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Atlanta Fall Classic Update

Camera Ready, ridden by Leigh Coffer Smith, vies for top position in the Barry Lane Children Adult Jumper Classic last fall. Flashpoint Photography.

Please note that the prize list and schedule have been updated and are posted on the website.

Most importantly, the Low Jr. Amateur Jumper Classic Week II is $5,000.00. The Welcome Classes are $10,000 and $5,000, Weeks 1 and 2, respectively.

We can’t wait to see you!

The Atlanta Fall Classic is set to kick off on November 6 and run through the 17th at the Georgia International Horse Park, home of the 1996 Olympics.  “We’re expecting another fantastic show,” said Classic Company President, Bob Bell.  “Our numbers are already up from last year and we’re looking forward to greeting everyone to one of our favorite shows of the year,” he added.  “This show is special because it gives us a chance to be together with our horse show families before Thanksgiving and the holiday season,” he continued. “It will be great to see everyone!”

Entries are due tomorrow!

Oh no!  You forgot?  Don’t worry!  Equestrian Connect, the Official Service Partner of the Classic Company, provides the one and only service that you can count on to get your entries in on time tomorrow!

Equestrian Connect 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.

Red Carpet Treatment

Classic Company rolls out the red carpet to everyone so you can imagine how special the VIP is!  Chandeliers adorn the ceiling, complimentary refreshments, top of the line catering and the most fun you will have in any VIP tent alongside an Olympic Arena all for only $300 per week!  See Jennifer in the show office when you get there or send an email to jonathan@classiccompany.com.

The Children’s' Hunter Division is always popular at the Atlanta Fall Classic
The Children’s’ Hunter Division is always popular at the Atlanta Fall Classic

Classic favorites plus new fun events = full class schedule

Old favorites such as the National Classic Equitation Finals meet the new up and coming favorites such as the $1,500 Bohicket Marina and Yacht Club Celebration of the Small Hunters, set to debut Week 1.  The Adequan Pre-Green Hunter Final Championships, $10,000 and $5,000 Welcome Classes, $25,000 Barry Lane Children Adult Jumper Classics, the $10,000 Children Adult Jumper, and a $10,000 Jr.-AO Classic will be on the schedule with the $65,000 EMO Grand Prix Week I and the $45,000 EMO Grand Prix Week II!  There’s something for everyone in your barn at the Atlanta Fall Classic!

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 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

Casablanca Captures USPA Kay Colee Memorial Cup at Grand Champions Polo Club

Casablanca’s Grant Ganzi (1) and his horse defy gravity stretching to gain possession of the ball. Photos by Scott Fisher.

WELLINGTON, FL – Oct. 13, 2013 — Casablanca won its first tournament of the fall season with a thrilling 10-7 victory over ELG Sunday in the championship final of the USPA Kay Colee Memorial Tournament presented by The Tackeria at Grand Champions Polo Club.

Casablanca, making its first appearance in a final, broke open a close game (7-6) after five chukkers with three goals in the final chukker against a more experienced team.

Casablanca, one of the youngest teams in Grand Champions history to win a tournament, featured three up-and-coming teenagers Grant Ganzi, 15, Juancito Bollini, 17, and Wes Finlayson, 18, who teamed with one of the game’s all-time greats, Mike Azzaro.

“I rate this win as a really good win because it’s the start of our Casablanca team at Grand Champions and the beginning of us winning a lot this year,” Grant Ganzi said. “It’s a big step up in our game and hopefully, we can start winning more.”

Azzaro, 47, an 8-goaler and Hall of Famer, was named Most Valuable Player after scoring seven goals in two games including a team-leading four in the final. Bollini had three goals, Ganzi added two goals, and one goal was picked up on handicap.

“It takes a great team to get this MVP trophy,” said Azzaro, who worked well with his young teammates throughout the game that pitted mother against son (Melissa and Grant Ganzi) and father against son (Juan and Juancito Bollini).

“These kids are really talented,” Azzaro said. “They are fun, nice kids with three individually different talents. It’s fun playing with them.

Casablanca's Mike Azzaro (3) shows his MVP form with a big hit as ELG's Kris Kampsen (2) defends
Casablanca’s Mike Azzaro (3) shows his MVP form with a big hit as ELG’s Kris Kampsen (2) defends

“I never really played with these kind of talented kids on the same team when I was growing up in polo,” Azzaro said. “When I was 16 I learned a lot from Memo Gracida, Joe Barry, Carlos Gracida and all those guys. But as far as playing with a high goal player at this level, I never got a chance to do that until I was 5 or 6 goals.”

Defending champion ELG (Equine Law Group) featured Melissa Ganzi, Kris Kampsen, Juan Bollini and Avery Chapman. Kampsen scored six goals, four on penalty shots, and Chapman, who played well on defense, added another.

“It was a great game. I was really proud of the way Casablanca played as a team. I absolutely don’t mind losing to them; it was wonderful that they won,” Melissa Ganzi said. “They made good choices on the field and that was nice to see. Mike is playing really well and been a good coach to them.”

Best Playing Pony was awarded to Tampa Glitter, a chestnut thoroughbred owned and ridden by Melissa Ganzi in the fifth chukker.

Bollini, Ganzi and Finlayson, members of the winning Florida Zone 3 All-Star team at the USPA National Youth Series Championship and President’s Cup, have played together in various junior tournaments and the chemistry was never more evident on Sunday.

“I’ve played with Juan and Grant a lot and playing with a veteran like Mike is great,” Finlayson said. “This is the third tournament we have played together and it’s a lot of fun.”

Azzaro turned pro at 16, by age 25 was rated 10 goals, and held the perfect ranking for 13 years. He was recently raised to 8 goals in June and shows no signs of letting up.

“It’s really awesome playing on this team,” said Ganzi, a sophomore at St. Andrew’s. “It’s just a bunch of buddies and Mike who is our big veteran guy giving us advice and organizing us. This is like playing with (former All-Pro quarterback) Brett Favre, one of the all-time greats.

“The three of us have been playing so much together that we have the chemistry,” Ganzi said. “It’s almost so good that if one of us hits it or is running, we know where to go; we don’t have to communicate; it’s just natural. We just know where we are.”

ELG's Melissa Ganzi (1) defends against Casablanca's Mike Azzaro (3) as he goes for the ball
ELG’s Melissa Ganzi (1) defends against Casablanca’s Mike Azzaro (3) as he goes for the ball

Added Bollini, who scored the final goal of the game with 49 seconds left on a nice 200-yard run, “Mike is always teaching us in the field and is really good to play with. I was really excited to play today. I woke up three hours ago and thought we had a chance.

“I would love to play with Grant and Wes on a pro team,” Bollini said. “We’re a good team and with Mike it’s even better; he is one of the best players in the world. Our chemistry really helps us improve because we are more comfortable with each other.”

