Team Weber in the dressage at the Saumur CAI. (Photo courtesy of PixelVisuel.com)
Ocala, FL (June 17, 2013) – His Four-in-Hand finesse in Dressage and Cones has long made nine-time US National Champion Chester Weber of Ocala, Florida, a force to be reckoned with, but a masterful wire-to-wire lead across all three phases of the Saumur CAI-A4, June 7-9, in France, has the combined driving world taking note of a keen new edge to the American master.
With a major international win already secured, at only the first show of his European season, and Aachen and Normandy on the not-so-distant horizon, Weber is throwing down the (driving) glove: “The horses are ready for Aachen. This was the first big international marathon victory of my career,” the two-time FEI Four-in-Hand Driving World Championship Silver Medalist added, clearly thrilled with the decisive performance by the team he co-owns with Jane Clark, over a “tough” course by French designer Jacques Tamalet.
In his first return to the Saumur since 2001, Weber’s strategy put trotter Horus du Bois to lead for marathon and cones, and dressage lead, Splash, to right wheel. Completing the Saumur strategy was the popular Boris on left wheel for dressage and marathon; Para to right wheel for dressage and to left for cones; and Uniek at left lead throughout.
“Winning the Dressage (32.66 penalties) is something we have been fortunate to become accustomed to,” said the man nicknamed ‘Mr. Dressage,’ “but this was our first big Marathon victory. It was a World Cup qualifier and many of the best were there, including two members of the Dutch Gold Medal team: Ijsbrand Chardon and Theo Timmerman. Moreover, Chardon without a doubt is the winningest driver the sport has ever had.”
Leading the field of 21 after Dressage, Weber posted the best Marathon score of the Four-in-Hand division (89.28) to remain atop the leader boards, followed by a nearly picture-perfect Cones: a single ball drop drew a scant three penalties.
In an unprecedented personal achievement, the American driver clinched all three combined driving phases, against one of the world’s toughest FEI rosters of teams, for an overall finish of just 128.50 penalties.
Weber is confident his team is in top form for Aachen CAIO-4: “Our decision to go to Saumur was a building block in our strategic plan. The marathon there was sandy and hilly, both of which made it challenging for the horses. The team is ready for Aachen. This was one step as Jane Clark and I keep our sights on the World Equestrian Games in Normandy.”
Parker, CO – June 16, 2013 – On Sunday, the Juniors and Amateurs competed in two prestigious classes in the Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix Arena at the Colorado Horse Park, the $5,000 North American League Low Junior/Amateur Classic and the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Junior/Amateur Classic.
Riders donned their white breeches and traditional attire to compete on the last day of week two of Summer in the Rockies II over Danny Foster’s challenging courses.
Twenty-five entries battled it out in the $5,000 NAL Low Junior Amateur Classic. Of the 25 in the first round, 15 progressed to the jump-off round.
Liz Schmid was the first to go double clear aboard Air Apparent, laying down a time of 50.68. The next clear round came from Isabel Ikast. In her jump-off round, Ikast added another clear round. Next, Chelsea Babcock and Bull Run’s Guardian delivered a flawless and faultless performance that put them in first place with a time of 46.344. Babcock trains with Kristen VanderVeen, of Bull Run in St Charles, IL. The Bull Run team also celebrated VanderVeen’s win of the $30,000 Summer in the Rockies II Grand Prix on Saturday.
“I was very proud of her,” VanderVeen said. “I thought she rode really well. Her first round was great. She has a very nice horse. She really smoothed it out for the jump-off and laid down a great round. I think it is actually the first classic she has won on this horse.”
Babcock was pleased with her rides. “The first round was great,” she said. “Zinnia (Bull Run’s Guardian) was great, she really helped me out on a couple of jumps and then the jump-off, there weren’t so many clean rounds so I was just going for a clean round so I just rode it nice and smooth and Zinnia’s step is so big, she takes care of the speed. Zinnia is just 9 years old. We just imported her during the middle of the WEF season and we’re just starting to click and get in sync now.”
Babcock commented on the encouragement that VanderVeen gives her and that since she’s been in training with her, she’s helped to build her confidence.
“I love the program,” she said.
As the entries for the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Junior/Amateur Owner Jumpers were schooling, the wind began to pick up at the Colorado Horse Park. The skies became a bit darker and rain threatened. Due to the weather, the riders were asked to complete their jump-off rounds immediately following their first rounds.
The first clear round belonged to Hannah Holik riding Cupido de Laubry. She proceeded to her jump-off round, completing it without faults in 50.720 seconds.
The next rider on course, Clare Leach on Pallas Athena, also put in a clear round and went on to the jump-off. The pair had a rail and left with four faults.
Two rounds later, Jackie Smith and Diego went clean in the first round. In the jump-off round they became the fastest four-faulter with a time of 50.729.
Kelsey Van Ackeren and Vernon G
Another two rounds later, Kelsey Van Ackeren and Vernon G also went fault-free on their first round.
With a blustery wind picking up and spectators running for cover, Van Ackeren and Vernon G stayed focused and achieved a clear but slower round, breaking the beam at 57.630. Holik maintained her lead and earned the win.
Holik who trains with Randy Henry, has had an especially fruitful second week of Summer in the Rockies II. She earned the championship of the Junior Hunters and won the $1,000 Junior Hunter Classic, all aboard Tache Rouge. She won both of her over fences classes in the Equitation 15-17 and won the ASPCA Maclay class with Dahlila. She also won the $500 Low Junior Amateur Owner Jumpers with Santiago in addition to the $10,000 High Junior Amateur Jumper Classic with Cupido de Laubry.
“He’s a new addition to our barn,” said Holik about Cupie. “I’m excited that everything has been going smoothly. I’m really proud of Cupie. We’ve only had him a couple of months. I am excited to move up with him and maybe do a couple of grand prixs.
“He’s quite big at 17.2,” she said. “For how big he is, he is unbelievably sweet and soft. You can cuddle with him and kiss him.”
Hannah Holik and Cupido de Laubry
Summer in the Rockies III will begin on Wednesday June 19 and runs through June 23. Highlights include a $15,000 Welcome Stake, a $30,000 Grand Prix, a $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, a $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and a full array of hunter/jumper competition.
The Colorado Horse Park Summer in the Rockies Fast Facts
What: Summer in the Rockies AA-Rated Hunter Jumper Show Series
Event Dates:
Summer in the Rockies I June 5-9, 2013
Summer in the Rockies II June 12-16, 2013
Summer in the Rockies III June 19-23, 2013
Summer in the Rockies IV July 3-7, 2013
Summer in the Rockies V July 10-14, 2013
Summer in the Rockies VI July 17-21, 2013
Prize List:
Click here for an online version of the prize list. For a hard copy of the prize list, please e-mail prizelist@cohorsepark.com with your name, address and phone number and specify which prize list you would like (spring/fall or summer).
Entries:
Mail to The Colorado Horse Park, 7522 South Pinery Drive, Parker, CO 80134 or fax to (303) 841-7879. Opening date for Stall Reservations: April 1, 2013. Closing date May 20, 2013.
