Kelli Cruciotti and Monterrey competing in the ASPCA Maclay Finals at the Alltech National Horse Show. Photo by Shawn McMillen.
Parker, CO – November 5, 2013 – The Colorado Horse Park extends its warm congratulations to Kelli Cruciotti, of Elizabeth, CO, for her impressive second-place finish at the ASPCA Maclay Finals, presented by C. M. Hadfield’s Saddlery and held at the Alltech National Horse Show. Cruciotti, who trains with her mother, Cindy Cruciotti, at the family’s Serenity Farm, has earned her place among the top junior riders in the nation.
As part of her preparation for the major equitation finals, Cruciotti competed at the Colorado Horse Park’s Summer in the Rockies show series, where she consistently placed well in the equitation. She qualified for the ASPCA Maclay Region 6 Finals in September, where she took home the blue ribbon.
The 2013 ASPCA Maclay Finals got underway at the Kentucky Horse Park at 7 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, with 148 riders competing over a challenging track designed by judges Robert Ridland and Susan Humes, as well as Bobby Murphy. Precise lines were used to make riders showcase adjustability and style over gates, fan jumps, combinations and walls. At the end of the opening course, the judges invited the top 30 riders to return and showcase their skills in the flat phase. Cruciotti was called back in eighth place after her first course and joined Group A for the flat.
Riders completed an extensive test on the flat, where they worked their mounts at the walk, trot and canter. They demonstrated collection and extension, as well as the counter canter and sitting trot. The judges also requested that the riders perform half-passes at the trot and canter.
After the three sections of the flat phase were complete, the top 20 riders were invited back for a final test. Cruciotti’s strong performance on the flat placed her in third, behind eventual winner Lillie Keenan and Sophie Simpson. The final test began with three oxers and a bending line that could be performed in six or seven strides to the signature ASPCA jump. Next, competitors had to canter an oxer away from the out gate before trotting a gate and cantering in seven strides to an oxer. A left turn led to a double wall combination without standards. The riders were asked to counter canter and jump a fan fence followed by another bending line and a triple bar to a vertical-oxer double combination and a final oxer just past the in gate.
Cruciotti continued to showcase her consistent style with Monterrey. They performed a direct approach in the bending line and were able to transition to the trot before the gate smoothly before exhibiting the counter canter. Her efforts throughout the day were rewarded with the second place prize.
Kelli Cruciotti and her equitation mount Monterrey won the $15,000 USHJA Hunter Derby during Week III of Summer in the Rockies. Photo by Mary Adelaide Brakenridge
“When I walked the course, I knew that there were a lot of different tests within it that I had to execute to my horse’s strong suits and not strong suits,” said Cruciotti. “The course was very open, and the first line could either be done up in six or out in seven. I decided to do the out in seven. The hardest part to me was the canter to the trot out because my horse gets very excited when he gets in the ring. I was just very thrilled with how he jumped, and I just wanted to go in and give him a positive ride.”
“I just don’t think that there are any feelings to describe it,” she went on. “It’s amazing. I have to thank everyone who helped me get here: all my trainers, my mom, the great horse I am on and everyone who has put in the hard work to help me get to this point. I am overwhelmed, for sure.”
Cruciotti is in the 11th grade and attends the K12 Online International Academy.
“We could have never been here without everybody’s support: friends in Colorado, family, trainers – everyone,” said Cindy Cruciotti. “It is an overwhelming feeling to be here and be included in this amazing group of riders and trainers.”
Cindy Cruciotti also credited Kelli’s mount, Monterrey, whom they purchased from Andre Dignelli. She shared, “Kelli has been working and showing him and getting to know him. He’s just one in a million. He’s taught Kelli and me a tremendous amount about horsemanship.”
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.
Beluga’s Luis Escobar (3) and his pony lean into his shot with Piaget’s Juan Bollini (4) closing in on defense. Photos by Scott Fisher.
WELLINGTON, FL – Nov. 4, 2013 — On a windswept day at Palm City Polo Club in Boca Raton, Piaget and Berlin Polo advanced to the semifinal round of the USPA 2013 Beluga North America Cup.
In two fast-and-furious games, Piaget defeated Beluga, 9-8, in the first game of the quarterfinal doubleheader and Berlin Polo came from behind to defeat ELG, 11-9, to advance into Thursday’s semifinals.
Audi will play Berlin Polo at 9:30 a.m. and Casablanca will face Piaget at 3:30 p.m. Both semifinal games will be played at the Fire Station Fields in Wellington.
The championship game is Saturday at 4 p.m. after the consolation game at 2 p.m.
The highly-anticipated Grand Champions 20-goal season more than lived up to expectations despite the wind gusts between 20 and 30 miles per hour making it challenging in both games.
Piaget (Melissa Ganzi, Tommy Biddle, Piki Alberdi, Juan Bollini) and Beluga (Misha Rodzianko, Carlos Baez, Luis Escobar, Michael Dorignac) were tied five times in the first four chukkers before Piaget extended its lead to an 8-6 lead on a goal by Ganzi with an assist from Alberdi at the 4:21 mark of the fifth chukker.
Escobar scored early in the sixth chukker to cut Piaget’s lead to one goal (8-7), but Biddle’s penalty goal gave Piaget a two-goal lead until the final seconds when Escobar scored again.
“This was a very good way to start the tournament,” Bollini said. “It’s always nice to win, starting out slow with no double horses. We controlled the entire game and momentum. It was our fault that they came back. We slowed down a bit but we were still in control of the game.”
All eyes on the ball as Beluga’s Michel Dorignac (4) pulls the ball out of the air with Piaget’s Tommy Biddle (2) defending
Biddle was a last-minute replacement for Jeff Hall whose travel plans were delayed. Biddle, who was headed to Aiken, S.C. to pick up his horses, got the word on Monday afternoon that he was playing with Piaget.
“It was fun,” Bollini said. “I usually don’t play two; usually I am the guy who is the quarterback. I went from being the captain to being the soldier.”
Added Bollini: “Tommy played fantastic today. He played the two position, which he doesn’t play much and didn’t complain. He was unbelievable, a true team player. We have a fun team.”
The lightning-quick Alejandro “Piki” Alberdi, an Argentine polo legend at age 50 rated at 8 goals, scored a game-high six goals with deft mallet play on both sides of the horse.
Biddle added two goals and Ganzi had one. Escobar led Beluga with four goals and Dorignac and Rodzianko each scored a goal. Beluga opened with a 2-0 lead by handicap.
“It’s always a good way to open a tournament with a win, especially with the wind,” Alberdi said. “The wind was very difficult to play. We have Juan Bollini, who is a big hitter, but today with the wind the ball goes everywhere.
“Instead of hitting big we had to control the ball more on the ground and I think it worked well,” Alberdi said. “I was very lucky today. I played beautiful horses from Melissa, the team passed the ball to me and I scored the goals. The team played very well together.”
Alberdi and Bollini, who grew up together in polo, played in England where they won the Gold Cup.
“Piki and I have been friends for a lifetime; we can play with our eyes closed,” Bollini said. “It is so easy to play with someone like that. I know where he is at all times because we have played so many years together.”
Ganzi was thrilled with the win even though it now pits her against her 15-year-old son Grant on Casablanca. “It’s very exciting for us and to win for Piaget,” Ganzi said. “It is a great team and we came together well.”
Rodzianko was hit on the forearm with a mallet with 1:37 left in the fifth chukker which stopped the game so he could be attended by paramedics. Rodzianko was able to return to the game but was icing afterwards. Beluga will play in Saturday’s subsidiary game.
