Schuyler Riley riding Waterloo sail over a jump in the Olympic Arena last fall. Flashpoint Photography.
As the autumn leaves turn, all eyes turn to the Atlanta Fall Classic which kicks off on November 7th at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, Georgia. The Classic Company calls the Olympic venue home for two weeks each year and welcomes new and familiar faces to the prestigious show grounds.
Finals events, such as the Adequan Pre-Green Hunter Finals and the National Classic Equitation Finals, will highlight the two weeks of show jumping in addition to the crowning of the Classic Circuit Champions.
Riders are traveling from across the country to participate in these events. If you haven’t checked your status, now is the time to do so! Don’t forget to click here to see if you have qualified!
Week 1 opens up with the $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome class and the $65,000 EMO Grand Prix as well as the $15,000 Barry Lane Jumper Classic and the $1,500 Take2 Thoroughbred Hunter and Jumper Division. The $10,000 Child Adult Jumper Classic, the $5,000 Open Jumper Welcome Class, the $45,000 EMO Grand Prix and the International Hunter Derby take place Week 2 as well as the National Classic Equitation Finals, the Adequan Pre-Green Finals and the crowing of the Classic Circuit Champions.
Lisa Goldman makes the jumping look effortless in the irons of Morocco last fall
It’s not too late to enjoy the last Classic Company Show of the year. There is always something for everyone at Classic Company shows and the Atlanta Fall Classics are no exception. So make sure to bring everyone to the International Horse Park next week and enjoy Classic Company’s world class customer service, beautifully decorated rings, big prize money, great events and fun for all! Email Jonathan at jonathan@classiccompany.com or call the office at 843.768.5503.
Remember, you can also sign up for the Atlanta Fall Classic by visiting the Classic Company’s Official Service Partner, Equestrian Connect.
Equestrian Connect is Classic Company’s Official Service Provider and allows exhibitors to store their data one time, on the web, and then use that data to automatically fill out hunter/jumper entry forms across the country. The service offers a free 45 day trial period for new members. At the conclusion of the trial period, Equestrian Connect offers an annual subscription, or a “pay as you go” service. The service allows exhibitors to save both time and money. This is the one-minute online entry service that will help you get your entries in on time and you to the show! There is no easier way to get your entries in today and the Classic Company recommends that you give it a try.
Whether you are a seasoned veteran or novice looking for a positive show experience, look to the Classic Company shows and join them at the Atlanta Fall Classic starting November 7th. Anyone who has shown with the Classic Company knows what sets them apart from the rest: Classic Shows are FUN! Complimentary exhibitor parties, luncheons, Saturday pizzas and the friendliest show management team anywhere work hard to make your showing experience the best. Classic Company never charges an add or scratch fee for those last minute changes and there is no office surcharge added for credit card payments.
The Classic Company is a USHJA’s Members Choice Award winner, recognized for producing top quality show jumping events in the United States. For more information on the Classic Company, the Gulf Coast Winter Classics, the Southeast Medal Finals and their exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events, please visit them at classiccompany.com or call them at 843.768.5503. All sponsorship, marketing and press inquiries should be directed to Lisa Engel, Sponsorship, Marketing and Public Relations Director at lisa@classiccompany.com.
Audi’s Juan Bollini (3) defends Guille Aguero (2) of Palm House as he hits the ball. Photos by Scott Fisher.
WELLINGTON, FL – Oct. 27, 2013 — Palm House won its first tournament of the fall season Sunday at Grand Champions Polo Club.
Trailing by two goals in the sixth chukker, Juancito Bollini scored the tying goal at the 2:07 mark and a minute later Guille Aguero scored the winning goal to give Palm House a thrilling come-from-behind 11-10 victory over Audi.
Aguero, 36, of Wellington, was named Most Valuable Player for the second time this season. Aguero was also MVP of the USPA Fall Classic as a member of the Newport team that lost to Audi, 12-11.
“Can you believe it? Another MVP,” Aguero said with a smile. “I have been playing with Kris Kampsen for a few years so when he hit me that great pass I knew I had to score, I couldn’t miss it.
“Today was a great game, everyone had a great time,” Aguero said. “Everything went great. I love it over here at Grand Champions. This is my first time here.”
Aguero and Bollini each scored four goals. Teammate Kris Kampsen added two goals on penalty shots and Glenn Straub returned to the lineup for the final and scored on a penalty shot.
Kris Kampsen (3) of Palm House leans into his shot with Audi’s Juan Bollini (3) and Luis Escobar (3) defending
Audi (Melissa Ganzi, Kaisser Maakar, Luis Escobar and Juan Bollini), which picked up two goals by handicap, was led by Escobar with five goals. Bollini added two goals and Maakar scored one goal on a penalty shot.
Palm House won two round-robin games, defeating ELG, 5-3, and Casablanca, 4-2, to advance into the final.
It was the third championship finals appearance by Bollini, 17, a freshman at Florida Atlantic University. Bollini has now won three tournaments including two with Casablanca.
The final was also the last game Kampsen played as a bachelor. On Saturday, he will marry longtime love Ali Solimine in a lavish ceremony at The Breakers in Palm Beach.
“I was really happy actually with the team’s comeback,” said Kampsen, whose team trailed at the half, 6-4. “When Guille scored that goal it was icing on the cake.
“Bollini and Melissa are super competitive and do really well. They had a two-goal lead by handicap and came out firing and before we knew it we were down 4-1. We had to come back from there.
“We missed a few goals in the beginning and didn’t have our confidence up. I didn’t have confidence running with the ball today. I kept missing everywhere. It must be those nervous wedding jitters.”
With Palm House trailing Audi, Aguero remained a picture of composure.
“I just told the guys to relax, that we could come back and we did great,” Aguero said. “I like this team but I like to play with anybody. This is giving me energy. I am ready for 20-goal.”
Best Playing Pony went to Zulu, a seven-year-old dark bay mare owned by Melissa Ganzi and Halo Polo and played by Aguero.
Luis Escobar (3) of Audi tries to gain control of the in-flight ball with teammate Juan Bollini (3) and his son Juancito Bollini (2) of Palm House looking on
“There was a lot of talent out there and a lot of different momentum shifts,” Ganzi said. “Guille and Kris have been playing together in Connecticut. They have a long history of playing together. It was a nice competitive game. There were several lead changes and it could have gone either way and that was the fun of it.”
Palm House sponsor Glenn Straub was honored during the awards ceremony and presented a coffee table polo book, POLOSTARS by Melinda Brewer, who is currently working on a Grand Champions book for trophy awards.
Grand Champion officials Dale Schwetz and Horton Schwartz, two of the USPA’s top officials, were also honored.
In the USPA Fall Plates Subsidiary Cup game, ELG’s (Equine Law Group) Avery Chapman scored the winning goal for a 4-3 victory over Casablanca to clinch the title. ELG had also defeated Beluga, 6-5, and Casablanca edged Beluga, 7-6.
In the first game, Nic Roldan had three goals and Chapman added two for ELG and Misha Rodzianko scored three for Beluga. In the second game, 18-year-old Wes Finlayson led Casablanca with three goals and Mike Azzaro added two. Joey Casey had three goals for Beluga. In the third game, all four ELG players scored and Finlayson had two more goals for Casablanca.
The USPA Fall Plates Tournament is the fifth medium-goal tournament of the fall season which has been the most competitive in Grand Champions’ seven-year history. Casablanca has won two tournaments; Paladin, Audi and Palm House have each captured one tournament title.