Contact Information:
Pat Boyle, Show Manager (847) 274-6834
Brian Curry, Show Manager (303) 918-2908
Show Office (303) 841-7461
Show Office Fax (303) 841-1419
Colorado Horse Park Main Office (303) 841-5550
Colorado Horse Park Main Office Fax (303) 841-7879
Tentative Schedule:
Wed – Sun: Show starts daily at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noted
Directions:
Address: 7375 E Bayou Gulch Rd, Parker, CO 80134
From North: I-25S exit Ridgegate Parkway – go east under the freeway. Ridgegate Parkway to S. Chambers Road, approx 3 miles (Traffic light) – turn right/south onto Chambers Road. At end of Chambers Road turn left/east onto Hess Road. Hess Road to Parker Road/Hwy 83 – turn right/south onto Hwy 83 approx 4 miles to Bayou Gulch Road. (Traffic light). Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.
From South: I-25N, exit Founder’s Parkway. Founder’s Parkway to Highway 86, approx 4 miles (traffic light). Turn east/left onto Hwy. 86 to Franktown/Hwy 83. At Franktown go north on 83 approx. 7 mi. to Bayou Gulch Rd. (Traffic light), turn right/east onto Bayou Gulch Rd. Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.
About the Colorado Horse Park
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the Colorado Horse Park was founded by visionary Helen Krieble who acknowledged the need for a high-volume horse show and horse boarding facility to serve Colorado. The Colorado Horse Park welcomes more than 75,000 visitors per year and hosts over 40 competitions annually. CHP features a derby arena designed by Olympic-designer Linda Allen and a cross-country course designed by Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor and eventing super-star James Atkinson. There are 300 permanent stalls with capacity for more than 1,000 stalls.
The picturesque property, located only minutes from the town of Parker, hosts international equestrian events in multiple disciplines. Visitors enjoy the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountain surroundings and access to miles of trails and open space. The Colorado Horse Park is committed to supporting equestrian education and amateur athletics, preserving open space, fundraising for local charities and supporting the community.
Carrie Wirth for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Liza Dennehy and Now You Know, Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3″ Champions at the Colorado Horse Park’s Summer in the Rockies II.
Parker, CO – June 16, 2013 – Liza Dennehy demonstrated that life-threatening medical conditions and a resulting hiatus from riding could not stop her from shining in the show ring as Summer in the Rockies II came to a close at the Colorado Horse Park. Dennehy rode Now You Know to the 3’3″ Amateur Owner Hunter championship and also piloted Sir Topham Hat to a win, a second and a third in the 3’6″ A/O division.
Dennehy, who suffered cardiac arrest while schooling Sir Topham Hat at the Capital Challenge in September 2012 and also incurred a head injury as she fell from the horse, fought back after doctors gave her a one percent chance of survival. She used the same fighting spirit to get back in the saddle and continue doing what she loves most: riding, competing, and being around horses.
“It changes your life when you have sliding glass doors like that – what would my son’s life have been like if I hadn’t been around anymore?” she reflected. “He’s six years old. I’m just really thankful I’m still here. I’m thankful to everyone I had on my side that day. I would have missed this, if I weren’t still here. I would have missed this, for sure.”
Dennehy was happy to be back in the show ring at the Colorado Horse Park, a venue that is particularly special to her because of the involvement of her father, Wilson Dennehy, in the Horse Park’s earliest years. “My father was one of the original partners in starting this place and these horse shows,” she said. “We were involved from the very beginning.”
Dennehy, who is an “R” judge and a licensed course designer, appreciated the questions asked by Sunday’s Amateur Owner Hunter courses. “I thought the hardest thing was the single oxer on the outside because of the placement of the vertical with the barns,” she said. “If you went around it, you kind of went beyond the oxer, so I wanted to turn inside. That was easy in the first class, but much harder in the second class after the in-and-out, because it was a very quick turn.”
She said she was very happy with her horses, who are both owned by The Cottonwoods Ltd. “They were good today,” she said, noting that she was especially pleased with her final round on Sir Topham Hat after miscommunications resulted in a fall the week before. “I was a little nervous, but I think we were all back together by that last class. I was very happy with the one I won. We’re back on the same track.”
Liza Dennehy and Sir Topham Hat
“I call Sir Topham Hat my magic carpet, because that’s usually what he’s like to ride,” Dennehy added. “He’s very easy to ride and he’s got a lot of scope.”
She rarely rides big horses since her two brothers, professional trainers Michael and Charlie Dennehy, usually end up with the rides on them. The 17.2-hand Sir Topham Hat is the exception to the rule.
“I love him just because he’s big,” she laughed. “It’s like driving a big car. There’s something safe about it. It’s a little more luxury. You gain in stride, you gain in scope, you gain in view!”
Dennehy also enjoys the ride on the more diminutive Now You Know. “She’s a fancy horse,” she said. “I’ve been showing her since she was a Pre-Green horse. Here in the state, I believe she was Pre-Green Champion, First-Year Champion, maybe Second-Year Reserve that year.”
Like Dennehy, Now You Know had to take some time off for medical reasons. She injured a leg by kicking at a fly, forcing a yearlong hiatus. “She was hurt last year, so this is her first year back,” Dennehy explained. “It’s a pretty good start! I’m very happy.”
Dennehy and Now You Know scored two wins under saddle and over fences in the 3’3″ Amateur Owner Hunters after picking up a second place over the first course of the day. Their standout performance earned them the championship over Madeleine Stover and Concierge, who took the reserve.
Dennehy also made a run with Sir Topham Hat to challenge the leaders in the 3’6″ division but couldn’t quite crack the top two spots overall. Nicole Lyvere and Promo came into Sunday with a first and a second in the 3’6″ Amateur Owner Hunter classes, and they notched a win, a second and a fourth in the remaining classes to secure the championship. Despite not feeling well herself, Lyvere summoned her energy to encourage her horse through solid performances.
“He’s lazy so the second day is always hardest,” she said. “I had to work really hard to make sure he kept going. He didn’t want to jog either! I had to rejog in the first round.”
Lyvere plans to do the 3′ hunter derbies as well as some A/O or Open divisions during the summer shows, though she hasn’t finalized her plans. “We’ll see how much energy he has,” she said.
Susan Winston and Quite Nice also collected top ribbons in the 3’6″ division, striving to challenge Lyvere for the championship but eventually settling for the reserve. They won the first over fences class and were second in the other. Winston, who purchased Quite Nice four years ago, competed with him in Junior Hunters for two years and then moved to the Amateur Owner Hunters last year.
“He’s really adjustable, which is nice, and he jumps pretty well from anywhere,” Winston said. “You can get him right to the base and he’ll still snap his knees up. He’s pretty clever.”
“The courses were a lot of fun,” she added. “The lines were right on.”
Caitlin Burns rode On the Money to the top prize in the $1,000 Amateur Owner Hunter Classic on a combined score of 157.5. Madeleine Stover and Concierge finished just a notch behind them with 156. Burns purchased On the Money this winter, and the pair looks to be at the beginning of a promising partnership. Burns said she is learning more about the mare every time they compete.
“She’s a newer horse for me, so I’m just trying to figure out how to ride each course each time to get the best out of the both of us,” she said. “Each time you’re learning, making mistakes, fixing mistakes and trying to better each other.”
When asked what she is finding out about On the Money, Burns replied, “That she’s so fun!”
“She tries really hard and wants to be good,” Burns continued. “It’s just figuring out how to get that out of her consistently.”
Burns also competes in the Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumpers with her other horse, and she said she enjoys the challenges inherent to both disciplines. “They’re both equally challenging, rewarding, frustrating – all of it,” she said. “It’s fun to do both. You get different ends of the spectrum.”
She lives in Longmont, CO, about an hour away from the Horse Park. “It’s a really nice place to have in your backyard, for sure,” she said. “I love the new footing – my horses seem to really like it. All the improvements are great.”
