Mother Nature gave exhibitors a fine weather send off for the finale week of the Atlanta Fall Classics. And what a busy week it was with NCE Championships, a $10,000 Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic, $10,000 Children’s and Adults Jumper Classic, and another $25,000 Grand Prix presented by EMO Insurance.

The covered arena at the Georgia International Horse Park played host on Saturday evening to the Equestrian Travel sponsored National Classic Equitation Finals [NCE] with spectators enjoying dinner ringside to all the action. From the original 125 competitors, 84 qualifiers vied for top honors in their respective divisions. Both the winning riders and their trainers were awarded the coveted Classic letterman jackets. “This is just a fun event and a nice way to reward our riders and hard-working trainers,” said Bob Bell of Classic Company. The 2009 National Classic Equitation Champions are:

— Short Stirrup Equitation: Grace Whitlaw riding When In Rome
— Pre-Children/Pre-Adult Equitation: Stella Styslinger riding Toccafinito
— Pony Equitation: Emily Weeks riding Peterpotamus
— Children’s Equitation: Alexa Boggio on Alamo
— Adult Equitation: Sherri Geddes riding Auden
— Amateur Owner Equitation: Meg Keeley riding Black Tie Affair
— Junior Equitation: Chase Boggio riding Nemo

Sunday was a huge day for the jumpers, kicking off the morning with the $10,000 Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic presented by EMO Insurance. A talented group of 19 horses crossed through the in-gate, but when the dust settled it was Navarre D’Olueis and rider Francis Tress Roig claiming the prize with a double fault-free ride. Amanda Dinsmore and Brisco placed second, Dana Waters and Vertigo were third, Amy Jennings aboard Aristide 7 finished fourth, and the fifth position went to Kelsey Thatcher with Klotaire Du Moulin.

Not to leave anyone out, Classic Company sponsored a $10,000 Children and Adult Jumper Classic. Featuring 36 of the best horse-and-rider combinations in the country competing in the Olympic size arena to the cheers of friends and family. Capturing the final spotlight was Hayley Waters taking the top two spots—the win with Rocky and second place with Jordy. Third place went to Anne Gardner aboard Ominstor Ebert, fourth to Hayley Waters and French Kiss, and rounding out the top five was Jennifer Frank with Pax Mundi.

The main event of the day was the $25,000 EMO Grand Prix with 32 major competitors taking on the 14-fence [17 efforts] layout created by Allen Rheinheimer, and he left no space untouched in the vast arena. Not until the 11th in the order, Kyle King riding RMW San Friese, owned by Rocky Mountain Warmbloods, was there a clean ride. King stopped the timers at 91.162. But once again it would be Nicholas Dello Joio and Malcolm rising to the occasion as the duo triumphed for the second consecutive week. “This was the toughest course of the series,” Dello Joio began. “There were problems all over the course to worry about, not just in one spot. After the two stride into the triple bar I got a little bit deeper there than I wanted to and I was afraid his [Malcolm] back feet might skim it so I gave a little growl and he jumped it great,” Dello Joio shared a confession of nerves. Malcolm on the other hand proved he didn’t suffer any nerves with a clean first-round time of 95.838. Despite a generous time allowance of 97 seconds, only seven horses would advance to the final round.

For the grand finale round, Rheinheimer built an eight-effort test of control and speed with the twist being in the middle of the run—a daring double rollback that ask a horse to basically glide or slice across one vertical then navigate a hard right turn and clear a second vertical, all to be accomplished in under 47 seconds. Kyle King set the pace with a second clear ride in 39.566. Dello Joio said, “I was lucky. I got to see Kyle go and he’s such a fast jump-off rider, one of the fastest I’ve ever seen so I was nervous going in after him.” He had no need for worries as he and Malcolm were spot on in matching King’s time over the first obstacles and then cinched their victory with a quicker pace at the rollback to the third fence. Dello Joio said he just put his trust in Malcolm, a wise decision that landed them a triumphant clear time of 37.774. “He just jumped great!” a breathless Dello Joio said.

When the question of “What now?” was posed, a laughing Dello Joio said, “I want to keep showing in Atlanta!” Reality however sets in as he boards a plane bound back to school in Miami. He will get the opportunity to go for another big win when the pair compete in two weeks at the Holiday Shows in Palm Beach, FL.