Beluga (Misha Rodzianko, Leo Mandelbaum, Brandon Phillips and Guille “Gigi” Aguerro) won the consolation round robin tournament with an 8-5 victory over Newport (Gene Goldstein, Michael Dorignac, Luis Escobar, Kaisser Maakar) in the third and final game.

Rodzianko, 25, of Beluga was named Most Valuable Player after playing well on both ends of the field and scoring five goals including three in the last game.

In the other two round robin games, Beluga and Palm House (Marc Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Glenn Straub, Carlitos Gracida) tied, 3-3, and Newport defeated Palm House, 7-5.

One of the state’s oldest tournaments is named after player-coach Joey Casey’s grandfather, a teammate and friend of polo legend John T. Oxley.

Started in 1964, the tournament was played at the former Royal Palm Polo Sports Club in Boca Raton for more than 20 years. Jacqi Casey, Colee’s great granddaughter and her mother, Lorraine Casey, presented the tournament awards to Casablanca and ELG.

This was the third of seven medium-goal tournaments of the fall season, the most competitive in Grand Champion’s seven-year history. Two additional 20-goal tournaments are scheduled for November.

The remaining fall tournaments are the Oct. 18-20 US Trust Cup; Oct. 25-27 USPA Fall Plates; and Nov.1-3 Pedro Morrison Memorial and Nov. 8-10 Palm Restaurant Invitational.

The two 20-goal tournaments are the Oct. 30 – Nov. 9 USPA North America Cup and Nov.13-24 The National 20-Goal Championship. All tournaments are USPA-sanctioned and have grown in stature since their start in the mid-1990s.

Casablanca, one of Grand Champions’ fall season’s main sponsors, has been a pioneer in polo, recognized as the world’s foremost producer of cutting-edge polo equipment and apparel, used and worn by polo players and followers of the sport.

The Tackeria in Wellington is the local distributor of Casablanca merchandise which can also be found online at www.casablancapolo.com.

The Tackeria, located at 13501 South Shore Boulevard in Wellington, is a complete equestrian shop catering to all horse sports including polo.

The store carries a full range of polo gear, saddles and apparel. Store hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

GRAND CHAMPIONS FALL SCHEDULE

Oct. 18-20, US Trust Cup
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

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Four-In-Hand Drivers in Fabulous Form for New FEI World Cup Driving Season

Dutch driver Koos de Ronde was crowned FEI World Cup Driving champion 2013 for the first time in his career. © Rinaldo de Craen/FEI.

Lausanne (SUI), 14 October 2013 – The world’s best four-in-hand drivers are in the starting blocks for what should be a sensational 13th FEI World Cup Driving season beginning on 19 October in Hannover (GER).

Qualification

Following the exciting 2012-2013 indoor season which culminated in Koos de Ronde’s (NED) final victory, the drivers moved outdoors to qualify for the prestigious indoor series. The qualification period comprised 13 competitions organised throughout Europe and the 10 top drivers managed to secure a slot for the 2013-2014 indoor series. The 2013 German champion Christoph Sandmann decided not to take part this season as did the 10-time US national champion Chester Weber who was in 11th place on the qualification standings. These withdrawals have allowed Sandmann’s fellow countryman Daniel Schneiders to move up two places and qualify for the FEI World Cup Driving season.

Schneiders made his first World Cup appearance in 2012 in Hannover where he had been granted a wild card and felt hugely excited by the series unique atmosphere. He set himself the goal to qualify during the outdoor season and has managed to secure the much coveted starting ticket.

Top drivers

This season’s field further includes double world and four-time FEI World Cup Driving champion Boyd Exell (AUS), individual and team gold medallist Theo Timmerman (NED) and his successful teammates Koos de Ronde and IJsbrand Chardon as well as the runner-up of the German Championships and European silver team medallist Michael Brauchle. Brauchle had previously competed on several occasions using wild cards, but this is his first season as a qualified driver. His teammate Georg von Stein, who was the best German driver at this year’s FEI European Driving Championships in Izsák (HUN) where he finished in fifth place, has qualified for the World Cup season for the third time.

Father and son

For the first time this season a family will be part of the indoor series with father and son József Dobrovitz and József Dobrovitz jr. of Hungary battling it out for the champion’s title. Double world champion Tomas Eriksson (SWE) found a new sponsor after CAIO Aachen 2013, which resulted in an enormous improvement in his results. Eriksson won the last qualification competition in Donaueschingen (GER) thanks to which he earned just enough points to enter the Top Ten. Eriksson concluded his successful second half of the outdoor season by winning individual silver at the FEI European Championships at the end of September.

The rules

The FEI World Cup Driving 2013/14 season is made up of nine competitions organised in Germany, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Hungary, Great Britain, Belgium and France. Verona (ITA) will be part of the series for the first time.

Five drivers from the Top Ten will compete at each event and organisers may also give wild cards. The scores from the best four events count. The top six drivers will qualify for the Final, which will take place in Bordeaux (FRA) in February 2014 for the third consecutive time.

Driver biographies: view online and download from http://fei.org/fei/events/world-cups/driving/driver-biographies.

By Cindy Timmer

Media contact:

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

At Hannover:

Andreas Kerstan
andreas.kerstan@comtainment.de
+49 4307827973
+49 3416786012
http://pst-marketing.de/index.php/hannover.html

Show by Appointment’s First Championship Finals Come to a Close

Morgan Holmes and Smart Shooter.

Sarasota, FL – October 13, 2013 – Show by Appointment’s inaugural Championship Finals concluded on Sunday at the Triple J Ranch in Sarasota, FL. Youth, Level One and Level Two Boxing, and Two Rein riders came out for their second go, and champions received generous cash awards and prizes sponsored by Skyline Vaquero, Don Rich Saddlery and J. W. Brooks Custom Hats.

Jay Holmes, who owns and operates Triple J Ranch with his wife, Rhonda, was happy to host the Finals.

“It was great to have it here,” Holmes said. “It was a wonderful show and a good family climate. We need to have more shows like this. The judging was good – everybody who won a championship earned it. Everyone should be tickled to death. The cattle were very nice this weekend, and you’ll never hear a complaint about the footing in our arena.”

The final day kicked off with the Open and Non Pro Two Rein Classes. The Open Two Rein was a competitive division with several high-scoring runs. Ultimately, Rick Steed and 177 Performance Horses’ Justa Merada Nut came out on top with an impressive overall score of 290.

Morgan Holmes continued her streak of top finishes at the Finals by claiming two championships: the Non Pro Two Rein with Im Dun R U and the Youth Bridle with Smart Shooter. She earned total scores of 206 with her own Smart Shooter and 284.5 with Im Dun R U, who is owned by her father, Jay Holmes.

“The weekend’s been great,” Holmes said. “I really like all of my horses that I’m showing this year, so that makes it fun. I love Im Dun R U. We bred, raised and trained her. I started showing her when she was 3 and she’s 6 now. So we’re pretty good together.”

“Smart Shooter is my old horse,” she continued. “I’ve shown him in everything – he’s won world championships two times in the cow horse and one time in the roping with me. He’s my baby.”