Dennehy, who grew up in Colorado, also emphasized the importance of the Horse Park to equestrians in the region. “It’s like a dream come true to have these horse shows in Colorado,” she said. “We always knew we had some of the best summer weather. We only had three A-rated horse shows here when I was a kid. We had to actually relocate to base out of the Midwest – where my dad’s originally from, in Chicago – to qualify. It could not be done by staying home. So having these shows is truly a dream come true for anyone in Colorado who shows horses.”
Sunday marked the end of Summer in the Rockies II. The Colorado Horse Park will next host Summer in the Rockies III, which begins on Wednesday, June 19, and runs through Sunday, June 23. Highlights include a $15,000 Welcome Stake, a $30,000 Grand Prix, a $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, and a $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby alongside a full array of hunter/jumper competition.
The Colorado Horse Park Summer in the Rockies Fast Facts
What: Summer in the Rockies AA-Rated Hunter Jumper Show Series
Event Dates:
Summer in the Rockies I June 5-9, 2013
Summer in the Rockies II June 12-16, 2013
Summer in the Rockies III June 19-23, 2013
Summer in the Rockies IV July 3-7, 2013
Summer in the Rockies V July 10-14, 2013
Summer in the Rockies VI July 17-21, 2013
Prize List:
Click here for an online version of the prize list. For a hard copy of the prize list, please e-mail prizelist@cohorsepark.com with your name, address and phone number and specify which prize list you would like (spring/fall or summer).
Entries:
Mail to The Colorado Horse Park, 7522 South Pinery Drive, Parker, CO 80134 or fax to (303) 841-7879. Opening date for Stall Reservations: April 1, 2013. Closing date May 20, 2013.
Contact Information:
Pat Boyle, Show Manager (847) 274-6834
Brian Curry, Show Manager (303) 918-2908
Show Office (303) 841-7461
Show Office Fax (303) 841-1419
Colorado Horse Park Main Office (303) 841-5550
Colorado Horse Park Main Office Fax (303) 841-7879
Tentative Schedule:
Wed – Sun: Show starts daily at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noted
Directions:
Address: 7375 E Bayou Gulch Rd, Parker, CO 80134
From North: I-25S exit Ridgegate Parkway – go east under the freeway. Ridgegate Parkway to S. Chambers Road, approx 3 miles (Traffic light) – turn right/south onto Chambers Road. At end of Chambers Road turn left/east onto Hess Road. Hess Road to Parker Road/Hwy 83 – turn right/south onto Hwy 83 approx 4 miles to Bayou Gulch Road. (Traffic light). Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.
From South: I-25N, exit Founder’s Parkway. Founder’s Parkway to Highway 86, approx 4 miles (traffic light). Turn east/left onto Hwy. 86 to Franktown/Hwy 83. At Franktown go north on 83 approx. 7 mi. to Bayou Gulch Rd. (Traffic light), turn right/east onto Bayou Gulch Rd. Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.
About the Colorado Horse Park
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the Colorado Horse Park was founded by visionary Helen Krieble who acknowledged the need for a high-volume horse show and horse boarding facility to serve Colorado. The Colorado Horse Park welcomes more than 75,000 visitors per year and hosts over 40 competitions annually. CHP features a derby arena designed by Olympic-designer Linda Allen and a cross-country course designed by Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor and eventing super-star James Atkinson. There are 300 permanent stalls with capacity for more than 1,000 stalls.
The picturesque property, located only minutes from the town of Parker, hosts international equestrian events in multiple disciplines. Visitors enjoy the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountain surroundings and access to miles of trails and open space. The Colorado Horse Park is committed to supporting equestrian education and amateur athletics, preserving open space, fundraising for local charities and supporting the community.
Mary Adelaide Brakenridge for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Calgary, AB – June 16, 2013 – The ‘Continental’ Tournament at Spruce Meadows finished with a fantastic day of competition, including another big victory for Kent Farrington and Uceko in the $200,000 CN Performance Grand Prix CSI-W, the second week in a row that they have won the grand prix. Beezie Madden (USA) and Coral Reef Via Volo won the $60,000 Great-West Life Cup 1.50m. The Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments will continue on June 25-30 with the ‘Canada One’ Tournament CSI-W 4*.
Course designer Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela tested the riders today with a technical track, but six were able to find the clear path to the jump-off. First in was McLain Ward (USA) on Rothchild, owned by Sagamore Farm. They were the fastest pair of the day in 44.327 seconds, but it came at the price of four faults at the second jump. They would finish in fifth place.
Reed Kessler (USA) and Cylana were clear in 46.810 seconds, but it wasn’t quite enough to pull out the win today. Kessler has had a string of second place finishes at this year’s Spruce Meadows, including one earlier in the morning in the 1.50m with Mika.
She laughed, “I’m living under some kind of a curse; I’ve been second about 25 times in a row now! I actually had a feeling he would beat me, going after me. I came in a little fast to that combination in the first round, and she was quite good to me. I wanted, out of that big gallop, to really make sure I gave her a better chance this round. He did the big 10 strides to (fence) 10c, which I could have done. But that’s kind of the way it goes early in the jump-off. It’s just making me hungrier I guess!”
Reed Kessler and Cylana
Kessler praised Cylana, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Skippy II x Darco, and their teamwork. “She was fantastic. I thought I wasn’t totally spot-on in the first round. It’s part of being a team. She was definitely on today and she carried me through the first round. I’m happy with my second place finish. I wish I could have beaten him, but there are still a few weeks left,” she said with smile.
Farrington and Uceko were next in the jump-off, and they set out in a huge gallop before they even crossed the start timers. Everything came up smoothly for them, and they left out a stride to a wide oxer, the second to last fence in the jump-off. They stopped the timers in 44.469 seconds to take the lead, which no one would be able to catch.
Farrington said rather than trying to only catch Kessler’s time, he was also trying to think about the fast horses and riders who would follow him. “Beezie was on the horse that won the World Cup Finals and is one of the best riders in the world on a fast horse. Charlie Jayne has a very big gallop on that horse, similar to mine. I thought they were both real threats coming after me,” he acknowledged. “It was more about sticking to my own strategy (and) using my horse’s strengths, which are his bravery and his great gallop. I just let him open up right from the start and didn’t let up.”
Beezie Madden (USA) and Abigail Wexner’s Simon wouldn’t threaten Farrington’s time. They were clear, but their slower time of 48.197 seconds would leave them in fourth place.
Charlie Jayne and Alex R. Jayne’s Chill R Z, a 10-year-old Zangersheide stallion by Chellano Z x A Lucky One, had a dramatic start to their jump-off with a long gallop around the ring before the first jump, but it didn’t quite work out as planned. After drifting right after the first jump, they added in a stride from what Farrington did in the first line. Following that, Jayne let off the gas pedal a bit.
Jayne remarked, “I started galloping about 50 strides away and the wrong one happened to show up. The 16 foot rails are very impressive here. That was the one jump in the first round that he didn’t jump well, the CN oxer that was jump three in the first round. It was fence one in the jump-off, so I was a little worried that he was going to be backed off. He didn’t back off, but I got a little too deep and shifted right.”
He continued, “I just made a decision after I got 12 (strides) to fence two that I was going to try and go for a clear round. I was really happy with the way he went. He’d been knocking on the door the last two weeks. I’ve been making little rider errors, so I was happy that I fixed those for today.”
