Elizabeth Bates Wins Low and High Junior/Amateur-Owner Classics on Last Day of Tampa Bay Classic

Elizabeth Bates rode Monsieur Taloubet to the championship with their speedy and accurate double-clear effort in the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Tampa, FL – Sunday, April 1, 2012 – The Covered Arena was alive with an energetic buzz as riders gathered to compete for the top honors on the concluding day of the Tampa Bay Classic held at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, FL. Juniors and Amateurs alike gathered for the chance to compete for the championship title of the afternoon’s divisions. It was Elizabeth Bates and Monsieur Taloubet who came out triumphant in the $2,500 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic.

A field of 17 riders showed over the challenging course designed by Canada’s Michel Vaillancourt. The imposing labyrinth of obstacles tested riders with a liverpool, vertical-vertical-oxer triple combination and an oxer-vertical double combination. The course was set in almost a serpentine, with riders having to pilot their mounts through tight turns, sharp rollbacks and varying distances. Only four were able to master the first course and continue into the grueling jump-off.

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Atlanta Spring Classic II

I am glad that we are done with our 11 weeks of shows in a row but sad that I won’t be with all my friends until June.   We had a great winter and a great last week here in Conyers.  Many more horses than expected so next year we are planning to add a ring.  I do have high hopes for 2013 between the economy that will get better and what seems to be a little change in migration of the exhibitors from Florida.

Anyway, we had a good week.  Great Weather. Last night we had the $25,000 EMO Grand Prix and we had the All-American meal of hot dogs, hamburgers and brownies during the class.   Again this week, it was not a big class; we had 18 riders but it was a great course built by Allen Rheinheimer and an exciting finish.   The class was won by Kenwood, owned by Kenwood Syndicate and ridden to win by Daniel Geitner.

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Adrienne Lyle and Wizard Capture the Freestyle at the $120,000 5* West Palm Beach

Adrienne Lyle and Wizard. Photo: www.susanjstickle.com

Wellington, FL – March 31, 2012 – Adrienne Lyle and Wizard returned to the stadium spotlight and danced away with the win in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle during the Global Dressage Festival (GDF) at the $120,000 5* West Palm Beach, presented by Diamante Farms on Friday evening.   Their score of 77.275% placed them well above the competition and earned prize money totaling $25,200.  Ashley Holzer of Canada on Breaking Dawn was second with 74.000% and collectd $15,360.  Anja Plonzke of Germany on Le Mont d’Or received 73.600% and $12,000 for third.

Lyle, 27, an assistant trainer for Debbie McDonald at Peggy and Parry Thomas’ River Grove Farm,  has the daily riding and training of Wizard (Weltmeyer-Pica, Classiker) and is very pleased with the way her charge is progressing.

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Ashley Prusak Pilots Rabin to Top of Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers at Tampa Bay Classic

Ashley Prusak and Rabin take home the blue with their speedy and accurate double-clear effort in the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Tampa, FL – Friday, March 31, 2012 – The Bob Thomas Equestrian Center was filled with riders as the fourth day of competition commenced. After last night’s Tampa Bay Welcome Stake CSI 2*, it became apparent that the jumper divisions were feeling a competitive edge as the Low and High Junior/Amateur-Owner classes got underway in the Covered Arena. Blue ribbons were awarded to Ashley Prusak and Rabin for their amazingly accurate and speedy double-clear effort during the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers, and to Alexa Adelson who rode Padie Blu Cardu in the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers Power and Speed class. Later in the afternoon, it was Heather Villemaire and Ca Va who took control of the course, mastering the track and riding to the top of the leaderboard in the Adult Amateur Jumpers.

Course designer Michel Vaillancourt challenged horse and rider alike as the jumpers faced his demanding design. He implemented an oxer-vertical-vertical triple combination, liverpool, vertical-oxer double combination and tight rollbacks, testing the riders as they attempted to defeat his intricate course with fast and clear results.

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Hasbrouck Donovan and Fidelia Soar to the Top of the Large Junior Hunters on Day Four of Tampa Bay Classic

Hasbrouck Donovan and Fidelia jogged for two winning ribbons in the over fences, ultimately setting a high standard for Sunday's remaining competitors. Photo By: Elizabeth Vieira/PMG

Tampa, FL – Mach 31, 2012 – Week One of the Tampa Equestrian Series is in its last couple of days with the Tampa Bay Classic, but nothing can hinder the resilience of the hunter exhibitors as they strive for the remainder of championship titles. It was a bright and early Saturday morning as the Juniors and Amateur-Owners flocked to the Main Hunter Ring at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center for their chance to compete. Hasbrouck Donovan and Fidelia jogged for two winning ribbons in the over fences, ultimately setting a high standard for Sunday’s remaining competitors. Robin Swinderman and Inxs came back from yesterday’s results in full swing, adding the Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunter Championship to their season.

The main ring opened with exceptional rides by the Large Junior Hunters, each with a flowing first round. The handy course was slightly more complex, involving a bending line, a rollback to a two-stride combination, and a trot fence. The course forced riders to make decisions and acquire a forward canter. While the majority of the division had clean and careful rounds, it was the dauntless riding of Donovan that impressed the judges. The accomplished junior showed Redfield Farm’s Fidelia, under the direction of Emil Spadone, and gained two well-deserved wins. The most impressive aspect of the win was that Donovan was riding the mare for the first time.

