Tag Archives: Tampa Bay Classic

The Grand Prix of Tampa Sees Heated Competition with Darragh Kerins and E-Muse YEK Emerging Victorious

Darragh Kerins and E-Muse YEK were the winners of the $35,000 Grand Prix of Tampa. Photos By: Kendall Bierer/PMG.

Tampa, FL – March 31, 2013 – It was a jump-off for all the nations today on the concluding class of the Tampa Bay Classic. The Bob Thomas Equestrian Center was alive with heated jumper competition as riders gathered to contend for the top earnings in the $35,000 Grand Prix of Tampa. It was one of the last opportunities for riders to qualify for the $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational – the stakes were high. It came down to eight riders today, fighting to the finish, but Irishman Darragh Kerins and E-Muse YEK emerged the victors.

This afternoon, riders assembled beneath the Covered Arena to compete over courses designed by Michel Vaillancourt of Canada. The first round featured an imposing opening vertical-oxer line, followed by a left turn to a red oxer bending to the skinny liverpool. Riders were also challenged by a black vertical at the far end of the ring that led into the oxer-vertical-oxer triple combination set on the vertical. From there, they made a right hand turn to a green and white gate where they bended to the left over a daunting oxer, took a skinny vertical, and moved into the bending oxer line leading into the vertical-oxer double combination. With only once obstacle left, riders would seal their fate upon landing from the black plank oxer.

Darragh Kerins (IRL) was the first to tackle the track, piloting E-Muse YEK, owned by Kerins and Maarten Huygens, to a clear round, and paving the way to a possible jump-off. Although many other riders found fault throughout the course, the final oxer claimed the most victims. It wasn’t until Sharn Wordley and Quick Blue Z were on course, that a jump-off became reality.

Eight riders were able to lay down a clean first round, with five different countries represented. The short course consisted of the opening vertical-oxer line, a left turn to the third obstacle, and then a quick right through the double combination. Riders then had to slice the turn across the diagonal and take the liverpool to the vertical at the far end of the arena, and race to finish over the first oxer of the original triple combination where they would stop the clock.

Eventual victor Kerins commented, “I walked the course and I thought it was a bit difficult. Michel always builds very good courses. It is different for us that we come from outside to one the indoors and the turns are very tight. It was a great course, very well built, and it was a good number in the jump-off.”

Kerins was the first to return in the order of clear efforts, bursting out of the in gate with the grey gelding, E-Muse YEK. He decided to give the jump-off his all with his most recent mount, guiding him down the opening line in five strides, and utilizing all tight turns and slices to the best of their ability. The crowd was breathless as they cleared all the obstacles, and landed from the final oxer in a mere 36.576 seconds. He wore a target on his back as the other contenders attempted to lay down a similar track; however, his time would prove resilient and Kerins would take home the blue.

“I didn’t really know what to expect,” Kerins admitted. “I planned to do six down the first line, but I picked up the canter and he was a little out in front of me, so I thought I would take a chance and let him do the five. We took another challenge at the last fences as well, and it worked.”

“He’s a great horse, and that is the fastest that I have probably gone with him in a jump-off,” Kerins laughed. “He has a huge stride, lots of scope, and is very careful. We thought he was a bit of a slow one at the beginning. He has a lot of ability, but he lacks a bit of mileage at this point. We wanted to take him up here to see what he would be like, and it seemed to work out well.”

Sharn Wordley and Quick Blue Z
Sharn Wordley and Quick Blue Z

Sharn Wordley (NZL) was the next to showcase his mount’s skills on the course. Quick Blue Z easily navigated each obstacle, but Wordley was slightly more conservative in the turns to avoid Blue’s legs from slipping out. They left all the rails intact, but they were off Kerins’ pace by two seconds, proving good enough for the red ribbon with the final time of 38.586 seconds.