Jayne added, “I wanted to say thank you to CN for being such a long-time sponsor for the sport. They’ve done amazing things for this sport, along with Spruce Meadows, so thank you.”
The final horse in the jump-off was Ilan Ferder’s Baronez with Kirsten Coe. They had a rail at the second to last jump to finish with four faults in 47.821 seconds for sixth place.
Uceko, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Celano x Koriander owned by RCG Farm, is a horse that knows what he’s doing now and “doesn’t need experience,” Farrington said. Before the competition, “he felt wild; that’s how he’s at his best,” he added. “We keep him fresh and don’t over-show him. My job is to manage his career and make it last as long as I can,” Farrington commented.
By winning the first two grand prix competitions of the season, Farrington won a CN Bronze Spike and a $50,000 bonus through the CN $1,000,000 Precision Series. If Farrington and Uceko are victorious in the Atco Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup during the ‘North American’, they will receive a CN Silver Spike and $450,000. The million dollar series will conclude with the CN International Grand Prix during the ‘Masters’, where an additional $500,000 bonus will be on the line if Farrington can come up with the winning formula once again.
Regarding the Series, Farrington said, “It’s a great start, now we have to keep being great. We have to see if we’re up for the challenge, but we’ll give it our best shot.” When asked how he’ll spend his bonus money, he said, “I’ll put it away and forget about it for a little while and just stay focused on what’s still left to do here. I’ll buy a few rounds at the pub for everybody! It’s difficult to win anywhere, especially here in these classes with top competitors and big jumps. Two rounds of a serious course at Queen Elizabeth and the Masters, it’s certainly not going to be easy.”
Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo
Madden Shows How It’s Done in 1.50m
Of the 37 entries in the competition and nine in the jump-off, it was Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo, a 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Clinton x Heartbreaker, who rose to the top of the competition in the $60,000 Great-West Life Cup 1.50m. They put down a clear round in a time of 42.10 seconds for victory. Second place went to Reed Kessler and Mika, who were clear in 43.31 seconds. Katie Dinan (USA) and Glory Days were third with no faults in a time of 43.78 seconds.
Madden smoothly executed an inside turn after the fourth jump, which set her up for a good line to the next skinny vertical. “I thought it would be faster,” she said. “I went in and looked at it when I went in, so I could see it from a horse and it for sure gave you a better line after the skinny so you didn’t have to slow down so much, in order to make the turn after it. I know she turns left so well, that she would jump a little left after that and spin inside there, and I would end up being able to do that fast.”
Madden said that the first round course was hard for Via Volo “because a lot of the lines were steady,” but if she can “just keep hunting along, she’s usually pretty fast.” She explained, “She has a big stride and the less I can fight with her, the better. She really handled it well. When I asked her to do something, she responded.”
While Via Volo can be quirky about her surroundings, she was all business today. “She’s always looking around; she doesn’t miss much,” Madden agreed. “For sure, she gets looking at things other than the fences sometimes and you have to try and keep her focus on the fence. Today she felt great. She was a little funny from (fences) one to two in the first round, but then she was right down to business.”
The next week of competition is the ‘Canada One’ Tournament on June 25-30, which will include the $50,000 RBC Royal Bank Cup and the $100,000 Esso Imperial Oil Challenge CSI-W. For more information on Spruce Meadows and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
David Marcus and Chrevi’s Capital won the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Freestyle at the CDI3* Angelstone International Dressage Tournament. Mary White, Lone Oak Equine Photography.
June 16, 2013 – Rockwood, Ontario – Canadian Olympian David Marcus of Campbellville, ON, made a clean sweep of the grand prix division at the CDI3* Angelstone International Dressage Tournament held June 14 through 16 in Rockwood, ON. Riding his 2012 London Olympic mount, Chrevi’s Capital, Marcus won both the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Freestyle while Don Kontes stood in the winner’s circle following the Grand Prix Special.
Marcus and Chrevi’s Capital topped a nine-horse starting field with a score of 69.81% earned from the five-member panel of international judges. Riding Don Kontes, Marcus took third place with a score of 66.62%, finishing behind his 2012 London Olympic teammate Jacqueline Brooks and D Niro who scored 67.51%. Both of Marcus’s horses are owned by Deborah Kinzinger.
“Capital hasn’t shown since February, so it was nice to get him back in the show ring,” said Marcus, 32. “He felt fresh and happy in his job. It was a nice, clean test. It was fairly conservative, but since he hadn’t shown in a while, my goal was simply to go in and have no mistakes.”
Both the Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle were held on Saturday evening in front of hundreds of spectators. Marcus and Chrevi’s Capital, a 13-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Chrevi’s Cavallo x Weinberg), rode their musical freestyle for the third time in competition, having debuted their new program at the prestigious CDI5* World Dressage Masters Palm Beach in January. Compiled by Joost Peters of The Netherlands and featuring the music of George Michael and WHAM!, their freestyle performance earned the winning score of 72.73% to hold off Brooks and D Niro with 72.33%.
“I love his new Freestyle,” said Marcus. “It wasn’t without mistakes, so there are still a lot more points in there for him. The high degree of difficulty in our choreography is really the highlight of this freestyle.”
Especially poignant for Marcus was being presented with the inaugural Jon Costin Memorial Cup as the winner of the Grand Prix Freestyle. A successful and extremely popular Canadian grand prix dressage competitor, Costin died unexpectedly in May.
“Jon was a good friend of mine, so it meant a lot to me to win the trophy created in his honour,” said Marcus. “I would also like to thank Leatherdale Farms for sponsoring the entire grand prix division. They are very supportive of dressage sport in Canada, and their generosity is greatly appreciated. Of course, I wouldn’t be where I am without the support of my owner, Deb Kinzinger.”
Kinzinger was on hand to cheer Marcus to victory in the Freestyle, just as she had done earlier in the evening when Marcus piloted her Don Kontes to the win in the Grand Prix Special. The pair earned a score of 67.94% to easily take the win over runner-up Evi Strasser of St. Adele, QC, and Renaissance Tyme, who scored 66.67%.
“Don Kontes felt the best he has ever felt, especially in the trot work,” said Marcus of the 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding by Don Schufro. “Unfortunately, I made a mistake and we went off course so that brought our score down, but he is feeling stronger and more through. His scores improved from Friday’s Grand Prix, so I was very happy with that.”
The pair earned scores of eight out of 10 for several movements in the Grand Prix Special test, including their passage and canter work.
“Since our last show in April, I’ve been working with him on the basics, getting him stronger and fitter,” explained Marcus, whose last competition with Don Kontes was as a member of Canada’s bronze medal team at the CDIO3* Nations’ Cup in Wellington, FL. “He’s getting better and better all the time.”
In addition to his own success, Marcus also coached Maya Markowski and her horse, Lumiere, to strong placings in the competitive CDI small tour division. His partner, Nicholas Fyffe, competed at Third Level with Fiero HGF, owned by Robert Dover, in addition to helping Marcus on the ground.
For Marcus, the rest of the season will see him continue aiming Chrevi’s Capital towards the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) to be held next August in Normandy, France.
“Capital feels great, in his body and in his mind, and I’m looking forward to this year with him,” said Marcus, who plans to contest CDI events in Saugerties, New York, and Devon, Pennsylvania, later this season. “Everything we do this year is in preparation for the World Equestrian Games next year. We are trying to make the right plan to set him up mentally and physically to peak next year at the WEG.”