Two 20-goal tournaments are scheduled for November and will be held simultaneously with two medium-goal tournaments.
The two 20-goal tournaments are the Nov. 5-9 USPA Beluga North America Cup and 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. In the national 20-goal final, Audi edged Piaget, 10-9.
All tournaments are USPA-sanctioned and have grown in stature since their start in the mid-1990s.
GRAND CHAMPIONS FALL SCHEDULE
Oct. 30 – Nov. 3, Pedro Morrison Memorial
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
Emma Kurtz Tops WIHS Pony Equitation Finals; Rosia and Wittig Win Regional Finals
Washington, D.C. – October 27, 2013 – The 55th annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) concluded competition at Verizon Center in downtown Washington D.C. on Sunday, October 27, with the presentation of championship awards in the pony hunter divisions.
Storyteller, owned by Samantha Kasowitz and ridden by Barbara Ann Merryman and Ashton Alexander, earned the Grand Pony Hunter Championship. Daisy Farish was named Best Child Rider on a Pony. The WIHS Pony Equitation Finals were also held in the afternoon with a win for Emma Kurtz. The WIHS Regional Finals concluded the day with wins for Morgan Rosia and Alex Wittig.
Storyteller, a ten-year-old German Sport Pony gelding, earned The Miles River Moonglow Perpetual Trophy donated by Scott Novick and Rustic Woods, for the Grand Pony Hunter Championship after topping the Large Pony Hunter division. The Grand Championship was sponsored this year by Montana Coady.
Ashton Alexander stepped in last minute to ride Storyteller to a first place ribbon over fences on Saturday and Barbara Ann Merryman took over the ride on Sunday to place first and fifth. For the division championship, Storyteller and the girls accepted The Pegasus Stable Perpetual Trophy, donated by Ms. Fenwick Kollock. Woodland’s Misty Rain and owner/rider Isabel Ryan were the Large Pony Hunter reserve champions with a win under saddle and a second place ribbon over fences.
This was Storyteller’s first time showing at WIHS. His main rider, Merryman, is from Lutherville, MD. Merryman had a scheduling conflict on Saturday and was unable to compete, so Alexander helped out. Between the two riders, Storyteller had great two days of competition.
“He was fabulous,” Merryman stated. “I rode him off and on for the last four years. He was a baby when we got him, and now he is so grown and does everything. He is straightforward, and he was really good today.”
“For me, I think that he rides like a little horse,” Alexander said. “It was awesome getting on him to go. It was like getting on a horse and jumping three-foot. He was straightforward and did everything you asked.”
Merryman spoke of Storyteller’s personality, saying, “He’s happy. He’s very cute and very hands on. He likes to push you, nudge you and play with you. On the ground he is like a little toy.”
“It is my last show on him, and he is my favorite pony ever,” Merryman acknowledged. She is 18 years old now and attending school at John Hopkins University. “I am so proud of him, and he is so good. I could not have asked for any more.”
True Love and Mimi Gochman
In the Medium Pony Hunters, Mimi Gochman of New York, NY, showed David Gochman’s True Love to championship honors to earn The Shenandoah Sundowner Perpetual Trophy donated by Evan Coluccio and Ashmont Farms, Ltd. The pair won two classes over fences. Gochman also received a special award as owner and rider of True Love for her high score of 88 in the handy round. She was presented with the Potomac Trophy High Score Junior Hunter Rider on a Pony award, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. John R. Ingram. True Love is a 14-year-old Westphalian Riding Pony gelding by Costolany.
Daisy Farish and Redfield Farms’ Sassafras Creek were the Medium Pony Hunter reserve champions. They were first and fourth over fences and third under saddle. Sassafras Creek earned the award for best pony hunter stake round with a score of 88. Farish, of Versailles, KY, was named Best Child Rider on a Pony for 2013 and received The Captain V. S. Littauer Perpetual Trophy donated by Hugh J. B. Cassidy III, Mrs. William Dillon and Miss Marion Lee.
“It feels really good to get the leading rider award,” Farish stated. “My ponies were really good. I have had both of these pones the entire year, and they have been really awesome. I am really excited that they have been so good through the whole year.”
Sassafras Creek was Grand Pony Hunter Champion with Farish in 2012 and had another great show this year. “Sassy is really great to ride because when she trusts you and has faith in you, she listens to you,” Farish said. “It is just a great bond, and I have a great connection with her.”
Commenting on the progress of her riding since 2012, Farish explained that she started riding horses this year and has learned a lot. “I have been doing a lot of horses,” she said. “I think that has taken me to the next level a little bit.”
Further Lane Farm’s Rolling Stone won the Small Pony Hunter division championship with Madeline Schaefer of Westminster, MD, and was awarded The Stombock Saddlery Challenge Trophy, donated by Stombock Saddlery in memory of E. P. (Bud) Stombock. In the division’s classes, sponsored by TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, Schaefer and Rolling Stone placed first, third and third over fences. Sophie Gochman rode David Gochman’s Hi Lite to reserve honors with first and third place ribbons over fences. Rolling Stone is a 15-year-old Welsh Pony gelding.
Emma Kurtz and True Love
Later in the afternoon, the young riders competed in the WIHS Pony Equitation Finals with a win for 13-year-old Emma Kurtz of Hudson, OH, riding True Love. Trained by Amanda Lyerly and Mike Rheinheimer, Kurtz scored an 86 over fences and moved from second to first with her ride in the work-off under saddle to take the lead. She was presented The Jane Marshall Dillon Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by the friends and students of Mrs. Jane Marshall Dillon. Coco Fath finished second, Charlise Casas was third, and Isabel Ryan placed fourth.
“It’s my second time here and it’s just really exciting,” Kurtz said of her win at Verizon Center. “It feels really good to win today.”
Kurtz was second in the U.S. Pony Medal Finals this year and has aspirations of moving up to do the big equitation classes. She has been very successful as a young hunter rider and the experience of catch riding and showing many different horses has helped her develop her riding skills. Today’s win gives her confidence to continue into the bigger classes.
Kurtz first rode True Love last winter and took him to some shows this summer. Commenting on her round over fences today, she stated, “It was probably the best round I’ve had with him.”
As far as her equitation, Kurtz explained that Lyerly often reminds her to keep her reins short since it is a different ride from doing the hunters. Her other winning quality – “I just try to show off as much as I can.”
Concluding the week of competition at the 2013 Washington International Horse Show were the Regional Hunter Championships. The WIHS Regional Pony Hunter Champion was 12-year-old Morgan Rosia of Germantown, MD, riding Miss Bermuda. Miss Bermuda is a seven-year-old Welsh Pony Cross by Gypsy Time Traveler, owned by trainer Cindy Newberry. For the championship, Rosia was presented with The Jane Marshall Dillon Memorial Perpetual Trophy. The reserve champion was Like a Fox, owned by Amy Walls and ridden by Claire Walls.
In addition to success at the regional competition at Prince George’s Equestrian Center last weekend, Rosia and Miss Bermuda won the final class of the division today with a score of 85 over fences. Carly Williams and Sunset’s Sleepin In placed second with a score of 83. Samantha Wolpin was third in the final with an 81 riding Michelle Brauning’s Blue Valentine.
“I wasn’t even expecting it,” Rosia said of her win. “I just went to local weekend to try to qualify, and I never even expected to get a ribbon. I was really nervous at first, but then once I got in there I lost all my nerves. It was perfect.”
