Laura Linback and Attention Please rode to the top of the $5,000 SJHOF Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic at the Showplace Productions Fall Classic (Phelps media Group, Inc)
"It was a great class. They built a really nice course, and it wasn't underbuilt," Linback said of the $5,000 SJHF Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic. Only two riders would clear the opening track, with Linback stepping up to the task. "It felt challenging, which I like. I thought it was good that only two of us went clear. It is better this way, and it makes for good sport."
Linback was only the third in the order to tackle the track, but Attention Please locked in on the fences and showed that he lives up to his name, commanding the attention of fellow exhibitors and onlookers.
"He felt great!" Linback exclaimed. "He is a bit of a green 8-year-old, but this spring and summer he has absolutely blossomed. He is taking a breath, understanding, trusting and accepting-he is just an amazing jumper. I had to capture his mind. We have owned him since he was a 6-year-old, and although he always had the quality jump, he was a very nervous horse. He has been just amazing this year."
Melissa Orlick-Zbierski and Viekie were the only other horse and rider combination to clear the course, promising a jump off.
Linback soared through the obstacles with dexterity and finesse, slicing turns and leaving out strides to shave the seconds. It was her turn down the center of the LUXMAX USA Grand Prix Ring that clinched the winning time for the pair, gunning it to the timers in the blazing speed of 34.671 seconds. Orlick-Zbierski and Viekie would follow close behind with an efficient strategy, but their time of 35.575 seconds would take the second place Friday.
Class sponsor, the Wisconsin Equine Clinic and Hospital's Dr. Marshall Stevens, D.V.M. was onsite to present Linback with the championship rosette. "The Wisconsin Equine Clinic and Hospital is pleased to sponsor show jumping at the Showplace Productions' series. It's an honor to work with top horses and exhibitors, as well as provide our quality services as the official horse show veterinarian. We are very happy to support show management, riders and trainers who are at the top of the industry, and we look forward to continuing that support in the future."
Nicole Loochtan and Game Over captured the third place finish with three time faults, finishing in 82.703 seconds. Orlick-Zbierski also snatched the fourth place with Bonzay as the fastest of the four-faulters. Fifth place was awarded to Katie Diggs and Compis, while Katie Leverick and Replique rounded out the top six.
Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers - Power and Speed
Stephanie Novas and Amyra R left nothing to chance in the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers Power and Speed class. They cleared the power phase with ease, and then sped through the speed portion in a mere 32.125 seconds, nearly two seconds faster over the ground than her competitors. Although she was sick, Novas did not let her inconveniencing cold play any affect in her victory.
"Amyra has been really good, she hasn't shown in a little bit, since Equifest. She is really amped up and ready," Novas explained. "We were trying to test the waters and see if I could ride today since I am sick, and I guess we proved that we can."
Novas chose to stick to the straightforward track offered in the speed phase of the class. Her strategy proved accurate as she finished in 32.125 seconds, and Jennifer Sprenger followed behind with Chalco in 34.067 seconds for the second place. Kamille Marcussen and Bull Run's Guardian took the third place position.
$1,500 Low Children's/Adult Classic Sponsored by C & E Horse Transportation
Alison Albelda and Verdicchio (Phelps Media Group)
"I went into the Low Classic and thought that I just kind of wanted to have fun with him," Albelda said. "If you point him at something and give him some leg, he'll do it, and exceed all expectations. He really blew it away."
Albelda continued, "It's been kind of a whirlwind lately given that my dad passed away of a heart attack in April. It has been very difficult just with the riding and everything to go through the grief process. Rocket (Verdicchio) has always been here for me, and he has been very sweet. It was a little bit of a reward and highlight given everything that has happened to win the classic today."
Albelda trains with Stanley Luke Farm, and admitted that she owes many of the experiences she has had with Rocket to the Kennedys. They have supported and helped Albelda ride and train, moving through the ranks culminating in her Classic win.
Marissa Sterba and Fantasmic took the second place position, while Emily Smith and Baby Face finished third.
Owner and President of C&E Horse Transportation, Craig Sappington, sponsored the $1,500 Low Children's/Adult Classic as a way to give back to his customers. C&E Horse Transport has been a long-time sponsor of the Showplace Productions series, and in the past Sappington has attributed his company's success to his clients.
"We sponsor the Showplace Fall Classic because it's the end of the year final and it's a great way to give back to Showplace Productions and all of our customers that support us all year long," Sappington stated. "One of my favorite aspects of the show is just the time of year. I love that I can watch all of the year-end finals at such a great show and facility."
$1,500 Modified Child/Adult Jumper Classic
Thirteen-year-old Kristen Franz and Radioactive rode to the top of the ranks during the $1,500 Modified Child/Adult Jumper Classic with their speedy round. Franz has owned the Dutch Warmblood for one year, but proved why she says her favorite thing about him is that he is "personal."
The pair laid down a seamless effort, completing tight turns and finessing their way through the course with ease.
"He really likes to go fast; he loves his job," Franz smiled. "We really share a bond, and we get each other. I liked the course was really good. There were a bunch of turns, which I thought we did really well. They were really good today, I was really proud of him. This win symbolizes another step forward for us, and hopefully next year we will move up."
$5,000 High Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic Presented by Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital
1 639 Attention Please Woodrun Laura Linback
2 694 Viekie IsoTropic Networks Inc. Melissa Orlick-Zbierski
3 1021 Game Over Chuck Waters Nicole Loochtan
4 690 Bonzay IsoTropic Networks Inc. Melissa Orlick-Zbierski
5 981 Compis Katie Diggs Katie Diggs
6 630 Replique Katie Leverick Katie Leverick
$500 Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper
1 1018 Amyra R Stephanie Novas Stephanie Novas
2 861 Chalco Alison Sondel Jennifer Sprenger
3 635 Bull Run's Guardian Kamille Marcussen Kamille Marcussen
4 701 NEKTAR Joseph Buszydlo Sabrina Buszydlo
5 1025 Stonestreet Madison Billings Madison Billings
6 884 Win Vision Sarah Scarnechia Sarah Scarnechia
$1,500 Low Childrens/Adult Jumper Classic Presented by C & E Horse Transportation
1 1064 VERDICCHIO DAVID MAC NEIL Alison Albelda
2 933 Fantasmic Marissa Sterba Marissa Sterba
3 989 Baby Face Emily Smith Emily Smith
4 870 CORONA Jessica Frederick Jessica Frederick
5 760 Play To Win Julia Hauswirth Julia Hauswirth
6 1057 Rapidash Lance Williamson Hailey Royce
$1,500 Modified Child/Adult Jumper Classic
1 613 Radioactive Kristen Franz Kristen Franz
2 1057 Rapidash Lance Williamson Hailey Royce
3 620 Bobbie Sox Amber Prasopoulos Amber Prasopoulos
4 722 Paper or Plastic Julie Metcalfe Ella Zimbrick
5 673 Coreografia Serah Vogus Lana Neiman
6 662 Sacha 12 Old Barrington LLC Katy H