Marcus operates David Marcus Dressage in Campbellville, ON, just west of Toronto. For more information, please visit www.davidmarcusdressage.com.
Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439 www.startinggate.ca
Alex Granato and Gangsta sail over the oxer in the Olympic Stadium en route to the win in the $35,000 Outback Steakhouse Grand Prix. Flashpoint Photography.
It was not an easy walkabout as the top twenty-seven jumper riders tackled the course designed by Manuel Esparanza of Mexico at the Georgia International Horse Park during the $35,000 Outback Steakhouse Grand Prix during the Atlanta Summer Classics. Only six were invited back for the jump-off and it was Alex Granato of Elizabeth, Colorado and his own Gangsta who took the win with a double-clear effort in a time of 34.605 seconds.
Christi Israel of Birmingham, Alabama in the irons aboard her own Bull’s Run Zino Platinum turned in the first clear round of the class with a double-clean time of 72.440 which was under the 75 seconds allowed. The time allowed would definitely weed riders out of the class and 10 would accrue time penalties in the first round. As the first to go in the jump off, their time of 36.935 seconds was well in line with the time allowed of 56 seconds, but their rail down at fence 9A would cost them four faults and eventually land them in fifth place overall.
Derek Peterson of Archer, Florida and his own Via Dolorosa followed Israel in the class and were next to go double-clear with a time of 71.292 seconds in the first round. In the jump off, the team had a rail down at fence 8, resulting in four faults in a time of 36.181 seconds which would place the duo in fourth position overall.
Hennessey, owned and ridden by Chasen Boggio of Canton, Georgia, went clean in the first round and turned in a time of 74.145 seconds, just below the time allowed. But their faults in the jump off at fence 9A in a time of 38.873 seconds would finish them in sixth place overall.
Aaron Vale of Williston, Florida and 2VR Showjumpers’ Zippo II were next to go and looked to go clean, but their time of 75.033 seconds would earn them a time fault and the pair would finish in seventh overall.
Harold Chopping of Southern Pines, North Carolina rode Patty Ann Burns’ Calando Z to a clean round, but also earned one time fault with their time of 75.934 seconds which would find the pair finishing in eighth place overall.
Alex Granato of Elizabeth, Colorado and his own Gangsta were the next to turn in a clear first round effort in a time of 73.866 and carried that momentum to the jump-off round where they turned in the first clear round and set the time to beat at 34.605 seconds. There were two to go and the competition was stiff with seasoned veterans Vale and Francis Land waiting in the wings.
Vale was next to tackle the course with Spirit of Alena owned by Campos and Miranda Investments and turned in a clear 71.208 first round effort. Although he looked to take the lead from Granato in the jump off, Vale’s time of 35.180 seconds, despite the clean effort, would leave the duo in second place.
Francis Land of Alpharetta, Georgia in the irons aboard his own Vieanne was next to go and turned in a clear first round effort of 74.255. Despite their clean jump-off round, their time of 35.570 seconds would not be fast enough to catch Granato or Vale and would land them in third place overall.
Week II of the Atlanta Summer Classics kicks off tomorrow when the complimentary Zone 4 Clinics get underway at the Georgia International Horse Park. Tomorrow features accomplished judge and horseman Bob Crandall who will lead a general horsemanship riding clinic in the covered arena.
On Tuesday, June 18, the Zone 4 Complimentary Clinics continue and will feature legendary Steve Stephens, Olympic course designer, who will conduct a water jump clinic. Stephens will teach you and your horse how to jump an open water element. This clinic will be filled on a first come, first-served basis for 15 riding participants. Auditors are welcome to attend.
Then, the inaugural USHJA Children’s/Adult Jumper Zone 3/Zone 4 Championship takes place where riders compete in a Nations Cup format. The first round is scheduled for Thursday, June 20th and the final round takes place Sunday June 23rd. The $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby Classic presented by FarmVet takes place Week II as well as the Emerson Burr Program for Pony Riders. The $15,000 Welcome Class, the $10,000 Pony Hunter Derby Classic, the $5,000 Future Class and the $35,000 Grand Prix all provide ample opportunity to cash in on the competition. The $2,500 TAKE2 Thoroughbred Hunter and Jumper Division, the Atlanta Cup Equitation Classic, the World Hunter Champion Hunter Rider, the Grand Puba Junior Hunter Championships and the Freestyle Equitation Classic will all be featured next week in addition to the traditional Classic Company classes. No wonder these are the two most popular weeks of show jumping!
If you don’t have stalls, be sure to call the show office ASAP. With a handful of stalls left and a fistful of events and prize money up for grabs, the Georgia International Horse Park and the Atlanta Summer Classics are the place to be! But if you can’t get in this week-no worries! Charleston Summer Classics are right around the corner and Classic Company has combined the beach and the show ring to make for the best horse show experience ever!
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 fee added for credit card payments.
Whether you are a seasoned veteran or novice looking for a positive show experience, look to the Classic Company shows and join them in Atlanta this summer. 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 classicsponsorship@gmail.com. All program advertising should be directed to Nate Poliquin, Program Sales Representative at classicshowads@yahoo.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
Simply the best: the matchless Andrew Nicholson and Mr Cruise Control, winners at Luhmühlen CCI4* (Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI).
Lausanne (SUI), 16 June 2013 – There were emotional scenes when Andrew Nicholson and Mr Cruise Control triumphed at Luhmühlen, presented by DHL Paket, the penultimate leg of the HSBC FEI Classics.
It was the 51-year-old New Zealander’s fourth CCI4* victory in a year, but the first for his long-time loyal owners, Robin and Nicky Salmon, who have often seen their striking-looking grey gelding come close to major honours without ever taking the big prize.
“He’s a big horse that’s taken time but he’s kept improving through all his training, and that means that out of all my four-star wins this one is particularly rewarding,” said the invincible Nicholson, who has now won four of the world’s six CCI4*s.
Zara Phillips (GBR), who finished second on Trevor Hemmings’ High Kingdom, put pressure on Nicholson right until the end with a beautifully ridden clear Jumping round.
However, the six-time Olympian rose to the occasion magnificently, just rattling the second fence but soaring over the rest to finish on his Dressage score of 38.0.
“He was too ice-cool,” Phillips smiled sportingly. “Thank goodness he can’t ride at the Europeans!”
Phillips was clearly thrilled by the continuing improvement shown by her Olympic team silver medallist. “He’s getting better all the time,” she said.
Both the two leading horses are Irish-bred: Mr Cruise Control is by the great jumping sire Cruising and High Kingdom is by Master Imp.
In contrast, William Fox-Pitt’s two horses, which rose to third and fourth places with immaculate clear rounds, are both from continental stock. Neuf des Coeurs, third, is a smart Selle Francais by Nidor Platier, and Lionheart, fourth, is a majestic German-bred by Lancer lll. Neuf des Coeurs missed much of last season through injury and Lionheart, one of the best jumpers on the circuit, is clearly back to his best after inexplicably tiring on the Olympic Cross Country last year.
“It’s been a happy weekend,” said Fox-Pitt, who has now overtaken Jock Paget (NZL) in the HSBC FEI Classics to lie second on the leaderboard behind Nicholson. “It was great to have both horses jumping and galloping so well and I couldn’t be more pleased.”
Kevin McNab (AUS) had modestly predicted that he wouldn’t be making either Nicholson or Phillips too nervous in the final phase, but he only had one rail down on Clifton Pinot, slipping from overnight third to fifth place.