John Jacobs and Miss Chic Dun It
John Jacobs and Miss Chic Dun It

John Jacobs was recognized as the Intermediate Open Hackamore champion on Blair Bynum’s Miss Chic Dun It with a score of 280.5. The division concluded on Saturday but results were finalized Sunday morning after a video review by judge Bill Enk. SBA’s policies to ensure fair judging allow competitors to request a video review of their ride if they have questions about how they were scored.

“Our cow work was good,” Jacobs said of his ride on Saturday. “We had the luck of the draw and drew a good cow. He pushed on the horse a little bit, which helped us have a higher degree of difficulty and score well. I think Miss Chic Dun It will be a great horse for a non pro rider, since she is quiet and has a good mind.”

Jacobs said he enjoyed being a part of the inaugural SBA Championship Finals. “It was a lot of fun,” he said. “Everyone I talked to was really happy with how it went. It was a good year to be here, and I think there will be a lot of people here next year. Their payout was great and they did a nice job with the show.”

Kristin Cosentino paired with Hannibal Lecter, owned by Murray Logan, for the Level Two Boxing championship. Their score of 285.5 earned them the top spot.

“I’m happy with my cow work,” Cosentino said. “It was really fun. I can’t wait until next year!”

The championship in the Level One Boxing went to Tracy Jo McFadden, also riding Hannibal Lecter. McFadden earned a composite score of 293.5 over two days of competition.

“I feel really good about the weekend,” she said. “Today I tried to correct mistakes from my previous runs, and it came together really well. I wanted to keep my lines a little bit straighter and work on making my circles nice and round.”

“I feel so blessed for the opportunity to do this,” she continued. “I’m from Nevada, and I’d like to get some more people on the West Coast involved so we can get some of the shows going over there. The atmosphere here was great, and it was extremely nice to be at a show where you didn’t have to stand around and wait. I could just focus on my ride. The arena was great, the dirt was good and the people were wonderful.”

Haily Findeisen and Suz Mountain Dew, owned by Barry Spinweber, took home the Youth Boxing championship with a score of 291.5. Christina Cross stayed on top of the Little Britches division to claim the championship with a total score of 286.5, despite a determined effort by twin sister Victoria to overtake her in the standings. Another set of sisters, Carolina and Cecilia Sanchez, also had great rides in that division on Sunday.

Rick Steed and Justa Merada Nut
Rick Steed and Justa Merada Nut

Blair Bynum and Rick Steed of Show by Appointment said they were pleased with the season finale.

“It was a huge success,” Steed said. “We want to thank everyone for their support, and we look forward to seeing you next year.”

“We want to thank Jay for the use of his great facility and all of his help throughout the Finals,” Bynum added.

Now that its first Championship Finals have concluded, Show by Appointment will be making plans for a full season of competition around the country in 2014. For information on Show by Appointment sponsorship opportunities, contact Mary Adelaide Brakenridge at mab@phelpsmediagroup.com. Like SBA on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ShowByAppointment and visit their website at http://www.showbyappointment.com for news and updates about the upcoming season.

About Show by Appointment

Show by Appointment’s fresh approach to reined cow horse competition has been an unprecedented success in its first season. SBA aims to make showing “Fun, Fair, and Affordable” for competitors.  To accommodate those traveling long distances to show and help busy riders fit showing in at their convenience, SBA allows riders to reserve their own ride times in advance. This cuts down on usual travel expenses such as stall rentals and hotels and encourages competitors to make the trip and join in the fun.

Each SBA series includes four shows. Riders who compete at three out of the four shows earn a place in the Championship Finals, slated for October 10-13, 2013, at Triple J Ranch in Sarasota, FL. The Finals offer over $100,000 in cash and prizes. Competitors may also qualify for the Finals in absentia by simply sending in entries and payment to each of the four shows. This system is designed to allow riders a chance to compete in the Championship Finals without spending the season chasing points and incurring excessive competition expenses.

Mary Adelaide Brakenridge for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com

Great Britain Overhauls Germany at Final Hurdle to Claim Series Title

From left: British team manager Philip Surl and riders Kitty King, Laura Collett and Izzy Taylor. Photo © Arie de Vroet.

Lausanne (SUI), 14 October 2013 – Great Britain has won the 2013 FEI Nations Cup Eventing by just one point after an epic battle with last year’s champions, Germany.

The series went right to the wire at the final event, Boekelo (NED), at which Germany scored an emphatic team victory, but the British have run a well-orchestrated campaign with a pool of up-and-coming younger riders and, with the best five results to count, they just secured the win.

The two countries, the only nations to contest all six competitions in the series, have been neck-and-neck all season.

Britain started slowly with fifth place at Fontainebleau (FRA) in March, but this was the score they would drop in the final calculations. They then established a pattern of consistency with wins at Houghton Hall (GBR) in May, and Montelibretti (ITA) and Waregem (BEL) last month, plus second places at Aachen (GER) in July and at Boekelo.

“We made a big effort with the series this year, so we’re absolutely thrilled to come out on top in what was a very exciting finish to a successful concept,” said Britain’s team manager, Philip Surl.

“The Germans have been brilliant and taken some beating, but I think we’ve shown consistency with our younger riders who have all worked hard and got into the spirit of the competition, and I hope it will give us plenty to build on for the future.”

Germany, the gallant runners-up in the 2013 FEI Nations Cup Eventing, won at Fontainebleau and Aachen as well as at Boekelo, and were second at Houghton Hall (GBR) in May, but they had to count one of their third places at Montelibretti and Waregem in the final tally, and that was enough to give Britain the edge.

“We knew that the series was going all the way to the wire, so we put as good a team together as we could from the riders entered at Boekelo,” explained German team trainer Christopher Bartle.

“We have certainly been riding the wave this year, but we know that nothing lasts forever and we don’t have that big a pool of riders to choose from, so we’ve been experimenting with different combinations in our teams this year.

“We had Peter Thomsen and Horseware’s Barny as our anchors at Boekelo, but it was very pleasing to see how well Michael and Ingrid’s young horses went and to have a younger rider, Julia Krajewski, coming up through the ranks.”

As anticipated, the popular Dutch fixture at Boekelo, the only CCIO3* of the series (the other legs are CIC3*s) was the most hotly contested of the season, with 13 nations sending teams, including Russia for the first time.

Ireland finished third, France fourth and Italy fifth, with only the top five teams managing to finish with three or more riders and avoid incurring a 1,000-point penalty.

The three-rider New Zealand team finished in last place as none of them completed the competition, but Lizzie Brown took the individual honours with her non-team horse, Henton Attorney General.

A combination of wet footing, the result of torrential rain, and course designer Sue Benson’s (GBR) clever twists, turns and endless variety of accuracy tests made for an exciting and challenging day’s Cross Country at Boekelo.

Germany was the only nation to have all four riders complete, with Peter Thomsen, riding Horseware’s Barny, finishing best, in individual second place.