Piaget’s Melissa Ganzi (1) chases down Beluga’s Michel Dorignac (4) as he tries maintain ball possession
“This is good polo, a very nice level,” Rodzianko said. “I think the difficult thing is switching teams every week and playing with different people. It’s a great experience and I am very thankful that the Ganzis put the season on. It’s an incredible opportunity for me. It’s cool I get to play at this level and get better. It’s always a pleasure playing with the legends like Alberdi.”
In the second game, ELG (Avery Chapman, Guille Aguero, Kris Kampsen, Carlucho Arellano) jumped out to a five-goal lead in the second chukker (6-1) and controlled the tempo for an 8-4 halftime lead in what looked to be a one-sided contest.
After a few adjustments, Berlin Polo (Moritz Gaedeke, Hector Galindo, Sugar Erskine, Jeff Blake) found its chemistry in the second half and started to mount a comeback while ELG collapsed.
Berlin Polo scored seven unanswered goals and held ELG scoreless for two chukkers before ELG was able to score its last goal late in the sixth chukker.
Erskine sparked the rally starting the fourth chukker off with a 60-yard penalty shot and then scored from the field to cut ELG’s lead to two (8-6). Blake added another goal to come within one (8-7).
In the opening minute of the fifth chukker, Erskine scored again to tie the game (8-8) and then put his team in the lead for the first time with a penalty goal late in the fifth chukker.
Erskine finished with six goals including three on penalty shots. Gaedeke and Galindo each had two goals and Blake added one.
Kampsen, playing his first tournament as a newlywed, led his team with four goals. Arellano had two goals and Chapman scored one.
ELG’s Guille Aguero escaped serious injury in the fourth chukker when his horse stumbled, threw Aguero and bolted off the field, returning safely to the warm, dry horse trailers.
The three-day, six-team USPA 2013 Beluga North America Cup is the first of two 20-goal fall tournaments at Grand Champions. The other 20-goal tournament is the Nov.13-24 USPA National 20-Goal Championship.
During the 2012 fall season, Audi dominated the season winning back-to-back USPA North America Cup and USPA National 20-Goal Tournament titles with Marc Ganzi, Carlitos Gracida, Nic Roldan and Carlos Gracida.
On Saturday Beluga Noble Russian Vodka will be served in the Beluga VIP tent during the polo doubleheader and post-tournament party.
Beluga Noble Vodka is produced in the heart of Siberia, one of the most ecologically clean in Russia.
Beluga Noble is refined in every way. Thanks to its unique production technology, including both innovations and centuries-old traditions, the flavor of Beluga Noble has an irreproducible smoothness.
All the ingredients of Beluga Noble pass through a strict system of purification and filtration, which guarantees the maximum level of purity and quality in the final product. Beluga Noble “rests” for 30 days.
The refined design of the bottle with hand-made elements perfectly reflects the nobility of Beluga Noble. On every one of the bottles there is one important feature, a small Beluga fish, traditionally fitted by hand, making every bottle unique.
Also this week is the Palm Restaurant Invitational (Friday and Sunday), the seventh and final medium-goal tournament at Grand Champions.
GRAND CHAMPIONS FALL SCHEDULE
Nov. 5-9, USPA Beluga North America Cup
Nov. 8-10, Palm Restaurant Invitational
Nov. 13-24, The National 20-Goal Championship
Nov. 30, International Cup, Team USA vs. Chile
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 561-644-5050.
INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch high and medium goal polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April.
Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Lukas Klouda (CZE) on Danny Boy, lunged by his coach and former World and European champion Patric Looser, secured the male individual competition at the opening qualifier of the FEI World Cup Vaulting 2013/2014 series in Munich. (Photo: Daniel Kaiser/FEI).
Lausanne (SUI), 5 November 2013 – The first victories of the FEI World Cup Vaulting 2013/2014 season in Munich’s Olympic stadium were secured by Germany’s Corinna Knauf and last year’s winner Lukas Klouda from the Czech Republic, with Austria’s Jasmin Lindner and Lukas Wacha winning the first World Cup pas-de-deux qualifier in the history of the series.
Many felt the most exciting competition in Munich was the pas-de-deux, which made its successful début in this prestigious series in front of excited spectators. After two rounds of high-class pas-de-deux vaulting, German national coach Ulla Ramge was clear: “It was a fantastic first run. Pas-de-deux is really thrilling for our audiences, and it is an excellent addition to individual vaulting.”
Outstanding Performances
All three pas-de-deux in Munich put in outstanding performances. Jasmin Lindner and Lukas Wacha, the pas-de-deux World and European champions competing, earned 8,953 points in their second freestyle securing a clear victory on Elliot. Their lunger Klaus Haidacher was ecstatic after their win and second round maximum artistic score of 10 points. “It was a great experience in this stunning arena with such an animated audience,” he said. “We’re now looking forward to our next qualifier in Salzburg.”
“We are very happy that pas-de-deux is now part of the FEI World Cup Vaulting series,” Jasmin Lindner said. “The atmosphere was powerful. It’s not like being at a normal vaulting competition. Even the World Championships can’t be compared with the World Cup.” Her partner Lukas Wacha added: “I really hope we were able to win new fans in Munich, not just for ourselves but for vaulting as a whole.”
With a score of 8,394 points, Germany’s Gera Marie Grün and Justin van Gerven, lunged by former World and European champion Patric Looser on Danny Boy, were thrilled with second place. The pair from Cologne were the first pas-de-deux into the arena in the opening round. “It was an honour for us to open the FEI World Cup Vaulting series for pas-de-deux,” van Gerven said proudly. Austria’s Stefanie Millinger and Evelyn Freund, performing on Robin and lunged by Nina Rossin, took third place with 7,825 points.
Oh Danny Boy
On the first day of the individual male competition, 29-year-old Lukas Klouda on Danny Boy lunged by his coach Patric Looser was second behind Germany’s Torben Jacobs on Flash Back, lunged by Alexandra Knauf. He then convinced the four judges with his dance-theme on the final day, securing a 138-point lead. “I was happy for Torben and I hope this big success motivates him,” said Lukas Klouda. “I love my horse Danny Boy. It was only our fourth competition together and he is just awesome every time. And I really like Munich, where I won last year.”
“I’m not disappointed,” said Jacobs, who is studying medicine and trains at the same club as Klouda. “I am very happy with my performance and second place is a big deal.” Jacobs will compete with Pia Engelberty, who is currently recovering from an injury, at the FEI World Cup Vaulting qualifiers in pas-de-deux as well as the individual competitions. The pair will then focus on qualifying in pas-de-deux for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy (FRA).
Germany’s Thomas Brüsewitz, last year’s FEI World Cup Vaulting runner-up, made a comeback in Munich after a long injury break, and secured 7,830 points on Fabiola, also lunged by Alexandra Knauf.
Stellar Performance
The biggest surprise was during the female competition. After the first day, it looked like a replica of the 2012/13 Final, with Italy’s Anna Cavallaro ahead of Switzerland’s Simone Jäiser (SUI). But in the second round, the 27-year-old Cavallaro fell from 16-year-old Harley after he was startled by excited spectators. Corinna Knauf from Cologne took the opportunity to put in a stellar performance, and climbed from third after the first round to the lead spot in the second round, and with 8,528 points she collected her first FEI World Cup Vaulting victory on Fabiola, lunged by her sister Alexandra Knauf.