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Daniel Bluman Conquers All-Star Lineup in the $500k FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5*

Kraut Wins $100,000 FTI Consulting Rider Challenge, Skelton Takes $50,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Bonus, Lamaze Triumphs In $32,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final

Daniel Bluman and Sancha LS. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 31, 2012 – Twenty-two-year-old Daniel Bluman, of Colombia, jumped to an exciting victory on Saturday night in the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5* at the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Over 7,000 fans filled the stands to see the best of the best from the winter circuit compete under the lights in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Bluman and his mount Sancha LS earned the top prize in a three-horse jump-off over Canada’s Ian Millar and Star Power and USA’s Lauren Hough and Quick Study.

Alan Wade, of Ireland, designed the course for tonight’s grand prix and set a challenging track for the 45 qualified entries. Only three were able to jump the first round course entirely without fault to advance to the jump-off, and all three had single rails through the short course, making time the deciding factor.

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Pierre St Jacques and Lucky Tiger Are Tops at $120,000 5* West Palm Beach

Pierre St. Jacques and Lucky Tiger. Photo: www.susanjstickle.com

Wellington, FL – March 30, 2012 – Pierre St Jacques and his mount Lucky Tiger won the FEI Olympic Grand Prix Special in the $120,000 5* West Palm Beach, presented by Diamante Farms on Friday. St Jacques, who hails from Anthony, FL, took the blue ribbon with a score of 67.311% at the Stadium show grounds of the Global Dressage Festival (GDF).  David Marcus, of Campbellville, Ontario, was second with Chrevi’s Capital scoring 67.022% and Christopher Hickey was third aboard Douglas Hilltop with 65.378%.

Lucky Tiger, a 1995 Danish Warmblood gelding, is both owned and ridden by St Jacques.  They have been a team since 2000 when St Jacques found Lucky Tiger in Denmark as a five-year-old.

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McGuigan and Capall Zidane, Rodriguez and Aberdeen, Leone and Wayfarer Win Adequan Young Jumper Finals

Ronan McGuigan and Capall Zidane. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 30, 2012 – The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival hosted the Adequan Young Jumper Finals today in the International Arena for three age groups. The $20,000 Adequan 8-Year-Old Young Jumper Final victory went to Ronan McGuigan (IRL) and Capall Zidane. Andres Rodriguez (VEN) and Aberdeen took the top spot in the $20,000 Adequan 7-Year-Old Young Jumper Final. Riding Lionshare Farm’s Wayfarer, Peter Leone (USA) won the $15,000 Adequan 6-Year-Old Young Jumper Final. In the Rost Arena, Arriana Boardman of New York City won the Horseware Ireland Adult Amateur 3’3″ Hunter championship with Red Carpet.

Sponsored by FTI Consulting, Inc., the final week of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival will feature the highlight grand prix of the season, the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5*, on Saturday, March 31. The USHJA International Hunter Derby will host the top 25 on the grass field at The Stadium on Sunday, April 1.

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Alexa Adelson and Reeva II Champion in the Amateur-Owner Hunters in Tampa Bay Classic

Adelson anchors the Amateur-Owner Championship with Reeva II for Week One of Tampa Bay Classic. Photo By: Elizabeth Vieira/PMG

Tampa, FL – Friday, March 30, 2012 – Week one of the Tampa Bay Classic is in full swing, and with only two days of showing behind them, the hunter riders have indisputably set steep standards for their competitors. Mary Eufemia and MJ continued an exceptional week by receiving the tri-color in the 35 and Over Amateur Hunters, and Lynn Seithel took top ribbons in the 3’3 Amateur Owner division. Competition was fierce, but Alex Adelson and Reeva II couldn’t be stopped, as they captured the 18-35 Amateur Hunter division championship.

The morning’s classes began with the first of the amateur hunter divisions, for those 35 and over. Eufemia generated a third place hunter round and a winning handy course, sealing her championship with another first place in the under saddle. While Eufemia and MJ are seasoned veterans, she certainly had some deep competition. Taking the winning ribbon in the mornings first class would be Danielle Bartoletta and Speranza, while Bartoletta’s trainer, Lauren Barth, followed close behind aboard Chinchino. Rider and trainer were more than pleased with the outcome of the morning division and the reserve champion win.

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Molly Ashe-Cawley and Carissimo Pave the Way to Victory in $32,000 Tampa Bay Welcome Stake

Molly Ashe-Cawley raced across the finish line with Carissimo after scoring the quickest of only three double-clear rounds during the $32,000 Tampa Bay Welcome Stake. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Tampa, FL – Friday, March 30, 2012 – The crowd was alive with anticipation as 10 riders moved into the Tampa Bay Welcome Stake jump-off this evening. The nation’s top riders joined the series tonight, attempting to garner the championship prize in the $32,000 Tampa Bay Welcome Stake CSI 2* at the Tampa Equestrian Series. Molly Ashe-Cawley and Carissimo were the top finishers, leading the way as only one of three double-clear efforts. Today marked the third day of competition during the Tampa Bay Classic, held at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, FL, and riders are only beginning to gear up as the intensity of the competition progresses.

A field of 18 riders showed in the Covered Arena over Michel Vaillancourt’s first round course. It began with a large oxer to a vertical and a sharp right turn to a triple bar leading to a vertical, followed by an oxer-vertical-vertical triple combination. Riders then bended over the oxer-liverpool before making another right turn to the inside vertical-oxer line and continuing over a skinny vertical set on the outside. The course came to a close after a vertical to a vertical-oxer double combination, followed by a large final oxer.

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