Olympic, World and European Champion Michael Jung, on an exciting new young horse, the eight-year-old mare FischerRocana FST, was eighth, and European silver medallist Ingrid Klimke was ninth on Hale Bob 3.

Both riders achieved the optimum Cross Country time of 10 minutes 30 seconds but subsequently picked up 12 faults apiece in the Jumping phase. However, Germany was far enough ahead of Britain for it not to affect the team standings.

Britain was only five penalties in arrears after Dressage, but began to slip behind as Cross Country time penalties piled up.

Kitty King was the highest placed of the quartet, finishing fifth on the stallion Persimmon, and Laura Collett (Allora 3) was 17th. Izzy Taylor (KBIS Starlet), who had been the discard score after Dressage, was one of only four riders to achieve the optimum Cross Country time for 19th place.

Anchorwoman Gemma Tattersall, who could have closed the gap with Germany, was eliminated for a Cross Country fall when Chico Bella P landed steeply at the drop into the second water complex at fence 18.

Sweden was third after Dressage, but Niklas Lindback, the individual leader on Cendrillon, fell at fence 16 and Anna Hilton parted company from Matrix W at fence 18.

Alice Naber-Lozeman (NED), a member of the ninth-placed Dutch team, finished 13th on Peter Parker and took the Dutch national title.

Once again, the FEI Nations Cup Eventing, which began in 2012, has proved to be an incentive and inspiration for team managers as a way of giving both experienced and up-and-coming riders championship practice.

The FEI’s Eventing Director, Catrin Norinder, confirmed that the series will continue in 2014 and that the FEI is hoping to announce the arrival of a sponsor in the near future.

“Congratulations to the British and German teams for well-planned campaigns and for travelling to all six events to make it such a thrilling finish,” she said. “Several other nations made great efforts to enter into the spirit of the competition and it was an exciting contest this year. The series is clearly working as well as we hoped it would, and we are already planning for next season. We will have news of next year’s calendar and hopefully a sponsor soon.”

Full individual results on www.military-boekelo.nl.

The FEI’s first team Eventing series, the FEI Nations Cup Eventing, has seven events and is open to all nations fielding one team composed of 3 or 4 riders at each leg.

The FEI Nations Cup Eventing 2013 ran under FEI Eventing rules at CICO and CCIO 3* level and riders accumulated points under a dedicated system created for the series.

By Kate Green

Media contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

Martin Is Top US Finisher at Military Boekelo CCIO3*

Boyd Martin and Trading Aces (Libby Law Photography)

Boekelo, The Netherlands – Competition at the Military Boekelo CCIO3* came to a close Sunday with two riders of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team contesting the show jumping phase. While there were clear rounds, rails were coming down throughout the day over Jos Brinkman’s course. Boyd Martin and Trading Aces were the top finishers for the U.S. in the field of 64 combinations that moved on to the final phase of competition.

Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and Trading Aces LLC’s nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding had a lovely round with an unfortunate rail at the C element of the triple, adding four faults to their score. The pair ended the competition with a score of 68.0 to finish in 28th place. The Military Boekelo CCIO3* marked the first time Trading Aces represented the U.S., demonstrating much promise for the future with Martin.

“It was a disappointing result for the U.S. However, the three horses that competed are young, class, talented horses and will benefit in the future from this trip,” commented Martin. “I believe we were a team of quality riders that did not execute at this event. We return home with an understanding of where we came up short. Thank you to the USEF for the opportunity to represent the U.S.”

Elizabeth Halliday-Sharp (East Sussex, United Kingdom) and her own Fernhill By Night also added four faults to their score after having a rail at 4A. She and the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding finished with a score of 91.4 for 52nd place. The pair stepped up to the plate representing the U.S. for the first time in an international team competition, all in Fernhill By Night’s first attempt at the CCI3* level.

In the final leg of the 2013 FEI Nations Cup Eventing series, Germany won the team competition with a score of 148.6. The Land Rover U.S. Eventing team finished in seventh place with a score of 1159.40. Great Britain came away with 2013 FEI Nations Cup Eventing series title.

New Zealand’s Lizzie Brown and Henton Attorney General took home top honors with a final score of 39.8.

By Kathleen Landwehr

For more information on the Military Boekelo CCIO3*, visit http://www.rechenstelle.de/2013/boekelo/.

Follow the 2013 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.

Super-cool Brash Wins Longines Opener at Oslo

Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos at the prize presentation with Longines ambassador Aksel Lund Svindal and Morten Thormodsen, Brand Manager and Sales Representative for Longines, Norway. Photo: FEI/Roger Svalsroed.

Oslo (NOR), 13 October 2013 – Great Britain’s Scott Brash once again proved himself to be the most formidable of opponents when galloping to victory with Hello Sanctos in the opening leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2013/2014 Western European League at Oslo, Norway this afternoon.  Others might have been rattled by the last-minute drama of a broken noseband just before going in to jump against the clock. But the 27-year-old rider from Peebles in Scotland stayed as cool as a cucumber to clinch the win ahead of individual Olympic champion, Steve Guerdat, from Switzerland.  And, as if to cement the sheer quality of today’s competition, it was three-time FEI World Cup Jumping champion Marcus Ehning from Germany who slotted into third place ahead of Portugal’s Luciana Diniz and Winningmood in fourth.

There was a time when the early legs of the Western European League series were considerably less competitive, but those days are history now.  This year’s start-list for the first round at Oslo included nine of the top 12 riders on the current Longines Rankings list, so it was never going to be an easy one to win.

And the course designed by Italy’s Uliano Vezzani, who was assisted by Anders Hafskjold and Terje Olsen-Nalum from Norway, was no walk in the park either.  It may have been the first big test of the indoor season, but the close confines of the arena which measures just 75m x 35m, and the intensity of the track layout itself ensured a very tough day’s work indeed.  “I thought it was a very difficult track when I walked the course, and I was surprised when there were so many clears – the fences came up very quickly and I’m told this was the biggest track ever in Oslo!” said winning rider Brash this evening.

Retired

The smallest fence on the course was the opening 1.50m vertical, but even that hit the floor for Germany’s Christian Ahlmann who retired with his grey stallion, Asca Z, after leaving two more on the ground.  And the 2011 FEI World Cup Jumping champion was one of seven to call it a day before the end of the track – reigning European Champion Roger-Yves Bost from France (Colombo van den Blauwaert) and Brazil’s Alvaro de Miranda (AD Uutje) amongst those who also decided it was best to leave the fight to another day.

The 1.50m square oxer at two remained intact throughout the afternoon, but the remainder of the fences were almost all dislodged from their moorings at some stage.  The triple-bar at fence three led to a 1.60m vertical at fence four before riders turned right-handed to the triple combination at five.  This was the bogey of the day, with 12 horse-and-rider combinations faulting at least once as they attempted to negotiate the vertical to a double of oxers.  Steve Guerdat said afterwards, “Triple combinations are always very demanding for horses and they were struggling with it; I don’t really know why.”