The 20-year-old was thrilled with her win, coming on top of qualifying for her first senior Championship and also winning the German nationals for the first time this year. “It is an unbelievable season,” she said.
“It was just bad luck for Anna, but sometimes this happens in the sport,” said Ulla Ramge of Cavallaro, who performed a brand new freestyle to the song “Dream” by Andrea Bocelli. Cavallaro reasoned: “These things happen. I’m really happy with the score for my first test and I’m already looking forward. I will be training hard for my next qualifier in Salzburg.”
Second place went to Simone Jäiser on Luk, lunged by her mother Rita Blieske, with 8,411 points. “I am happy, but of course I will also fight for the win at the next qualifiers”, she said and added that her big wish was to see Switzerland host an FEI World Cup Vaulting qualifier in next year’s series. Third place was secured by Pascale Wagner, also from Switzerland, who performed on Viva Alegria, lunged by Michael Heuer and finishing on 8,157 points.
International Comeback
Austria’s Lisa Wild made her international comeback in Munich after a 14-month break following injury. The 18-year-old, in a sublime moment at the FEI World Vaulting Championships 2012, surprised the audience with an acrobatic element never before seen in competition, executing a backflip off the horse’s back and landing on the horse. The judges rewarded her with second place for her incredible routine, but unfortunately she was injured when she fell off the horse in the final and was not able to end the freestyle as planned. In Munich, she finished in fourth place with 8,066 points.
“I have missed this so much and I’m happy to be back again,” she said. “At home, in my training, everything works fine but in competition it’s totally different. Now I have to get even better mentally.”
With two victories (Corinna Knauf and Lukas Klouda) and two second places (Torben Jacobs with Gera Marie Grün, and Justin van Gerven) the Cologne-based vaulting club Jugend Reiter Gruppe (JRG), whose members are coached by former World and European Champion Patric Looser (SUI), was the most successful by a long margin.
“We’re nicknaming the World Cup in Munich the Cologne Cup,” joked Patric Looser. “We like the World Cup competitions the most – they are so much fun!”
Lexington, KY – November 4, 2013 – The Phelps Media Group $2,000 Braider’s Award was presented Saturday afternoon at the Alltech National Horse Show to three deserving braiders: Jeff Claxton, Jennie Vigliano and Louise Sinkler. The show’s colors are orange and black, and braiders incorporated those colors as they summoned their talent and creativity to try to produce the best complete braid job in the hunter divisions.
Linda Umla, who judged the competition, was impressed by the quality of the entries and found it difficult to choose the winners.
“It was a lot harder than I thought it would be!” she said. “I knew the braiders would all be doing a top-notch job, but they were so creative and did beautiful work. I really liked that the Alltech National Horse Show had the requirement of using some colors because traditionally braiding is very restricted – it is an art, but it’s always within strict guidelines. This contest created an opportunity for artwork to come out in the braiding itself.”
Umla has braided professionally for 30 years. She noted that braiding is “a bit of a hidden art” and that the contest gave braiders a rare chance to step into the spotlight.
“As a braider, you’re a night owl – you’re not there during the day for the most part, and you’re not interacting with the horse show people,” she explained. “It’s easily overlooked. I think offering an award like this was ripe for the taking. Nobody that I can recall in my history of braiding has done anything like that, and certainly not with the criteria of using such eccentric colors as orange and black.”
Umla added that she noticed braiders getting more and more inventive as the week progressed, drawing on the work of their peers for inspiration and working to stand out from the rest.
“I really think that the braiders themselves did an outstanding job,” she said. “They put their all into it in terms of creativity and style. Those top three braiders just did an amazingly beautiful job.”
Jennie Vigliano, who braided for Scott Stewart at the show, was thrilled to be one of the three award recipients. “I’m so happy, I’m going to cry,” she said after the presentation. “I had a really good time doing it. I felt like I was doing it for me, but I was also doing it for the people. The riders were really excited, and they were putting pictures of the braids on Facebook. I was happy that they were so excited about it.”
Vigliano said she focused on producing high quality braids and including the orange and black colors in a subtle but distinctive way.
“The most important thing I tried to do was to make perfect braids,” she said. “I mostly had horses with dark manes, so I braided them with orange and a little black pompom by the ears. I spaced crystals throughout their manes, which I think made them stand out. I really thought it was exciting and fun to experiment and see what everybody did.”
Louise Sinkler braided for Linda Langmeier, Dr. Betsee Parker and Tim & Kelly Goguen. She said she enjoyed the opportunity to be creative.
“It was just really fun to get some recognition and have everyone paying attention to the braids,” Sinkler said. “Braiding in orange is great because we would never get the chance to do that at another horse show.”
The 130th Edition of the Alltech National Horse Show concluded on Sunday with the ASPCA Maclay Finals, Presented by C. M. Hadfield’s Saddlery. For more information on the Alltech National Horse Show, please visit www.alltechnationalhorseshow.com.
Mary Adelaide Brakenridge for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Pau (FRA), 5 November 2013 – The sixth edition of the FEI World Driving Championships for Combined Ponies in Pau, France, will be remembered a successful one. Young and talented drivers as well as experienced athletes took home the individual medals. Bram Chardon (NED) defended successfully his title and won individual gold for the second consecutive time in the four-in-hand class. His compatriot Ewoud Boom won gold for the first time in his career in the pairs category and reigning European Junior champion Martin Hölle (HUN) is the new world champion in the pony singles. The Netherlands won the team title for the first time in the 10-year history of the combined championships and broke the German dominance which had lasted throughout the first five editions of the event.
Singles
Young Hungarian driver Martin Hölle, 16, finished second in dressage driving his German riding pony Apache de la Licorne and lay the base for his gold medal. He was also second in the marathon behind Sebastien Pallen (BEL) whose pony he bought two years ago. Hölle was in gold medal position even before the cones competition began. Once on the cones course, he drove a steady round crossing the finish line with only 0,27 penalty points to his name and securing his first world title.
The 22-year-old Rosanna Walters-Symons (GBR) won the silver medal with her 16-year-old Welsh Cob Dabernon Tiger Woods, with which she won bronze at the European Driving Championships for Young Drivers 2012. Walters-Symons, who is a PhD student at Exeter University in the United Kingdom, finished in fifth place in the dressage and the marathon and moved up to the silver medal thanks to a wonderful cones round.
Just like Martin Hölle and Rosanna Walters-Symons, 47-year-old bronze medallist Els Broekman (NED) also drove her first World Championship in Pau with her 14-year-old New Forest gelding Aron. She won the dressage and was able to keep her leading position throughout the event.
Pairs
Dutch driver Ewoud Boom, 36, who has competed in every World Championship for Combined Ponies since the event was launched in 2003, succeeded in winning an individual medal. Boom won the dressage, finished third in the marathon and secured his first gold medal after an excellent performance in the cones, in which he scored the only double clear round. Marco Freund (GER), 17, who had finished in fourth place at the previous world championships in 2011, landed a much deserved slot on the podium this year. Marco, who is the son of double world champion four-in-hand driver Michael Freund, came third in the dressage and second in the marathon. He secured his silver medal by driving a clear round with only a few time penalties.
Great Britain’s experienced Anna Grayston, who has competed at many European four-in-hand and World Combined Championships, was delighted to take home the bronze medal. The 41-year-old former four-in-hand pony driver drove her pair of good-looking Welsh ponies to fourth place in dressage and moved up to third after a strong marathon performance. Anna had two knockdowns and some time penalties in the cones, but was able to secure the first individual medal in her career.
