Bjorn Ikast and Chestina Z (c) Flying Horse Photograph

Parker, CO - June 15, 2015 - At the Colorado Horse Park (CHP) this past Sunday, beautiful weather brought grand competition in the $40,000 Kingsland Equestrian Grand Prix. Twenty-six horse and rider combinations contested the course, but ultimately it was Bjorn Ikast and his mount, Chestina Z, that claimed victory with an impressive jump-off time of 35.581 seconds. This was the second of seven consecutive weeks of hunter/jumper competition at the Colorado Horse Park. Summer in the Rockies III begins this week and runs from June 17-21.

Ikast said of his jump-off plan, "I was the last to go in the jump-off, so I already knew the time to beat. There was only one clear round, so I just went for it. When I came to the last fence, I knew I was ahead of the time [to beat], so I took my time (there)."

Ikast's partner in his victory was a 10-year-old Argentinian-bred mare named Chestina Z. He has owned her for a year and a half and has competed with her in past grand prix classes. In last week's grand prix (Summer in the Rockies I), the team nearly took a victory but unfortunately had a rail. Ikast currently has nine horses on-site at the CHP and looks forward to working toward more victories in the ring. "The sun was shining and the footing was fantastic.  We love to compete at the [Summer in the Rockies] series," he noted.

Ikast has been a professional in the industry for approximately 35 years and has been competing at the CHP for 21 of those years. Originally from Denmark, but now based in Parker, Colorado, Ikast said, "We love Colorado [Horse Park]. It's a great place to show, a good facility with good fences, good prize money and good service. We always have a good time."

Second place was claimed by Karen Cudmore and Blair Cudmore's Southern Pride, the only other team to see double clear rounds, and with a jump-off time of 37.088 seconds. Susan Griffis rode to third place with a jump-off time of 36.659 seconds and four faults.

$40,000 Kingsland Grand Prix Results:
1.     116 - CHESTINA Z - OWNED BY BJORN IKAST - BJORN IKAST 0/0/35.581
2.     889 - SOUTHERN PRIDE - OWNED BY BLAIR CUDMORE - KAREN CUDMORE 0/0/37.088
3.     91 - CWESTORETO - OWNED BY PALMER DIVIDE RANCH - SUSAN GRIFFIS 0/4/36.659
4.     356 - QUITE QUICK - OWNED BY IRISH ROSE STABLES - DELANEY FLYNN 8/36.538
5.     194 - CUPIDO DE LAUBRY - OWNED BY CZECH MATE LLC - HANNAH HOLIK 1/87.601
6.     486 - CHIANTO - OWNED BY FOREST VIEW FARM - JOHN PEARCE 1/87.881
7.     600 - CEONTO - OWNED BY BLAIR CUDMORE - KAREN CUDMORE 4/81.656
8.     319 - DESTINY CAN DE NOORDHEUVEL - OWNED BY ANDREW KOCHER - ANDREW KOCHER 4/83.54
9.     323 - CIANA - OWNED BY EAGLE VALLEY PARTNERS LLC - ANDREW KOCHER 4/84.36
10.  317 - CASINO ROYAL - OWNED BY ANDREW KOCHER - ANDREW KOCHER 4/84.614
11.  488 - CHANTICO - OWNED BY KAREN BALL - JOHN PEARCE 4/84.649
12.  115 - COLORADO - OWNED BY BOVEE LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP - BJORN IKAST 5/87.057

The $20,000 Open Welcome Stake, sponsored by Littleton Equine Medical Center, saw 28 competitors contest the course with 14 clear rounds that went head-to-head in the ring for the jump-off. It ultimately came down to the fastest time, as the class saw seven double-clear rounds.

Andrew Kocher dominated the ring taking an impressive first, second, third and fourth places. His first place mount, Destiny Can De Noordheuval, claimed victory with a jump-off time of 30.905 seconds. Kocher and Casino Royal claimed second with a close time of 31.115 seconds. Claiming third was Kocher aboard Aleece Jarman's Cantori in 31.511 seconds, while he was fourth on Ora Del Te Di Ca San Giorgo.

$20,000 Open Welcome Stake Sponsored by Littleton Equine Medical Center Results:
1.    319 - DESTINY CAN DE NOORDHEUVAL - OWNED BY ANDREW KOCHER - ANDREW KOCHER 0/0/30.905
2.     317 - CASINO ROYAL - OWNED BY ANDREW KOCHER - ANDREW KOCHER - 0/0/31.115
3.     314 - CANTORI - OWNED BY ALEECE JARMAN - ANDREW KOCHER 0/0/31.511
4.     318 - ORA DEL TE DI CA SAN GIORGO - OWNED BY ORA DE TE LLC - ANDREW KOCHER
0/0/32.503
5.     92 - UDINE - OWNED BY SUSAN GRIFFIS - SUSAN GRIFFIS 0/0/33.444
6.     600 - CEONTO - OWNED BY CLAIR CUDMORE - KAREN CUDMORE 0/0/34.664
7.     412 - QUICKIE - OWNED BY NATASCHA GATES - NATASCHA GATES 0/0/39.061
8.     488 - CHANTICO - OWNED BY KAREN BALL - JOHN PEARCE 0/4/32.845
9.     889 - SOUTHERN PRIDE - OWNED BY BLAIR CUDMORE - KAREN CUDMORE 0/4/33.19
10.  351 - SAVEUR DE B'NEVILLE - OWNED BY MHJ SALES LLC - ARMANDO HASSEY 0/4/36.449
11.  260 - J.E.S. QUITO - OWNED BY NICKI WILCOX - NICKI WILCOX 0/4/36.606
12.  194 - CUPIDO DE LAUBRY - OWNED BY CZECH MATE LLC - HANNAH HOLIK 0/4/37.593

Hunter & Equitation Highlights

In the Low Working Hunter Division, Grace McReynolds and her own Estes Park claimed the championship. Riding to the reserve championship were both Daryl Ziegler Henning and Laura Love aboard Laura Love's Quincy.

In a two-way tie for the championship for the Junior Hunter 3'3/3'6 Division Championship were Madelyn Porter aboard Dragonfly Farms' Dragonfly's Encore and Erin Heffernan aboard Tara Heffernan's Cezanne. The reserve championship spot was also claimed by a two-way tie between Rylee Shufelt aboard her own Rock Star and Kendall Whitt riding KNW Farms LLC's Callucci.

The Adult Amateur Hunter 18 - 35 Division, sponsored by Wells Bridge Farm, saw Leesa Carver and Laurie Jueneman aboard Christen Tuxworth's Stylist claim the championship spot. In reserve champion was Erin Murphy and her mount, Top Spot.

Anna Lawrence and her mount, Sirius Black, were awarded champion in the Non-Thoroughbred Hunter Division. Reserve Champion was awarded to both Susan Varady and Karen Catov-Goodell aboard Susan Varady's Atalanta.

The Maiden Junior Equitation Division saw Lora Lafon piloting her own Filane ride to the championship. Kaleigh Bayer and her own Eastern Alliance claimed the reserve championship.