The turn to fence six proved the undoing of many, however.  Horses tended to be very much on the forehand after the triple combination and, if they were running on too much it proved difficult to ride the sharply bending line and arrive balanced, in control and still with enough impulsion to clear the tall vertical.  The oxer at fence seven and the Longines double at eight were located along the ringside before turning left-handed to the oxers at nine and ten, and then there were only three fences left on the homeward run.

The planks at 11 fell numerous times however as did the following Longines oxer at 12, but the most disappointed man of the day was, quite possibly, The Netherlands’ Gerco Schroder who steered his Olympic individual silver medal winning ride, London, through a gloriously easy tour of the track only to hit the very last.  This multi-coloured vertical, standing 1.60m and with two circular water trays beneath it, was located on another bending line and, second into the ring, Norway’s Stein Endresen was decanted onto the landing side here when his mare, Cassiopeia arrived on a bad stride and decided to slam on the brakes.  In Schroder’s case, London dropped his near foreleg to rebalance on the turn and caught the top pole on the way up for an unfortunate four faults.

Jump-Off

There were nine riders from nine different nations through to the second-round jump-off, and it was rising Brazilian star, Marlon Zanotelli, who led the way with Clouwni over the new track. A mistake on the distance between fence one and the oxer at fence 10 which was now the second obstacle on the course saw them return with four faults in 39.27 seconds, so when Athina Onassis de Miranda from Greece and her fabulous grey mare, AD Camille Z, produced a careful clear in 46.55 seconds they temporarily took the lead.  The Netherlands’ Frank Schuttert was first to take a tight turn to the third, an oxer, but his round unravelled when he lost his line to the vertical second-last – previously fence six, but now jumped in the opposite direction – so that his super-busy gelding, Winchester HS, rushed past it leaving them to cross the line with eight faults on the board in 44.17 seconds.

The crowd lit up when Geir Gulliksen entered the ring with Edesa S Banjan.  The 12-year-old gelding had produced a great opening round to make the cut for the host nation rider and, to the delight of the spectators, they went into the lead this time out when foot-perfect in 39.64 seconds.  But their advantage was short-lived as Marcus Ehning and Copin van de Broy cruised home with a silky-smooth run in 37.72 seconds to go to the top of the leaderboard.  Portugal’s Luciana Diniz and Winningmood followed with a lovely round in 39.00 seconds, and when Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander opted for a slow clear with the nine-year-old Ego van Orti she was also guaranteed some valuable qualifying points but didn’t pose any threat to Ehning’s supremacy.

Set Off Like the Wind

The final two did, however. Guerdat and the horse with which he enjoyed Olympic glory, the electrifying Nino des Buissonnets, set off like the wind, turning super-tight to the third fence and galloping down to the last to soar out in front in a time of 36.52.  It seemed unlikely that this could be bettered, and when there was a long delay before Brash arrived into the ring the crowd grew curious.  The British rider, meanwhile, was busy taking his horse’s bridle apart after the noseband snapped while warming up for the second time.

Luckily Geir Gulliksen’s gelding was wearing something similar, so, in typically sporting fashion, the Norwegian rider removed his horse’s noseband and gave it to his British rival who, with the help of Ireland’s Shane Breen, reassembled the bridle, put it onto Hello Sanctos and then jumped onboard and headed into the ring. Not ideal when there is a Longines FEI World Cup Jumping qualifier to be won, but Brash has shown time and again over the last year that he is about as unflappable as they come.

Setting off, he didn’t know what time he was chasing, so he decided to just kick on and hope for the best.  As it turned out that was a pretty good plan, because he shaved more than two seconds off Guerdat’s target to clinch the most convincing of victories.

Talking afterwards, Brash said, “I watched Marcus and I thought he was fast and then I heard that Steve was faster so I thought I’d just do the best that I could.  My horse was super again, I was really surprised by how fast we were!”  He said he was very grateful to the show officials who allowed him the time to reconstruct the bridle – “They were very kind by not rushing me” – but he pointed out that the drama had not thrown him off his concentration.  Clearly it hadn’t.

Remarkable

Making his victory today all the more remarkable was the fact that Brash rode the same horse into the winner’s enclosure in yesterday’s Oslo Grand Prix in which Angelica Augustsson and Mic Mac du Tillard lined up second. “Everyone was questioning me because I rode him fast in the Grand Prix yesterday but I know my horse!” he said today. Hello Sanctos will go to the second leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League series at Helsinki in Finland next week and will then travel to Doha in Qatar for the Global Champions Tour Final in November.

Runner-up, Steve Guerdat, said, “The last show I did was not great – it was our horse’s first show back since the Europeans and that is why he jumped in two of the smaller classes earlier here.  Today I could feel in the first round that he was a bit too fresh and jumping with a bit of caution – our first round was not so smooth. When we did the jump off he was already better,” Guerdat pointed out.

Third-placed Marcus Ehning left the post competition press conference early. “My wife and I are expecting our next baby. She is a bit nervous because I am far away so I have to catch the first plane back!” he explained.

Geir Gulliksen finished fifth for Norway, and was very happy with his result. “It is always very exciting competing in front of your home crowd. I was a bit worried as I jumped two rounds yesterday – I didn’t know how he (his horse, Edesa S Banjan) would react but he did great today. It is a great achievement for an old chap from Norway!” joked the 53-year-old rider who has been the linchpin of the Norwegian team for many years now.

Meanwhile Brash reflected on yet another great day’s work. “It feels great and my horse feels in very good form. It is great to start off with a win,” he said.  He talked about the frenzy that ensued when his horse’s noseband broke.  “We rushed around trying to borrow one; luckily Jimmy (Geir Gulliksen) had just got off the ring and he let me borrow his – it turned out to be lucky for him and me as well!” he explained.

And he talked about Hello Sanctos, the 11-year-old gelding which he rode to team gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games last year, and who played a pivotal role again at the PSI FEI European Jumping Championships in Herning, Denmark this summer.

“He is the horse of a lifetime considering what he has done for the country – he is outstanding. You don’t get too many like him. He is very clever, very sharp. When you work him at home he is very lazy, as if to say ‘do we really have to do this training?’, but then he goes into the ring and gives you his heart!” he said.

For more information on the first leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2013/2014 series, go to website www.oslohorseshow.com or contact Press Officer Line Moen, Email: press@oslohorseshow.com, Tel: +47 95 92 63 47.

The next leg of the series takes place in Helsinki, Finland on Sunday 20 October 2013, website www.helsinkihorseshow.com, Press Officer Kati Hurme-Leikkonen, Email kati.hurme@helsinkihorseshow.fi.

Full result here.

Facts and Figures:

The FEI World Cup Jumping series celebrates its 36th season bearing the name of Swiss watch brand, Longines, which, last December, became Top Partner, and Official Timekeeping Partner, to the international governing body, the FEI.

The first leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2013/2014 Western European League series took place today at the Telenor Arena in Oslo, Norway.

A total of 40 riders from 21 nations lined out.

