Tag Archives: Show Jumping

Southeast US “Queen of Speed” Retires from Show Jumping

Hendersonville, NC — Shakira do Jacare, the brilliant 14-year-old Brazilian bred chestnut mare owned by Sarah Owen and Muny Sunk Stables, officially retired from the sport of show jumping in an emotional ceremony during the 2010 Atlanta Summer Classics.

Dubbed the “Queen of Speed” by her competitors, Shakira’s presence alone at many a grand prix was enough to rattle the nerves of most seasoned jumpers. However, this mare’s story begins with Longwood Equestrian Center’s owner and professional rider Sergio Campos. Shakira was bred by Campos at his family’s ranch in Campo Grande, Brazil. She is the offspring of his champion stallion Primo, who died tragically in a barn accident in 1997. “She [Shakira] was very tough to break; it took a lot longer than most normal horses. I remember when she was a 3-year-old she jumped out of one of the paddocks… over 6 foot tall fencing! She always showed signs of being a Champion.” Campos shared then added with a laugh, “When we imported her to the US she had an accident loading onto the airplane and got 20 stitches in her rump. She missed that plane and arrived 2 weeks later, proving both her headstrong nature and resilience.” A handy mare, known for her speed and turn-of-hoof, Shakira helped Campos lead the victory gallop in four Grand Prixs during their debut in 2005 as well as numerous mini prixs and Welcome Stakes throughout the Southeast. Over the next few years the number of wins only grew, but fate’s crossroad lay just ahead.

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McLain Ward & Vocas Win the $25k Fairfield Grand Prix to Benefit The EQUUS Foundation

Vocas, owned by Louisburg Farm and ridden by McLain Ward, winner of the $25,000 Fairfield Grand Prix and the Callari Cup presented by Wells Fargo Advisors. Photo courtesy of Reflections Photography.

WESTPORT, CT – June 29, 2010 – McLain Ward, aboard Vocas, owned by Louisburg Farm, emerged victorious over a field of 27 competitors at the $25,000 Grand Prix on Saturday, June 26, 2010, the culminating event of the Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show held in Westport, Connecticut.

Urged on by spectators and over 350 guests at The EQUUS Foundation Grand Prix Benefit Luncheon, Ward and Vocas claimed victory in an exciting jump off. Ward also placed 4th aboard Esplanade 7 owned by Louisburg Farm, and 12th aboard Miel D’Amuray owned by Gabby Slome. George N. Venizelos representing Wells Fargo Advisors was on hand to present the well-earned blue ribbon, along with Jonathan Moffly of Moffly Media, Show Co-Chairs, Alison Ashman and Catherine Herman, Jenny Belknap Kees, Chairman of the Board of The EQUUS Foundation, and Lynn Coakley, President of The EQUUS Foundation.

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Jung and Townend Go Head to Head at Strzegom

24 June 2010 – Germany’s Michael Jung and Britain’s Oliver Townend, both winners of HSBC World Cup Eventing competitions this season, go head to head at Strzegom (POL) this weekend (June 24-27) as they both bid to take over the lead in the 2010 rankings from Australian Megan Jones, who has scored a win and a second place in the series so far.

Jung, who had an incredible season in 2009, winning Luhmühlen and a European bronze medal on La Biosthetique Sam, is already a winner at this Polish venue having scored at the HSBC World Cup Eventing Final here last year.

In contrast, Townend made an early exit at Strzegom last year; having led the Dressage phase, he suffered an unlucky fall on the flat across country when Flint Curtis lost a shoe.

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Sharon Hunt Is Talk of the Town in Luhmühlen

Sharon Hunt (GBR) claimed her first-ever CCI4* victory when winning at Luhmühlen with the Irish Sport Horse Tankerstown to move into fourth place in the HSBC FEI Classics standings after three of five events. (Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI)

20 June 2010 – Sharon Hunt (GBR) enjoyed the biggest thrill of her long partnership with Tankers Town when the fleet-footed gelding gave her a first CCI4* win, at Luhmühlen, presented by E.ON Avacon, the third leg of the HSBC FEI Classics.

“I’m shocked,” said the 32-year-old, “but I always knew he was a phenomenal horse.”

The optimum time of 90 seconds proved extremely difficult on the spacious Jumping track and only nine out of the 32 finishers avoided collecting time penalties.

Tankers Town lowered the third fence, but Hunt kept up a good speed and did not incur any other penalties, giving her the slimmest of leads – just 0.2 of a penalty – over Ingrid Klimke (GER), whose chances of a first CCI4* win disappeared when she had both parts of the double at five down.

“The course really suited my horse because he is so good at jumping fast,” explained Hunt.

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Americans Reign in Rotterdam

Rotterdam (NED), 18 June – The all-female US team stormed to victory at the fourth leg of the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup in Rotterdam today where, for the first time this season, the French did not have their way and had to settle for equal-fifth place.  There was an air of determination about the winning side from the start, and with three double-clears they proved untouchable.

Great Britain’s march back to the top end of the sport continued as they slotted into runner-up spot with a one-fault advantage over the third-place home team, and there was huge relief for Dutch Chef d’Equipe Rob Ehrens.  “Today was so much better,” he said as, at last, his riders managed to shake off the run of poor results that has left them lingering in the bottom-four relegation zone for the last few weeks.  They have only moved up one place on the leaderboard however and still remain extremely vulnerable along with Switzerland, Sweden and Poland.