Four-in-hands
Defending World Champion Bram Chardon, the 20-year-old son of four-time world four-in-hand champion IJsbrand Chardon, won all three competition phases, leaving his opponents far behind him. With his experienced team of grey Welsh ponies, he drove a wonderful dressage test, set fast times in the marathon obstacles, designed by Swiss O-course designer Christian Iseli, and was the best driver in the cones. Even though Chardon had a big advantage before entering the cones arena, he still drove to win and secured his second individual gold medal with an amazing performance, much to the joy of the many orange-clad Dutch fans.
The silver medal went to Jozsef Dobrovitz Jr (HUN) who made up for his disappointing results in 2011. The 21-year-old driver, who is also one of the 10 drivers qualified for the FEI World Cup Driving, finished fourth in the dressage and in the marathon and was in bronze medal position before the cones. Dobrovitz drove an amazing double clear round and after Dutch driver Jan de Boer, who was in runner-up position going into the final phase, had too many penalty points in the cones, the Hungarian moved up to win the silver. Double world champion Tobias Bücker (GER) took home the bronze medal. The 38-year-old salesman by profession has competed in every World Combined Championships as well as the European four-in-hand pony championships.
Nations teams
The Dutch drivers got off to a flying start winning the dressage in each class. The Dutch team held on to their leading position throughout the event gradually widening the gap with their opponents. The final obstacle driving competition resulted in a Dutch winner in each class. The German team performed very well too but did not manage to successfully defend its title. The Hungarian team members, whose average age was 22, 22 finished on third place.
Quotes:
Martin Hölle (HUN), singles champion: “I’ve had this pony for two years now and I have been training very hard for this world championship, which is far more difficult than the youth championships. In the marathon I managed to drive according to plan. Before I went into the cones I knew I had an advantage of two balls, which gave me the confidence I needed. My pony went well in all three competition phases and I will for sure keep driving him for the next two years.”
Ewoud Boom (NED), pairs champion: “I am so happy with this medal, it finally all came together! My dressage went well and I know I can drive a better marathon than I did here, but my third place was good for my overall result. I started off at a good speed in the cones and managed to keep the speed up while making short turns. We trained extensively for the obstacle driving and it has all paid off now. I am not sure what the next two years hold for me. I have driven a pony from another owner the past one and a half years and the pony is going back next week, so I have to see what the future will bring me.”
Bram Chardon (NED), four-in-hand champion: “I am very proud of my second gold medal. My ponies did a fantastic job. My goal after Lipica 2011 was to improve my dressage by 10 points and I succeeded. The marathon went really well for me and so did the cones. I knew I had a big advantage but I also realised that the competition is over only after you’ve crossed the finishing line. I am not sure yet what I will do next. I would like to start driving a team of horses, but my father competes at the top and to have two horse teams is a lot of work. I would also very much like to defend my title at the next world championships at Breda in 2015, so I will see.”
Tommy Biddle (3) of Palm Beach Equine/ELG goes for the near side shot as Casablanca’s Wes Finlayson (4) tries to put it in reverse. Photos by Scott Fisher.
WELLINGTON, FL – Nov. 3, 2013 — In front of a packed house on Sunday at Grand Champions Polo Club, Casablanca won its third tournament of the fall season.
Casablanca broke open a close game in the final chukker to defeat Palm Beach Equine/ELG, 14-11, in the eighth annual Pedro Morrison Memorial Cup final.
With the score tied at 10-10 after five chukkers, Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Mike Azzaro, Wes Finlayson) scored four goals and held off Palm Beach Equine/ELG (Avery Chapman, Guille Aguero, Tommy Biddle, Scott Swerdlin) with two great defensive stops on goal attempts in the final minutes.
Finlayson, 18, was named Most Valuable Player for his outstanding play on both ends of the field in the hotly-contested game. Zulu, an 8-year-old bay mare, was named Best Playing Pony.
“We made less mistakes than the other team and ended up playing better,” Finlayson said. “Both teams played amazing.”
For Ganzi, 15, and Bollini, 17, it was their second consecutive Pedro Morrison Memorial Cup victory. Last year the teenagers teamed with Kris Kampsen and Jason Crowder on KIG’s winning team. It was also Bollini’s fifth tournament victory (two other wins with different teams).
Casablanca’s MVP Wes Finlayson (4) breaks away and goes for the hit despite being defended
“It’s really exciting,” said Ganzi, a sophomore at St. Andrew’s School. “I hoped we could do it; I knew we could do it. It’s a great trophy to win. It’s the best medium-goal trophy to win here at Grand Champions. To win it twice in a row is pretty remarkable. This year was so much more competitive.”
Added Bollini, “It is amazing; it is a great feeling. Our team has become dominant. At first, we didn’t know it was going to be this much fun. We have great chemistry.”
Azzaro broke the tie at the 7:12 mark when he dribbled the ball in from 100 yards out off a penalty five for an 11-10 lead. Azzaro then got defensive saving a 60-yard goal attempt by Tommy Biddle.
Finlayson made it 12-10 driving downfield with three hits before scoring. Ganzi then scored his fourth goal of the game at the 2:45 mark for a 13-10 lead.
Palm Beach Equine/ELG tried to rally late in the game. Biddle scored on a penalty two to cut the lead to two goals (13-11) but Azzaro came back scoring on a penalty four to put the game out of reach.
Azzaro finished with a team-high five goals and Ganzi scored four goals. Finlayson had two and Bollini added one and two were by handicap.
Casablanca’s Grant Ganzi (1) hooks Guille Aguero (2) of Palm Beach Equine/ELG to break up his scoring drive
For Palm Beach Equine/ELG, Biddle scored a game-high seven goals, Guille Aguero had three and Avery Chapman added one.
The maturation process continued for Casablanca’s three young up-and-coming players. Their team captain and Hall of Famer couldn’t have been happier.
“They played well; they played very disciplined today; it was a good game for them,” Azzaro said. “We changed our style of play a little bit. Every time they would catch up, we would come back and take the lead. Grant was strong. Wesley made a couple really nice plays.”
Azzaro held a team meeting before the game to make sure everyone was on the same page.
“He likes to teach on and outside the field and he likes to teach the youth,” Bollini said. “It’s amazing to listen to him. He knew what we needed to do. We talked about how we would play.”
Said Finlayson, “Mike is such a great influence. He is a great player of the game. The best part about playing with Mike is that he is an amazing player and he can keep his head on straight. He is open-minded to mistakes. He wants to teach us as a team even though we’re not as good as him. He wants to teach us how to play the game, how to make the right plays and how to work as a team which is key.”
Chapman, who has played in the final three times against Casablanca, has been impressed with the young team since the fall season began.
“It’s a well-balanced team,” Chapman said. “We certainly didn’t have a lack of try… a couple lucky bounces either way. They played very good offense and we played good defense but at the end of the day, they turned out to be the better team.
“The boys are playing great; they are great young men and Mike is a good captain,” Chapman said. “And that’s of course how handicaps go up, when you are playing great. I have lost to them in three finals. All I can say is that I am proud of my team because we are the only team getting to them each time. I can’t complain. Our team played very well as a team. We just had some unlucky breaks. This was good polo, one of the best games I have seen at Grand Champions.”
In the consolation final, Paladin (David Krantz, Juan Bollini, Piki Alberdi, Melissa Ganzi) led from start-to-finish to defeat Audi/Excalibur (Michael Donahue, Marc Ganzi, Carlitos Gracida, Nic Roldan), 8-5.