“During the first round I was just wanting to go clear. The time allowed was slightly tight, so you had to be aware of the time, and the last line was very tight, so you had to be careful,” Wordley stated. “Blue was a little ornery in the first round, bucking and kicking out a bit, but he really came through in the jump-off.”

Wordley elaborated, “In the jump-off I wanted to go medium fast. He doesn’t have good traction on the corners because he cross-canters, so I was afraid that if I went too fast he could slip out, or I could have a rail. I could have probably gone faster, but I wanted to go double clear. I’m very happy about the outcome, and I am excited for the American Invitational next week. This is my first real go at it, and I will be riding my other mount. Funny enough, I didn’t have a groom for this show, so I have been grooming myself. After the third place the other day and the second place today, I am thinking it is good luck. I plan on grooming my horse myself for the Invitational.”

Scott Keach (AUS) and Coco also jumped double clear, but their time of 41.196 seconds was only good enough for the fourth place honors. Erin Haas (USA) and Admiral Clover overtook the pair as they put their best foot forward to take the third place finish with a faultless jump-off in 38.643 seconds.

“This is the first Grand Prix I’ve gone clean in with him so I actually hadn’t looked at the jump-off course, and I didn’t put studs in him because I was more excited about just jumping the round. So now I know next week maybe we should be ready to get in the jump-off!” Haas exclaimed.

Erin Haas and Admiral Clover
Erin Haas and Admiral Clover

Haas continued, “With Aaron not having a horse in the jump-off, he told me to go fast. I thought I started out well and everything, but then he slid a bit after the blue in-and-out. So I slowed down just a bit. He’s the type that the faster you run him at the jumps the better he is. He’s really kind of a machine. He knows his job, and he loves to do it, so that’s why Aaron won just about every Grand Prix he did on him last year. I’m an amateur, and I still get excited – I need to get more comfortable at that level.”

Kerins was also able to snatch the fifth place award with Hot Wheels, owned by Sarah Kerins. They laid down a quick round in 38.197 seconds, but four faults stood in Kerins way of going 1-2. He has been riding Hot Wheels for about nine years, riding the horse in numerous classes, and taking the top awards.

“I haven’t shown him very much this winter; he is getting a little older now, so we have been more conservative with the classes,” Kerins explained. “When you do pull him out, he gives 110 percent, this is one of the bigger classes he has done in a while.”

It was Michael Hughes (USA) who nabbed the sixth and seventh place finishes with Luxina and MacArthur, respectively. Both horses are owned by Christina Fried, and Hughes guided them to speedy times, but four faults knocked each of the horses out of the running. Megan Wexler (USA) and Cadence took the eighth place finish with a final score of eight faults in 39.804 seconds.

The Tampa Equestrian Series’ first week, the Tampa Bay Classic, concluded today with the $35,000 Grand Prix of Tampa. The 41st Annual $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational, presented by G&C Farm, will be the highlight event on the final day of the Tampa Equestrian Series, the Tournament of Champions CSI, to be held April 6, 2013, at the Raymond James Stadium. The world’s top horses and riders will gather to compete under the lights during one of the premier show jumping events in the United States.

For more information about the Tampa Equestrian Festival, please visit www.StadiumJumping.com.

Kendall Bierer for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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

Geoffrey Hesslink Rides to Top of Leader Board in Both Phases of WIHS Equitation

Geoffrey Hesslink rode Bumacoemba to blue ribbons in both the hunter and jumper phases of the WIHS Equitation class. Photo By: Emily Riden/PMG.

Tampa, FL – March 30, 2013 – Geoffrey Hesslink kept his heels down and his scores high, earning him the top call in today’s WIHS Equitation class at the Tampa Bay Classic.

Hesslink finished first in the WIHS Equitation Hunter Phase this morning at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center aboard Bumacoemba. The pair then returned to the ring later in the day to earn another blue ribbon in the WIHS Equitation Jumper Phase and the overall award sponsored by Dyer Equestrian.