Fellow Australian, Andrew Hoy, who had been in fourth after Cross Country with Rutherglen, did not present the 10-year-old at this morning’s horse inspection.
The winner, Nicholson, again proved his skills with a top-10 finish on his catch ride, Rathmoyle King. He hit two rails on the 15-year-old grey, but that wasn’t enough to drop him in the final placings and he held onto sixth. With just Burghley to come in the HSBC FEI Classics, it seems that 2013 is going to be Nicholson’s year.
About the winner
Andrew Nicholson (NZL), 51, who currently heads both the HSBC Rankings and the HSBC FEI Classics, is acknowledged as one of the most hard-working and naturally talented horsemen in Eventing. He first came to England as an 18-year-old in 1979 and worked with racehorses.
His first CCI4* was Badminton in 1984 where he earned a place on the first New Zealand Olympic team, at Los Angeles. He has since ridden at five more Olympic Games, winning team silver in 1992 and team bronzes in 1996 and 2012, when he finished fourth individually on Nereo. He also won team gold at the 1990 FEI World Equestrian Games in Stockholm (SWE) and team and individual bronze on Nereo at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky (USA).
This is his sixth CCI4* win, following three Burghley victories, in 1995 on Buckley Province, in 2000 on Mr Smiffy, and in 2012 on Avebury, plus Pau in 2012 on Nereo and Kentucky this year with Quimbo. Last year, he finished second in the 2011-2012 HSBC FEI Classics and won the HSBC Rider Rankings.
Andrew has two adult daughters, Rebecca and Melissa, and two young children, Lily and Zak, with his partner Wiggy Channer. They live near Marlborough, Wiltshire.
Our signature twitter hashtags for this series are #HSBC and #Eventing. We encourage you to use them, and if you have space: #HSBC FEI Classics #Eventing.
Last week’s Grand Prix winners, John Pearce and Chianto. Photo by Carrie Wirth.
Parker, CO – June 15, 2013 – Summer in the Rockies II Grand Prix, presented by Littleton Equine Medical Center and Platinum Performance, was well attended and spectators lined the grass bleachers and VIP area on a mild summer day. Much needed rain could be seen far in the distance but Mother Nature held off the showers with perfect timing, letting go in a brief downpour as the victory gallop ended. Brian Curry, Vice President and General Manager of the Colorado Horse Park announced that the Black Forest area wildfire is now 45 percent contained. He led the audience in a moment of silence for the couple who tragically lost their lives in the blaze.
During the late afternoon event, 20 horse and rider pairs tried their hand at Danny Foster’s grand prix course in the Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix Arena at the Colorado Horse Park.
“I try to make the course difficult for the riders,” said Foster, a Gold Medalist at the 1991 Pan Am Games for Canada, a former chef d’équipe of the Canadian show Jumping Team and an international course designer. “These horses jump every week on a circuit like this. The main thing as a course designer, I feel it is really important to be sensitive to the horses. They could go for six weeks twice a week.”
Foster was pleased with the outcome of the Grand Prix and the course he designed.
“I thought the poles came all over the place – there wasn’t a bogey. You had to make some good answers to some pretty tough questions. The young riders that participated looked like they got pretty positive mileage from it.”
John Pearce had clear first rounds on all three of his entries: Son of a Gun, Johnny B Good and last week’s Summer in the Rockies I Grand Prix winner, and veteran grand prix winner, Chianto, all owned by Forest View Farms. Armando Hassey and Taggert Enterprises LLC’s Eminem also went clear to return. Bjorn Ikast had two fault-free rounds, first with his own Royal Flush and another with Bovee Limited Liability’s Colorado, winner of this week’s Welcome Stake. Bull Run’s Eternal with Kristen VanderVeen in irons, also progressed to the short track, skillfully executing the course while leaving all the poles in their cups.
Foster’s jump-off course included some really exciting long gallops that kept the crowd of spectators on the edge of their seats.
Bjorn Ikast and Royal Flush. Photo by Carrie Wirth
First back was Ikast aboard Royal Flush. The pair went clear and set the time to beat, 47.920. Next, Pearce and Johnny B Good accomplished another clean round in the time of 43.728. Then, VanderVeen returned on Bull Run’s Eternal and sped through the course deftly and faultlessly beating Pearce’s first round with a time of 42.084.
Then it was Hassey’s turn aboard Eminem. The pair had a rail, and then opted to take it easy finishing the short course in 49.555. Colorado and Ikast followed suit, becoming the second four-faulter with a time of 48.382.
It was up to Pearce to best VanderVeen’s time if he was to take the prize. He still had two rounds to go, one with the very fast Son of a Gun and one with his long-time partner Chianto. With Son of a Gun, Pearce was clean and fast with a time of 42.100, but not fast enough to beat VanderVeen.
It now came down to his round with Chianto but it was not in the cards. Chianto had a rail at the first fence and had a time of 43.601. VanderVeen and Bull Run’s Eternal maintained the lead and earned the win.
“I thought it went great,” said Foster. “Those guys were trying against each other, back to back. It was good sport today. I thought the best had the opportunity to rise to the top. Kristen was superb to win and rode with a lot of skill. She rides beautifully. The horse is fantastic and she’s a hard worker. The good ones always find a way to win in the end, don’t they?”
“I loved it from the second I walked it,” said VanderVeen about Foster’s course. “For me the Welcome was a little bit difficult. So I was worried about how the Prix would be built today. But it was smooth; everything rode nice; the lines were nice. We were fast in the jump off! It was a quick enough jump off and it was across the whole ring a few times and the footing was great. I didn’t slip once and I was going as fast as I could. I couldn’t be more thrilled.”
Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run’s Eternal. Photo by Mary Adelaide Brakenridge
“He’s been money for me,” she said of Bull Run’s Eternal. “We imported him this winter and right away he was second in a class at WEF in Wellington. He jumped the night classes. I’ve never really gotten to do that before. He’s only 10 years old. I have high hopes for him.
“She had to beat three great horses with John Pearce and he is a super rider,” said Keith VanderVeen who flew in to watch and be with his daughter for Father’s Day. “This is the best Father’s Day present!”
“Kristen was really good,” Pearce said. “Her horse has a huge stride. That was definitely what got me. It was a great day. It was a lot of fun. The horses all finished sound and happy and that is what is important. In any sport you just never know what’s going to happen. That’s why you can never get too big an ego.”
“It was a beautiful day. It is a beautiful horse show,” said Foster. “I think that people should know they have a good thing going here and they’re growing. Of all the years I’ve been involved with the show, it seems to be on the uptick. The level of the sport here is getting better and better all the time. The footing is great and it supports it. They stage very good sport and that is what people want.”
The Colorado Horse Park Summer in the Rockies Fast Facts
What: Summer in the Rockies AA-Rated Hunter Jumper Show Series
Event Dates:
Summer in the Rockies I June 5-9, 2013
Summer in the Rockies II June 12-16, 2013
Summer in the Rockies III June 19-23, 2013
Summer in the Rockies IV July 3-7, 2013
Summer in the Rockies V July 10-14, 2013
Summer in the Rockies VI July 17-21, 2013
Prize List:
Click here for an online version of the prize list. For a hard copy of the prize list, please e-mail prizelist@cohorsepark.com with your name, address and phone number and specify which prize list you would like (spring/fall or summer).
Entries:
Mail to The Colorado Horse Park, 7522 South Pinery Drive, Parker, CO 80134 or fax to (303) 841-7879. Opening date for Stall Reservations: April 1, 2013. Closing date May 20, 2013.