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Confident Klimke Retains Lead at Luhmühlen

Ingrid Klimke (GER) and Butts Abraxxas were fast and clear round Capt Mark Phillips’ Cross Country course to retain their lead at Luhmühlen, the third leg of the HSBC FEI Classics. (Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI)

19 June 2010 – Ingrid Klimke (GER) was deservedly jubilant after a superb Cross Country ride on Butts Abraxxas which kept her in the lead and still on her Dressage score at Luhmühlen (GER), presented by E.ON Avacon, the third leg of the HSBC FEI Classics.

Klimke, who says her nerve has not been affected at all by the recent birth of her second child, said: “I’m really thrilled. My plan worked, my horse felt confident and fit and although I had thought I would take the long route at the corner in the arena (23), when I got there I decided I would like the challenge!”

Klimke declared herself “eager for tomorrow”, but she has no room for error in the final Jumping phase. Olympic team bronze medallists Sharon Hunt and the 16-year-old Tankers Town, who have proven ability over the coloured poles, have moved up three places to lie second and are just 3.8 penalties behind.

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Meydan FEI Nations Cup 2010 – Rotterdam Preview

FEI TV – Follow the fourth leg of the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup series in Rotterdam LIVE on FEI TV – www.feitv.org

CAN THE FRENCH MAKE IT A FABULOUS FOUR?

Rotterdam (NED), 15 June 2010 – As the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup series reaches the half-way stage at Rotterdam in The Netherlands this Friday, the big question on everyone’s lips is, “Can the runaway French be stopped in their tracks?” The defending series champions have a commanding advantage at the top of the 2010 leaderboard after their hat-trick of victories at La Baule (FRA), Rome (ITA) and St Gallen (SUI) over the last four weeks, and Chef d’Equipe Laurent Elias is taking no chances with another crack side for this latest fixture.

The French are also the defending champions at Rotterdam where Penelope Leprevost was the heroine in 2009 when clinching the honours in a thrilling third-round head-to-head against America’s McLain Ward.  The lady from Normandy has firmly established herself as a linchpin of her national side since then, and is again selected for this week’s event alongside Kevin Staut, Patrice Deleveau, Michel Robert and Marie Etter Pellegrin.

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Fellers Goes Double Clear in First World Cup Class of the Season

Rich Fellers and Flexible won the opening World Cup Qualifier at Thunderbird Show Park. Photo By: Totem Photographics.

Unlucky number seven narrows the field at Thunderbird Show Park

Langley, BC (June 8, 2010) – Thunderbird Show Park welcomed international riders from four continents to the CSI2*-W Keg Steakhouse & Bar World Cup on Saturday. Twenty-six entries from Canada, the United States, Ireland and Venezuela challenged Peter Holmes course, but with a technical triple combination and 1.60m vertical at fence seven, just three advanced to the jump-off. Rich Fellers and Flexible were flawless through two rounds to finish with the only double clear of the day and a win in the season’s first World Cup class for the FEI North American League.

“Flexible loves this ring and he’s comfortable here, so I came in today feeling really good about letting him do his thing,” explained Fellers. “I had a little touch on that number seven fence in the first round, so in the jump-off I took it wide and gave it extra time to make sure that I didn’t take it out.”

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Pablo Barrios and G&C Quick Star 11 Notch Second Place Finish in $55,000 BC Open World Cup Grand Prix at Thunderbird Show Park

Pablo Barrios and G&C Quick Star 11. Photo © 2010 Totem Photographics

Langley, BC, Canada – June 8, 2010 – In another strong week of competition, Pablo Barrios of Wellington, FL, finished second in the $55,000 BC Open World Cup Grand Prix on Saturday, June 5, at the BC Open Tournament at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. Barrios rode G&C Quick Star 11, owned by G&C Farm and Gustavo and Carolina Mirabal, to the top placing. G&C Farm’s state-of-the-art jumper facility is based in Wellington, FL.

Barrios and G&C Quick Star 11, a 12-year-old KWPN mare by Quick Star x Grannus, were one of 26 entries in the World Cup qualifying grand prix.  The course designer was Peter Grant, and Barrios commented, “It was a pretty tough course. There were a few tall verticals, and the oxers had a good spread. The track was very nice, and it was good for our first World Cup qualifier (this season).”

In the jump-off, Barrios was chasing the winning time set by Rich Fellers and Flexible. “Unfortunately in the jump-off I had a rail down. I was trying to catch Rich’s time. I did it but had the second to last fence down. I ended up second because Ashlee Bond had the same rail down but wasn’t as fast,” Barrios recalled.

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Meydan FEI Nations Cup 2010 – French Make It Three-in-a-Row at St Gallen

Olivier Guillon and Lord de Theize were members of the French team that secured a third consecutive victory in the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup at St Gallen, Switzerland today. Photo: Valeria Struen.

St Gallen (SUI), 4 June 2010 – The French team, already leading the series by a considerable margin following their double of wins over the first two legs, swept to victory again today in the third leg of the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup at St Gallen, Switzerland.

The competition came down to a two-way battle in the closing stages between the eventual winners and the crack German side that was sent out to ensure an improved position on the leaderboard.  But once again the winners were in a league of their own.  They established the advantage in the first round and held firm to clinch maximum points, while Germany finished second ahead of Great Britain in third and Ireland in fourth place.  The home team had to settle for fifth when things did not go their way, and the Spanish slotted into sixth ahead of the USA.  The Netherlands finished eighth, and this result has now dropped them down to second-last on the leaderboard, so they are in serious trouble going into their home leg in Rotterdam in two weeks time.

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