Aaron Vale and Carlo win the $50,000 Great Lakes Grand Prix at GLEF III. ©Kendall Bierer/Phelps Media Group
Vale was the busiest rider of the grand prix with five horses in contention for the highlight event of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival Week Three. As the first on course, Vale made the technical track appear easy with Bonzini S, owned by Thinks Like a Horse, as the veteran rider navigated the Pierre Jolicouer-designed course with the week two grand prix winner. As it would turn out, only eight horse and rider combinations would proceed to the speed track.
Jolicouer said, "I was very happy with the results. I had 25 horses in the grand prix, and it is good with that number to have about six to eight in the jump-off. It is a different caliber. You want your best horse and rider combination to be on top, but you want your younger ones to learn. Basically, there are three words in course designing: safety, fun and education. If I can get all three of those words said about my course, then I am very happy, and today I believe it worked out well."
Vale was the first to return for the jump-off, but with two other horses qualified aside from Bonzini S, he knew that his first attempt would air on the more conservative side. They rode to a clear and fast speed round in 35.008 seconds, yet it was his second horse, Carlo, owned by Amatoville Enterprises, that would finally take the win they have been waiting for since the winter.
"I got the ride on [Carlo] this winter doing the 1.40m and the Welcome classes in Ocala, and he was very competitive in that," Vale elaborated. "We have steadily moved him into the grand prix, and he has been doing well. He is a real competitive horse, and he has been knocking on the door."
Today that door swung wide open for Carlo, as they laid down a track that would prove unbeatable.
"My first horse, Bonzini S, he is not the nimblest, and I had some trouble getting into the last line," Vale explained. "I had to zig-zag a little, so I lost a little momentum with him. I knew that Carlo was a little nimbler in the tighter turns, and we caught a real nice angle on the third to last fence that took the previous zig-zag out of play. It was just right there to run, so we did."
They broke the beam in an astounding 33.441 seconds, leaving all rails in their cups.
"I know Aaron, he is a serious competitor," Jolicouer described. "He is a winner, and he is going to try to put everything he has got to win. He went early, and there was a lot of pressure on him to win. After he laid down the first clean and fast round, I knew that he was going to have to give it his all to win, and that he would take a few risks to make that happen."
For several weeks, Vale and fellow competitor Amanda Derbyshire have been going neck and neck in the big money classes at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival. Once again, Derbyshire qualified for the jump-off with David and Becky Gochman's Lady Maria BH. Vale knew that she would be hot on his trail, so he could not leave any room for her to make a move and slice the seconds off of his already fast time.
"I knew that Amanda was coming behind me, and she has been pretty slick with that grey mare," Vale laughed. "I already had a pretty good clear in [with Bonzini S], and I saw the tight angle to the vertical. I knew that I would really have to kick to leave it out, and a part of me thought that I shouldn't do it, but I took a good risk there and it opened the door for us to keep the momentum and jump the last two fences clear."
It turned out that Derbyshire was not his most formidable opponent Sunday, but rather David Beisel with the 10-year-old Warmblood Call Me Hannes, owned by Harlow Investment Enterprises, LLC. The pair followed consecutively after Vale, and had the crowd on their feet as they chased his time. The roars of support goaded them on as they raced down the final line, galloping to the final fence, a liverpool oxer, stopping the clock at 34.005 seconds, just shy of Vale's time, but good enough for the second place.
"I could hear the crowd," Beisel said. "With everyone cheering, I ran as fast as I could to the last one. I also knew that I wasn't worried at all for the last jump, as far as being careful, because he was very observant of the water tray in the first round. I knew that he was going to jump up, so we ran all out."
Beisel said, "There were definitely places on the course where you needed to have your horse wait and be patient, and I thought he did that beautifully. I am so grateful to the Harlows for not only supporting me, but also being here to see him earn a good ribbon. I am also thankful to CWD and Antares for their constant encouragement."
With Beisel finishing in second, Vale would earn the first and third place with Carlo and Bonzini S, respectively. The fourth place was awarded to Nick Novak and Climbus for their double-clear effort in 35.436 seconds. Fifth place went to Derbyshire and Lady Maria BH, as the fastest of the 4-fault efforts, while Novak would also pick up the sixth place aboard Dirkie Z.
Previous to the grand prix action on Sunday was the $7,500 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. Isabella Russekoff and Calvero IV, owned by Porter Allen, secured the win in 34.200 seconds, without fault. Finishing in second place was Emily Perez and Paola 233 with a clear jump-off posted in 37.979 seconds. Alliy Moyer Beorn earned the third place finish as the last of the double-clears in 41.113 seconds.