Rosia has been riding for six years and started riding Miss Bermuda two-and-a-half years ago. “She brought me all the way from Short Stirrup to winning at Washington International!” the rider smiled. “She’s very easy, but you never really know what to expect. She’s a lot of fun.”
Rosia has a Large Green Pony Hunter that she is going to show next year and might also show Miss Bermuda in the Medium Pony Hunter division. She hopes to make it back to WIHS next year.
The WIHS Regional Hunter Horse Finals followed with a championship win for 16-year-old Haley Brennan of Bristow, VA, riding Shadwell. Brennan and the seven-year-old Warmblood gelding (by Futurist) were awarded The Black, Starr and Frost Perpetual Trophy donated by Black, Starr and Frost. Reserve honors went to Alex Wittig and True Story.
Wittig won the final class in the division today with a high score of 86 riding True Story. Brennan and Shadwell were second with an 84. Garland Alban and Save the Date placed third with a score of 80.
This was the first time qualifying for WIHS for both Brennan and Wittig. They were excited to do well and praised their horses for their success.
“It’s kind of shocking. I didn’t even realize I could win,” Brennan stated. “I was focused on just getting around the course! My horse was surprisingly good. I was pleasantly surprised, and I was glad he felt good. It gave me confidence.”
Brennan watched the show last year and was thrilled to qualify to compete. “I never expected to show here, so it was a good feeling,” she said. “It felt like I was really achieving something and making progress. I hope to eventually move up to juniors and keep showing.”
Wittig is 17 years old from Middletown, DE, and showed Rachel Grande’s True Story, a 19-year-old Rhinelander gelding by Concorde. “I’ve had him for a year-and-a-half, and he is my favorite because he’s the bomb,” Wittig laughed. “He’s awesome. He’s so fun. He knows his job, and he has a game face. He’s perfect, pretty much.”
Wittig’s round over fences was smooth and consistent, and she had a great experience in her first outing at Verizon Center. “It’s really fun. It makes all the hard work and not sleeping worth it,” she said of winning. “This is like no other show. It’s in the middle of the city. It’s different. It’s very cool how they set everything up. The whole process is really cool.”
Note: A special bonus was awarded to this week’s Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper champion, Bon Vivant, owned by Rose Hill Farm and ridden by Cloe Hymowitz of New York, NY.
Hymowitz and Bon Vivant were presented with the $5,000 SHF Enterprises, Inc. Young Jumper Championship (YJC) Incentive Bonus, which is awarded to WIHS rated jumper division champions who were also graduates of the Young Jumper Championship Series. Bon Vivant (Major de la Cour x Skippy II) is a YJC graduate who finished 11th in the YJC 6-Year-Old Midwestern League Finals in 2007.
For full results and more information, please visit www.wihs.org.
Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
About the Washington International Horse Show An equestrian tradition since 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is the country’s leading metropolitan indoor horse show and the pinnacle of the equestrian year with leading riders, including Olympic medalists, and fabulous horses. More than 500 horses participate in show jumping, hunter and equitation events during the six-day show. Highlights include the $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix, the Puissance high-jump competition; and WIHS Equitation Classic Finals featuring the country’s top junior riders. Special exhibitions, boutique shopping and community activities will round out this family-friendly event.
Since its debut, the Washington International has been a Washington, DC, institution attended by presidents, first ladies, celebrities, business and military leaders, as well as countless horse enthusiasts of all ages. Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott (Libby Law Photography)
Pau, France – Fifty combinations went forward to the final phase of competition at the 2013 Les Étoiles de Pau CCI4* on Sunday to tackle Bernard Basque’s 13 obstacle track. Rails fell throughout the day and proved costly as those that could produce clear rounds climbed the leaderboard. Five U.S. combinations headed into the show jumping phase at Pau and at the end of competition three Americans had landed in the top 15.
Overnight leaders William Fox-Pitt and Seacookie TSF of Great Britain added four faults for a single rail down to finish on a score of 45.5 to clinch victory by .5 penalties over France’s Maxime Livio and Cathar de Gamel. Fox-Pitt also collected third place honors with Cool Mountain on a score of 46.2.
Leading the way for the United States were Land Rover Competition Grant recipients Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and the Mr. Medicott Syndicate’s Mr. Medicott. The pair which added just .4 penalties on the cross country to their seventh placed dressage score entered the final phase in fourth place. Despite incurring eight faults for two rails down the combination maintained their fourth place position to finish on a score of 52.6.
“He jumped well. I feel bad that I had two fences down; he is a horse that can definitely jump a clear round but it was a very difficult track,” said Dutton who had the dubious honor of following Livio into the ring after the French rider went clear. “Not to make excuses but I followed the Frenchman into the arena and the crowd went ballistic and he (Mr. Medicott) was a handful after that. If I were to do it over again, I would have taken a little more time.”
The Olympic and FEI World Equestrian Games veteran only began riding Mr. Medicott in June but has quickly forged a partnership with him. The talented 14-year-old Irish Sport gelding had been ridden at the 2008 Olympic Games and 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games by Germany’s Frank Ostholt as well as partnering with Karen O’Connor to a ninth place finish at the 2012 Olympic Games. Therefore, Dutton has put a priority on getting to know the veteran horse, as well as having the gelding get acquainted with his style of riding.
“Looking back on the weekend on the whole I’m quite pleased. Coming here if I knew I would be fourth I would have been very excited.”
With his fourth place finish this weekend Mr. Medicott now has three top 10 finishes at Pau, with Ostholt the gelding was third in 2008 and 10th in 2011.
Clark Montgomery and Universe (Libby Law Photography)
Clark Montgomery (Wiltshire, UK) and Jessica Montgomery, Carole Montgomery, Janet Higgins, and Elizabeth Smith’s Universe headed into the show lying in ninth place after a double clear cross country round. The Land Rover Competition Grant recipients incurred eight faults for rolling two poles on Sunday to drop one place in the standings, finishing 10th on a score of 60.
Montgomery and the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding complete their 2013 campaign with two top 30 CCI4* finishes. In addition to their 10th place finish at Pau, the pair was 27th at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in Universe’s first attempt at the level.
Lynn Symansky and her own Donner travelled to Pau after having been awarded a Jacqueline B. Mars Competition and Training Grant and gained valuable experience over the weekend. The 2011 Pan American Games Team Gold medalists rose from 38th after the dressage on the strength of a double clear round on the cross country, they headed into the show jumping in 12th place. Two rails down meant they added eight faults to their total to finish on an overall score of 61.3 in 13th place in their first European competition.
Land Rover Competition Grant recipients, Marilyn Little (Frederick, Md.) and Raylyn Farms and Team Demeter ‘s RF Demeter headed into the final phase of competition lying in 11th but 16 faults dropped them down the order. The 11-year-old Oldenburg mare rolled four rails to finish on a final total of 68.8 in 18th place.
Michael Pollard (Dalton, Ga.) and Carl Bouckaert’s 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Mensa were the sole U.S. pair to jump in the first session of the day producing an eight fault effort, the Land Rover Competition Grant recipients finished on an overall score of 108 in 43rd place.
Wilhelm Genn navigates over an oxer in the covered arena in Pensacola last winter. Flashpoint Photography.
The Gulf Coast Classic Company is excited to announce that its Pensacola prize list is now on line! The first week of November will bring both Gulf Coast Classic prize lists for Pensacola and Gulfport to your mail box, so be the first to see what’s being offered on the Gulf of Mexico this winter.