Official top five results of the EMO Insurance Welcome Prix were:
— 1st Place: Nicholas Dello Joio and Malcolm, owned by Judy Richter
— 2nd Place: Kyle King and RMW San Friese, owned by Rocky Mountain Warmbloods
— 3rd Place: Chuck Waters and 747, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Waters
— 4th Place: David Beisel and Moet Walk, owned by Harlow Investments Enterprises
— 5th Place: Megan Edrick and Cadence, owned by Procedures, Inc.

Clementine Goutal and Kelline Fonroy Kick Off Atlanta Fall Week 2 with Big Win N
New York City native Clementine Goutal opened the second week of the Atlanta Fall Classics by doing what she does best, winning the $25,000 EMO Insurance Welcome Prix.

Goutal was all smiles from the moment she and 12-year-old partner Kelline Fonroy passed through the timers in the final round. It didn’t matter if someone followed with a better time, she was simply happy with her mare. “I’ve had Kelline for five years. We purchased her in France and she was incredibly green,” Goutal began. “We’ve just taught each other everything, we know each other so well, because we’ve just learned together.”

Lessons that paid off nicely as the duo out-rode 37 competitors over the 13-obstacle [16-effort] Allen Rheimheimer first-round layout. With 82 seconds allowed to traverse across the vast Olympic arena, clear a triple bar, followed by the 7ABC combination of vertical-vertical-oxer out, and another double combo at 11AB just in time to take a bending line of #12 vertical then finish over lucky #13 oxer. You could almost hear spectators exhale a breath of relief after each clear ride.

Schuyler Riley riding the Wolfstone Stables and Sales, Inc., entry Navalo De Poheton had the double honor of navigating the course first and posting the first clean ride in 81.005. Goutal and Kelline were the third pair to cinch a spot in the jump-off, with a first-round time of 78.408. Goutal is currently a sophomore at Brown University and confessed her riding and show schedule have been shortened. “I really don’t get to ride much," she said. "I kind of just go from show to show. I only get to show about every four or five weeks.” Asked how that effects nerves on going in somewhat cold, Goutal said, “It’s tough. I really am lucky having two weekends of show and getting about four days to ride because I felt a little bit rusty—a little sticky.” Knowing your horse really well is what she believes is the key to her success. “There’s nothing that we can’t anticipate about each other,” Goutal stated with pride.

Nine other competitors would join Goutal in the shortened 45-second round of six fences requiring seven fast-thinking efforts, including her trainer, Olympic and World Equestrian Games champ, Norman Dello Joio riding Scarface for owner Tony Weight. Once again Schuyler Riley would set the bar as the first to return. She and Navalo De Poheton stopped the clock clean in 33.444. Two riders followed but fell short of dethroning her, enter Goutal and Kelline who turned in another flawless ride to take over the lead with a clear time of 31.501. “I thought it was a really cool jump-off, because there weren’t that many options. For the first line [#1 oxer with a left turn to #4 oxer] everyone was doing eight strides, and I remember while walking it that six [strides] was possible. So while everyone was saying seven possible, I kept wondering, 'Am I crazy to think six?' I told myself, 'No, I’m just gonna trust her,'" the beaming Goutal said. Add to the first line an immediate turn to a tall vertical, then turn to a skinny, a rollback over another vertical on to the double at 11AB and finish with a burst of speed to the last #12 vertical...dizzy yet? People watching were, but the final 10 were calm and determined. “It was so much fun!” Goutal said.

Official top five results of the EMO Insurance Welcome Prix are:
— 1st Place: Clementine Goutal and Kelline Fonroy, owned by Cloverleaf Farm
— 2nd Place: Norman Dello Joio and Scarface, owned by Tony Weight
— 3rd Place: Schuyler Riley and Navalo De Poheton, owned by Wolfstone Stables & Sales
— 4th Place: David Jennings and Marcus Aurelius, owned by Jennings
— 5th Place: Hardin Towell and Boo Van Het Kastanjehof, owned by Towell

For complete results of the Atlanta Fall Classics, please visit www.horseshowsonline.com or call the office at (843) 768-5503.