The hunter phase tested riders over an eight fence Keith Bollotte designed course that included an in-and-out and a number of long approach oxers. Hesslink and Bumacoemba, owned by Lynnewood Stables, Inc., earned an impressive top score of 82 to win the class and put them in the top spot going in to the evening’s jumper portion of the competition.

Finishing close behind Hesslink in the hunter phase was Lizzie Van Der Walde riding App For That, owned by Dasilva Investments. Van Der Walde delivered an equally fluent ride, to earn a score of 81 and the second place ribbon. Rounding out the top three was Ashton Alexander aboard Meghan Flanagan’s Terrapin Station, finishing with a score of 80.

The field of talented equitation riders faced off again in the jumper phase, but no one was able to overturn Hesslink and Van Der Walde’s standings. Van Der Walde was the first to compete over Michel Vaillancourt’s course in the Covered Arena where she laid down the opening trip in a time of 67.59 seconds, slightly over the time allowed of 67 seconds. Van Der Walde’s equitation and riding ability throughout the course compensated for her faults and earned her a competitive score of 79. Combined with her earlier hunter score, Van Der Walde set the score to beat at 160.

Jessica Castillo was the third to return for the jumper phase aboard her own mount, Winston De Kalvarie. She delivered the fastest round of the night at 60.58 seconds and came close Van Der Walde’s jumper score, clocking in with a score of 78. Combined with a hunter phase score of 72, Castillo would finish with a score of 150, earning the third place award in the jumper phase and the sixth place award over all.

Hesslink followed Castillo in the order of go and turned in scores that would go unmatched the remainder of the evening. Hesslink slipped through the timers in 64.46 seconds while maintaining strong form to earn the high score of 85. Coupled with his previous hunter score of 82, Hesslink’s 167 total was unattainable for any of those who followed him.

“On a day to day basis, you can usually trust him to get the job done,” Hesslink’s trainer Don Stewart explained. “He is very enthusiastic about his performance, so you don’t have to worry about him not doing enough work to get to the ring.”

Stewart continued, “We knew the course, and we knew the horse, and we figured that would go fine. He made mistake at the liverpool and tried to get in there too early and did eight. That was the only thing that was wrong with the round-the rest was textbook. I am very proud of him.”

Along with his WIHS Equitation win, Hesslink rode to the ribbons in the Large Junior Hunters this morning, also aboard Bumacoemba. Finishing in first place in the Large Junior Hunter class was Michael Hughes riding Costes, owned by Anne Symes. The first place honor in the Large Junior Hunter Handy went to Hannah Holik aboard Tache Rouge, owned by Czech Mate, LLC.

In the Small Junior Hunters, Ashton Alexander delivered the perfect sweep, winning both the first course and the handy class aboard O’Ryan. Alexander started showing O’Ryan for fellow junior and owner Meghan Flanagan back in January and has enjoyed riding him whenever presented the opportunity.

“He’s unreal. His jump is just amazing, and no matter where you want to leave from he just does it and takes care of it. It’s so easy for him – that’s what I love,” Alexander exclaimed. “The first round was just so nice and smooth, and he’s so big strided that the lines are just right there. I liked the handy a lot too. The two last jumps were long rides to the oxers. I always like doing those on him because he makes such a beautiful jump out of them.”

Following the junior hunters, the Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunters concluded the remaining three classes in their division, after which Callie Smith and Peron were named division champions.

“He was just a really good boy. He was champion my last week in Ocala too, so we’re kind of on a roll. He’s just been really good, and I’m so happy with him,” Smith shared.

The junior hunters will return to the Main Hunter Ring tomorrow morning for the final day of the Tampa Bay Classic. Following tomorrow’s competition, the Tampa Equestrian Series will return on Tuesday, April 2nd with the Tournament of Championships and more ‘AA’ hunter competition.

For more information on the Tampa Equestrian Series, please visit www.StadiumJumping.com.

