Tag Archives: featured

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Nicholson Leads with Holder Not Far Behind after Day One of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

Leave a comment

Becky Holder and Can’t Fire Me (Shannon Brinkman/USEF photo)

Lexington, KY – Competition began today at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover in the Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park. Twenty-two combinations rode their dressage tests in front of the Ground Jury of Nick Burton (GBR), Christina Klingspor (SWE), and Brian Ross (USA).

Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and Calico Joe took the early lead after scoring a 40.8. Nicholson rode a beautiful test, taking the lead during the morning session and never relinquishing it throughout the day. His ride looked effortless aboard the Twenty Twelve in Mind’s 11-year-old English Thoroughbred gelding.

“He felt like he was very cool when he went down the ramp,” said Nicholson of his mount. “He let me ride him and he pretty much gave me 100% the whole test.”

Becky Holder (Palmetto, GA) and Melissa and Phil Town and Tom Holder’s Can’t Fire Me performed a lovely, flowing test earning a 44.2 from the judges putting them in second place. The pair gave a solid performance with bold movements that were rewarded by the judges with high marks. Being the top-placed American, Holder leads the Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Eventing Championship after the first day of competition.

“It’s always an amazing feeling to ride down that ramp into the Rolex arena,” said Holder. “There are no more amazing fans in the world than here in Kentucky and it’s a great feeling to be in there. It was really nice to have Teddy today be nice, calm, and relaxed and put the test forth that I know that he has in him.”

Holder and the 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding won the Richland Park CIC3* last year and an Advanced division at the Pine Top Spring Horse Trials earlier this spring.

Shandiss McDonald (CAN) and Rockfield Grant Juan performed quite well in the pair’s four-star debut, earning a 45.7 for third place. McDonald and Jorge and Amanda Bernhard’s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding executed their test under the most pressure they have experienced.

“I was happy that he was settled and relaxed and willing and did his job,” said McDonald of handling the atmosphere in the Rolex Stadium.

Will Faudree (Southern Pines, NC) is the second highest-placed American after the first day of dressage, sitting in fifth place with Jennifer Mosing’s Pawlow with a score of 47.2. With the 14-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding, Faudree finished second in the Advanced division at Southern Pines Horse Trials and 14th in The Fork CIC3* earlier this year.

Dressage resumes Friday in the Rolex Stadium with James Alliston (GBR) and Jumbo’s Jake at 10:00am ET.

Watch the live stream on the USEF Network presented by SmartPak. In addition to the broadcast, the order of go, results, and photos can be found here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/Rolex3Day2013/.

For more information about the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, visit www.rk3de.org.

Follow the 2013 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at http://usefnetwork.com/featured/2013Eventing.

By Kathleen Landwehr

Competitions, Western/Reining

Top Reiners Line Up for Competition at 2013 Kentucky Reining Cup

Leave a comment

Tim McQuay and Mega Watt Shine (Shannon Brinkman)

Lexington, KY – The reining world descends on the Kentucky Horse Park this weekend as many of the best in the sport have come to Lexington to compete in the 2013 Kentucky Reining Cup. Held in conjunction with the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, competition will be held April 26-27 in the Alltech Arena. On Friday, CRI3* Open FEI Reining competition will begin at 6:00 pm ET, while Saturday’s Reining World Freestyle Championship is always one of the most celebrated features of the weekend.

CRI3* Open FEI Reining

At Thursday’s Horse Inspection, 25 CRI3* horses were presented to the Ground Jury. Only Sam Schaffhauser’s Magnums Pretty Patti was not accepted.

In the CRI3* Shawn Flarida (Springfield, OH) looks to secure his third consecutive victory in the Kentucky Reining Cup. Since the competition’s inception in 2011, the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Team Gold medalist has proven unbeatable.

However, Flarida will face stiff competition in 2013. He will go head-to-head with his U.S. teammates from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games: Tom McCutcheon (Aubrey, TX) and Tim McQuay. At those Games, McCutcheon became a double Gold medalist after also securing top Individual honors. In addition to his 2010 Gold medal, McQuay (Tioga, TX) also won Team Gold and Individual Silver medals at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany.

U.S. team veteran and 2008 FEI World Reining Championships Team Silver medalist Pete Kyle (Whitesboro, TX) has entries in both the CRI and Freestyle divisions. Kyle is competing for the third year at the Kentucky Reining Cup.

“I really look forward to coming to this event in Lexington every year,” said Pete Kyle.  “It’s a great atmosphere and beautiful facility. It’s great to be able to mingle with the best Reiners and Eventers from around the world. I look forward to coming more and more each year.”

Also competing in the CRI3* Open FEI Reining division is four-time Grammy award winner Lyle Lovett (Spring, TX).

Reining World Freestyle Championship

The champions from the 2011 and 2012 vie for top honors among a field of 22 that line up in the Reining World Freestyle Championship. Shane Brown (Elbert, CO) claimed the title in the competition’s inaugural year but was relegated to runner-up in 2012 by Kyle. Brown and Kyle will be must-sees on a night of lively performances.

In 2013, eventers will once again take part in the Reining World Freestyle Championship. They include the 2011 and 2012 Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Eventing Champions, Sinead Halpin (Oldwick, NJ) and Allison Springer (Upperville, VA). Additionally, 2000 Olympic Gold medalist and USEF Eventing Team Coach David O’Connor (The Plains, VA) and 2003 Pan American Games Gold medalist Bobby Costello (Southern Pines, NC) will compete.

Both the CRI3* Open FEI Reining and Reining World Freestyle Championship will be live streamed free of charge on USEFNetwork.com presented by Smartpak. Coverage of the CRI3* Open FEI Reining will begin at 6 pm ET on Friday, April 26, with the Reining World Freestyle Championship beginning at 5:30 pm ET on Saturday, April 27.

Find video, photos, news and more here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2013KentuckyReiningCup/.

Follow the 2013 U.S. Reining Team at: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2013Reining.

For details about the 2013 Kentucky Reining Cup, visit: http://www.kentuckyreining.com/.