Contact Information:
Pat Boyle, Show Manager (847) 274-6834
Brian Curry, Show Manager (303) 918-2908
Show Office (303) 841-7461
Show Office Fax (303) 841-1419
Colorado Horse Park Main Office (303) 841-5550
Colorado Horse Park Main Office Fax (303) 841-7879
Tentative Schedule:
Wed – Sun: Show starts daily at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noted
Directions:
Address: 7375 E Bayou Gulch Rd, Parker, CO 80134
From North: I-25S exit Ridgegate Parkway – go east under the freeway. Ridgegate Parkway to S. Chambers Road, approx 3 miles (Traffic light) – turn right/south onto Chambers Road. At end of Chambers Road turn left/east onto Hess Road. Hess Road to Parker Road/Hwy 83 – turn right/south onto Hwy 83 approx 4 miles to Bayou Gulch Road. (Traffic light). Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.
From South: I-25N, exit Founder’s Parkway. Founder’s Parkway to Highway 86, approx 4 miles (traffic light). Turn east/left onto Hwy. 86 to Franktown/Hwy 83. At Franktown go north on 83 approx. 7 mi. to Bayou Gulch Rd. (Traffic light), turn right/east onto Bayou Gulch Rd. Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.
About the Colorado Horse Park
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the Colorado Horse Park was founded by visionary Helen Krieble who acknowledged the need for a high-volume horse show and horse boarding facility to serve Colorado. The Colorado Horse Park welcomes more than 75,000 visitors per year and hosts over 40 competitions annually. CHP features a derby arena designed by Olympic-designer Linda Allen and a cross-country course designed by Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor and eventing super-star James Atkinson. There are 300 permanent stalls with capacity for more than 1,000 stalls.
The picturesque property, located only minutes from the town of Parker, hosts international equestrian events in multiple disciplines. Visitors enjoy the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountain surroundings and access to miles of trails and open space. The Colorado Horse Park is committed to supporting equestrian education and amateur athletics, preserving open space, fundraising for local charities and supporting the community.
Carrie Wirth for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Ward and Wannahave Speed to Derby Victory, Dinan and Sandro Beat Large Jump-off Field in CN ‘Fast Track’ Derby
Calgary, AB – June 15, 2013 – There were three very different but all very exciting competitions today at the Spruce Meadows ‘Continental’ Tournament today. Andres Rodriguez (VEN) and Caballito captured the top prize as the only double clear in the $33,000 Talisman Energy Cup 1.50m. McLain Ward won for two days in a row, this time with Wannahave in the $33,000 McDaniel & Associates 1.45m Derby. Katie Dinan and Sandro scored another big win in the $10,000 CN ‘Fast Track’ Junior/Amateur Derby.
The ‘Continental’ Tournament CSIO-W 5* concludes tomorrow with the highlight competition of the weekend, the $200,000 CN Performance Grand Prix CSI-W. There is complimentary admission and parking for spectators during the ‘Continental’ Tournament.
The $33,000 Talisman Energy Cup 1.50m had 41 entries, and five went through to the jump-off. Andres Rodriguez (VEN) and Caballito, an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Contendro x Argentinus, were the only double clear. They finished in 48.074 seconds for victory. Second place went to McLain Ward (USA) and Zander, who had four faults at the final jump and finished in 41.707 seconds. Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Wang Chung M2S were third with four faults in 48.882 seconds.
Rodriguez was able to keep Caballito together and clean in the jump-off despite his horse throwing a shoe after the fourth fence. “I totally felt that, and I was really aware in the turns after that, to help him not slip,” Rodriguez acknowledged. “I was trying to keep him as balanced as possible. I didn’t want him to slip in front of one of those tall jumps. I was being very cautious in the turns, even after he was clear.”
Rodriguez said he has been training with veteran rider Eddie Macken for sixth months, and it was advice from Macken that helped him win his first FEI-level competition at Spruce Meadows. “(Eddie) obviously has a lot of experience in those cases. If I would have been by myself, I would have tried to go fast. He told me in the gate, just try to go clear and hope that McLain has a rail,” he recalled. “I wasn’t so convinced, but I trusted him and he was right. I could have been third or fourth in that class, easy. It played out well.”
Having won the FEI World Cup qualifier in Thunderbird just a few weeks ago, Rodriguez felt that Caballito was ready for Spruce Meadows. After a day of practice, his horse felt more relaxed today and Rodriguez noted, “I really felt he jumped his best today.”
Having been competitive at the 1.45m level, Rodriguez felt comfortable with keeping him at that level. But, he related, “Since I’ve been training with Eddie, it looks like he may do a little bigger. He was fourth in a big four-star class in Wellington and it didn’t feel like a struggle at all. I changed my approach with him totally different. I trust him way more now. I have hopes for him to end up being a 1.60m horse.”
Ward and Wannahave Win with Speed
The $33,000 McDaniel & Associates 1.45m Derby had 24 entries, and six of those were able to clear the course without faults. The track, designed by Werner Deeg of Germany, featured 16 numbered obstacles and 19 jumping efforts, including the grob, open water, dry ditch combination, and jumping off a bank. Speeding around by six seconds faster than the next competitors were McLain Ward and Wannahave, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Manhattan x Ramiro Z owned by The Wannahave Group.
The early leaders were 17-year-old Kara Chad of Calgary, AB, and Stone Ridge Farms LLC’s Alberto II, who set the pace at 110.600 seconds, which would end up in second place. Third place went to Cameron Hanley (IRL) on Player du Quesnoy, who finished in 111.288 seconds.
McLain Ward and Wannahave
Despite a fast pace through most of the course, including to and from the open water, Ward said, “I actually thought I slowed down in a couple places, to be honest with you. I’m a bit of a fast rider and I have to watch that I don’t overdo it. He’s pretty good on the naturals now after all of his experience last week in the derby. He has a big stride, so the beginning of the course suited him, where I could just set a gallop and go. That allowed me to slow down at the end with the grob and double ditches, which were really tight. It worked out well.”
Wannahave competed in his first derby last week in the Nexen 1.60m Derby. “The derby last week was quite big. He jumped a really good round but got confused at the bank and the grob,” Ward remembered. “This week there was no ‘A’ (element) at the grob, so I thought he handled that better. I think he’ll actually be really good at these classes with more mileage. He can do these naturals without a problem. If they jump the devil’s dyke and the bank, you’re halfway home.”
Ward got the ride on Wannahave through his friend Missy Clark, who trains Wannahave and Sandor de la Pomme, another new mount, with John Brennan at their farm, North Run. “I started riding the horses at the end of Florida (in April). Missy is a great friend of mine and we’ve done some great things over the years, going back to Sapphire and the Harrisons. It’s a pleasure for me to work with her,” he related.
Ward described Wannahave as a “big, scopey horse” with “a big jump.” He remarked, “He’s a little hard to sit to. But that’s a good thing too. He has a very easy stride; you just have to kind of keep it all together. If you let it unravel, that’s where you get a pole down.”
This was their first FEI-level win together, and Ward was happy to have it happen in a derby competition. “It takes a special character and a brave horse, but I think it’s good for the horses. I think it was a good course. It’s a good part of the sport,” he said.
Second place finisher Kara Chad was very happy in her best top level finish at Spruce Meadows. The talented young rider, who was a part of the Developing Rider Tour for Canada last year, said she was “a little surprised,” when she found out she was winning.