Alberdi led all scoring with five goals. Bollini, who was called for a technical foul in the fifth chukker, had two and Ganzi added one.
For Audi/Excalibur, Marc Ganzi scored three consecutive goals in the fourth and fifth chukkers including two on penalty shots to trail by only one (6-5), but Bollini and Alberdi goals put the game away. Nic Roldan added one goal for Audi/Excalibur which also picked up one goal on handicap.
The Pedro Morrison Memorial, featuring a seven-team field, was the sixth medium-goal tournament of the fall season which has proven to be the most competitive in Grand Champions’ seven-year history. Other tournament winners were Paladin, Audi and Palm House.
Pedro Morrison, born in Spain and University of Miami alum, died Dec. 11, 2003 in Wellington at age 49. He was an avid polo player, patron of The Sympatico Polo team and helped develop Wellington into a thriving community. He was active in several local and area charities and businesses and touched countless lives. He remains an inspiration. His work on behalf of the YMCA of the Palm Beaches continues on through Polo with Pedro.
The tournament is played annually in honor of Morrison in a casual, laid-back and fun atmosphere. Members of the Morrison family along with friends, players and spectators were treated to great food from Cilantro’s in a festive atmosphere.
This week the first of two 20-goal tournaments gets under way on Tuesday with the USPA 2013 Beluga North America Cup with the opening two games at Palm City Polo Club in Boca Raton.
Beluga (Misha Rodzianko, JJ Celis, Joey Casey, Luis Escobar) plays Piaget (Melissa Ganzi, Jeff Hall, Juan Bollini, Piki Alberdi) at 10 a.m. and ELG (Avery Chapman, Kris Kampsen, Guille Aguero, Carlucho Arellano) plays Psycho Bunny (Moritz Gaedeke, Hector Galindo, Sugar Erskine, Jeff Blake) at 3:30 p.m.
The Palm Restaurant Invitational, the final medium goal tournament of the season, is Friday and Sunday.
The other 20-goal tournament is the Nov.13-24 USPA National 20-Goal Championship.
During the 2012 fall season, Audi dominated the season winning back-to-back USPA North America Cup and USPA National 20-Goal Tournament titles with Marc Ganzi, Carlitos Gracida, Nic Roldan and Carlos Gracida.
GRAND CHAMPIONS FALL SCHEDULE
Nov. 5-9, USPA Beluga North America Cup
Nov. 8-10, Palm Restaurant Invitational
Nov. 13-24, The National 20-Goal Championship
Nov. 30, International Cup, Team USA vs. Chile
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 561-644-5050.
INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch high and medium goal polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April.
Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Lillie Keenan piloted Clearway to the 2013 ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals Championship. Shawn McMillen Photography.
Lexington, KY – November 3, 2013 – In many ways, it came as no surprise when the champion of the 2013 ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay National Finals was announced as Lillie Keenan of New York, NY. The young phenom has been at the top of the sport since she was a pony rider, and this has been an exceptional year for her career. It began with the 2013 North American Junior and Young Rider Championships Show Jumping Gold Medal, followed by her first grand prix victory at HITS-on-the-Hudson and a win in the USEF Junior Jumper Individual Championship. Just a few short weeks ago, she won her second big equitation championship, the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal. Today, after three rounds of competition, presented by C. M. Hadfield’s Saddlery, at the Alltech National Horse Show, she earned her third major title, all before turning 18 years old.
“For a really long time I wanted this, along with wins at other finals, more than anything,” expressed Keenan. “I am glad to say that I do know the history of this class, and every rider on the trophy is extremely well respected and extremely successful. Being on a trophy with them, I am over the moon, but also what that entails for my future is very exciting. I am at a loss for words.”
The competition got underway at 7 a.m. with 148 riders competing over a challenging track designed by judges Robert Ridland and Susan Humes, as well as Bobby Murphy. Precise lines were used to make riders showcase adjustability and style over gates, fan jumps, combinations and walls. At the end of the opening course, the judges invited the top 30 riders to return and showcase their skills in the flat phase. Sophie Simpson led the way, followed by Sydney Shulman and Keenan.
Riders had to complete an extensive test on the flat, where they worked their mounts at the walk, trot and canter. They had to show collection and extension, as well as perform the counter canter and sitting trot. The judges also requested that the riders perform half-passes at the trot and canter throughout different patterns.
“I have to give my wife, Hillary, credit for shoving Debbie McDonald’s book in my face on the plane, which is how the half-pass ended up on the test,” explained Ridland. “When we boil things down to basics, controlling the horse, the forward movement, the extension, lengthening and shortening the strides – all the tests that we asked on the course were basically that. There were adjustments, extensions, collections on course, and of course directional accuracy was a test that we wanted to reward. The number one thing we were trying to test was that-basically being able to control your horse, forward and back, with lateral movements.”
After the three sections were complete, the top 20 riders were invited back for a final test with Keenan leading the way, followed by Simpson and Kelli Cruciotti, who jumped up from eighth in the rankings with a solid performance. The final test began with three oxers and a bending line that could be done in six or seven strides to the signature ASPCA jump. Riders then had to canter an oxer away from the out gate before trotting a gate and cantering in seven strides to an oxer. A left turn led to a double wall combination without standards. The riders had to get the counter canter and jump a fan fence followed by another bending line and a triple bar to a vertical-oxer double combination and a final oxer just past the in gate.
The test was certainly a proving ground, as Simpson dropped down to eighth place with a few rubs and a round that lacked brilliance overall. Michael Hughes and Spencer Smith had been ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, but they dropped out of the standings entirely when Smith had two refusals and Hughes had an awkward trot fence and a rail at the final fence.
There were rounds that were excellent though, including those of Gabrielle Bausano and Shulman, who ended up fourth and fifth, respectively, after keeping a solid pace throughout their rounds and easily answering each question that was asked.
Charlotte Jacobs and Patrick. Photo By: Rebecca Walton
Charlotte Jacobs of East Aurora, NY, had a standout round aboard Patrick, owned by Catherine Tyree. The pair had a direct approach through the first line and also excelled during the trot jump and the counter canter, jumping all the way up from eleventh in the standings to capture the third place award.
“I was in eleventh, so I kind of knew that I didn’t have anything to lose,” admitted Jacobs, a freshman at Southern Methodist University. “I did some inside turns and put it all out there, and it definitely helped me.”
Cruciotti, of Elizabeth, CO, continued to showcase her consistent style with Monterrey. They also had a direct approach in the bending line and were able to transition to the trot before the gate smoothly before exhibiting the counter canter. Her efforts throughout the day were rewarded with the second place prize.
“When I walked the course, I knew that there were a lot of different tests within it,” said Cruciotti. “The first line could either be done up in six or out in seven. I decided to do the out in seven. The hardest part to me was the canter to the trot out because my horse gets very excited when he gets in the ring. I was just very thrilled with how he jumped. I just wanted to go in and give him a positive ride.”
The best test of the day came at the very end from Keenan and Clearway, owned by Heritage Farm. Keenan’s flawless style gave her the lead going into the test, and the talented young rider was not about to let it slide through her fingers. She landed the counter canter and made it smoothly through each of the combinations, demonstrating everything the judges were looking for: style, accuracy and effectiveness. After she left the ring, there was no question that she was the winner, adding another championship title to her resume to conclude a stellar year.