The countries represented were Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

A total of 11 qualifying rounds will take place before the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final is staged in Lyon, France from 20-23 March 2014.

Defending series champion is America’s Beezie Madden.

9 of the top 12 riders on the current Longines Rankings competed today in Oslo.

Course designer was Uliano Vezzani (ITA) assisted by Anders Hafskjold (NOR) and Treje Olsen-Nalum (NOR).

9 riders from 9 different countries qualified for second-round jump-off against the clock.

Today’s winner was Olympic and European team gold medallist Scott Brash from Great Britain riding Hello Sanctos.

He pipped reigning Olympic individual gold medallist, Steve Guerdat from Switzerland, and Nino des Buissonnets, while three-time FEI World Cup champion Marcus Ehning from Germany finished third with Copin van de Broy.

9 riders retired in the first round and there was 1 elimination – Stein Endresen from Norway who was unseated when his 12-year-old grey mare, Cassiopeia 55, stopped at the very last fence in the first round.

The second leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2013/2014 series will take place in Helsinki, Finland on Sunday 20 October 2013.

Quotes:

Morten Aasen, Oso Show Director: “I have been part of this event for 22 years now. Longines, the new sponsor, has made things very exciting. Longines has brought in a new level of professionalism which is very nice. Moreover, 7 out of the top 10 riders are here which proves that the show is popular and we are very proud of that!”

Marcus Ehning (GER): “I have won the FEI World Cup three times and have great memories of it. I think it is a good series.”

Scott Brash (GBR): “I watched Marcus’ round and I thought he was too fast. I didn’t see Steve’s round but I knew he was second. I didn’t think I’d be as quick as he was but I got the strides just right today.”

Geir Gulliksen (NOR), talking about his horse, Edesa S Banjan:  “I met the breeder of the horse in Belgium – he was seven at the time and was a bit of a character. He jumped his first Grand Prix last year but I think he has some good years in front of him, just like his rider!

I have had many horses in my life – this one is small but very athletic. I was worried he was tired today. He is very different at home and even in the collecting ring – he is a completely different horse in the arena and you would question whether he can actually do it.”

FEI YouTube:  http://youtu.be/NoVvJNYg6ms

FEI TV: don’t miss a hoofbeat – www.feitv.org.

Longines Live Timing Jumping application: available free for download from The App Store (iPhone) & Android Markets. Combining precision and performance, this is a detailed and exclusive application designed especially for Jumping fans – follow live results, see latest Longines Rankings, view competition schedules, obtain exclusive information and alerts on your favorite riders and get all the latest FEI news.

Rider biographies: view online and download from http://fei.org/fei/your-role/media/biographies.

Longines has been based at Saint-Imier (SUI) since 1832. Its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. It has generations of experience as the official timekeeper at world championships and as a partner of international sports federations.

Longines’ passion for equestrian sports began in 1878, when it produced a chronograph engraved with a jockey and its mount. Over the years, the brand has built strong and long-lasting links with equestrian sports. In 1912, Longines was proud to partner with its first Jumping event, the Grande Concurso Hippico Internacional, in Portugal.

Today, Longines’ involvement in equestrianism includes Jumping, Endurance and flat racing.

Longines is a member of The Swatch Group S.A., the world’s leading manufacturer of horological products. With an excellent reputation for creating refined timepieces, the brand, whose emblem is the winged hourglass, has outlets in over 130 countries.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Oslo:

Line Moen
Email: press@oslohorseshow.com
Tel: +47 95 92 63 47

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

At Longines:

Longines International Public Relations
publicrelations@longines.com

Peters, Herslow, Davis, and Redston Earn National Titles to Close Out US Dressage Festival of Champions

Steffen Peters and Legolas 92 (SusanJStickle.com)

Lexington, Ky. – The 2013 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp came to a conclusion on Saturday with the final four champions crowned. In The Dutta Corp/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship, Steffen Peters claimed his seventh title in the division under the lights, while earlier in the day Kim Herslow and Rosmarin claimed their first National Title in The Dutta Corp/USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship. Barbara “Bebe” Davis won the AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship title in her first attempt at the annual competition, while Alison Redston and Tony 47 led the victory gallop in the USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship.

The Dutta Corp/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship

Grand Prix competition came to a conclusion under the lights of the Rolex Stadium as the eight competitors rode their Freestyle tests to earn the remaining 15% of their championship score.

Peters (San Diego, Calif.) scored a repeat victory with Four Winds Farm’s Legolas 92, as he cruised to an unprecedented seventh National Title in the Grand Prix division. The Olympic veteran pulled out all the stops with the 11-year-old Westphalian gelding as he produced strong piaffe and passage, as well as improved one-time changes. The talented combination concluded their Freestyle with an impressive pirouette in piaffe directly into halt on the centerline as they scored 79.450%.

“This was the best freestyle for sure. He felt great in the warm-up and I just hoped I could do that in the ring,” said Peters of Legolas 92. “Right off from the first step he felt as supple as in the warm-up. He stayed right with the music. I couldn’t be happier.”

The pair finished on a championship total of 76.476%.

Looking toward the future and preparation for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Peters will rely on advice from Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor Robert Dover in planning for the future months.

“I have not thought about it,” said Peters. “California, Florida, we’ll think about it and I’m sure Robert will weigh in on that.”

Earning second place in the Freestyle and Reserve Champion honors overall was Guenter Seidel (Cardiff, Calif.) and Coral Reef Wylea. Coral Reef Ranch’s 13-year-old Westphalian mare earned a 76.450% in the Freestyle to finish on a championship score of 72.404%.

Despite a mistake in the two-time changes, Seidel was extremely pleased with the mare and believes she improved from Friday night’s Grand Prix Special.

“I thought she was great; there was the obvious mistake in the twos but it worked out great. In general, I thought she was better than the night before. Definitely, she felt good.”

Earning third place in the championship was Kathleen Raine (Murrieta, Calif.) and her own, Jennifer Mason, and David Wightman’s 13-year-old Hanoverian mare Breanna. The pair finished the Freestyle with a score of 70.225% and earned a championship score of 71.213%.

The Dutta Corp/USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship

Herslow (Stockton, N.J.) and Rosmarin narrowly missed sweeping the three tests of Intermediaire I Championship, placing second in Saturday’s Freestyle but scoring a decisive victory in the National Championship. Kiroli Enterpirse Inc.’s eight-year-old Hanoverian gelding’s score of 75.200% counted for the remaining 15% of the pair’s championship average of 75.701%.

Kim Herslow and Rosemarin (SusanJStickle.com)
Kim Herslow and Rosemarin (SusanJStickle.com)

“I went easy on my horse yesterday and just did a really basic ride,” Herslow noted. “Today I wanted to have more horse and I think I had a little more than I have had for a little while, but that’s okay. I also have to learn how to ride that tension and I felt like I had him a little more up in his shoulders and I had him in a little more expressive frame. But I was a little on edge because we haven’t really been going there. But I’m thrilled.”

