Simi Valley, CA—Making a name for herself among the top riders at the 2004 FEI Children’s International Jumping Final, Jennifer Stillman of Beverly Hills, CA, rode Masterpiece’s Montero (Bay Hanoverian gelding) to a second place finish at the Final competition November 28, giving champion Daniel Bluman of Columbia a real run for the title.
"At first, my goal was just to go clean and when it came down to the final, I knew I had to go out there and I had to do good," says the 14 year old Stillman. "There were so many people and I really like pressure. It motivates me to do better."
If it was pressure she wanted, she got it. With attendance topping 6,000 for this first-ever California event, Stillman came within seconds of a first place finish in the final jump-off. "Everybody thought I won and I thought I won because I was so fast," says Stillman, who’s been riding since she was 11 months old. "I was disappointed, but it was really good that I got in the top three and I got invited to go to Germany for the Friendship Cup over the summer."
A total of 32 riders representing 14 nations qualified for the ninth annual FEI Children’s World Jumping Final, at competitions held across the world. Their ages range from 12-14, but don’t let the numbers fool you. They’re fast movers, and quick to adapt. They have to be since many of them compete on borrowed horses. Only the top 16 riders made it to the Final on Sunday—the other 16 competed in the Farewell, a consolation final. United States rider Paige Dotson of Laguna Hills, CA, rode Lancelot (Grey Holsteiner gelding) to the first place slot in that competition.
"I really wanted to go clean and fast," says Dotson, also 14 years old. "I remember galloping down to the last jump and just hoping I wouldn’t take it down. It means a lot to me. It was a great way to end the year for me. It was a very tough competition and the other riders were very good."
Top Finishers in the Farewell Competition
Rider, Country, Horse. Faults, Time
1. Paige Dotson, USA, Lancelot, 0 faults, 63.16 seconds
2. Amanda Knowles, CAN, Houdini, 0 faults, 67.75 seconds
3. Lisa Narraway, CAN, Genoa, 0 faults, 73.55 seconds
4. Stacey Yocum, USA, Player, 3 faults, 89.96 seconds
5. Karl Cook, USA, Mandell, 4 faults, 63.68 seconds
6. Paige Kirwin, USA, Even Keel, 4 faults, 65.43 seconds
7. Damian Scrignna, ARG, Savanna Z, 4 faults, 80.87 seconds
8. Alexabdre Dieu, FRA, Solo, 5 faults, 83.16 seconds
Top Finishers in the Final Competition
Rider, Country, Horse, Faults, Time
1. Daniel Bluman, COL, Lorin, 0-0 faults, 40.24 seconds
2. Jennifer Stillman, USA, Masterpiece’s Montero, 0-0 faults, 42.34 seconds
3. Julie Weisz, USA, Timor, 0-4 faults, 35.61 seconds
4. Taylor Flury, USA, Caribou Coffee, 0-4 faults, 37.36 seconds
5. Richard Neal, USA, Rocca, 0-4 faults, 39.97 seconds
6. Ashlee Hausberger, S. AFR, Green Sleeps Classic 4 faults, 68.03 seconds
7. Aurora Griffin, USA, Savvy, 4 faults, 70.05 seconds
8. Alexandr Borisov, RUS, Sbrutsch, 8 faults, 68.02 seconds
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