Kelli Cruciotti and Monterrey. Shawn McMillen Photography
“I was nervous coming back last,” admitted Keenan. “I knew that the other riders in the top 20 were definitely very capable. I didn’t really decide what my complete plan was until I walked into the ring. The course rode differently than how it walked. I think that is the wonderful thing about a challenging course for a championship; it is very much about going in and starting your course and being able to negotiate as you go. It is not just about having a plan and thinking that you are going to execute the whole thing. I knew that my horse could do it, but I have to say that I was the most nervous because I didn’t want to get in his way.”
With three equitation titles to her name, Keenan will begin focusing her efforts on the jumper ring next year. “Throughout this year, I have been trying to make the step up to some of the bigger classes. I am going to plan on going to the Talent Search Finals next year. Andre will obviously be the person helping me move up, but I don’t think I am done with equitation yet. Equitation finals are important to me; they always have been. I think I am going to keep moving up, competing in the open divisions, working with a younger horse that I have. I am slowly trying to work my way up.”
Keenan added, “I am not unrealistic though. I am aware that after this year it is not like I have accomplished everything. I think having this as one of the titles I have been able to accomplish is exciting, thrilling and is going to help me move forward, but it is not the end, it’s just the beginning.”
Ten years ago, Keenan began riding with Andre Dignelli and the team at Heritage Farm, and it is a partnership that has flourished over time. “Conrad Homfeld started this relationship, and this show is a full circle moment for us,” said Dignelli. “He was designing the courses, and Lillie was showing here in the open jumpers, so it was a magical moment. We would be remiss in not thanking Lillie’s mother. Nobody has been more supportive of this whole experience than Pam Keenan. She rode; she understood what this was all about. They gave up every vacation; they were at every show. They just spend more hours at Heritage than anyone ever has in 25 years of my training.”
Dignelli concluded, “Today, I thought we won in a magical way. I thought the round was stunning. It was polished; it was relaxed; it was everything that we have worked for since she was 7, so it has been a long road.”
The ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship class has been held since 1933, and it is one of the most prestigious competitions for junior riders in the United States. Its winners are some of the biggest names in equestrian sport. Previous winners include: William Steinkraus in 1941, Frank Chapot (1948), George Morris (1952), Leslie Burr Howard (1972), Stacia Klein Madden (1987) and Nicole Shahinian Simpson (1992). The 2011 ASPCA Maclay National Championship winner was Sarah Milliren of Sapulpa, OK, and in 2012 Jacob Pope of Columbia, MA, won the title.
Founded in 1883 at the original Madison Square Garden, the National Horse Show is America’s oldest indoor horse show, firmly established as a major fixture on the national and international sports and social event calendars. The National Horse Show Association’s primary activity is the annual production of the National Horse Show and all ancillary events. Over the years, the National Horse Show has provided financial aid to many worthwhile charities.
Rebecca Hart and Lord Ludger at the 2012 London Paralympics. Photo (C) Lindsay Yosay McCall.
Oklahoma City, OK – November 4, 2013 – USA Reining, together with the United States Para-Equestrian Association (USPEA), is pleased to announce that several established and well-known Para-Dressage athletes have signed on to cross over to the sport of Reining for the inaugural Para-Reining event at the 2013 AQHA World Championship Show in Oklahoma City, November 14 & 15.
Included in the ranks are a two-time Paralympian, an American disabled veteran and a host of other dedicated riders, all hoping to give Reining a try as the sport works for full inclusion in the Para-Equestrian movement. Additionally, seasoned western riders from the NRHA and AQHA ranks will step into the stirrup for the discipline of Reining at this kick-off event.
First among the featured riders, Rebecca Hart was born with a rare genetic disease called Familial Spastic Paraplegia (FSP). As an adult, it primarily affects her muscles and joints from the waist down, causing partial paralysis and severe spasticity. As a child, it caused her to have difficulty gaining strength in her upper body and slowed her motor development. Rebecca began riding at the age of ten.
Rebecca is a multiple USEF National Para-Equestrian Champion and was a member of the United States Paralympic Equestrian team, competing in Hong Kong with her horse, Norteassa, and taking 4th place in the freestyle. In 2010, she and Norteassa competed at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Lexington, KY. Rebecca retired Norteassa after the WEG. She rode Jessica and Missy Ransehousen’s Lord Ludger (LoLu) for the 2012 show season. The pair was named as a member of 2012 United States Paralympic Team, competing in London. Rebecca was the Team Captain and highest scoring U.S team member at the 2012 London Paralympics.
Frederick Win in 2011 Saugerties CPEDI3*. Photo (C) Lindsay Yosay McCall
Next among our featured riders, Frederick Win was born with a congenital birth deformity. In his native Burma (also known as Myanmar), Frederick Win started riding at age six for fun. By eighteen, he was taking part in jumping competitions as a selected member of the Myanmar Equestrian Federation, jumping up to four feet. He also performed Burmese traditional trick riding routinely, doing headstands or hanging upside down on the side of a galloping horse. Since he was a teenager, he was always fascinated by American cowboy life and American justice. He decided to go to USA to study law and to learn western horsemanship.
With hard work he obtained a Jurist doctor in Law. Fred currently practices law in the state of New Jersey defending people’s liberty and rights. In 2011, Fred started learning dressage and successfully competed at the United States Dressage Federation national level and FEI international level shows. Fred is honored to join the ranks at the first ever Reining demonstration.
Also featured, Derrick Perkins is a U.S. Air Force veteran who was injured in 1988 while on active duty. After his initial physical rehabilitation, he was stabilized as a tetraplegic with significant loss of use in all four extremities. Since then, he has become a member and volunteer of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Texas Chapter and began participating in various wheelchair sports for recreation, physical rehabilitation, and the thrill of competition. Derrick has competed annually in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and has a closet full of medals. He was recommended, by friends, for the SIRE – Houston Therapeutic Equestrian Centers program in 2008. During his years of riding with SIRE, Derrick has seen unbelievable improvements in balance, strength, and coordination.
Veteran Derrick Perkins. Photo provided by Derrick Perkins
Derrick has multiple awards, titles and championships from top events and organizations and is an FEI-rated international rider, and is currently competing for a chance to represent the United States in the 2014 World Equestrian Games and the 2016 Paralympic Games. To be featured at the 2013 AQHA World Championship Show in Oklahoma City, OK, Para-Reining will include a clinic and educational seminar on Thursday, November 14, and a first-ever Para-Reining demonstration class on Friday, November 15. This demonstration marks the maiden Para-Reining event ever to be held within the US Para-Equestrian system and a launching of efforts to bring the discipline online as a fully recognized sport in 2014. USA Reining and USPEA together with the AQHA and NRHA are proud to welcome an American hero to our ranks of Para-Reining competitors.
For more information about attending the USA Reining/USPEA Para-Reining Clinic and Demonstration Class at the AQHA World Championship Show, including schedule, entry form and more, email: Brad@HPowerInc.com.
The USPEA is a network of riders, judges, national federation board members, and equestrian enthusiasts. The association gives athletes the ability to get involved and expand their knowledge and experience in the Para-Equestrian sport. The USPEA encourages para-athletes to participate in all disciplines under the para-equestrian umbrella.
The USPEA is a recognized affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) which serves as the National Governing Body for the equestrian sport. This relationship between the USPEA and USEF is to encourage para-equestrian competitors, leisure riders, coaches, fans and enthusiasts to network and get involved with the entire equestrian sport.
