San Juan Capistrano - April 19, 2010 - Turnout for the third and final week of the Blenheim Spring horse show series was again fabulous. Spectators and exhibitors alike enjoyed watching both the $10,000 The Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby on Friday afternoon and the $35,000 Blenheim Spring Classic III Grand Prix late Saturday afternoon. The Derby festivities, including wine and cheese during the final round and a post-Derby party with guest DJ John Huntington of A&E’s Inked, put the icing on a perfect horse show weekend.
Hundreds gathered on the hill and in the VIP Tent for the Friday afternoon hunter derby, honoring Arthur Hawkins. After two rounds of competition, Parker, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood, ridden by Katie Gardner led the victory gallop for owner Caroline Miguelez. Gardner, an emerging professional, nabbed her first USHJA International Hunter Derby win which further adds to her impressive achievements from her days as a junior rider, such as winning medal finals. The rest of the top five included Jenny Karazissis on Forbes, Melissa Doddridge on Best Man, and Nick Haness on two entries, Gelato and Catwalk.
Thirty-five entries competed in the $35,000 Blenheim Spring Classic III Grand Prix. Veteran jumper judge, technical delegate and course designer Jack Robson designed a track that posed a variety of questions with seven pairs proceeding to a shorter jump-off round. Only one rider on two horses produced double-clear scores, as Ireland’s Jennifer Crooks had a one-two finish with her gray mares S.F. Uryadi and S.F. Tin Tin, respectively.
Close on Crooks’ heels was Michelle Parker. She had a faster jump-off time but just one knockdown kept her from taking over the first place prize, ending up in third place aboard Socrates de Midos. Consistent competitor John McConnell managed another excellent finish with partner Katie Riddle and their four-fault jump-off score was good enough for fourth place. Fifth-place finisher was acclaimed show jumper Hap Hansen with His Horse. The other two riders to join the jump-off were 17-year-old Paris Sellon, who took sixth place with her own Troyes, and Jenni Martin-McAllister rode to the seventh place finish with Riptide.
Join Blenheim EquiSports again next month for the Showpark of San Diego series, starting with the “A” rated Showpark Spring Festival, April 29-May 2. The following week is the Showpark Ranch & Coast Tournament, featuring another $10,000 The Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby on Friday, May 14 at 4:00 p.m. And don’t miss The $50,000 Grand Prix of California, presented by Mary’s Tack and Feed, which will run the day after at 3:00 p.m. with a demonstration by the San Diego Polo Club opening the event.
ENDS