January 8 kicks off the third annual Pensacola Show Series and offers exhibitors extensive class offerings as well as sizable prize money for three weeks. International and National Hunter Derbies, weekly grand prix and a host of other offerings await you as well as the covered arena for night time show jumping action! The town of Pensacola does the rest. The show is no more than 25 minutes from the airport and 10 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico. Exhibitors and their families love the show’s convenience to the airport and the town of Pensacola, right on the Gulf. “This is perfect for my customers who fly in and out of Pensacola each week. The town is only 10 minutes from the horse show and has awesome restaurants on the water. The old historic area on the waterfront is amazing. Everything is so convenient – you can go to the beach, go shopping. The show and the area are just so user-friendly!” she added.
Getting to the Pensacola shows could not be easier. Considering the popular tourist destination, many airlines offer several flights to Pensacola. And it’s a great show to prepare horses and riders for the Gulf Coast Classic Shows in Gulfport, Mississippi that kick off February 5th for six weeks of AA competitions with more than a million dollars in prize money!
Gulf Coast Classic Pensacola Series Announce Its Official Lodging Partners!
The Gulf Coast Classic Company is pleased to announce the return of its Official Show Lodging Partners for the 2014 Pensacola show season. The Best Western Plus Blue Angel Inn and The Red Roof Inn offer the most convenient and horse show-friendly accommodations and have partnered with the Gulf Coast Classic Company to make your experience showing in Pensacola even better. Just minutes from the Escambia Equestrian Center, beach, airport and quaint Gulf side restaurants and shops, Gulf Coast Classic Company’s Official Lodging Partners are ready to offer you award winning service and accommodations.
The Best Western Plus Blue Angel Inn, located at 2390 West Detroit Boulevard, offers its customer friendly service along with complimentary high-speed Internet access, microwaves, refrigerators and cable satellite televisions. An outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, free parking and complimentary daily hot breakfast will give you a leg up on your busy show day. Make sure to call them directly to ensure the horse show rate.
Frances Land clears the Johnson Horse Transportation oxer to the delight of the crowd last winter in Pensacola
The Red Roof Inn Pensacola West, located at 2591 Wilde Lake Boulevard, welcomes you and your pets to the Gulf Coast Classic Pensacola shows. Conveniently located in close proximity to the show grounds, this pet-friendly hotel offers complimentary Internet access, breakfasts and parking. Select rooms offer microwaves and mini-fridges. Coin laundry is also available. Call directly to secure your horse show rate!
The Pensacola shows are fun! And, the footing is fabulous! Well decorated competition rings, a division for everyone, excellent, well-maintained stabling and generous prize money make Pensacola the perfect place to be in January!
The Classic Company is a USHJA’s Members Choice Award winner, recognized for producing top quality show jumping events in the United States. For more information on Classic Company and its exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events, please visit them at classiccompany.com or call them at 843-768-5503. All sponsorship, marketing and press inquiries should be directed to Lisa Engel, Sponsorship, Marketing and Public Relations Director at lisa@classiccompany.com. All program advertising should be directed to Drew Costa at drew@classiccompany.com or Alexis Newman at alexis@classiccompany.com.
Stay up to date: Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter!
See you at the ring,
Bob Bell
The Classic Company, Ltd. www.ClassicCompany.com
Phone/FAX: (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311 Johns Island SC 29457
William Fox-Pitt and Seacookie TSF, winners at Les Etoiles de Pau (FRA) to give the British rider an early lead on the FEI Classics 2013/2014 leaderboard. (Photo: Trevor Holt/FEI).
Lausanne (SUI), 27 October 2013 – William Fox-Pitt had three shots to clinch Les Etoiles de Pau (FRA), first event of the FEI Classics 2013/2014 season but, in a nail-biting finale, it took the Briton until his third and last ride, Seacookie TSF, to secure the top prize.
After an outstanding day’s Cross Country yesterday, Fox-Pitt was in the rarefied position of holding the top three places. However, his triple winning chance began to shrink alarmingly when Neuf des Coeurs, third at that stage and jumping out of order, hit five rails and plummeted to eventual 15th place.
To add to the tension, his next ride, Cool Mountain, lying second, dropped a rail, and therefore a place, to third.
Then Phillip Dutton (USA) and Mr Medicott, who had been lying fourth behind the Fox-Pitt trio, provided breathing space by hitting a rail. This gave Fox-Pitt a fence in hand to win on his Cross Country leader, Seacookie TSF, and only using up that margin, he finally clinched victory.
“It’s always nerve-racking coming into the showjumping when you’re in the lead, but having a fence in hand helps,” said a relieved and thrilled Fox-Pitt, who was clocking up the 12th CCI4* win of his outstanding career and his second victory at Pau within two years.
“Seacookie jumped clear when he won Blenheim CCI3* last year and when he was second at Kentucky in April. When he had a rail down this time, things did get a bit tense again, but he went on jumping well and it was my lucky day, I guess.”
The sensation of the day was France’s Maxime Livio, a CCI4* debutant, who used all his experience riding in international Jumping competitions to conjure a clear round from the 12-year-old Anglo Arab Cathar de Gamel. This moved them up to second place and a career best.
“My idea is to go into a competition feeling I can do it or there’s not much point being there, but to be second is fantastic,” said Livio. “My dressage wasn’t 100%; you can always make it better. Across country, my horse was quite tired at a few points and I had to calm down, so I hope to see those few seconds [over the optimum time] disappear in the future.”
Andrew Nicholson (NZL) moved up a place on Mr Cruise Control to fifth, and France’s European bronze medallist Donatien Schauly rose two places to sixth on Pivoine des Touches.
The major beneficiaries in what proved an influential Jumping phase on Pau’s smart new arena surface were Cedric Lyard (FRA), who rose from 13th after Cross Country on Cadeau du Roi to seventh place, and Ireland’s Joseph Murphy on Electric Cruise who came up from 15th to eighth.
William Fox-Pitt, the hero of the weekend, despite suffering back pain throughout, pronounced himself “delighted” with his horses. “First and third is terrific,” he said. “They are all great horses and have done me very well over the years. They’ve been loyal and fantastic to ride and I’m very lucky to have ridden them.
“I’ve had this wretched back problem all weekend and really didn’t think I’d be able to ride, but my physio has done a brilliant job. This weekend has exceeded all my expectations.”
A three-time winner of the HSBC FEI Classics, Fox-Pitt has given himself an early lead in the rankings, and a well-earned winter holiday. No doubt competitors at the forthcoming Adelaide International 3-Day Event (AUS) next month will be relieved to hear that Pau wraps up the Fox-Pitt season!
About the winner
William Fox-Pitt has won 51 CCIs, including 12 CCI4*s: Badminton (2004), Burghley a record six times (1994, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2011), Luhmühlen (2008), Kentucky twice (2010 and 2012) and now Pau twice (2011 and 2013). He is the only rider to have won five out of the world’s six CCI4*s.
He has also represented Britain 17 times in championships, winning Olympic silver (2004 and 2012) and bronze (2008), world team gold and individual silver on Cool Mountain (2010), plus team silver in 2006 and team bronze in 2002. He has six European team gold medals, team bronze, two individual silvers (1997 and 2005), and individual bronze this year on Chilli Morning. Fox-Pitt, 43, is married to Alice, a television racing commentator. They live in Sturminster Newton, Dorset, and have two young sons, Oliver and Thomas.
Seacookie TSF, a 14-year-old gelding by Helikon, owned by Catherine Witt, was produced to three-star level by German Olympic rider Ingrid Klimke. Fox-Pitt took over the ride in 2008.