*Featured/Spotlights, FEI, Show Jumping

Madden and Simon Storm to the Early Lead in the 2013 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final

Leave a comment

Beezie Madden & Simon (Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group)

Gothenburg, Sweden – Speed and efficiency were the order of the day in the Scandinavum Arena as the 2013 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final kicked off with the first of four rounds of competition. Utilizing the faults converted format competitors were asked to balance forward riding and efficient turns with tidy jumping. A total of 39 combinations lined up to tackle Uliano Vezzani’s 13 effort track and for the second year running an American rider posted an unassailable time. Beezie Madden and Simon, jumping 17th in the order cruised to a time of 62.28 and while a few came close, no one could catch the classy pair.

Madden (Cazenovia, NY) and Abigail Wexner’s 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding may not have appeared as the quickest combination, but tight lines and the horse’s massive stride propelled them to the lead. The hard trying Simon never looked in doubt of jumping a clear round as he gave each element of Vezzani’s track ample room.

“I didn’t really plan to win; I planned to go as fast as my horse could go to keep him good for the rest of the week,” said the Olympic Team Gold and Individual Bronze medalist. “He’s naturally a fast horse; I knew if I could ride my plan and tight lines he could be fast.”

Simon is no stranger to Rolex/FEI World Cup success having placed third in 2011 with former rider Jeroen Dubbledam. Madden has had her sights set on the 2013 Final with the talented gelding and plans to ride him in the remaining rounds.

“I think I’ll go with Simon if everything goes well,” Madden commented about her strategy for the remainder of the week.

Listen to an interview with Beezie Madden.

Katie Dinan (Wellington, FL) defied her age and experience as she piloted Nougat Du Vallet to an efficient clear round. The 19-year-old Harvard freshman is making her Final debut with Grant Road Partners LLC’s 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding and finished on a score of 66.50.

Katie Dinan & Nougat Du Vallet (Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group)
Katie Dinan & Nougat Du Vallet (Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group)

“I’m thrilled; I really wanted to ride well this week and my horse felt fantastic in the warm-up,” said Dinan. “To go clear in my first World Cup Final is a dream come true.”

The pair stands in ninth place following the first round.

The U.S. has three additional riders in the top 15 after Thursday’s competition. McLain Ward, Charlie Jayne and Reed Kessler all looked poised to rocket into the top spot but rails late in the course kept all three down the order. Riding Grant Road Partners LLC’s 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion Super Trooper De Ness, double Olympic Gold medalist Ward (Brewster, NY) set a quick pace from the beginning. However, a rail jumping out of the double at 12 meant they added four to their time and completed on 66.63. Jayne (Elgin, IL) incurred a similar fate with Alex Jayne and Maura Thatcher’s Chill R Z. The 10-year-old Zangerscheide stallion, who was named as reserve for the 2012 Olympic Games with Jayne, was jumping out of his skin in a quick pace but had the final vertical, number 13, down to finish on a score of 66.69. Kessler (Lexington, KY) is also making her Rolex/FEI World Cup Final debut with her 2012 Olympic partner Cylana and like Jayne heartbreakingly added four to their score at the last jump. The 11-year-old Belgain mare completed round one on a score of 67.46.

Currently, Ward stands 10th, Jayne 11th, and Kessler 13th.

Kent Farrington (Wellington, IL) is making his second Finals appearance with R.C.G. Farm’s 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Uceko. They would have challenged the leaders with their time but rails at fences 12B and 13 meant they finished in 16th place on a score of 69.49.

Standing 18th and 19th respectively are Karl Cook and Christine McCrea. Cook (Woodside, CA) and Signe Ostby’s 11-year-old Zangerscheide stallion Jonkheer Z had a single knock-down at 7B to finish on 69.53. They too are making their Rolex/FEI World Cup Final debut. Pan American Gold medalists McCrea (East Windsor, CT) and Candy Tribble’s 13-year-old KWPN gelding Romantovich Take One had a careful, clear round to stop the timers at 69.59.

Lucy Davis (Los Angeles, CA) jumped a poised round with Old Oak Farm’s Nemo 119, just rolling the pole at 12A. In their Final debut, the Stanford University student and 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding stand 30th after posting a score of 76.08.

The reigning champions, Rich Fellers (Sherwood, CA) and Harry Mollie Chapman’s Flexible, were in the midst of a fabulous round until a mistake jumping into the double at 12. The 17-year-old Irish stallion was unable to jump out of the combination after having the A element down. They stand in 34th after posting a score of 77.54.

Ashlee Bond (Hidden Hills, CA) is jumping Little Valley Farms’ Wistful in her third Finals appearance. The 10-year-old KWPN mare had three rails over the course to finish on a score of 78.28 and stand in 35th place.

Heading into Friday’s second day of competition, Madden holds the lead with 40 World Cup points in front of Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer who jumped Verdi II to a score of 62.79, and stands second with 38 World Cup points. Lying third following day one with 37 World Cup points is crowd favorite Rolf-Goran Bengtsson of Sweden; he and Casall La Silla jumped clear in a time of 64.20.

Rolex/FEI World Cup competition, which is being held in conjunction with the annual Gothenburg Horse Show, continues Friday with the first horse on course at 6:00pm CEST.

For more information about the 2013 FEI World Cup Final, visit: http://www.gothenburghorseshow.com.

Follow the 2013 U.S. Jumping Team here.

By Helen Murray

Competitions, Dressage, FEI

Langehanenberg Piles On the Pressure with Super Grand Prix Victory

Leave a comment

Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW on their way to victory in the Grand Prix. Photo: FEI/Roland Thunholm.

Gothenburg (SWE), 25 April 2013 – Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg threw down the gauntlet when securing a convincing victory with Damon Hill NRW in the preliminary Grand Prix at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2012/2013 Final in Gothenburg, Sweden today.  The 30-year-old rider and her 13-year-old stallion have been challenging the supremacy of back-to-back double-champions Adelinde Cornelissen (NED) and her great gelding, Jerich Parzival, for some time now, and following today’s result have piled on the pressure ahead of Saturday’s Freestyle decider.