Earlier in the day, the $2,500 East Wind Farm Children's Jumper Classic kicked off the start of the final day of showing in Grand Prix Ring. Thirteen of the original starting field of 27 mastered the opening track, but it was Anika Pirkle and Just a Dream who took the victory in 33.513 seconds. Mimi Gochman trailed Snider by more than two seconds with Lilly BH, capturing the second place in in 35.907 seconds. The third place was awarded to Olivia Parr and Uccella, owned by Oakland Ventures LLC and El Milagro, who posted two clear rounds in 36.935 seconds.
During the $2,500 Adult Amateur Jumper Classic, which comprised of 17 horses and riders vying for the top prize, Olivia Lawton and Cassandra Dreams claimed the top spot. The pair finished double clear in 31.352 seconds to take the win. Lisa Baker and Triple Bar LLC's Zyminka finished in second in another double clear effort laid down in 36.296 seconds, while Madeline Cooley and Rosario LN, owned by Jennifer Santana, took the third place honors, respectively, with no faults in 36.712 seconds.
The $2,500 Modified Children's/Adult Jumper Classic hosted 22 challengers with only two producing double-clear rounds. Olivia Herbert and Lush, owned by Mimi Herbert, rode to the quickest of the two times in 34.539 seconds. Cole Batershall and El Casper, owned by Gut Einhaus, Inc., stopped the timer in 36.998 seconds to take the red ribbon and Missy Rossi and Roccanna, owned by Vincent Rossi, took the third place honors in 35.229 seconds.
GLEF will continue to welcome riders and thrill spectators over the final week of the first summer series, which runs July 27-31, 2016. The jumper highlights will feature the $25,000 Welcome Stake on Friday, July 29, as well as the $50,000 Flintfields Farm Grand Prix, presented by Meijer, on Sunday, July 31.
For more information or to view schedules, please visit mmg.management or www.greatlakesequestrianfestival.com.
RESULTS
$50 000 GREAT LAKES GRAND PRIX PRESENTED BY INGRAM FAMILY
1 1089 CARLO AARON VALE 0 0 0 33.441
2 492 CALL ME HANNES DAVID BEISEL 0 0 0 34.005
3 1075 BONZINI S AARON VALE 0 0 0 35.008
4 1205 CLIMBUS NICK NOVAK 0 0 0 35.436
5 607 LADY MARIA BH AMANDA DERBYSHIRE 4 0 4 34.636
6 1206 DIRKIE Z NICK NOVAK 4 0 4 36.086
7 712 QUALITY ON TOP AARON VALE 4 0 4 36.147
8 104 NIRO 8 LIZ ATKINS 4 0 4 36.583
Maggie Gould Scores Hat Trick in $5,000 Glory Days Farm LLC USHJA National Hunter Derby
Maggie Gould and Drommels. ©Sarah Harper/Phelps Media Group
Week Four of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival concluded with an impressive winning streak in the R.L. Polk Family Main Hunter Ring. Maggie Gould scored a hat trick on Saturday winning the $5,000 Glory Days Farm LLC, USHJA National Hunter Derby for the third consecutive week.
The second place spot went to Caitlyn Shiels aboard Donald Stewart's Cassius, a 16-year-old warmblood gelding. Rounding out the top three was Isabella Russekoff and Chinchilla, a 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Suave Pony LLC.
The first round of the derby saw 28 entries trying to break Gould's winning streak over an Andy Christiansen designed course that gave riders several different high or low options and bending lines. After the first round of competition, it was Gould and Taje Warrick's Drommels, an 8-year-old KWPN gelding who sat in the lead, earning 90 points with an impressive round that included all four high options.
The top twelve riders were invited back to the ring for the handy course, a more technical course with tight inside turn options and a trot fence. Gould returned ninth for the handy round and used the late spot to her advantage.
"There were a couple inside turns that we weren't sure about," Gould said. "I watched a couple of them do the inside turns and he's really good at that so we went inside after the trot jump and he did it really well and I did the inside turn to the last jump and he was super."
Gould was full of praise for Drommels who is new to the hunter ring having competed in the Children's Jumper divisions during this year's Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida.
"He's just a really good hunter, Drommels smiled. "He goes in there every time and he tries his best to win. He gives 110% every time he walks in the ring and he's super handy so it really helps for the derbies."
Gould has not yet decided if she will come back and try for a fourth consecutive win next week, or if she will try her hand at the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by the Gochman Family and Baxter Hill Farm on July 30
Sitting in third place after the first round with a score of 86 that included all four high options, Caitlyn Shiels returned eighth for the handy round. She put in a splendid round that included all four options earning her a score of 88. Cassius had a bit of a rest this week and clearly came back in top form.
"My plan today was just to be really smooth," Shiels said. We gave him the week off from showing and we let him rest up to be ready for today. I thought he came out and performed very nicely. He jumped all the jumps very smooth, he was super."
Shiels complimented the course and its diversity. "I thought it was nice," Shiels said. "I thought there were some really nice lines, there were a couple tricky turns which really made you think about the back side of the jump and really steering, the end jump came up quick both times so I think it was kind of a test for a little bit of everyone.