Emily Riden for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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

Nancy Jones and Colorado Bring the Competition to Tampa

Nancy Jones and Colorado earned dual blue ribbons over fences in today’s Amateur-Owner Over 35 Hunters at the Tampa Bay Classic. Photo By: Emily Riden.

Tampa, FL – March 29, 2013 – Nancy Jones is coming off of a knee injury and going straight to the top of the leader board at the Tampa Bay Classic. She and her mount, Colorado, bested the competitive field in both classes of the Amateur-Owner Over 35 Hunter division this morning at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center.

“I had a stirrup leather come off of my saddle in Ocala, and I tore my knee up really bad. I really thought I wasn’t even going to get to show,” Jones explained. “Today is the first day I’m back to doing the 3’3″.”

With sunny skies, quality horses and riders, and well-designed courses, today’s classes in the Tampa Equestrian Series provided the perfect opportunity for the Arkansas-native to get back in the show ring. There she won both the first Amateur-Owner Over 35 Hunter class and the Amateur-Owner Over 35 Handy.

“I’m kind of excited to be back,” Jones shared. “The courses rode beautifully. It’s such a nice big ring, and the footing is great.”

Joining Jones on this morning’s list of winners were Callie Smith and Darby Toben. The two riders dominated the first day of the Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunter division, taking turns finishing in the one and two positions.

Darby Toben earned the top call over the first course with San Patricino II, owned by Doreen Toben. Smith came in a close second over the same course with Peron, owned by Smithfield Farms LLC. Over the handy course the roles were reversed, with Smith riding to the blue ribbon and Darby Toben claiming the red.

“This is my first time at Tampa, but I really like it. I think this is a great hunter ring. It’s really big, and the jumps are impressive,” Smith commented. “Peron was super today. He’s usually really spooky, and he can be a tough ride for a lot of people. It took a long time to figure him out, but once we got a system together he was really good. He was great today.”

With their finishes today, Jones will lead the quest for the division championship in the Amateur-Owner Over 35 Hunters, and Toben and Smith will sit tied atop the point standings for the Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunters.

Prior to the conclusion of the Amateur Owner divisions tomorrow afternoon, the Junior Hunters will take to the Main Hunter Ring for their turn to shine over the Keith Bollotte designed courses in the first week of ‘AA’ hunter competition at the Tampa Equestrian Series. For more information about the 2013 Tampa Equestrian Series, please visit www.StadiumJumping.com.

Emily Riden for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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

Aaron Vale Proves Victorious throughout Open Jumpers for Second Day of Tampa Bay Classic

Aaron Vale guided Kryptonite to the 1.40m victory in only 42.398 seconds. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG.

Tampa, FL – March 28, 2013 – The course was the talk of the day today at the Tampa Bay Classic, as each consecutive rider was faced with a technical track that tested the best of their abilities. Riders gathered at the Covered Arena early this morning, and the cold weather only added to the mounting anticipation as some of the nation’s top riders took their turn at the technical track in the Open Jumper classes at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Aaron Vale was one of the few riders to master the track, tackling the course with each of his mounts and taking away the victory in the 1.35m and 1.40m competitions.

Michel Vaillancourt of Canada was the course designer for today’s events in the Covered Arena, and he tested riders with a liverpool, vertical-oxer-vertical triple combination and an oxer-vertical double combination. The 1.35m and 1.40m riders were then asked to continue into the jump-off where they would be challenged by a number of tough rollbacks, tight inside turns and a snug time allowed as they took their turn at the short course. The track consisted of six obstacles including the opening oxer leading to fence two, a blue-and-white vertical, a tight left turn to the outside oxer where riders then had to quickly make a hard left rollback to take a skinny vertical, go through the double combination and finish over the liverpool set on the diagonal.

During the 1.40m Open Jumpers, only three riders were able to master the first course without fault. Aaron Vale and Palm Sunday, owned by Amen Corner Farm, were the first to continue into the speed round, accruing nine time faults in their attempt to control the course, and put accuracy above the risk of speed. They finished in a time of 53.842 seconds.

