Tampa, FL – Sunday, April 1, 2012 – The Covered Arena was alive with an energetic buzz as riders gathered to compete for the top honors on the concluding day of the Tampa Bay Classic held at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, FL. Juniors and Amateurs alike gathered for the chance to compete for the championship title of the afternoon’s divisions. It was Elizabeth Bates and Monsieur Taloubet who came out triumphant in the $2,500 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic.
A field of 17 riders showed over the challenging course designed by Canada’s Michel Vaillancourt. The imposing labyrinth of obstacles tested riders with a liverpool, vertical-vertical-oxer triple combination and an oxer-vertical double combination. The course was set in almost a serpentine, with riders having to pilot their mounts through tight turns, sharp rollbacks and varying distances. Only four were able to master the first course and continue into the grueling jump-off.