Langehanenberg had it all to do, having been drawn in the worst possible starting spot when first to go today, and there was plenty of drama as the tension got to many of the leading contenders.  But the winning pair simply rose to the occasion, producing a sparkling performance that set a target none of the rest could match.

Runner-up was The Netherlands‘ Edward Gal with Glock’s Undercover while, last into the ring, Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello finished third for the host nation.  The biggest surprise of the day was the fourth-place finish for the defending champions, whose test was severely compromised by a disastrous spooky episode as they were executing piaffe, one of their trademark strong points, across the centre line.  Parzival suddenly spun on a circle and then did it again before regaining his composure and going on to complete his test.

Fascinating Competition

It was a fascinating competition, and Canada’s Jacqueline Brooks and her charming grey gelding, D Niro, showed why they were so consistently placed on the Florida circuit over the winter months when producing a happy performance for a mark of 67.356 when second into the ring.  The 45-year-old rider might hardly have expected that this would be good enough to qualify for the top 15 who will battle it out in Saturday’s Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Freestyle Final, but it left them in 13th place at the end of a very interesting afternoon.

They were all chasing Langehanenberg’s opening score of 79.863, and Denmark’s Anna Kasprazak and Donnperignon gave a good account of themselves when, fourth to go, they were awarded 74.894.  However they were quickly elbowed out of runner-up spot by Gal and Undercover who seemed relaxed and concentrated as they built their delivery to a real crescendo for a mark of 78.465.  The steadiness of the gelding’s head, and their crisp, clean transitions gave an air of real control, but the 43-year-old rider admitted afterwards that he didn’t have the easiest of rides.  “Today he (Glock’s Undercover) was more tense than he was in Den Bosch.  He saw something he didn’t see this morning, but I’m very happy with him and he just kept getting better and better during his test.  He’s a great horse to ride because he feels like he wants to do it for you,” the 2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage champion said.

Reduced

Earlier in the morning, the Grand Prix start-list was reduced to 17 when Germany’s Kristina Sprehe withdrew her 12-year-old stallion, Desperados FRH, due to lameness in a foreleg. The 26-year-old rider, who helped her country to take team silver at the London 2012 Olympic Games, noticed the horse was unsound and, at an early morning press conference, German coach, Monica Theodorescu, explained that Desperados was withdrawn after examination by the team veterinarian.

That left just eight in the first tranche of riders, and when Denmark’s Sidsel Johansen and Schianto’s 69.878 was followed by 69.498 from Switzerland’s Marcela Krinke Susmelj and Smeyers Molberg there were just two left to run before the half-way break.

It all fell apart for Marlies van Baalen whose chestnut gelding, Miciano, became increasingly agitated and uncooperative, but the young Dutch rider showed just what she’s made of when riding through it all to finish with a disappointing score of 63.070 but with the satisfaction that she had completed the test.  Last in before the interval, Canada’s Jaimey Irwin and Lindor’s Finest put 61.474 on the board.

Led the Way

Italy’s Valentina Truppa and Fixdesign Eremo del Castegno led the way in the second half with a score of 71.778 and Russia’s Tatiana Dorofeeva followed with a mark of 64.286 from Khorovod while Sweden’s Minna Telde and Santana posted 72.097 to ensure a place in the final 15.  Norway’s Lillann Jebsen and Pro-Set scored 68.146 despite losing their way, but the home crowd gasped when Patrik Kittel’s performance with Watermill Scandic HBC was quickly spoiled by a double-take in the corner of the arena as they executed their first extended trot and, once unnerved, the chestnut stallion never settled to his work for a score of 69.559 which would leave them in 10th place in the final analysis.

With just four left to go, the Ukraine’s Inna Logutenkova and her colossal gelding Vian Stallone set sail for a mark of 66.702 before Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival took their turn.  Second-last into the ring, Isabell Werth’s Don Johnson FRH also did a double-take early in their test, but the German star who has collected 29 shiny medals at Olympic, World and European Championship level throughout her spectacular career, showed the benefit of her extensive experience by simply riding with even greater determination for a good result of 75.015 that placed them temporarily fourth before Sweden’s Vilhemson-Silfven and Don Auriello relegated them to fifth as the competition drew to a close.

Very Happy

Langehanenberg admitted that she would have preferred to start later in the competition “but it is how it is and you have to try your best, and I am very happy with my ride,” she said, immediately after coming out of the ring.  “I had a brilliant feeling, although it was a bit of a pity with the ‘ones’ (the one-time canter changes), it was a bit of a mistake and it was really expensive but, ok, better luck next time and the rest was really good!” she pointed out afterwards.

Even this most unassuming of ladies couldn’t help but admit today however that she is daring to hope the Reem Acra title could be within her grasp.  “I can’t really explain it but the feeling of being together with my horse just gets better every time we go into the arena now.  Something happens as soon as we start our test, and it gives me the confidence to go in and really give it everything I’ve got! He is really in front of me, and free, and working for me,” she said after her victory.

“I love to ride the Freestyle; it is my favourite so I am really looking forward to Saturday,” she added. Damon Hill NRW can look forward to a fairly relaxed day tomorrow. “We will just work on the ‘ones’; we won’t do too much so I can keep him happy and fresh,” Langehanenberg said.  Clearly she and her stallion are now the ones they all have to beat.

The Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2012/2013 Freestyle will take place at 13.20 local time.  Don’t miss a piaffe or a pirouette – watch all the excitement on www.feitv.org.

Result: 1, Damon Hill NRW (Helen Langehanenberg) GER 79.863; 2, Glock’s Undercover (Edward Gal) NED 78.465; 3, Don Auriello (Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven) SWE 77.432; 4, Jerich Parzival (Adelinde Cornelissen) NED 75.410; 5, Don Johnson FRH (Isabell Werth) GER 75.015; 6, Donnperignon (Anna Kasprzak) DEN 74.894; 7, Santana (Minna Telde) SWE 72.097; 8, Fixdesign Eremo del Castegno (Valentina Truppa) ITA 71.778; 9, Schianto (Sidsel Johansen) DEN 69.878; 10, Watermill Scandic HBC (Patrik Kittel) SWE.  Full result here: http://results.scgvisual.com/2013/goteborg/r11.html.

