Kirk Webby and Brando Du Rouet (Emily Riden/Phelps Media Group)

Littlestown, Pa. - The win in Saturday evening's $25,000 Swan Lake Fall Festival Grand Prix all came down to the wire - and at the wire it all came down to just over a second in time. It was the last pair in the ring, Kirk Webby and Brando Du Rouet, who won the race against the clock to claim the victory in an exciting finish to the highlight event at the Swan Lake Fall Festival.

In addition to Webby and Brando Du Rouet, four other combinations maneuvered the first round, Catsy Cruz designed course, without fault. Joining the good list and advancing through to the jump-off were Penny Brennan and Sun Tzu, Cian McDermott and Newcastle, Randy Johnson and Allegretta and Mary Lisa Leffler and Carlot.

As the clear pathfinders in the first round, Brennan and her own Sun Tzu were also the first to return to jump-off, and they laid down a fast and faultless effort that would set the time to beat at a speedy 34.814 seconds.

"I thought the course was, for a 1.40m class, tough enough. It was a very well set course. There wasn't anything on a half stride," Brennan said following the class. "Everything was fair, but with that said, it took a lot of riding. It was a lot of jumps and a tight time allowed. I thought it was a beautiful course. I thought it was a brilliant jump-off. It's always nice for the riders and the spectators when you have four, five or six go clean. Then it becomes a horse race."

That's exactly what unfolded for the fans gathered around the Grand Prix Ring at Swan Lake Stables. Each of the next three returning pairs would race to try to best Brennan's time, but each would fall short.

The next pair to follow Brennan, Cian McDermott and Newcastle, owned by Therese Bentley, saw one rail fall out of the cups, leaving them on four faults in a time of 38.489 seconds and relegating them to the eventual fifth place finish.

Randy Johnson and Greener Pastures Inc.'s Allegretta came next, and while they produced a double clear effort, their jump-off time of 36.397 seconds would only be good enough for third at the end of the night. Previous Swan Lake Horse Shows grand prix winners, Mary Lisa Leffler and Rolling Acres Farm's Carlot, also produced a clear effort in the jump-off round but their time of 37.634 seconds would move them into fourth.

Finally it all came down to Webby and Tolleshunt Investment Group's Brando Du Rouet. While Webby was the only rider to do eight strides rather than seven between the first two fences on course, he knew he could get away with it given Brando Du Rouet's speed across the ground.

"He's fast; he's careful, and he's brave," Webby said. "It wasn't quite so big today, so he could really fly. He's just really naturally fast, and I was tight everywhere."

Brando Du Rouet's quick-footedness is what would lead the pair to a 33.577 second finish, overtaking the field and winning the lion share of the prize money.

"Kurt Webby was amazing, absolutely amazing," Brennan said. "Even if I hadn't been before him, I probably still wouldn't have beaten him. Sun Tzu is so scopey. He spends so much time in the air. He jumps a foot above the jumps. Kirk's horse is just as scopey, but he's quicker on his feet. Kirk just won it fair and square. I knew he had me. His horse was so quick on his feet, and Kirk's an amazing rider."

The win at Swan Lake on Saturday evening adds to a long list of victories this summer for the 11-year-old Brando Du Rouet, and Webby was extremely happy with how the class unfolded.

"[Catsy Cruz] got a really nice jump-off, and it was fun," Webby said. "Everyone had a pretty nice experience and a nice evening I think."

Following the conclusion of the $25,000 Swan Lake Fall Festival Grand Prix exhibitors enjoyed a ringside dinner and drinks courtesy of Swan Lake Horse Shows. Competitors return to the Grand Prix Ring Sunday morning for the final day of the Swan Lake Fall Festival. Jumper classes in the Grand Prix Ring kick off at 8:30 a.m. with the Low Children's Jumpers.