Ultimately the goal of the USPEA is to foster growth in the para-equestrian discipline. From growth in the number of participants to growth as a team, and growth in the experience and knowledge of all involved. From local horse shows to international Olympic Games, the USPEA will provide para-equestrians the knowledge of what they need to succeed. The USPEA connects with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the United States Dressage Federation (USDF), and USEF which provides Para-Equestrians the top equestrian resources.
In June 2010, the USPEA earned its 501 (c)(3) status which has encouraged supporters to help supply funding to the Para-Equestrian Team as a recognized affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).
For more information about the USPEA, please visit www.USPEA.org or contact USPEA President Hope Hand by e-mail: Wheeler966@aol.com or by phone: (610)356-6481.
Peter Lombardo and Jane Fraze’s Academy Award. Photos by Shawn McMillen Photography.
Lexington, KY – November 3, 2013 – The bluegrass fields of Kentucky held more than beauty for professional hunter rider and trainer Peter Lombardo. The rolling fields were the ideal setting for the West Coast rider as he took his talented mounts on trail rides leading up to their premiere at the Alltech National Horse Show, 130th Edition, and it worked. Lombardo successfully captured the High Performance Hunter Championship with Ante Up, took the Green Conformation Reserve Championship aboard Academy Award and even navigated Typecast alongside Sybil Rose to the Performance 3’3″ Hunter Championship. Although the Los Angeles-based trainer had to do a little convincing to his clients and owners, the 2013 Alltech National Horse Show became a reality for the team at Frontier Farms. It took long trips for both the riders and horses, but Lombardo had his heart set on attending the prestigious competition.
“I really wanted to come to this horse show,” Lombardo explained. “I had to do some talking to convince everyone that we should do it. I think everyone is really happy and glad that we decided to make the trip, and they enjoyed the horse show. I had heard so much about this horse show, and for me the National Horse Show has so much meaning.”
The first time Lombardo competed at the National Horse Show, he was a 13-year-old. He fondly remembers his time in Madison Square Garden. “The Garden just had such excitement being in a city,” he said. “But it wasn’t necessarily the easiest for everybody, especially the horses. This has it all, because it is a very nice facility. Kentucky is really nice, and they really enjoyed it. It has a real flare to it. It is the equine epicenter – the racing, steeplechasing, American Saddlebreds, dressage, eventing and hunter/jumpers are all here.”
Lombardo relocated to Moorpark, CA about 13 years ago, and making the trip from California has proven to be not only a real commitment but also a special experience.
The winner’s circle saw Lombardo and his students several times throughout the week of competition. He rode Ante Up, owned by Janie Andrew, to the High Performance Championship, a special win for both Lombardo and Andrew, since he has been training her for the last five years.
“He’s a very experienced horse,” Lombardo said of Ante Up. “It was a nice division, and there were really good courses. The handy was a very difficult track. I watched a few horses go and then developed a strategy to do it smoothly, and to keep him calm. It was very hard, but it was really exciting. I think it affected him in a way that he jumped extremely well. He paid attention. I think my stake was the best class; he just jumped great.”
Janie Andrew and Ante Up
Ante Up went on to show in the Amateur-Owner Over 35 Hunters on Thursday and Friday with Andrew. Lombardo stood ringside as he watched the pair tackle the courses where they took a third over fences and in the under saddle, and returned to watch as Jane Fraze and Academy Award took on a similar course in the Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Over 35 Hunters. Fraze rode the bay gelding to the second in the under saddle and earned good ribbons over fences.
Earlier in the week Lombardo had shown Academy Award in the Green Conformation Hunters, where they were awarded the reserve championship. They also nabbed top ribbons in the First Year Green Working Hunters, winning the blue ribbon in the stake.
“Academy Award was just imported about a year ago now from Denmark, and he only started jumping 3-foot, 6-inches in late April,” Lombardo described. “So he has really come along fast. He is very competitive. Jane has done him in the Low Amateur-Owner Hunter division. He is only a 6-year-old, so I don’t let her do it all the time, but she had enough points to qualify for the Alltech National Horse Show, so she also showed him here, too.”
Lombardo continued, “I think for Academy Award, winning was very exciting for us. He was so great his first time indoors. To do so well, we of course thought he might, but you never know the outcome. He was right there, and just wonderful.”
It was an dual effort in the Performance 3’3″ Hunters as Lombardo rode Typecast the first day to the first and second place over fences, and then Sybil Rose guided him to the championship with their second day placings sealing their rank. In the Amateur-Owner 3’6″ 18-35 Hunters, Rose again turned in top performances aboard Typecast. They finished second in the first over fences class, fourth in the handy round and second in the under saddle.
Sybil Rose and Typecast
“I would like to come back,” Lombardo expressed. “For me, the story I tell the other trainers is that I really trail rode all week. I didn’t go to any rings, and that helped the horses to be fresh, happy and jumping well. You would think that if you keep doing Indoors, they would get better, but I thought I would think outside of the box so it wouldn’t get stale. The Kentucky Horse Park is a true horse oasis, and we utilized everything it had to offer.”
The Alltech National Horse Show, for the second year in a row, received a top ranking from NARG, the North American Riders Group and was named the Show Hunter Hall of Fame Horse Show of the Year in back to back years. The 130th edition came to a conclusion today with the ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals, but plans are already in the works for the 2014 Alltech National Horse Show.
About Alltech: Founded by Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech is a global animal health and nutrition company with 31 years’ experience in developing natural products that are scientifically proven to enhance animal health and performance. With more than 2650 employees in 128 countries, the company has developed a strong regional presence in Europe, North America, Latin America, the Middle-East, Africa and Asia. For further information, visit www.alltech.com. For media assets, visit www.alltech.com/press.
Alltech is the proud title sponsor of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy. For more information about these prestigious global championships, visit www.alltechfeiweg2014-normandy.com.
Kendall Bierer for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Katie Dinan and Nougat Du Vallet soared to the $250,000 Alltech National Horse Show Grand Prix victory in a four-horse jump off. Shawn McMillen Photography.
Lexington, KY – November 2, 2013 – The demanding coursework required of a Harvard University student is enough to keep anyone busy. Now imagine adding competing at the international grand prix level to that schedule. Juggling the two is hectic, but for Katie Dinan it is paying off in a big way.
Dinan flew in for the Alltech National Horse Show on Wednesday, and by Saturday she was at the top of the leader board. After piloting her veteran mount Nougat Du Vallet to a flawless double clear effort in the challenging Alltech $250,000 Grand Prix CSI-W 5* presented by LIFEFORCE ELITE, Dinan will return to Harvard with a big check and valuable points in the World Cup standings.
Thirty-six of the world’s top horse and rider combinations took center stage in the Alltech Arena this evening as the highlight event got underway. Course designer Conrad Homfeld challenged riders with large fences and technical lines that led to a four-horse jump-off.
The pathfinder during the second round was McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, with Sagamore Farms’ Rothchild. The pair flew around the short course, easily leaving out strides and taking all of the inside options. Their luck ran out though as they galloped to the final vertical, incurring four faults in a time of 42.06 seconds, which would hold up for fourth place.
Dinan watched her trainer’s round carefully and decided to give it everything she had with Nougat Du Vallet, while also being careful enough to leave each rail intact. She left out a stride down one of the last lines, but chose to do the correct number to double combination. Her plan proved to be the perfect answer to the test and she finished in 44.85 seconds, which would hold up for the win.