Facts and Figures:

17 horse-and-rider combinations started in today’s Grand Prix.

Three stallions and 14 geldings competed in today’s competition.

The youngest horse in today’s Grand Prix was third-placed 10-year-old Don Auriello, ridden by Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven.

The oldest horses were all 16 years of age – Jerich Parzival (Adelinde Cornelissen, NED), Pro-Set (Lillann Jebsen, NOR) and Lindor’s Finest (Jaimey Irwin, CAN).

Saturday’s Freestyle competition will decide the winner of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2012/2103 title.

Quotes:

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven SWE, when asked about her preparation for the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final – “I competed my horses in Florida until the end of March.  I brought Don Auriello home six weeks ago to get him adjusted and ready to come here.”

Jean Michel Roudier, Judge at C: “This was a very open Grand Prix with wonderful horses and riders, and we (the judges) really enjoyed judging it.”

Audio Links:

Helen Langehanenberg English Version, immediately after completing her test:

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/FEI_langehanenberg_day1_eng.mp3  English

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Fei_langehanenberg_ger.mp3  German

Edward Gal

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/FEI_Gal_eng_day1.mp3 English

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/FEI_Gal_dutch_day1.mp3  Dutch

Inna Logutenkova

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Reem_logutenkova_ukr_rus.mp3  in Ukrainian and Russian

Adelinde Cornelissen

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Reem_CORNELISSON_Day1_DUTCH.mp3 Dutch

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Reem_CORNELISSEN_Day1.mp3 English

Helen Langehanenberg reaction in German post event once she knew she had one the Grand Prix

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Reem_LANG_post.mp3

Anna Kasprzak

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Reem_KASPRZAK_Day1.mp3 English

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Reem_KASPRZAK_Day1_DANISH.mp3 Danish

Isabel Werth

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Reem_werth_day1_eng.mp3 English

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Reem_werth_ger_day2.mp3 German

FEI World Cup Dressage, the only worldwide series in this discipline, has entered its 28th season. The series, created in 1985, comprises four leagues: Western European, Central European, North American (including Canada) and Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Asia). Each FEI World Cup Dressage qualifier consists of a Grand Prix test, which in turn is a qualification for the Freestyle to Music competition, where league points are accumulated towards places in the Final. Judged on both technical and artistic merit, the FEI World Cup Dressage combines art, sport and partnership between horse and rider at the highest level and consistently proves a winning formula with audiences all over the world.

The complete rules, calendar, updated ranking and results are available here.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Gothenburg

Mayvor Thorin
+46 31 368 43 49
mayvor.thorin@gotevent.se

Lotta Amnestal
+46 709 795635
lotta.amnestal@ridsport.se

At FEI

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 787 506 142

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 33

FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Madden and Simon Win Opening Competition for USA

Leave a comment

Beezie Madden and Simon won the first of the three deciding competitions at the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final. She is pictured being presented with her prize by Anthony Schaub from Rolex. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

Gothenburg (SWE), 25 April 2013 – America’s Beezie Madden and Simon won the first competition of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final 2013 at Gothenburg, Sweden tonight. In a field of 39 starters from 17 countries, the 49-year-old from Cazenovia, New York produced the quickest run when 17th to go with the Dutch-bred gelding Simon, stopping the clock in 62.28 seconds to set a target that could not be bettered.

Runner-up was Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer whose record in the prestigious Rolex Final includes third place in 2012 and equal-second in 2010.  And, pleasing the home crowd, Swedish hero and reigning FEI European champion Rolf-Goran Bengtsson slotted into third tonight.

Rewarded

Course designer Uliano Vezzani set a clever track that rewarded those prepared to attack the course and take all the tight turns.  The curved shape of the Scandinavium Arena encouraged him to include a range of bending lines, but the biggest test of control came after the second element of the double of verticals at seven.  Most riders managed to turn sharply left-handed here to take a line inside the third fence en route to the following double at fence eight, as neatly demonstrated by the pathfinding partnership of Olympic champion Steve Guerdat and Nino des Buissonnets from Switzerland.  But their round also revealed the risks of the temptation to gallop down to the final vertical at fence 13 where they were penalised along with many others.

With time added for fences down or other errors of course it would take good, clean jumping to ensure a place at the top of the order, although America’s Charlie Jayne and Chill R Z were so speedy that they still managed to secure 11th place despite faulting at the last.  US riders were highly impressive, filling five of the top 13 finishing spots at the end of the day, but for defending champions Rich Fellers and Flexible the dream of a back-to-back double already seems to be shattered.

Firing on All Cylinders

They were firing on all cylinders until turning to the penultimate double, vertical to oxer.  Fellers came around the third fence so quickly on the approach that the 17-year-old stallion seemed to be taken by surprise by the double and scrambled through the first element before grinding to a halt at the second.  They composed themselves and finished without further drama, but the mistake was very costly indeed as they are lying in 34th place going into tomorrow’s second day of competition.

Schwizer enjoyed the advantage of a late run when, second-last to go with Verdi, but his great round which earned him second place only served to demonstrate just how fast Madden had been, as his time of 62.79 left him more than a second shy of her target of 62.28.

Bengtsson had the disadvantage of being just the fourth rider into the arena with the stallion Casall La Silla, but as he said afterwards, “When you go early you just have to be as quick as you can.  I was very happy with the horse; I finished in the area (on the leaderboard) where you need to be at this stage in the World Cup Final. I liked the way my horse jumped; I got my round really the way I wanted it.  I would have been disappointed to have been faster but to have a fence down.  I decided before I went in how it should be – you make your plan and stick to your plan and do your best; that’s all you can ever do,” he said wisely.

