Vale and Carlos Win the $35,000 Sidelines Grand Prix

Aaron Vale and Carlo.

Aaron Vale of Williston, Florida in the irons of Amatoville Enterprise’s Carlo returned to the winner’s circle in the $35,000 Sidelines Grand Prix, presented by EMO, Saturday night at the Olympic venue after winning the Atlanta Summer Classic’s Week I $35,000 Outback Steakhouse Grand Prix with Bonzini S.

Olympic Course Designer Steve Stephens of Palmetto, Florida is one of the most well-known course designers in the world. A USEF R licensed hunter course designer; 4* FEI course designer; R jumper course designer and judge, Stephens was the show jumping course designer for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

As a special treat to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the 1996 Olympics at the Georgia International Horse Park, Stephens replicated the individual Olympic track in the $35,000 Sidelines Grand Prix, presented by EMO, and set the first round time to beat at 84 seconds.

Vale and Sarah Turner’s Acolina R were the first to go and went clean in a time of 78.384 seconds. Kyle Dewar of Ocala, Florida and his own Gomez Van De Withoeve followed and insured a jump off after posting a clean first round in a time of 81.048 seconds.

Hayley Waters of Archer, Florida in the irons of Chuck Waters’ Galous made the jump off a trio when she posted a clear first round in a time of 75.687 seconds. Carlo and Vale followed Waters with their clear first round in a time of 79.958 seconds, adding themselves to the jump off round.

Joining the others, Seth Vallhonrat’s Dorella, ridden by Kirk Webby of Ocala, Florida, posted the next clear first round in a time of 80.714 seconds, as well as Kyle Dewar’s Eliza, ridden by Katherine Dewar of Oconomowoc, Florida, with their clear first round in a time of 82.413 seconds.

Vale added another mount to the jump off order, Chase Joyner’s Cassio, when he turned in a clear first round effort in a time of 82.451 seconds.

Daniel Geitner of Aiken, South Carolina and the Kenwood Group’s Kenwood joined the jump off after turning in a clear first round in a time of 79.155 seconds, and Jay Land’s Nepal, ridden by Taylor Land of Atlanta, Georgia, added themselves to the jump off roster after posting a clear first round in a time of 74.927 seconds.

Stevens set the jump off round time allowed at 58 seconds. Acolina R and Vale were the first to go and had a four fault round in a time of 43.363 seconds. Kyle Dewar and Gomez Van De Withoeve followed Vale and suffered a heart break rail at the last fence in a time of 43.553 seconds. Waters and Galous followed, but a rail at the combination in a time of 41.336 seconds left them as the fastest of the four fault jump off rounds.

Vale and Carlo were up next and turned in the first fault-free jump off round in a time of 40.309 seconds and set the new time to beat. Webby and Dorella were up next and although they turned in a fault free round, their time of 43.746 seconds would not be fast enough to take the lead.

Katherine Dewar and Eliza followed in the order, but with four faults in a time of 43.255 seconds, would find themselves finishing in seventh place overall.

Vale returned to the Olympic Stadium with Cassio and went clear in a time of 46.735 seconds which would not be fast enough to catch his own time to beat and would settle into fifth place overall.

Geitner, who was on a roll last week winning the $15,000 Horseflight Open Welcome and the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, looked to make it a trifecta week with Kenwood. They turned in a clear round and just missed Vale’s time to beat after posting their own 40.592 seconds.

Land and Nepal were the last team to go and although they turned in a clear round, their time of 42.195 seconds would see them finish in third place overall and secure the win for Vale and Carlo.

Geitner and Kenwood finished in second. Webby and Dorella took home the fourth place ribbon and Vale returned for fifth with Cassio. Waters and Galous finished in sixth and Katherine Dewar and Eliza took home seventh. Vale returned for both the eighth place ribbon with Acolina R and the twelfth place with Bonzini S, while Kyle Dewar and Gomez Van De Withoeve placed ninth. Derek Petersen and his own Diamant’s Legacy finished in tenth place, and son Jared followed his father in eleventh place with Derek Petersen’s Titus 2:11.

All sponsorship and press inquiries should be directed to Lisa Engel, Director of Marketing and Sponsorship, at lisa@classiccompany.com.

ClassicCompany.com
GulfCoastClassicCompany.com
Phone/Fax: (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311, Johns Island, SC 29457