$25,000 Swan Lake Fall Festival Grand Prix Results
Plc Horse Rider / Owner R1 TA:85 JO TA:45
1 297 BRANDO DU ROUET KIRK WEBBY TOLLESHUNT INVESTMENT GROUP 0 80.039 0 33.577
2 301 SUN TZU PENNY BRENNAN PENNY BRENNAN 0 84.875 0 34.814
3 248 ALLEGRETTA RANDY JOHNSON GREENER PASTURES INC 0 84.898 0 36.397
4 139 CARLOT MARYLISA LEFFLER ROLLING ACRES FARM 0 80.432 0 37.634
5 217 NEWCASTLE CIAN MCDERMOTT THERESE BENTLEY 0 83.593 4 38.489
6 272 AIR FORCE ONE KAMA GODEK KAMA GODEK 4 79.444
7 340 KAHLUA 7 RILEIGH TIBBOTT RILEIGH TIBBOTT 8 82.686
8 298 CAILLOU KIRK WEBBY SETH VALLHONRAT 8 82.913

Ashley Hartman and Touchback (Phelps Media Group)

Ashley Hartman, Jacqueline Watts, Gabrielle Calvert Lead Junior Hunters

Earlier in the day, the $2,500 3'6" Junior Hunter and $1,000 3'3" Junior Hunter 16-17 divisions began in the Main Hunter Ring promptly at 8:30 a.m. with the over fences classes. The divisions will wrap up on Sunday with a first round classic and handy over fences class, as well as the under saddle classes.

17-year-old Ashley Hartman from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and her horse, Touchback, trained by Marlene Miller, took the top spot in the first over fences class.

"Touchback is 5 years old, and he was imported in November," said Hartman. "I got him in March. His nickname is Scooby; he's quiet, easy and spoiled. We bought him to do the 3'6" juniors and the derbies."

This is only Hartman's second time showing at Swan Lake Stables and she adds, "The footing and jumps are good, and it's pretty everywhere. I really like it here so far."

The second 3'6" Junior Hunter over fences class saw Jacqueline Watts and her Hanoverian Color Up, trained by Katie Cooper, take first place.

"I've had Color Up for three years," said Watts. "He's very young; I got him when he was 6 years old, and he's either 7 or 8 years old now. I've brought him a long way. He was in the jumper ring overseas, and I brought him here. We started doing the 3' children's and kind of just moved up over the years."

With school starting back next week for Watts, the junior rider is happy to end her summer and begin her fall at the Swan Lake Fall Festival.

"We've come to Swan Lake Horse Shows a lot over the years," commented Watts. "I really like it here. It's very convenient; it's only like an hour away, and it's a really nice show venue. This is my last show for the summer, and then I'll go to the Maryland Horse and Pony Show after this."

Immediately following the 3'6" Junior Hunter division was the start of the $1,000 3'3" Junior Hunter 16-17 division. High school senior Gabrielle Calvert and her horse The Silver Screen, trained by Daniel White, won back-to-back blue ribbons in both over fences classes.

"My horse is 6 years old, and we've been doing the 3'3" juniors with him," said Calvert. "He's been doing really well. I started riding him when he was 3 years old. He was my trainer's, and then I bought him when he was 4."

Since this is Calvert's first time back competing at Swan Lake Horse Shows in four years, she commented, "I really liked it here. I like the stalls, and I also really like the rings and the footing. I like the atmosphere too; it's really nice and pretty here."

Sunday is the final day of the Swan Lake Fall Festival and will host many jumper and hunter classics as well as continue to wrap up the final divisions of the week. Competition starts at 7:30 a.m. in the Dover Ring, 8 a.m. in the Annex Ring and Indoor Ring and 8:30 a.m. in the Grand Prix Ring and Main Hunter Ring.

To learn more about the Swan Lake Fall Festival and all horse shows at Swan Lake Stables, visit www.swanlakehorseshows.com. For up to the minute updates, find Swan Lake on Facebook here.

Swan Lake Horse Shows Fast Facts:
Where:
Swan Lake Stables
381 Flatbush Rd
Littlestown, PA 17340

When:
Premier Horse Shows:
Swan Lake Fall Festival - August 26-30, 2015
National A Horse Shows:
November Harvest Classic - November 6-9, 2015
For the full event schedule click here.
Horse Show Contact:
For information prior to shows:
E-mail: [email protected]
Call: (603) 748-1027
For information during shows:
Call: (717) 359-5357
Media Contact:
Emily Riden
Phelps Media Group
[email protected]
(717)368-8102
12012 South Shore Blvd., Suite 201
Wellington, FL 33414
www.PhelpsMediaGroup.com
Website:
www.swanlakehorseshows.com