Great Round

It was Portugal’s Luciana Diniz who slotted into fourth with a great round from the 12-year-old Lennox who has been continually growing in confidence throughout this winter season, while Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya and Carlo also looked very special when claiming fifth place.  However the happiest man of the day seemed to be Kevin Staut whose face was a beam of delight after steering the great mare, Silvana HDC, into sixth.  The Frenchman’s form in the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series over the past few seasons has been incredibly consistent and somehow it seems it just might be time for his light to shine.

Sweden’s Jens Fredricson and Lunatic finished seventh, with Penelope Leprevost and Nayana in eighth for France ahead of Katie Dinan and Nougat du Vallet in ninth and fellow-American McLain Ward and Super Trooper de Ness in 10th.

History shows that a prominent placing in the opening speed class is essential to remain in contention for the Rolex title and, last man in, Christian Ahlmann from Germany knows all about that.  But his chances were blown tonight in almost a perfect replay of Fellers’ unfortunate error when he also turned so tight to the penultimate double that his 2010 champion ride, Taloubet Z, ground to a halt with surprise.

Preparation for the Final

Winning rider, Madden, talked about her preparation for the Rolex Final this year.  “We competed in the Nations Cup at Wellington and then in Paris two weeks ago.  Simon is a very seasoned indoor horse so that seemed to be enough before coming here.  He’s been lying low a little this year ahead of the Final,” she explained.  Today’s win was the biggest in their career together so far. “Before this my biggest successes with Simon were winning the Queen Elizabeth Cup at Spruce Meadows and coming second in the Masters there last September,” she pointed out.

Talking about pressure at this level of the sport, she said, “I have some age and experience on my side and I hope I can handle it okay.  There’s always pressure no matter who you are.  There is still a long way to go (in the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final) so we will see,” she added.

Bengtsson meanwhile admitted that riding in front of his home crowd was an intense experience because the expectations are so high. “You have to try to handle that pressure and not be too hard on yourself.  It’s so easy to make a mistake – look at Rich Fellers and Christian Ahlmann today; they were both having fantastic rounds but a small mistake caused them a very big problem, but they are both still very good riders,” he said.

Madden will line out again with Simon in tomorrow’s second leg of the 2013 Rolex Final, but Bengtsson will change over to Quintero, while Schwizer will line out with Picsou du Chene. There is still a long way to go, but it is shaping up for a cracking conclusion to another classic Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping season.

Results: 1, Simon (Beezie Madden) USA 62.28; 2, Verdi III (Pius Schwizer) SUI 62.79; 3, Casall la Silla (Rolf-Goran Bengtsson) SWE 64.20; 4, Lennox (Luciana Diniz) POR 64.40; 5, Carlo (Sergio Alvarez Moya) ESP 64.79; 6, Silvana HDC (Kevin Staut) FRA 65.04; 7, Lunatic (Jens Fredricson) SWE 66.23; 8, Nayana (Penelope Leprevost) FRA 66.26; 9, Nougat du Vallet (Katherine Dinan) USA 66.50; 10, Super Trooper de Ness (McLain Ward) USA 66.63.

Full result here.

Facts and Figures:

39 competitors.

5 US riders completed in the top 13.

Winning rider was 49-year-old American Beezie Madden riding the 14-year-old Dutch-bred gelding Simon, by Mr Blue.

Today’s runner-up, Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer, has been consistently placed at the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Finals in recent years, finishing third in 2012 and equal-second in 2010.

Reigning FEI European champion, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson from Sweden, finished third.

Defending champion, America’s Rich Fellers, finished in 34th place with the 17-year-old stallion Flexible after a costly mistake at the penultimate double.

13 fences on the course designed by Italy’s Uliano Vezzani.

Quotes:

Course designer Uliano Vezzani: “The horses jumped well today so I am very, very happy.  Today was a speed course but tomorrow it will get bigger – a lot bigger.”

Beezie Madden: “My plan was to go as fast as I could go with my horse and still keep him right for the rest of the World Cup competition.  Simon is naturally fast and I relied on that, stuck to my turns and it all worked out.”

Pius Schwizer: “I wanted to make a good placing with Verdi today.  I will ride Picsou du Chene in the next class.”

Beezie Madden – “I walk the course with my husband and then with Robert Ridland, our Chef d’Equipe, and then again after that so I make my plan. And then I usually go in the ring and change it all!”

Beezie Madden – “I will compete Simon in all three World Cup classes.  I have been competing Simon for just over a year.”

Audio Links:

Rolf Goran Bengtsson

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_bengtsson_day1_eng.mp3   English

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_bengtsson_day1_swe.mp3   Swedish

Pius Schwizer

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_schwizer_day1.mp3

Beezie Madden

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_madden_day1.mp3

For further information on the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final 2012/2013 in Gothenburg, Sweden (24-28 April), check out www.gothenburghorseshow.com.

By Louise Parkes

Gothenburg Media Contacts:

Mayvor Thorin
+46 31 368 43 49
mayvor.thorin@gotevent.se

Lotta Amnestal
+46 709 795635
lotta.amnestal@ridsport.se

FEI Media Contacts:

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

Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Riders Ready to Tackle the 2013 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

Leave a comment

Kristin Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken (Shannon Brinkman/USEF photo)

Lexington, KY – The excitement of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover is about to begin at the Kentucky Horse Park. Forty-six horses were presented at the first horse inspection and all were accepted. Riders from seven nations will vie for top honors at America’s only CCI4* event which also serves as the Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Championship.

The competition begins tomorrow with the first of two days of dressage. It will be live streamed on the USEF Network presented by SmartPak. In addition to the broadcast, the order of go, results, and photos can be found here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/Rolex3Day2013/.

This year’s field is filled with seasoned veterans and first time competitors in what will surely be an exciting competition. Many of the America’s top horses and riders hope to prove their mettle this week in a star-studded field. Three-time Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Champion Phillip Dutton will ride Bruce Duchossois’ Mighty Nice and Team Rebecca, LLC’s Fernhill Eagle, while two-time Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Champion Buck Davidson will ride three horses; Carl and Cassandra Segal’s Park Trader, Leigh Mesher’s Mar De Amor, and Cassandra Segal’s Ballynoe Castle RM.