At the end of the FEI Classics 2013/2014 season, the five riders with the highest number of points collected across the six FEI Classics events will share a total prize fund of US$120,000 split as follows: 1st – US$40,000 (Series Champion); 2nd – US$35,000; 3rd – US$25,000; 4th – US$15,000; 5th – US$5,000.
HSBC Rankings
The rider at the top of the HSBC Rankings at the end of the 2013 Eventing season will receive a US $50,000 bonus. The winning rider will be announced in December 2013.
Our signature twitter hashtags for this series are #Classics and #Eventing. We encourage you to use them, and if you have space: #FEI Classics #Eventing.
Pau, France – Cross country day at the 2013 Les Étoiles de Pau CCI4* saw American combinations climb the leaderboard with efficient, clear performances. Pierre Michelet’s 33 obstacle track produced trouble throughout the day with thirty six combinations coming home without jumping penalties and of those only six were able to finish within the 11:48 time allowed. Phillip Dutton, Clark Montgomery, Marilyn Little and Lynn Symansky proved their mettle with classy efforts on a day that saw many top names in the sport fail to finish.
Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and the Mr. Medicott Syndicate’s 14-year-old Irish Sport gelding Mr. Medicott set out on course lying in seventh place and climbed three places with a classy performance. The pair cruised effortlessly around Michelet’s track to finish one second over the optimum time and add .4 time faults to their dressage score of 44.2. They will head into the show jumping in fourth place on a score of 44.6 just 3.1 points out of the lead.
“It was good; obviously he’s a great horse. I’m still trying to get to know him and we were trying to go fast without making a silly mistake,” remarked Dutton of his ride on Saturday. “This wouldn’t be the ideal course for him but he got better and better as the course went on.”
Both Dutton and Mr. Medicott brought a wealth of experience to Pau but are contesting their first CCI4* together. Dutton has represented both the U.S. and his native Australia at numerous Olympic and FEI World Equestrian Games, including winning Olympic Team Gold with Australia in 1996 and 2000, while Mr. Medicott completed the 2008 Olympic Games and 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games with Germany’s Frank Ostholt. He was also ridden by Karen O’Connor to ninth place at the London Olympic Games.
“It gets better with each time. He’s got to get to know me and my reactions but I think this weekend is good for us,” remarked Dutton about his growing partnership with Mr. Medicott.
Dutton looks to secure Mr. Medicott’s third top-10 Pau completion on Sunday. The gelding was third in 2008 and 10th in 2011 with Ostholt.
Montgomery (Wiltshire, UK) and Jessica Montgomery, Carole Montgomery, Janet Higgins, and Elizabeth Smith’s Universe were the pathfinder for the U.S. as the first American pair on course. The Land Rover Competition Grant recipients set the tone for the U.S. camp by flying around the course faultlessly to finish two seconds inside the optimum time. The talented pair are looking for their second CCI4* completion of 2013 after having placed 27th at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding’s first attempt at the level.
Montgomery and Universe, who stood 31st after the dressage, head into the show jumping in ninth place on a score of 52.
Little (Frederick, Md.) and Raylyn Farms and Team Demeter’s 11-year-old Oldenburg mare RF Demeter were the final U.S. pair on course and cruised to a clear round finishing just four seconds over the time. The pair, which was seventh at the Luhmühlen CCI4* in June, is competing in Pau on a Land Rover Competition Grant and is poised for another top 12 CCI4* finish as it heads into the show jumping on a score of 52.8. With its quick clear round on Saturday the pair climbed 16 places after the dressage and now stand in 11th places after two phases.
Symansky (Middleburg, Va.) and her own Donner were the second U.S. combination to produce a double clear effort on Saturday. The pair, which is contesting its first European competition after having been awarded Jacqueline B. Mars Competition and Training Grant, proved its place among the top in the world with a scorching round. The 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding utilized his classy galloping style to finish 15 seconds within the time allowed. The 2011 Pan American Games Team Gold medalists climbed 26 places with their clear round and will enter the final phase on a score of 53.3 in 12th place.
Michael Pollard (Dalton, Ga.) and Carl Bouckaert’s 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Mensa looked on target to produce another clear round for the U.S. until a run-out two-thirds the way around the course. The Land Rover Competition Grant recipients collected 20 jumping penalties for a run-out at 20B and added a further 24.8 time faults. They head into the show jumping in 47th place on a score of 100.
Land Rover Competition Grant recipients Hannah Sue Burnett (The Plains, Va.) and Jacqueline Mars’ Harbour Pilot set out on Saturday laying in equal 11th place. The 2011 Pan American Games Team Gold and Individual Silver medalists slipped between elements at the first water and were subsequently eliminated when Burnett came out of the tack.
Kristi Nunnink and her own 12-year-old Holsteiner mare R-Star travelled to Pau from their base in Auburn, Calif. on a Land Rover Competition Grant. The pair ran into some trouble at the first water and was eliminated after jumping the option in the wrong order.
Great Britain’s William Fox-Pitt again proved why he’s among the best in the game as he produced three double clear performances to hold the top three spots at the conclusion of the cross country. The 2012 Olympic Games Team Silver medalist leads with Seacookie TSF on 41.5, Cool Mountain stands second on 42.2, and Neuf Des Coeurs is third standing on 43.2.
Washington, D.C. – October 26, 2013 – Kent Farrington (USA) and Robin Parsky’s Blue Angel beat out Brianne Goutal (USA) and Remarkable Farms’ Nice de Prissey in an exciting one-on-one jump-off for victory in Saturday night’s $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix CSI 3*-W presented by Events DC at the 55th annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS). The FEI World Cup qualifying grand prix was a highlight event of the week at WIHS, which concludes competition on Sunday with the Pony Hunters, WIHS Pony Equitation Finals, and WIHS Regional Finals.
Earlier on Saturday, Meredith Darst won the 2013 Hermès WIHS Equitation Finals. Abigail McArdle and Cosma 20 triumphed in the $15,000 SJHOF Ambassador’s Cup High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, and Heather Hooker and Perle were victorious in the $7,500 Senator’s Cup Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic.
Venezuela’s Leopoldo Palacios set the course for this week’s show jumping competition at Verizon Center in downtown Washington, D.C. Palacios set a challenging course for Saturday night’s grand prix, which featured 25 international horses and riders. Just two entries were able to clear the first round course without fault to advance to the jump-off, and both cleared the short course in a race against the clock. Brianne Goutal and Nice de Prissey were first to jump off and stopped the timers in 32.23 seconds to finish second overall. Kent Farrington and Blue Angel followed and shaved off almost two seconds for the win in 30.81 seconds.
For their victory, Farrington and Blue Angel were presented with the President of the United States Perpetual Cup. As Leading Jumper Rider, an award sponsored by Robin Parsky, Farrington was also presented with the Margaret Chovnick Memorial Trophy and awarded a Rolex luxury timepiece from Tiny Jewel Box. Parsky then received a special award as the Leading Jumper Owner, sponsored by The Reid Family.
In the jump-off, Farrington and Blue Angel had the benefit of going second, and the 11-year-old Anglo European mare (Luidam x Ascendant) put in a great effort on course.
“When you only have two horses going in the jump-off, going second is obviously a huge advantage, and what you want to do is just watch the first rider go and match their round or pick a spot where you can be a little bit quicker,” Farrington noted. “I thought I was a little faster to the double and to the orange jump. I tried to play it safe coming home. I had a hard rub at the liverpool, but you need a little luck in these things.”
