Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince. Photos © The Book LLC.
Devon, PA – May 27, 2014 – The 2014 Devon Horse Show & Country Fair hosted its first day of Open Jumper competition on Tuesday with double wins for local favorite Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, NJ. Chapot and the 10-year-old Selle Francais gelding Quointreau Un Prince (Diamant de Semilly x Rosire), owned by Chapot and McLain Ward, took the win in the first jump-off class.
An Open Jumper speed competition was also held in the evening with another win for Chapot aboard Mary Chapot’s Zealous, a 10-year-old Hanoverian/KWPN mare (Royal Kaliber x Starman). Showcasing the best horses and riders in the country, the Devon Horse Show hosts 11 days of top-tier competition across multiple breeds and disciplines through Sunday, June 1.
Kicking off the Open Jumper competition on Tuesday, Germany’s Olaf Petersen, Jr. set the track for 24 entries in the $10,000 jump-off class with eight jumping clear in the first round, and seven double clear rounds over the short course after one withdraw. In a time of 38.917 seconds, Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince took top honors to earn The Sylvester L. Quigley Memorial Challenge Trophy.
Candice King and Louisburg Farm’s Balous Day Date finished second in 39.365 seconds. Ali Wolff and John Wolff’s Brianda placed third in 39.368 seconds, and Hayley Waters and Chuck Waters’ Fidele finished fourth in 39.803 seconds.
“It sure is a good way to kick off the week. There is nothing like winning the first class,” Chapot smiled following her round of honor. “This is a special show. You have a lot of fans that come out and a lot of local people who really enjoy the horses. They are always out there cheering for you, which is great. It’s a nice horse show, and it gets the horses a little pumped up too because there is always a good crowd.”
“I was just very pleased,” Chapot said of her winning round with Quointreau Un Prince. “He was very brave and excited today. I knew that everyone was going fast, so there was no holding back in the jump-off this time.”
The exciting atmosphere of the Dixon Oval and the cheering fans helped get Chapot’s mount revved up in his jump-off round. “It makes it a little easier for me to ride because he is more pumped up and has a lot more energy and spunk,” she noted, going on to detail where she was fastest on course. “I think probably to the third fence in the jump-off. I thought I cut that pretty well and he took a good long distance there, and also the long distance across the center. He has a really big stride, so when I gallop it really opens up and I think he picked up a little bit of time there.”
After winning the jump-off class, Chapot then went on to top the $10,000 Open Jumper speed class with Zealous, earning The Second Erdenheim Farm Challenge Trophy donated by Mr. & Mrs. F. Eugene Dixon, Jr.
Twenty entries showed with five clear rounds. Chapot and Zealous completed the course in the fastest time of 62.40 seconds. Charlie Jayne finished second and third, taking second place honors in 67.78 seconds with Alex Jayne’s Top Top, and placing third in 68.56 seconds with Pony Lane Farm’s Valeska. Hayley Waters once again finished fourth, stopping the clock in 68.74 seconds with Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Waters’ No Doubt.
Hunter Champions
First Year Green Hunter Champion – Glefke & Kensel LLC’s So To Speak and Kelley Farmer
Sponsored by Dr. Betsee Parker/Hunterland – Awarded The James J. Piehler Memorial Challenge Trophy
Reserve Champion – Deborah Perkins’ Set To Music and Havens Schatt
Green Conformation Hunter Champion – Glefke & Kensel LLC’s Scripted and Kelley Farmer
Awarded The Just For Fun-Two For One Challenge Trophy donated by Mrs. Haywood Nelms
Reserve Champion – Dr. Betsee Parker’s Lucador and Scott Stewart
Second Year Green Hunter Champion – David Gochman’s Mythical and Scott Stewart
Sponsored by Frontier Farms/Jane G. Andrew – Awarded The Fisher & Son Co. Challenge Trophy
Reserve Champion – Stephanie Danhakl’s Golden Rule and Scott Stewart
Driving
The Single Horse Driving Championship was also awarded on Tuesday with a win for the Demarino Ralli Cart, owned and driven by Betsy Demarino, VMD.
The 2014 Devon Horse Show will continue on Wednesday with presentations of the 2014 Grand Hunter Champion and Leading Hunter Rider. The day will feature more Open Jumper competition as well as the Five Gated Special, Young Jumpers, Ladies Side Saddle, Hackney Ponies, Gaited Horses and much more. For full results, please visit www.devonhorseshow.org.
For those unable to attend the Devon Horse Show in person, the Dixon Oval is being live streamed live streamed at www.usefnetwork.com.
Shownet will be shooting individual video clips for purchase through the website www.shownet.biz of both the Dixon Oval and Gold Ring. If you have any questions, please contact info@shownet.biz or ask for Tony in the exhibitor lounge at the side gate.
Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Equestrian Public Relations
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com