“I am very excited to be here. I think I am on a really, really good quality horse and I can’t wait to get started,” said Boyd Martin about riding Trading Aces LLC’s Trading Aces in the horse’s first CCI4* event.

Future stars of the sport will be displaying their talent at the event. Land Rover grant recipient from the 2012 Boekelo CCIO3*, Jennie Brannigan, will contest Kentucky’s CCI4* for the first time with Nina Gardner’s Cambalda. Two 2013 Developing Riders/Eventing 25 List riders, Meghan O’Donoghue with her own Pirate and Caitlin Silliman with her own Catch a Star, will be competing in their first CCI4*.

“I think we are as ready as we are going to be. I am excited,” said Brannigan about tackling Kentucky with Cambalda. “He is a good horse. I have gotten to ride him in Europe a couple times so I think all that experience is going to hopefully help me handle the pressure of being here.”

Andrew Nicholson (NZL) hopes to achieve a win here with one of his two mounts to be in contention for the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing after winning the 2012 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. The Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing awards $350,000 to the successive winner of Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, and Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. After winning the 2011 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, William Fox-Pitt (GBR) is currently in the running to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. After the 2012 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials was canceled due to excessive rain leading up to the event, a win next week at the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials could win Fox-Pitt the coveted title.

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover is also part of the HSBC FEI Classics series. The HSBC FEI Classics is a series uniting the top end of the international Eventing circuit, namely the five four-star Eventing competitions currently on the calendar. HSBC has supported the FEI Classics series since 2008 and will be contributing $1 million over the next three years, making this the biggest prize pot on offer in the sport of Eventing on an annual basis.

Dressage begins tomorrow at 10:00am with William Fox-Pitt (GBR) and Seacookie TSF.

For more information about the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, visit www.rk3de.org.

Follow the 2013 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at http://usefnetwork.com/featured/2013Eventing.

Competitions, Western/Reining

World Champions Highlight Entries for the Kentucky Reining Cup

Leave a comment

Shawn Flarida and Whips Chocolate Chip, KentuckyReiningCup.com.

Country Music Star Lyle Lovett Also Returning to Compete

Three members of the United States’ 2010 Gold Medal World Championship team and four-time Grammy Award winner Lyle Lovett highlight the list of riders from the U.S., Canada and Italy entered to compete in the 2013 Kentucky Reining Cup which returns to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, April 26-27. The event is held alongside the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Land Rover, America’s only Four Star Eventing competition, April 25-28.

Tom McCutheon, Tim McQuay and Shawn Flarida, teammates on the U.S.’s Gold Medal World Championship team at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, headline the star-studded field that also includes Lovett, the country music legend who is entered to compete in the Cup’s CRI on Friday evening, April 26, for the third consecutive year.

The next night, Saturday, April 27, riders will compete for the title of World Freestyle Champion, a title won last year by U.S. veteran rider Pete Kyle in a thrilling performance that electrified the Alltech Arena crowd. The Freestyle features performances individually choreographed to music where the riders execute Reining maneuvers designed to excite and entertain the crowd.

“The Kentucky Reining Cup combines two great events,” said Darren Ripley, President of Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), producer of the Kentucky Reining Cup. “The CRI on Friday night showcases Reining at its best while the Freestyle on Saturday is always a real fun event for spectators. We invite everyone to come on out for a night we know you’ll enjoy.”

Among those entered to compete are:
• Lyle Lovett of the United States, four-time Grammy Award winner, country music legend, renown Reining horse breeder, owner of the famed stallion Smart N Shiney and veteran of the 2011 and 2012 Kentucky Reining Cup CRI competitions

• Tom McCutcheon of the United States, a two-time World Equestrian Games team Gold medalist (2002 & 2010), with World Equestrian Games (2010) and FEI World Reining Final individual Gold medals (2010) and an individual Silver (2002)

• Shawn Flarida of the United States, a two-time World Equestrian Games team Gold medalist (2002 & 2010) with an individual Gold (2002), and FEI World Reining Masters Gold medalist (2006)

• Tim McQuay of the United States, a two-time World Equestrian Games team Gold medalist (2006 & 2010) with an individual Silver (2006), and two-time FEI Masters Finalist

• Pete Kyle of the United States, five-time USEF Freestyle Gold Medal winner and the 2012 World Freestyle Champion, two-time USEF Don Burt award winner, Silver medalist, USEF National Championship (2012)

• Lisa Coulter of Canada, a veteran of the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games, two-time FEI Top Ranking Rider (2006 & 2011), Individual & Team Silver medalist at the Lexington CRIO5* (2009), three-time FEI Masters Finalist.

In addition to these stars, many more of the sport’s leading riders from the U.S. and abroad have entered. The full list of entries is available online at the Kentucky Reining Cup website at http://www.kentuckyreining.com/entry_list.php.

The American Quarter Horse is the “Official Breed of the Kentucky Reining Cup” for the third consecutive year.

Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI) is a non-profit charitable Kentucky corporation that was established initially to produce the 1978 World Three-Day Event Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the success of those championships, EEI established an annual event which quickly evolved into what is today the only Four Star three-day event in the western hemisphere, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. EEI initiated the Kentucky Reining Cup in 2011.

Further information on the 2013 Kentucky Reining Cup is available on line at www.KentuckyReining.com.

Dressage, FEI, Phelps Media Group

PhelpsSports.com Announces World Cup Dressage Updates on Facebook and Twitter

Leave a comment

Jaimey Irwin (CAN) and Lindor’s Finest.

Gothenburg, Sweden – April 23, 2013 – PhelpsSports.com has made it easy to keep up with all the 2013 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final action this week in Gothenburg, Sweden, just by liking the new PS Dressage Facebook page and following the PS Dressage Twitter account. Both Facebook and Twitter will feature up-to-the-minute news and photos straight from Sweden, providing an inside look at the elite horses and riders set to square off for the title.