“I thought I was efficient, but I wasn’t running around like a speed class. Then there was McLain; it’s hard to beat him. He told me in the line-up (that) I have many years to come, so not to worry about it, and I took that advice,” she smiled. “It was my first derby with him. He has a very big personality and is cocky in some ways, which is what makes him good. Although he’s a big horse, he’s very controllable and adjustable. I’ve been working toward getting up to these results. I’m happy that I finally got in there.”
Katie Dinan and Sandro Continue Winning Ways
The $10,000 CN ‘Fast Track’ Junior/Amateur 1.40m Derby had 34 entries attempt a long derby course, and there were 18 that proceeded on to the jump-off. There were eight double clear in the lengthy jump-off course, but the fastest of those were Katie Dinan and Sandro, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Larino x Casimir owned by Grant Road Partners. They finished in 50.89 seconds.
Second place went to Wilton Porter (USA) on Neolisto van het Mierenhof, who stopped the timers in 51.38 seconds. Clementine Goutal (USA) and Kelline Fonroy were third in 51.86 seconds.
Dinan agreed that the “longer than normal” course for a derby along with a jump-off “played a factor.” She continued, “Sandro has a pretty good engine and is always ready to go, but even for him in the jump-off I felt like I wasn’t really at my fastest. You have to stay focused and ready to jump. It wasn’t that there was one difficult jump; it’s just that there were a lot of jumps and horses were getting a little tired at the end. I went seventh and I was really happy that my time held up.”
In her jump-off ride, she described, “He was so good in the first round to the grob that I knew I could make good time there. I turned very quickly down to that. I tried to be very prompt in the beginning. I did nine (strides) in the last line, but it worked out for me because Sandro has a very fast canter, so even if I’m not doing the most extreme leave-outs, I can be pretty fast.”
Dinan said that Sandro is very happy in his role as a 1.40m amateur horse, and he has helped her improve her riding on all of her horses. “He’s been a great horse for me. It’s great to have a horse in the barn that can come out on any given day and you know if you ride well, you have a good chance of winning. That’s great as a confidence builder,” she said. “In the last year and a half as I’ve moved up with other horses into bigger classes, (and) things get more difficult and your results aren’t as consistent as you’d like, it’s really nice to have a horse that maybe isn’t doing the biggest class at the horse show, but is always there.”
She added, “From a riding perspective, you try to learn how to go faster and be a more competitive speed rider. He’s been a great horse for me to learn that on. I feel comfortable on him and I feel like I can take risks on him that I might not necessarily take on other horses. He’s 14 and I want him to stay happy. I want to keep his energy level up. Maybe he could jump a little bit bigger, but he feels great at that height.”
The ‘Continental’ Tournament concludes tomorrow with the $60,000 Great-West Life Cup 1.50m the highlight competition of the week, the $200,000 CN Performance Grand Prix CSI-W, at 2 pm in Meadows on the Green. For more information on Spruce Meadows and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Elizabeth Boyd and Brunello sail over an oxer en route to the win in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Flashpoint Photography.
Miramax and Julie Curtin Win the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby; Vale Is Victorious in the $15,000 Open Welcome
The Georgia International Horse Park is buzzing with activity as the Atlanta Summer Classics welcomes a record number of competitors to its opening week which kicked off Wednesday after the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program wrapped up.
Yesterday featured the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by FarmVet, as well as the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, which saw twenty-five and twenty-six, respectively, tackle the courses designed by Joe Carnicum.
In the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, the first round saw Triomph, owned by Loretta Patterson, ridden by Holly Shepherd of Grand Bay, Alabama, take the lead with a score of 181, but Brunello, owned by Janet Peterson and Elizabeth Boyd, Fieono, owned by Kelley Maloney, and Quatrain, owned by Finally Farm and Janet Peterson, all ridden by Elizabeth Boyd of Camden, South Carolina, were on Shepherd’s heels with scores of 177.50, 177 and 164, respectively.
The handy round saw Boyd working a hat trick when she secured the top three spots on Brunello, Fieona and Quatrain, respectively. Brunello and Boyd received a handy score of 201 and a final score of 378.50, giving them the win. Fieono received a score of 186 in the second round and a final score of 363 which secured second place. Boyd and Quatrain scored a 195 in the handy round bringing the total to 359 and a third place finish.
Shepherd and Triomph received fourth place honors with a second round score of 171 and a total of 352.
Harold Chopping of Southern Pines, North Carolina, in the irons aboard Caramo, owned by Caroline Russell Howe, had a fifth place finish after scoring a 151 in the first round and 182 in the handy round, securing a total score of 333. Alexa Boggio of Canton, Georgia and her own SS Whisper had a final score of 308 which earned them a sixth. Wimberly Debono of Birmingham, Alabama and her own Tusker finished with a score of 299.50 and a seventh place. Daniel Geitner of Aiken, South Carolina guided Damocles, owned by Janet Peterson, to a final score of 271 and an eighth place finish. Kelci Crenshaw of Woodstock, Georgia rode Fit to Print Farm’s Headliner to a ninth place finish with a total score of 269.75. Timothy Maddrix of Birmingham, Alabama and Stella Styslinger’s Trending finished in the tenth position with 269.50. Victoria Press of New York, New York and her own Charleston Z wrapped up the eleventh place with a combined score of 258 and Crenshaw and Fit to Print Farm’s Lead Story wrapped up the twelfth spot with a score of 243.
The USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by FarmVet, saw Miramax, owned by Donna Bassinger and ridden by Julie Curtin of Roswell, Georgia, take the win out of a field of twenty-five. In second place, Fairfax, owned by Liz Hudspeth and ridden by Curtin, wrapped up the second position, while Lyn Sythel of Johns Island, South Carolina rode her own Versace to the third place position.
Aaron Vale and 2VR Showjumpers’ Zenith UHS beat 35 others to win the $15,000 Open Welcome
In other news:
Week I of the Atlanta Summer Classics saw thirty-five tackle the $15,000 Welcome Class designed by Manuel Esparanza of Mexico. It was Aaron Vale of Ocala, Florida who stole the show and took home the $4,500 check aboard Zenith UHS, owned by 2VR Showjumpers. Jared Peterson of Archer, Florida took the second place spot in the irons of Titus 2:11, owned by Derek Peterson, and third place went to Harold Chopping of Southern Pines, North Carolina and Calando Z, owned by Patty Ann Burns. Fourth was awarded to Liza Finsness of Wellington, Florida and her own Ormsby Hill. Lazaro, ridden and owned by Jordan Coyne of New Port Ritchey, Florida, earned a fifth place ribbon while Alex Grenato of Elizabeth, Colorado and his own Gangsta took sixth.
There are a handful of stalls left for next week, so make sure you get your entries in today because you don’t want to miss the fun at the world class Georgia International Horse Park, home to the 1996 Olympics, for these two weeks of non-stop show jumping action. The venue offers the one of a kind Olympic feel and offers excellent stabling, arenas, footing and of course, award winning service found only with the Classic Company. And make sure to catch the best of ringside action and reserve your VIP tables today. There is no better deal on any circuit and cost only $300.00 a week for a table of eight.
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 fee added for credit card payments.
Whether you are a seasoned veteran or novice looking for a positive show experience, look to the Classic Company shows and join them in Atlanta this summer. 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 classicsponsorship@gmail.com. All program advertising should be directed to Nate Poliquin, Program Sales Representative at classicshowads@yahoo.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