“I thought I was very fast, but I didn’t leave the ring thinking I had won the class,” noted Dinan. “You can always look back and find little moments where you could have been quicker. I think that if McLain had left all of the jumps up, at least with my time now, he would have beaten me, but I probably would have gone a little faster, too.”
Dinan added, “I’m obviously really excited. My horse was jumping great, and he was unbelievable in the first round. Since there were only four in the jump-off, I knew that this was really a moment for me to take a shot, and I had nothing to lose.”
Nicola Philippaerts and Cortez
Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts was tasked with trying to best Dinan’s time riding Cortez for his father, Ludo Philippaerts. He had a conservative gallop to the first fence, but started making up time by taking all of the inside turns. His clear round came close, but not close enough, breaking the beam at 45.02 seconds for second place.
“I think McLain was fast, and Katie also went super-fast,” said Philippaerts. “I tried to ride as fast as I could. I think I did one stride too many to the wall. I think that was where I lost the most time. When they go fast, you have to go fast, and it’s only moments you have to decide what you do.”
The final rider to show was Russia’s Ljubov Kochetova with Aslan, and while they did keep the rails in the their cups, Dinan was able to celebrate her victory when Kochetova took the outside turn midway through her effort, leading to a time of 46.42 seconds and the third place award.
“I wanted to try and be clear and fast,” commented Kochetova. “I haven’t jumped a lot of jump offs in difficult competitions. I am so happy that I have a double clear. I was trying to go fast, but I have third place and I am happy.”
Dinan was thrilled to add this exciting victory to her resume, and it made leaving school early this week well worth it. “This month has been a little bit hectic,” she admitted. “The great thing is when you have nights like this, it makes it all seem worth it. When you don’t, it kind of makes you wonder what you’re doing. I wasn’t able to do the classes at the beginning of the week, but I’ve been trying to do as many Indoors as I can because I have a good string of horses, and I feel like my horses are going well. I want to try to maximize that, but at the same time I am a little bit busy going back and forth with school.”
“Nougat Du Vallet is unbelievable,” she concluded. “He tries his heart out. He’s been my main horse for the last two years. I’ve been moving up and he’s been doing a lot. It’s his last show of the year, and to finish on a moment like this is unbelievable. He’s allowed me to accomplish a lot of my goals, while at the same time being competitive, and super forgiving of my mistakes. I love him!”
Kochetova’s consistent top placings throughout the week also helped her win the Martha W. Jolicoeur Leading Lady Jumper Rider Award at the end of the evening. “I am so happy,” she commented. “I was happy with my other horse [Wilford 2] because he’s my new horse and we don’t have a lot of experience. He jumped with me for the first time indoors. I’ve jumped here for the last several years and I really like this show – it has good organization, a big ring and very good footing.”
Philippaerts also scored top honors during the Alltech National Horse Show, winning the Audi Leading Rider Award. “I think it is super,” he expressed. “I think the last two classes made it up for me. I was second yesterday, and today second again. It’s super to be leading rider of such a beautiful show. I really am going to enjoy it.”
Alltech Founder Dr. Pearse Lyons concluded, “Boy that was exciting! This year we decided that we needed to do something different, and that somehow or another we would engage the city of Lexington. We are delighted that the city has responded, and that so many businesses have responded. There was passion, there was fun, there was engagement. I don’t know anywhere in the world where you can get footing, stadiums or barn after barn and demonstration after demonstration. It certainly wasn’t me, but whoever built the horse park way back, that made this event really come into a whole new level.”
Frances Land Victorious with Vieanne in $50,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Series Championship Grand Prix
In show jumping there is often a focus on the future of the sport and riders that might someday be a part of it. Today at the Alltech National Horse Show, spectators had the opportunity to see the best in the country as they competed during the $50,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Series Championship Grand Prix, presented by Elizabeth Miller and The Dinan Family, The Oken Family, The Straus Family, and the Tyree Family.
Twenty-nine riders who worked all year to compete at this event gathered at the Alltech Arena for the first round. Conrad Homfeld’s technical track yielded only five clear rounds, and riders returned for a speedy jump-off that only one would be able to master.
Leah DeMartini of Bronxville, NY, was the first to attempt the shortened course with True Love, owned by Elm Rock LLC. Unfortunately, her round would prove too conservative. After lowering the height of a vertical and crossing the timers after the time allowed, she finished with a total of six faults for fifth place.
Catherine Tyree of Chicago, IL, was up next aboard Wetter, and although they had a better time of 46.801 seconds, a block off of the wall added four faults to their score for fourth place. Michael Hughes of Ocala, FL, aimed at the top spot with Luxina, owned by Christina Fried, but they also had four faults. Their time of 44.612 seconds was good enough for third place.
“When I went in, there still hadn’t been anyone clear,” noted Hughes. “I had seen Catherine, and she had gone pretty fast, so I knew I had to keep it moving the whole time just in case I had a rail. Unfortunately, I had the second jump down, so I decided I had to pick it up a little bit more, so I was a little bit faster than the first two.”
Adrienne Sternlicht of Greenwich, CT, and her own Quidam MB blazed through the shortened course in the fastest time of 43.201 seconds, but the effort resulted in a costly back rail and four faults for second place.
“My horse has a huge stride, but he’s a bit green, especially at this bigger height and when we go fast in the jump-off,” noted Sternlicht. “On the turn back, I had a back rail. At that point I knew I had to keep galloping. He’s so careful that he’s honest to the jumps, so I just tried to go fast.”
Frances Land and Vieanne
When yesterday’s winner Frances Land of Alpharetta, GA, walked into the ring and mounted Vieanne, she knew that all she had to do was leave all the rails intact. In an effort to be careful over each fence, Land kept a conservative pace. Although she crossed the finish line in 48.811 seconds with a single time fault, her perfection over the course captured the victory.
“The course was definitely a bit tougher today; it was bigger, very technical,” admitted Land. “Conrad did a beautiful job setting the course. It was the perfect step up from yesterday. I knew that coming in my horse was going to be a little bit more tired than she was yesterday. So when I was schooling, I tried to amp her up a little bit so she had enough blood left.”
Land continued, “Going last was a huge advantage for me today. I knew that no one had been clean, and my horse is naturally fast. My dad, who trains me, told me to go around everywhere and have a very good base rhythm, go around and be smooth and leave the jumps up. I think I had a time fault because I went a little too wide to the FEI vertical – I was being overly cautious. I was just kind of trusting that she would be fast naturally. Luckily, I didn’t have more time faults!”
As is the case with many jumper mounts, especially mares, Vieanne is very sensitive, and although it means Land has to mount in the ring, it is a quality that works in her favor. “Today she was rearing in the in gate, so we asked if I could just get on in the ring, and that worked for the first round,” stated Land. “It’s always before the class that she gets very excited. She’s a winner. She knows what is waiting in the ring, so she gets really excited.”
Land concluded, “This is the first mare I have ever had a really good bond with. She is a fighter and I love that about her. We get along really well. She challenges me in a lot of ways, and I think I challenge her. For some reason, we are a good combination. Today she was phenomenal; she was with me every step of the way. She always tries and gives me 100 percent. She has more heart than almost any horse I have ever ridden, and it’s really special.”
Tomorrow equitation will take center stage at the Alltech Arena for the 2013 Alfred B. Maclay ASPCA National Championships. Riders have worked throughout the year to qualify for the prestigious event, which will feature 148 junior competitors.
For more information or to view the competition live, please visit www.alltechnationalhorseshow.com. Coverage is provided by Shownet.biz, iHigh, HRTV, and USEF Network.
Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