“Blue Angel is going great right now, and I am very happy with the horse,” Farrington acknowledged. “The horse is a winner. It is a winner all by itself. I don’t think that is anything I am doing special. When you have nice horses to ride, it is more about managing the horses, choosing the right venues that are the best for them to succeed, and minimizing your mistakes.”
Second place finisher Brianne Goutal explained her strategy over the short course with the 12-year-old Selle Francais stallion Nice de Prissey (Rosire x Amarpour). “It is hard going first in the jump-off,” she stated. “My horse is fast, but not super fast. My goal was really to be clear, and fast enough. I was hoping Kent would make a mistake or get a little unlucky, but it was his day, not mine.”
“He is a fantastic horse,” Goutal described. “He is very careful; he has all the scope and tries very hard. There is not so much more that you can really ask from them. He has had a great last two years. It is about managing them, keeping them happy and making sure they are sound. It’s about playing your cards well and benefiting from the good qualities your horse has.”
Nice de Prissey also finished second in this class in 2011 and Goutal explained that he jumps well in the venue. “I am very surprised actually how well he jumps here,” she said. “He really likes the nation’s capital I guess.”
Third place honors went to Beezie Madden (USA) and Coral Reef Via Volo for the fastest four-fault round in 62.39 seconds in round one. Lauren Tisbo (USA) and Tequestrian Farms’ La Centa placed fourth with four faults in 62.50 seconds.
Course designer Leopoldo Palacios explained that he would have preferred to see at least four riders make it to the jump-off, but was okay with just the two. Farrington knew that the course would be difficult and it worked out well for his mare.
“I think we have all been doing these shows long enough, you sort of know what to expect,” he stated. “If you have a horse that is better at adding strides, or is very rideable, that is a huge advantage. That is what I tried to do. Blue Angel is a very fast horse, (and) she is very good at adding strides. A venue like this really plays to her strengths.”
Other awards were also presented following the grand prix. Ireland’s Darragh Kenny was named the Leading International Rider for the week. Conor Swail (IRL) accepted a special award for his mount Ariana, owned by Susan Grange. She earned a $5,000 SHF Enterprises, Inc. Young Jumper Championship Incentive Bonus, which is awarded to WIHS rated jumper division champions who were also graduates of the Young Jumper Championship Series.
The 2013 Hermès WIHS Equitation Finals concluded this evening with an exciting win for 16-year-old Meredith Darst of Lebanon, OH. Darst rode Elizabeth Gabler’s Soldier, a seven-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Carolus II, through the first two phases of competition finishing with a score of 88.75 in the hunter phase and a 91 point total in the jumper phase. Returning for the final work-off sitting in first place overall, Darst’s ride aboard Charlotte Jacobs’s mount Patrick scored an 87.25, giving her a three round total of 267 for the win.
Darst was presented with The WIHS Equitation Classic Trophy donated by Mr. and Mrs. G. Ralph Ours, III as well as a brand new Hermès ‘Cavale’ saddle. Soldier was awarded The Lugano Memorial Trophy donated by Stoney Hill as the winning horse of the night. Darst was accompanied by the trainers of Beacon Hill Show Stables for her winning presentation, including head trainer Stacia Madden.
Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL, finished second with a 263 point total. Colvin rode her horse Monsieur du Reverdy in the first two rounds with a score of 86 in the hunter phase and an 85.5 in the jumper phase. A great ride aboard Caitlin Boyle’s mount Loredo in the final work-off gave Colvin a 91.5 to finish in second place overall.
Michael Hughes of Morriston, FL, placed third with scores of 86.25 and 89.5 riding Whipstick Farm Ltd.’s Joey and an 86 in the work-off aboard Meredith Darst’s mount Soldier to total 261.75.
Darst rode Soldier for the first time at the Capital Challenge Horse Show a few weeks ago and then showed him in Harrisburg last week. The gelding competed successfully in USHJA International Hunter Derby classes with professional hunter rider John French in California. Since Darst and Soldier were first paired up, she has worked to get to know him better, and the effort paid off. “I kind of just played around with him a little bit,” she explained. “He learns so fast and has come really far since then.”
Meredith Darst and Patrick
Darst’s mount in the final round was Patrick, the same horse that topped the final work-off last year with 2012 winner Elizabeth Benson. Darst gave trainer Stacia Madden her third win in a row, and Benson was on hand to pass on the title as 2011 winner Chase Boggio was for her.
“I had seen him a lot,” Darst said of Patrick. “He is very lazy. I had to keep him going. I am not used to riding quiet horses, so it was a bit of a different ride for me. He was super easy, and he had a huge stride.”
Madden noted, “I was really fortunate to work with Patrick last year in the ride-off. Archie Cox had the horse, and I texted him and asked him what I needed to know. He said, ‘He will not lose for you.’ What I did for Maddy was that Elizabeth was here. She took a moment to sit with Elizabeth, and she looked at the video and Charlotte’s round. I was ecstatic when I found out that was the horse I got. A top horse with a top rider; you just need the chips to fall right.”
Darst and Colvin have been showing at WIHS and top horse shows around the country since they were kids on ponies and have each won major hunter championships at this horse show. The experience of catch riding many different horses has taught them to be versatile, adjustable riders, which is a great advantage in these equitation finals.
“I think catch riding definitely helps being able to ride so many different horses. I definitely thought about that,” Darst noted. “Confidence in my horse is important; I was very confident. I got to go to the farm and practice a lot. I knew he would try his hardest, and I would try my hardest.”
“What made this win special was that last year was her last year on ponies,” Madden stated. “That is quite the achievement for her. It’s not a fluke. She has worked very hard. She made the effort.”
This was Colvin’s third year showing in the finals and her best finish yet at just 16 years old. She was proud of her ride on both of her mounts, including Monsieur du Reverdy and a beautiful round in the work-off riding Laredo.
“I had never really been in the top in the equitation finals. It felt amazing to be top three,” Colvin said after the class. “The horse I rode in the second round was amazing and very easy. Monsieur du Reverdy was supposed to be in the High Junior Jumpers. He has never done a hunter round or an equitation round. For him to go in there and go how he did, he was just amazing.”
Colvin has trained with Scott Stewart and Ken Berkley for most of her young riding career and has had help from Missy Clark and John Brennan at North Run for her ride in the equitation. Clark also coached third place finisher Michael Hughes and fifth place finisher Charlotte Jacobs tonight. She was very proud of Colvin and noted the qualities that make her an exceptional rider.
“I always say it’s like going to the basketball court with Michael Jordan,” Clark stated. “She’s amazing. She has an innate feel that nobody can teach and she is a competitor beyond belief and a great human being and a hard worker. She’s all of it. She’s a unique and special person.”
“Her abilities to smooth it out and make a jumper-type of horse go and have that hunter round really is a testament to her abilities as a horsewoman,” Clark continued. “She can finesse one around and do it as well as anybody. With Loredo, there wasn’t any doubt in my mind that she wouldn’t get in and nail it.”
The judges for the class tonight were Walter Kees of Norwalk, CT, Sue Ashe of Wellington, FL, Patrick Rodes of Argyle, TX, and McLain Ward of Brewster, NY. The judges weighed in on the class upon its completion and were very happy with the top talent that they saw.
“It was a wonderful class, exciting to judge,” said Rodes. “It was extra exciting when they switched horses. You really got an idea of how they ride and the background they have to ride somebody else’s horse around.”