Herslow expressed how proud she’s been of Rosmarin and how’s he’s dealt with the pressure of such difficult competition.

“I’m amazed that he came back to showing after having the whole summer off and stepped up to the plate even more than in Florida this past season. I’m really looking forward to the season in Florida this winter and we’ll be moving up to the Grand Prix as soon as he’s ready.”

Caroline Roffman (Wellington, Fla.) and her own Her Highness O finished first in Saturday’s Intermediaire I Freestyle test, earning 76.625% and finishing on an overall total of 73.504% as the Reserve Champion. Roffman and her 10-year-old Hanoverian mare performed a powerful test in the Rolex Arena.

“For me, today was the perfect ending to Intermediaire I,” Roffman said. “She (Her Highness O) showed she’s able to compete with the best in the country. She was a blast to ride and it was the perfect way to end, in my mind. Today was perfect.”

Emily Jucsher Wagner (La Cygne, Kan.) and Wakeup, her own eight-year-old AWR stallion, finished third in the championship on a score of 69.612%.

AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship

Bebe Davis and Rotano (SusanJStickle.com)
Bebe Davis and Rotano (SusanJStickle.com)

Davis (Bedminster, N.J.) had another top performance on Saturday morning to claim victory in the AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship with her impressive mount Rotano. She and her parents’ (Michael and Sarah Davis) 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding had a lovely test with excellent trot extensions and half-passes to score a 69.000% in the FEI Junior Individual Test. The pair finished the championship with an overall score of 68.771%.

“My ride this morning was really amazing. I couldn’t be more thankful for my horse, and for my trainers and my parents for always being there for me,” stated Davis. “Moments like this make all of our training and all of our riding totally worth it. He was just such a good boy. He was really there for me and just really trying and listening to my aids.”

Davis credits riding at the Pony level with enabling to reach the level she has in her riding. Last year she won the USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship and has moved up to Junior ranks this year finding much success. Davis believes she has learned a great deal about patience and perseverance while riding the intelligent little creatures.

“I showed two weekends ago at Devon and it was my last ride in the Pony division. I got a little bit emotional on centerline, but I am very happy to see how far ponies have come,” Davis said. “I did it the first year when there were only two and this year it is five times the size. It really makes me so happy to see that, that kids are really wanting to do it because I would never be where I am today if I didn’t do the ponies.”

Lindsey Holleger (Whigham, Ga.) had an improved test with Friedensfurst from Thursday, having beautiful trot extensions, strong canter half-passes, and a nice walk tour. She and the 11-year-old Trakehner gelding scored a 68.079% in Saturday’s test to finish with a 67.324% overall in the championship.

“I loved my ride today,” said Holleger. “He gave me everything and he was really relaxed, and that’s what I wanted to fix from the last ride. He did that and even more and I am really ready for Young Riders next year.”

Mallory Kent (Birmingham, Ala.) and Okiedokie slotted into third place in the AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship with a solid effort, receiving a 66.842% in the FEI Junior Individual Test. She and her own 17-year-old Royal Dutch Warmblood gelding completed the championship with a 66.219%.

The girls thanked their families, trainers, and sponsors, as well as being appreciative of the show management and volunteers.

USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship

Redston (Needham, Mass.) swept the Pony division with her own Tony 47. She demonstrated a solid test with the 13-year-old German Riding Pony gelding to score 66.683% in the FEI Pony Individual Test. The pair won the National Championship with an overall score of 66.303%.

“I thought our test went pretty well,” said Redston. “Throughout the test he was more relaxed, especially compared to the awards ceremony the day before. I felt like it let out some of his energy and it also had a feeling that it was more like a regular show. He was much more relaxed and could be himself.”

Alison Redston and Tony 47 (SusanJStickle.com)
Alison Redston and Tony 47 (SusanJStickle.com)

Redston is thrilled with her results and has no regrets about getting into the discipline of dressage after this weekend.

“I got into dressage because whenever I would jump, I would fall on my face, which was never fun. I always like to watch it (dressage) and I would be like, ‘Wait, how did they do that?’ and I wanted to learn about it and learn how to do it like those people who do things that seem impossible.”

Finishing in second place in the division were Madelyn Guthrie and Jordy. Guthrie (Westmont, Ill.) and her own 15-year-old Welsh Pony gelding presented a solid ride to score 64.026%.

“Our ride had a lot more energy than yesterday,” Guthrie commented. “After our last test we knew we needed to improve the energy level a little bit to improve all the movements as well. I think some of our highlights today were the medium and extended trot as well as the canter and we just really upped our game and knew we wanted to strive to be better. Jordy did really well and was there for me.”

Savannah Rose Franklund (Boulder, Colo.) rode into third place with CF Godiva Chocolate. She and her own 13-year-old American Quarter Pony gelding finished with an overall score of 63.384%.

USEF Network will be streaming Friday and Saturday’s competition live at www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2013FestivalOfChampions/. Retired FEI 5* judge Axel Steiner will provide commentary during the broadcast.

Find out everything you need to know about the championships at http://www.usefconnect.com/festival/.

By Helen Murray, Kathleen Landwehr and Eileen Schnettler

Show by Appointment Crowns Champions at Inaugural Finals

Shaun McBride and Pao Pao Chex.

Sarasota, FL – October 12, 2013 – Show by Appointment awarded its first set of championships on Saturday at the SBA Championship Finals, held at Triple J Ranch in Sarasota, FL. Open and Non Pro Bridle and Hackamore divisions, as well as Non Pro Boxing, all wrapped up on Saturday as riders returned for their second go and vied for top honors.

Champions took home generous cash awards as well as prizes from three sponsors: Don Rich Saddlery, J. W. Brooks Custom Hats and Skyline Vaquero. J. W. Brooks was on hand to measure winners for their custom-made hats.

“We’re really excited about this new event, and it’s an event that we believe in: we think it’s going to go far,” Brooks said. “We’re proud to be here and to be a part of the beginning. They’ve done a great job with it so far, and we’re excited to be involved.”

“I think we get a pretty good response out of giving away custom hats because it’s something that not everybody gets – it’s a little different from the norm,” he added. “We can measure all the winners and make a hat that’s perfect for them. Everyone has been very positive about it.”

Don Rich Saddlery’s finely crafted saddles were a hit with the lucky champions who earned them. Don Rich was also on hand at the Finals on Saturday to present saddles.

“I’m proud to be a part of it,” Rich said. “SBA is a good organization and it’s going to be great for the cow horse industry, especially here in the East. It seems like everyone’s loved the saddles so far, and we’ll get more feedback once everyone rides in them and sees how they like them.”

Skyline Vaquero, which provided beautiful custom buckles and knives, added to their initial sponsorship to ensure that champions at all levels, from top professionals to beginners just starting out in the sport, would receive fitting recognition for their accomplishments.

“We know the beginning people really want a belt buckle, so we increased our sponsorships to provide that for them,” Dave Hammonds of Skyline Vaquero said.

