will ride in the event, announced Peter Kraft, founder and President of SequentialT (www.sequentialt.com), today. The inaugural Great Charity Challenge on Saturday, March 20, at 6 p.m. at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center will benefit two dozen charities with Palm Beach County connections. The event, conceived by ESP President Mark Bellissimo and his eldest daughter Paige, will be a three-person relay race, with each team composed of two junior/amateurs, anchored by a world-class or Olympic rider. Participating world-class riders include 2008 U.S. Olympic gold medalists Laura Kraut of Wellington, McLain Ward, Beezie Madden, and Will Simpson as well as Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil and Eric Lamaze of Canada, and Olympian Lauren Hough, in a unique show jumping competition. All prize money is donated to charity. Night Train Accelerates to the Win with Rodrigo Pessoa in $200,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix, CSI3*, Presented by CN at 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival Rodrigo Pessoa and Night Train. All photos © 2010 Randi Muster
Wellington, FL – March 13, 2010 – Victory was sweet tonight for Double H Farm’s Hunter Harrison as his horse Night Train sped to the win with Olympic gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) in the $200,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix, CSI 3*, presented by CN. McLain Ward (USA) on Sapphire, owned by Ward and Blue Chip Bloodstock, was second, while Lauren Hough (USA) and Laura Mateo’s Quick Study were third. The ninth week of the FTI WEF is sponsored by CN and runs through Sunday, March 14. The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 4, 2010, and they will be awarding almost $6 million in prize money through the circuit. Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela designed a 14 numbered obstacle track for the opening round, and seven of 45 entries were clear to continue to the jump-off. Colby Russey and Crouching Tiger Race to the Win in the Equine Tack and Nutritionals Children’s 14-17 Jumpers at 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival Colby Russey and Crouching Tiger Win the Children's Jumper 14-17© 2010 Randi Muster
Wellington, FL – March 13, 2010 – Children’s jumpers kicked off their weekend of competition today at the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Thirty-two entries went to post today in the Equine Tack and Nutritional Children’s 14-17 Jumpers, and Colby Russey and her mount Crouching Tiger topped the leader board in today’s jump-off class. Russey, of Cooper City, FL, has been riding Crouching Tiger for two years and just began competing in the Children’s Jumper ranks this year. Russey has had the ride on “Tiger,” a 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, for two years, and has developed quite a partnership with him. The first round in today’s class consisted of nine numbered obstacles, and the most challenging part of the course was a short approach to an oxer followed by a bending line to a pair of double verticals. Several riders also had trouble with the last fence in the first round, which was a skinny vertical by the in-gate. |