“The kids absolutely rose to the occasion,” stated Ashe. “The most fun part of the class is of course tonight where there are ten instead of 40. The pressure these kids are under, and they rose to the top. I am so proud of them, and I am sure the other judges are too.”
Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers Compete in Classics
Abigail McArdle and Cosma 20
The $15,000 Ambassador’s Cup High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic sponsored by Ellen and Daniel Crown, saw a win for Abigail McArdle of St. Charles, IL, riding David McArdle’s Cosma 20. McArdle and the 10-year-old Hanoverian mare (Couleur Rubin x Stakkato) won the Ambassador’s Cup Perpetual Trophy donated by Ambassador and Mrs. Marion H. Smoak.
Twenty-one entries showed in the class with four advancing to the jump-off and two clear rounds over the short course. McArdle and Cosma 20 were first to go in the jump-off and galloped to victory in 30.206 seconds. Kalvin Dobbs and Treesdale Farms’ Winde finished second in 30.536 seconds. Charlotte Jacobs and Promised Land, owned by Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables, had four faults in 31.693 seconds to place third. Lucas Porter and Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Patriot finished in fourth with four faults in 32.980 seconds.
“It was a hard course,” McArdle stated after her win. “It presented a lot of different problems for people because it wasn’t just one fence that was coming down. I think today was bigger than previous days, significantly, and my horse went really well.”
“I have a really fast horse, and I know her back and forth,” McArdle said, detailing her jump-off round with Cosma. “She’s a really great speed horse. Everywhere we were right on the pace. Going first, we knew there were fast people following. They all had the opportunity to definitely catch that (time). We were going into it with the idea that we had to go all out and we did everything to plan.”
McArdle and Cosma spent most of the summer showing in Europe and Canada with trainers Katie and Henri Prudent and have had some time off since August while the rider studies Business Entrepreneurship as a freshman at the University of Miami. Cosma will now have some time off before traveling to Florida to compete for the winter. They have a great partnership and have been very successful this year.
“She’s a really, really special horse and super consistent,” McArdle stated. “I think it just nice knowing a horse really well. Any venue, I feel like we can go in and know what to expect. The main thing is she’s so careful. You look for a horse like this and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime, careful horse. It’s no better feeling than to have that and know your horse can go clean.”
The High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper championship, sponsored by Ellen and Daniel Crown, was awarded to Charlotte Jacobs and Deeridge Farms’ Kachina. They were awarded the Greenberg Challenge Trophy donated by Mr. and Mrs. Hermen Greenberg. McArdle and Cosma 20 were reserve champions.
Jacobs and Kachina were also presented with a special award, the $5,000 SHF Enterprises, Inc. Young Jumper Championship Incentive Bonus, which is awarded to WIHS rated jumper division champions who were also graduates of the Young Jumper Championship Series.
The Shalanno Style of Riding Award was given to Lucy Deslauriers of New York, NY, who showed Lisa Deslauriers’ Hester in the Low division. The award is presented each year to the Junior Jumper rider who best exemplifies the American style of equitation and the respectful, dignified manner of a true sportsman.
In the $7,500 Senator’s Cup Low Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic, sponsored by North Star, Heather Hooker of Wellington, FL, topped the class riding Perle. For their win, the pair was presented with the Swan Lake Perpetual Trophy donated by Beagle Brook Farm in honor of the 1992 winner Swan Lake, ridden by Jennifer F. Miller. Perle is a 13-year-old Hanoverian mare by Chanel.
Twenty-two entries showed over the first round course with seven advancing to the jump-off and four double clear rounds. Cloe Hymowitz and Rose Hill Farm’s Bon Vivant were the first pair to jump the short course and finished second with a time of 28.170 seconds. Heather Hooker and Perle edged their time by two-one thousandths of a second in 28.168 seconds to take the lead. Lauren Fischer and Norton de la Sapaie finished third in 29.662 seconds, and Lucy Deslauriers and Hester were fourth in 29.850 seconds.
Last year’s winners, Michael Hughes and Drumnacross Farms’ Red Hot, did have the fastest time in the jump-off in 28.129 seconds, but had a rail down at the last fence on course with a long gallop to an oxer towards the in gate. Hooker and Perle made up their time by leaving a stride out to that jump, but they managed to keep the rails up. Hooker and second place finisher Cloe Hymowitz train together at Rivers Edge with Ken Berkley and Scott Stewart.
“I went into the ring, and just thought, ‘Cloe was so fast, I don’t know how I am going to do this,’” Hooker stated. “I just had to make it happen down the last line. I knew that I wanted to make it out of that corner from the oxer, flap my arms and run. I knew Perle was game. When I landed from the last jump I saw Ken, and he was laughing so hard. I think he was just as excited as we were.”
“It was a lot of fun,” Hooker said of the friendly competition with her barn mate. “It was great that we were cheering for each other, and our times were so close. It takes a village for sure. We like to see each other do well.”
Hooker and her mount Perle have been together for about four and a half years now, and they know each other very well. While Hooker is away at the University of Virginia for college, she rides on the club polo team at school, but does not get to jump as often. The established relationship was important to their success this week.
“I know Perle so well that I can come to a show like this and get on her and anticipate every move,” Hooker acknowledged. “She anticipates when I am going to make a stupid move, and I can anticipate what she is going to do. When in doubt, I just trust her. She is a member of the family.”
The Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Championship, sponsored by North Star, went to Hymowitz and Bon Vivant, who won the first two classes of the division. They won the Foxbrook Perpetual Trophy in honor of Space Citation, donated by Joy Slater. Hooker and Perle were the reserve champions.
The Washington International Horse Show concludes tomorrow with a day full of pony competition as well as the WIHS Regional Finals. The final day of competition will be live streamed at www.wihs.org.
To view an online version of this press release with more photos, click here.
Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
About the Washington International Horse Show An equestrian tradition since 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is the country’s leading metropolitan indoor horse show and the pinnacle of the equestrian year with leading riders, including Olympic medalists, and fabulous horses. More than 500 horses participate in show jumping, hunter and equitation events during the six-day show. Highlights include the $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix, the Puissance high-jump competition; and WIHS Equitation Classic Finals featuring the country’s top junior riders. Special exhibitions, boutique shopping and community activities will round out this family-friendly event.
Since its debut, the Washington International has been a Washington, DC, institution attended by presidents, first ladies, celebrities, business and military leaders, as well as countless horse enthusiasts of all ages. Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Casablanca’s Grant Ganzi (1) keeps his eye on the ball as Scott Swerdlin (4) of Palm House takes Casablanca’s Mike Azzaro (3) out of the play. Photos by Scott Fisher.
ProKidz Junior Tournament Saturday
WELLINGTON, FL – Oct. 25, 2013 — Palm House won two round-robin games to advance into Sunday’s championship final of the USPA Fall Plates Tournament at Grand Champions Polo Club.
Palm House (Juancito Bollini, Guille “Gigi” Aguero, Kris Kampsen, Scott Swerdlin) will play Audi (Melissa Ganzi, Kaisser Maakar, Luis Escobar, Juan Bollini) in the championship at 10 a.m.
A round-robin subsidiary will be held at 11:45 a.m. featuring Beluga, Casablanca and ELG.
On Friday in ideal weather conditions, Palm House defeated ELG, 5-3, and Casablanca, 4-2. In the other game, ELG defeated Casablanca, 5-2.
It will be the third championship finals appearance by teenager Juancito Bollini. Bollini has won two tournaments with Casablanca and now has a chance to win his third of the season with Palm House.