PhelpsSports.com is known for its commitment to providing you with the most complete and up-to-date information in the hunter/jumper world and is expanding its extensive coverage to dressage. Watch for an announcement soon for our exciting new dressage website, where you will find up-to-date news, results, commentary and photos, all available to readers with no subscription or login required.

Throughout the winter show season, PhelpsSports.com has featured coverage of the major dressage shows in the Wellington, FL, area including interviews, photos and results. To get more in-depth coverage of the World Cup Final in Sweden, just click on the dressage tab on the PhelpsSports.com page.

The FEI World Cup Dressage is a series of competitions at the FEI Grand Prix level, comprising qualifying events (CDI-W) with the Final this week in Sweden. The Grand Prix de Dressage will be held on Thursday, April 25, and the Grand Prix Freestyle is scheduled for Saturday, April 27. The winner of the musical freestyle will claim the World Cup title.

Jacqueline Brooks (CAN) and D Niro
Jacqueline Brooks (CAN) and D Niro

The North American League is being represented by Canadians Jacqueline Brooks on D Niro and Jaimey Irwin on Lindor’s Finest. Both riders competed extensively in Wellington this winter to earn their qualifying scores and the chance to ride in Sweden.

Other riders include Denmark’s Sidsel Johansen on Schianto and Anna Kasprzak on Donnperignon, and Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg on Damon Hill NRW, Kristina Sprehe on Desperados FRH, and Isabell Werth on Don Johnson FRH. Italy’s Valentina Truppa will ride Fixdesign Eremo del Castegno. Also competing are The Netherlands’ Marles Van Baalen on BMC Miciano, Adelinde Cornelissen on Jerich Parzival and Edward Gal on Glock’s Undercover.

Norway’s Lillann Jebsen will ride Pro-Set and Russia’s Tatiana Dorofeeva will compete on Khorovod. Switzerland will be represented by Marcela Krinke-Susmelj aboard Smeyers Molberg and the home country of Sweden will be cheering for Patrik Kittel on Watermill Scandic HBC, Minna Telde on Santana, and Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén on Don Auriello. The Ukraine’s Inna Logutenkova and Vian Stallone round out the list of 18 competitors from 10 countries.

To keep up with all the 2013 Reem Acra FEI World Cup action, be sure to like the PS Dressage Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PSDressage and follow PS Dressage on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PSDressage. Go to PhelpsSports.com and click on the Dressage tab for further coverage.

Sue Weakley 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

Phelps Media Group, Polo

ELG/Psycho Bunny Wins Palm City Open; Andrew Seibert Named MVP at Grand Champions Polo Club

Leave a comment

Jeff Hall keeps possession of the ball despite hook attempt with game MVP Andrew Siebert backing his teammate up. Photos by Alex Pacheco.

WELLINGTON, FL – April 23, 2013 — Andrew Seibert was all smiles when he climbed off his horse, walked into the players’ tent and started congratulating his ELG/Psycho Bunny teammates.

Not only did ELG/Psycho Bunny defeat Elangani, 8-6, in championship final of the spring season-opening Palm City Open at Grand Champions Polo Club on Sunday, but Seibert won his first-ever Most Valuable Player award.

ELG/Psycho Bunny, a 13-goal rated team, topped a field of teams that featured two 15-goal teams and three 13-goal teams and top pro players Miguel Astrada, Gonzalito Pieres, Luis Escobar, Tomas Goti and Brandon Phillips.

Seibert, rated at 0 goals, was joined by Avery Chapman, also rated at 0 goals and two of America’s top players, 7-goaler Jeff Hall and 6-goaler Kris Kampsen on the winning team.

Elangani featured Brian Street, 6-goalers Nacho Badiola and Carlucho Arellano and 2-goaler Diego Coscia.

“This was a blast. Jeff and Kris are some of the best American players there are,” Seibert said. “They are a lot of fun to play with.”

It was the first time Seibert, a fifth-year polo player, competed with the team that was put together by Kampsen.

“I am ecstatic about the win,” Seibert continued. “That’s why we come down here; that’s why we play is to win. To share it with Kris, who is a good friend and play with great guys, it couldn’t be better.”

ELG Psycho Bunny's Avery Chapman steals the ball from Elangani's Nacho Badiola
ELG Psycho Bunny’s Avery Chapman steals the ball from Elangani’s Nacho Badiola

Psycho Bunny is a clothing company Seibert works with out of New York. Kampsen is the brand ambassador for the company.

Seibert grew up in Central Florida and drove down to Wellington on weekends to watch polo and got hooked on the sport.

“It has everything it needs to be a great sport,” Seibert said. “It’s fast, it’s dangerous, the horses are majestic. It’s the best.”

ELG/Psycho Bunny advanced into the final by winning Saturday’s round-robin with wins over Power Horse/Longfield Farm (6-5) and Jajalpa (4.5-2).

In the final, Kampsen led scoring with four goals, Seibert had two goals and Hall added another goal. The team received one goal by handicap. Arellano led Elangani with four goals.

Seibert’s goal with 4:04 left gave his team a 7-4 lead. Arellano scored back-to-back penalty goals but Hall added an insurance goal on a penalty shot with a minute left in the game.

“These guys are all my buddies and whenever you can play polo with your friends, you elevate and everybody rises to the occasion,” Kampsen said. “You want to win as a group and you know everyone out there is going to give it their all when you’re all friends.”

On paper, Kampsen liked his team’s chances.

“I’ve been playing with Jeff since we were young and spent the season playing with Avery and had quite a lot of success,” Kampsen said. “This is my first tournament playing with Andrew but we’ve been friends for a while.

“The key is good chemistry,” Kampsen said.

Kampsen is coming off a competitive season at International Polo Club Palm Beach. He plans to play the full spring schedule at Grand Champions to hone his skills.

ELG Psycho Bunny's Jeff Hall defending Elangani's Carlucho Arellano
ELG Psycho Bunny’s Jeff Hall defending Elangani’s Carlucho Arellano

“This is an opportunity for me as a player to work on building my strength,” Kampsen said. “The horses I played today are the new horses entering my string so that really helps me.”