Greg Crolick and Landino were also up for the morning’s challenge. They easily navigated the first round, and moved into the jump-off where they met their four-fault score at fence 13. Although they kept to a speedy plan, a slow rollback put them over the 45 seconds time allowed. They ended with a total of two time faults, and combined with their prior four faults, eventually took the second place.

It was Vale who returned with a vengeance aboard Kryptonite, owned by Thinks Like a Horse of Morriston, FL, opting to take all inside turns and speedy rollbacks. Taking a chance, he sped around the course in 42.398 seconds, earning four faults in the jump-off, but sealing the victory.

“Kryptonite is a horse my wife has shown in the amateur jumpers for a year or two, and I took him over for a little while. He did a great job in Ocala, and we are working to further his education a little bit. He will probably go tomorrow evening, and Sunday, as well,” Vale described. “He is a very hot horse, and we are trying to figure out exactly what he needs. Sometime he gets a little wound up and loses focus, but he is starting to come around and become more consistent.”

Shortly after taking the blue in the 1.40m Open Jumpers, Vale rode Spray Tan, owned by Thinks Like a Horse, to the victory in the 1.35m Open Jumpers. He was the only rider to post a double-clear effort. Although Erin Haas and Casino van de Helle, owned by North Face Farm of Chelsea, MI, faced off against the eventual victors, two time faults stood in their way of the blue. Vale left all rails intact and crossed the finish in 42.902 seconds, well within the time allowed.

“He is a newer horse for us, and Mallory showed him in Ocala, and won some classes and had some good placings in some of the classes there. He was a little spooky in this ring yesterday, so I got on him to help knock some of the cobwebs out and get him going. He is a super horse, but then again, he is new for us, so we are getting to know him.”

Concluding the Open Jumpers today was the 1.30m Open Jumpers. The course changed as Vallaincourt continued to lay down a technical track. The class saw fierce competition as riders battled for the top slot. It was Vale who once again showed to the top of the leader board, this time with Zadermus, owned by Dasilva Investments of Ann Arbor, MI. The competitive duo was the last to attempt the course, and after leaving all the rails in their cups, they sped to the victory in the jump-off. Only three riders were able to move into the demanding short course, and none went without faults. Vale rode Zadermus to the fastest time, 29.181 seconds, finding fault at the second obstacle, a red-and-white skinny.

“He is a very quick horse, and he is quite young, too. He still needs mileage and all that. I am working on getting him in the ring,” Vale explained. “He has been doing a great job, and I am very happy with how far he has come along.”

Michael Hughes and Zammetje, owned by Christina Fried of New York, NY, posted a speedy time of 32.030 seconds, but when the final fence fell, they sealed their second place position. Deborah Connor and Jedi Warrior, owned by DC Sales & Entertainment, LLC of Reddick, FL, rode to the third place finish with four faults and a time of 36.969.

“I have been riding him for three years now, but he has really come so far since we bought him,” Michael Hughes explained. “The course was a little more technical than what they have been. We used today’s 1.30m as a schooling round, and we will be showing in the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers for the remainder of our time in Tampa. We are planning on doing the Welcome Stake tomorrow evening, too. He doesn’t have the biggest stride, but no matter where you put him, he always has enough jump to get out of it, I’m really happy with how far we have come.”

“This is my first year coming here; it is very laid back, and not nearly has hectic as the other shows,” Hughes concluded. “It is very exhibitor friendly, and offers a great change of venue.”

The first week of the Tampa Bay Classic holds numerous highlights for the jumpers. Tomorrow will introduce the Junior and Amateur-Owner Jumper divisions, seeing riders vie for the championship. Tomorrow night will feature the $32,000 Tampa Bay Welcome Stake beginning at 5 pm with the Welcome Party Cookout.

For more information about the 2013 Tampa Equestrian Series, please visit www.StadiumJumping.com.

Kendall Bierer for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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