“It’s great to be in the finals, this team is a lot of fun,” Bollini said. “We have really good communication with each other and Scott is a lot of fun.
“It was a little weird at first not playing with Casablanca but Guille and Kris are such good teammates, it was a really easy transition,” Bollini said. “I want to do the best for the team I am playing with.
Bollini, 17, a freshman at Florida Atlantic University, will face his father in the final.
It also marks the first finals appearance of Swerdlin, making his fall season debut. Swerdlin, president of the Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington, is one of the nation’s top horse veterinarians.
Bollini, Aguero and Kampsen each finished with three goals in two games.
Guille (Gigi) Aguero of Palm House takes possession of the ball as ELG defender Avery Chapman (4) and Palm House teammate Kris Kampson (3) look on
In the opening game against ELG, Palm House went ahead 3-2, on Kampsen’s penalty goal and never relinquished the lead after that. Bollini’s tap-in goal and Aguero’s goal late in the third chukker clinched the win.
In the third and final game against Casablanca it was a little more pressure-packed with Palm House trailing, 2-1, in the second chukker. But a clutch goal from Bollini at the 5:31 mark in the third chukker tied the game and two more from Aguero sealed the win.
“It was scary when we were losing 2-1,” Bollini said. “I thought to myself we have to make a goal right off the bat in the third because if we don’t they are going to come in really hard in that third chukker.
“Mike is such a good player; it’s hard to know what he is going to do,” Bollini said. “He is very unpredictable. Wes was playing good and Leo was flying; it was hard to mark him because he has some really fast horses.”
Bollini thought Palm House had a great chance of making the final.
“I thought our team was really good when I saw the team on paper,” Bollini said. “Guille is an amazing player and I’ve played with Kris all the time. I knew we had a good chance of getting to the final.”
On Saturday afternoon, Grand Champions will host the inaugural ProKidz Junior Polo Tournament at 4 p.m. The format features pros and juniors competing together. Each team will be anchored and coached by a pro player including Azzaro, Roldan, Kampsen, Aguero and Brandon Phillips with three junior players rounding out the lineups.
The USPA Fall Plates Tournament is the fifth medium-goal tournament of the fall season which has been the most competitive in Grand Champions’ seven-year history. Casablanca has won two tournaments; Paladin and Audi have each captured one tournament title.
ELG’s Marc Ganzi (2) gives new meaning to flying high as his horse appears to be off all fours while pursuing the ball
Two 20-goal tournaments are scheduled for November and will be held simultaneously with two medium-goal tournaments.
The two 20-goal tournaments are the Nov. 5-9 USPA Beluga North America Cup and 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. In the national 20-goal final, Audi edged Piaget, 10-9.
All tournaments are USPA-sanctioned and have grown in stature since their start in the mid-1990s.
GRAND CHAMPIONS FALL SCHEDULE
Oct. 25-27, USPA Fall Plates
Oct. 30 – Nov. 9, USPA North America Cup
Nov. 1-3, Pedro Morrison Memorial
Nov. 8-10, Palm Restaurant Invitational
Nov. 13-24, The National 20-Goal Championship
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
William Fox-Pitt (GBR), who holds the top three places at Les Etoiles de Pau (FRA), on Cross Country leader Seacookie TSF. (Photo: Trevor Holt/FEI)
Lausanne (SUI), 26 October 2013 – William Fox-Pitt was simply outstanding on the Cross Country at Les Etoiles de Pau (FRA), first competition of the FEI Classics 2013/2014 season, and in an incredible result, is now holding first, second and third places.
All three of Fox-Pitt’s horses, the leader Seacookie, Cool Mountain (second) and Neuf des Coeurs (third), went brilliantly and finished inside the optimum time of 11 minutes 48 seconds. A large crowd, enjoying the bright sunshine, showed their appreciation as they loudly cheered him home on Cool Mountain, the last of the 76 Cross Country starters.
“They were foot perfect,” said an understandably elated Fox-Pitt, naming the athletic, French-bred Neuf des Coeurs as the best galloper of the trio. “They’re all horses I know well and they’re all good jumpers.”
However, although he has three chances for a second Pau victory tomorrow, Fox-Pitt does not have a Jumping fence in hand over the competitive American rider, Phillip Dutton on new mount Mr Medicott, who is breathing down his neck in fourth place.
“It’s pretty neat to have the ride on him,” said Dutton, who recently took over Greman Frank Ostholt’s 2008 Olympic gold medallist from compatriot Karen O’Connor. “The idea of coming here was to get used to Pierre Michelet’s courses and walk his lines (before next year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Caen).”
The home side’s star of the show was 26-year-old Maxime Livio (FRA), a newcomer at this level, who also competes in Jumping. He put in a great performance on Cathar de Gamel, winner of the Sandillon (FRA) and Haras du Pin (FRA) CIC3*s this year, and is in fifth place.
“We’ve had a really nice season, so perhaps it’s not such a surprise to do so well here,” said Livio. “But I was quite surprised that my horse could go so fast over a course that’s nearly 12 minutes and I’m feeling pretty impressed to be sitting here in a press conference with these two superstars [Fox-Pitt and Dutton].”
Last year’s winner Andrew Nicholson (NZL) had mixed fortunes. He is in sixth place after a smooth performance on Mr Cruise Control, but he had a run-out with Quimbo, equal fourth after Dressage, at fence 20 and he retired his first ride, CCI4* newcomer Viscount George.
Britain’s Sarah Bullimore rode two great clear rounds inside the time to rise eight places to seventh on Valentino V, and 34 places to 15th on My Last One. Donatien Schauly (FRA) made it look easy on Pivoine des Touches to climb 11 places to eighth, and Clark Montgomery (USA) on Universe and Rodolphe Scherer (Makara de Montiege, FRA) rose 22 places apiece to ninth and 10th.
Dressage leaders Lucinda Fredericks (AUS) and Flying Finish were quick across the country but are out of contention after a frustrating run-out right at the end of the course at the influential complex at 25. Some riders who were up on the clock, including Fox-Pitt, had the luxury of taking the long route here.
Lucy Wiegersma (GBR), sixth after Dressage on Simon Porloe, retired after a refusal at the duck-shaped fence in the first water complex, and Frank Ostholt (GER) and Little Paint, lying eighth, were pulled up near the end of the course.
There were 35 clear rounds, nine of them inside the optimum time, and 53 completions, but Pierre Michelet’s accuracy questions certainly had riders thinking and made for a thrilling day’s sport.
William Fox-Pitt commented that he was surprised by the amount of problems at the first water complex. “Horses didn’t seem to read it that well. There were all sorts of ways you could approach it and it was interesting to watch.
“By contrast, it was amazing how well horses coped with the last water. You don’t meet many fences with five elements, under trees and involving water, but it just shows how good our horses are now.”
Watch tomorrow’s Jumping action live on FEI TV www.feitv.org and keep up to date with the scores throughout on www.event-pau.fr.
Prize money
At the end of the FEI Classics 2013/2014 season, the five riders with the highest number of points collected across the six FEI Classics events will share a total prize fund of US$120,000 split as follows: 1st – US$40,000 (Series Champion); 2nd – US$35,000; 3rd – US$25,000; 4th – US$15,000; 5th – US$5,000.
HSBC Rankings
The rider at the top of the HSBC Rankings at the end of the 2013 Eventing season will receive a US $50,000 bonus. The winning rider will be announced in December 2013.
Our signature twitter hashtags for this series are #Classics and #Eventing. We encourage you to use them, and if you have space: #FEI Classics #Eventing.