The day began with the second go for riders in the Open Bridle divisions. The Open Bridle championship went to Rick Steed and Murray Logan’s Whiz Bar Sooper, who achieved a composite score of 293 over two days of competition. Shaun McBride paired with Pao Pao Chex, owned by Paula Burnett, for the Intermediate Open Bridle championship, scoring 287 to take the top spot. Trevor Steed rode Toni Steed’s Gunna Miss You to top honors in the 2K Open Bridle division with a score of 283.5.

Lucas McCullough and Nice Bobby Sox
Lucas McCullough and Nice Bobby Sox

After the Open Bridle divisions, Non Pro Bridle and Boxing riders took center stage. Lucas McCullough and Nice Bobby Sox, owned by Jean McCullough, scored 290.5 in the Non Pro Bridle to take home the championship.

“It feels great – it was a fun day,” McCullough said. “The championship early in the day was a big relief. It helped me focus on my second horse [Tinsel Lena in the Non Pro Hackamore] and not worry, since I already had something good going. I won $5,000 and a custom-made hat by J. W. Brooks. I’m really excited about that.”

Barry Spinweber and his own Suz Mountain Dew claimed double championships in the Intermediate Non Pro Bridle and 2K Non Pro Bridle. “He’s a good horse,” Spinweber said. “He’s strong in the reining and good at the fence work – just a great all-around horse.”

“The reining was a highlight today,” he continued. “My cow was really fast going down the fence. I didn’t know if I would quite catch up to him before the end of the arena, but luckily, we made it. I won a ton of money and I won my first saddle, as well as a hat and a nice knife, so that’s really cool.”

Dwyatt Bull and his own Khatch a Diamond were impressive in the 2K Non Pro Boxing, claiming the championship on a total score of 281.5. In the Non Pro Boxing, Verna Benbow and 177 Performance Horses’ Choco Latte Lena earned 285 overall to secure the championship. Benbow was thrilled with her win.

“It’s just wonderful,” Benbow said. “I’m very surprised. I appreciate the people I ran against. They make you a better rider. And I’m grateful for all the help from Jay Holmes, Rick Steed, Robert Smith – everybody who has helped me get here. I was very happy with my high reining score today, and it’s great to win at the first Show by Appointment finals.”

Benbow also credited her horse with a great effort. “She carries me,” Benbow said. “I know I had to ride her, but she carries me. She makes me a better rider. I feel very blessed.”

Corey Rodgers and Dun It Big N Smart
Corey Rodgers and Dun It Big N Smart

Open and Non Pro Hackamore classes closed out Saturday’s competition. Jay Holmes and his own Senor Dun It maintained their lead in the Open Hackamore, taking the championship with a score of 293.5. Corey Rodgers and Joana Azevedo’s Dun It Big N Smart scored 280 overall to claim the 2K Open Hackamore title.

Morgan Holmes continued a successful weekend at the Finals by riding her own Mutt to the Non Pro Hackamore championship with a score of 287. Jeff Pressler and Paula Burnett’s Oh Cay Floyd collected a total score of 270, earning them the 2K Non Pro Hackamore championship.

Interspersed with the championships were three Derby classes. Jay Holmes won the Open Derby on Jen Frame’s Junkyard Cat, scoring 221 for the three phases of herd work, reining and fence work, while Morgan Holmes secured the win in the Non Pro Derby on Mutt with a score of 214. Jen Frame and her own One Time Bugsy scored 207.5 to take first place in the Non Pro Boxing Derby.

“He’s really a trouper,” Frame said of One Time Bugsy. “He’s a very honest horse – very steady and consistent.”

She added that she was happy to be at SBA’s first Championship Finals. “It’s exciting to be part of something new like this,” she said.

Saturday evening was highlighted by the debut of a unique SBA class, the Horse Sale Class showcasing sale horses to potential buyers. Show by Appointment’s first Championship Finals conclude on Sunday, when championships will be determined for Open and Non Pro Two Rein, Level One and Level Two Boxing, Youth Bridle and Boxing, and Little Britches Boxing.

About Show by Appointment

Show by Appointment’s fresh approach to reined cow horse competition has been an unprecedented success in its first season. SBA aims to make showing “Fun, Fair, and Affordable” for competitors.  To accommodate those traveling long distances to show and help busy riders fit showing in at their convenience, SBA allows riders to reserve their own ride times in advance. This cuts down on usual travel expenses such as stall rentals and hotels and encourages competitors to make the trip and join in the fun.

Each SBA series includes four shows. Riders who compete at three out of the four shows earn a place in the Championship Finals, slated for October 10-13, 2013, at Triple J Ranch in Sarasota, FL. The Finals offer over $100,000 in cash and prizes. Competitors may also qualify for the Finals in absentia by simply sending in entries and payment to each of the four shows. This system is designed to allow riders a chance to compete in the Championship Finals without spending the season chasing points and incurring excessive competition expenses.

Keep up to date with SBA’s news by liking them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ShowByAppointment, following them on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ShowByAppt, and checking out their website at http://www.showbyappointment.com. See SBA videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/ShowByAppointment.

Mary Adelaide Brakenridge for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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Martin Leads the Way for the U.S. at Military Boekelo CCIO3*

Boyd Martin and Trading Aces (Libby Law Photography)

Boekelo, The Netherlands – The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team experienced mixed fortunes on Sue Benson’s cross country course on Saturday at the Military Boekelo CCIO3*. As is customary at Boekelo, the Dutch weather and deep going proved extremely influential as the leaderboard saw an utter shake-up. Following the conclusion of the second phase, Boyd Martin and Trading Aces lead the way for the United States.

Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and Trading Aces LLC’s nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding produced a steady clear round on Saturday. As the third-to-last combination to set out on the testing track the Richland Park CIC3* winners encountered extremely deteriorated footing and therefore collected 18 time faults. The pair heads into the final show jumping phase on a score of 64 in 35th place.

The first U.S. combination out on course was Elizabeth Halliday-Sharp (East Sussex, United Kingdom) and her own Fernhill By Night. The 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding was enjoying a successful trip in his first CCI3* but a late run-out at 21C meant the combination would collect 20 jumping penalties and 15.6 time faults. They stand on an overnight total of 87.4 in 54th place.

Lauren Kieffer (Middleburg, Va.) and Team Rebecca LLC’s 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Veronica were also representing the U.S. in team competition at Boekelo. The pair was enjoying a nearly foot-perfect round until they also ran into trouble at 21 resulting in a fall at the A element and elimination for Kieffer.

The U.S. stands in ninth place in the Team standings following the cross country on a score of 1151.4. Germany maintained the lead and head into the show jumping on a score of 124.6.

New Zealand’s Lizzie Brown and Henton Attorney General lead the individual standings on a score of 35.8.

By Helen Murray

For more information on the Military Boekelo CCIO3*, visit http://www.rechenstelle.de/2013/boekelo/.

Follow the 2013 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.