Pucci, played by Hall and owned by Melissa Ganzi, won Best Playing Polo honors.

In the consolation round, Jajalpa won the round-robin play against Power Horse/Longfield Farm and Merchant Hub/Pony Express.

In the first three chukkers, Jajalpa defeated Power Horse/Longfield Farm, 4-2. Marc Ganzi led scoring with two goals. Carlitos Garcia, son of Hall of Famer Carlos Gracida, scored a goal and Guillermo Steta, president of the Mexican Polo Federation, scored another goal.

The Palm City Open, created by player-coach Joey Casey, is the first of six tournaments of the 2013 spring schedule for polo players and fans.

The other spring tournaments are the April 26-28 Polo Gear Cup; May 3-5 USPA Spring Challenge; May 10-12 USPA Sun Cup; May 17-19 USPA Eastern Challenge; and May 24-27 Memorial by Piaget.

GRAND CHAMPIONS WINS PRESIDENT’S CUP

Grand Champions came from behind to win the USPA National President’s Cup 8-goal tournament at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Wesley Finlayson scored what turned out to be the winning goal in Grand Champions’ 10-9 victory over Equine Law Group.

Finlayson finished with a game-high seven goals, including four penalty shots and was named Most Valuable Player. Finlayson’s horse, Teta, was named Best Playing Pony.

Grant Ganzi added two goals and Juancito Bollini had one.

Juancito Bollini broke an 8-8 tie in the fifth chukker scoring from the field with 2:31 left. Finlayson added another goal in the final chukker for a 10-8 lead at the 4:51 mark. Equine Law added another goal but great defense from Juan Bollini preserved the win.

Equine Law Group featured Matias Gonzalez, Marcos Onetto, Avery Chapman and Del Walton. Onetto led his team’s scoring with six goals.

GRAND CHAMPIONS SPRING SCHEDULE

April 26-28: The Polo Gear Cup

May 3-5: USPA Spring Challenge

May 10-12: The USPA Sun Cup

May 17-19: USPA Eastern Challenge

May 24-27: The Memorial by Piaget

GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: On the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington.

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 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

Competitions, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Elizabeth Gingras and Floreen SFN Capture First $40,000 HITS Grand Prix of the HITS Culpeper Season

Leave a comment

©ESI Photography. After spending the winter at HITS Thermal, Elizabeth Gingras and Floreen SFN hinted at a promising spring and summer season with a win in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix.

CULPEPER, VA (April 23, 2013) – Fresh off a fantastic tour at the HITS Desert Circuit, Canadian high-performance rider Elizabeth Gingras scored an impressive triumph aboard B Gingras Equestrian’s Floreen SFN in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, to cap a solid week for the maple-leaf nation during the Commonwealth National.

“Lizzie has a tremendous work ethic,” said trainer Jill Henselwood. “She is always trying to improve and get better. I believe that she is on the verge of becoming a force to be reckoned with wherever she competes.”

Gingras and Floreen SFN were the top performers on a course set by fellow Canadian Danny Foster. The 13-obstacle track set in HITS Culpeper’s Grand Prix Arena featured 18 starters. In the opening round, the winning combination was fourth in the order and posted the first fault-free ride. “Today’s winner was very well prepared for this type of course,” said Foster. “I look forward to seeing what they can do down the road.”

Five trips after Gingras set the pace, Callan Solem of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, assured the crowd that a jump-off would take place when she secured a spot on the short course with a clear ride aboard the Torlando Groups’ VDL Torlando.

At the conclusion of round one, seven horse-and-rider combinations advanced to the jump-off. Gingras and Floreen SFN’s wasted no time establishing the Great American Time to Beat when they jumped clear in 36.64 seconds.

“I have a great team supporting me,” said Gingras. “Jill had me ready for today and I am thrilled to walk away with a victory. This was the first time that we had competed at a horse show since HITS Thermal and I hope this is an indication of good things to come this season.”

Solem and her second mount, Horse Trail Farm’s Magic Cruise, were fast and clean in the jump-off, coming home in 40.46 seconds to secure the red ribbon. She and VDL Torlando crossed the timers in 40.66 seconds for third.

Riding under the Australian Flag, Thaisa Erwin jumped Foster’s track in 42.79 seconds with his own Matilda to land them in fourth. Rounding out the top five was Sulu Rose-Reed of Manikin Sabot, Virginia aboard Lisa Striplin’s Envy.  The pair produced a fault-free ride in 43.223 seconds.

HITS grand prix competition will continue at HITS-on-the-Hudson May 22 and will return to Culpeper, Virginia the first week in July for the Showday National. Throughout the spring and summer circuits in New York and Virginia, jumper riders will continue to ride for qualifying leverage in the Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix Rider Standings for a chance to compete in the historic class this fall.

©ESI Photography. Laura Linback and Whittaker MVNZ got things started at HITS Culpeper with a win in the $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix
©ESI Photography. Laura Linback and Whittaker MVNZ win the $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix

$15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix
Laura Linback and Woodrun’s Whittaker MVNZ took top prize in the $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix on Friday. They were one of 18 to show over the 1.45m course to kick off the Commonwealth National.

Henselwood and the popular IV Ever, owned by B Gingras Equestrian, LTD, were second, while Solem and Horseshow Trail Farm, LLC’s VDL Wizard capped the top three. Jaclyn Duff was fourth aboard her own Pater Noster and Linback secured a bookend performance with a fifth-place ribbon on Woodrun’s HH Dauphin.

Brook Ledge Horse Transportation presents weekly jumper classes at HITS Culpeper. Aside from the winner’s purse, Brook Ledge Open Jumper riders also compete for the Brook Ledge Rider Bonus. The award, given at the conclusion of the circuit, includes a $1,500 shipping credit for the rider who accumulates the most points in those classes throughout the HITS Culpeper circuit.

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • Media_Info@HitsShows.com • HitsShows.com