"We are here one more week," Shiels continued. "My plan for next week is to shoot to do the international derby on the weekend and maybe so some of the Second Year Green classes during the week."
Shiels and the rest of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival competitors are looking forward to a bit of a rest before week four of competitions resumes. Taking advantage of the days off to avail themselves of all the the area has to offer.
"We love Traverse City," Shiels grinned. "Monday is lake day it looks like beautiful weather, we've had a great time and all of our horses and riders have been fantastic up here."
Sunday also saw championships awarded in the Amateur Owner Hunter division. Taking home the championship was Alliy Moyer and Carlson, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding. The pair took first place in both the over fences class, as well as the handy class. The reserve championship went to Olivia Lawton and Gretzky a 14-year-old warmblood gelding.
Week Four of The Great Lakes Equestrian Festival will begin on July 27. Highlights in the Hunter divisions include The $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by the Gochman Family and Baxter Hill Farm on July 30 and the $5,000 Glory Days Farm LLC, USHJA National Hunter Derby on July 31.
Horses are not the only form of entertainment lined up for this year's Great Lakes Equestrian Festival. The festival has teamed up with top musicians and entertainers from around the country to offer fun-filled evenings for this year's concert and dinner series.
The Summer Evenings at Flintfields continues, the Paella Dinner and Farm Feast, as well as a 6 p.m. performance by Josh Davis Trio with Nik Carman, hosted by PorterhousePresents.com. The fun continues on Sunday with the "JustWorld Cheers for Change" and the JustWorld Horseless Horse Show, which will run from 1-4 p.m., and is only $15 to compete. The finale of the first summer series will feature the Gochman Family Ice Cream Social and a Grand Prix Lunch in the Raymond James VIP Tent.
Series Two kicks off on August 10 and runs through August 28 featuring three weeks of hunter and jumper competition with a FEI CSI2* rating Week Five and Six and a FEI CSI3* rating during Week Seven culminating in the $100,000 Grand Traverse Grand Prix on Sunday, August 28. Act now to reserve stabling spots, and do not miss out on the chance to compete during the all-new FEI Great Lakes Equestrian Festival series in August.
The Great Lakes Equestrian Festival is set on 88 beautiful acres and showcases five world-class competition rings in addition to spacious schooling rings. The property features don't stop there as the park offers convenient on-site campgrounds and weekly nights of entertainment for a truly unique attendee experience.
For more information or to view schedules, please visit mmg.management or www.greatlakesequestrianfestival.com.
To view the competition schedule, please click here.
For travel and housing information, please click here.
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Brook Berganza at [email protected].
For questions and comments, feel free to contact [email protected].
2016 GREAT LAKES EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL FAST FACTS
WHEN:
2016 FESTIVAL EVENTS
July 24: $50,000 Great Lakes Grand Prix, presented by the Ingram Family, WTCM Family Fun Day and AC Paw Animal Rescue
July 29: Josh Davis Trio
July 30: $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by the Gochman Family
July 31: $50,000 Flintfields Farm Grand Prix, presented by Meijer
Aug. 14: FEI CSI2* - $50,000 Grand Prix of Williamsburg
Aug. 21: FEI CSI2* - $50,000 Grand Prix
Aug. 28: FEI CSI3* - $100,000 Grand Traverse Grand Prix
Click here for tickets!
WHERE:
Flintfields Horse Park
6535 Bates Road, Williamsburg, MI 49690
Ten miles East from the beautiful resort town of Traverse City.
WHAT:
A seven-week-long hunter and jumper equestrian festival.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Week IV:
$25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by the Gochman Family
Week V:
$25,000 U25 Grand Prix, presented by The Moyer Family
Week VII:
$35,000, $40,000 and $100,000 FEI classes
Weekly:
Glory Days Farm LLC USHJA National Hunter Derby
Week I, II, III and IV:
$25,000 Welcome Stake
$50,000 Grand Prix
Week V and VI:
$35,000 and $50,000 FEI classes
HOTEL, MOTEL, RESORT CONTACT INFO:
Please refer to greatlakesequestrianfestival.com for hotels, campgrounds and home rentals.
For on-grounds camping information, please click here.
SPONSORSHIP, VENDORS, ADVERTISING:
Matt Morrissey - [email protected]
Brooke Berganza - [email protected]
Ainsley Bernstein - [email protected]
ORGANIZER CONTACT INFO AND SHOW INFORMATION:
Traverse City Horse Shows, LLC
1301 Sixth Ave. West Suite 406
Bradenton, FL 34205
941-744-5465
[email protected]
MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd.
Suite 102
Wellington, FL 33414
Tel: 561-753-3389
Fax: 561-753-3386
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.phelpsmediagroup.com