The 2010 Showplace Spring Spectacular Horse Show Series concluded its third and final week of competition at the scenic Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL. The exciting $100,000 Showplace Challenge Cup completed its final three divisions with wins going to Dana Waters riding Biloxi in the $10,000 Low Junior/AO Finals, Alissa Kinsey riding Grisset in the $10,000 NAL Child/Adult Finals, and Ashley Reed riding Madonna in the $4,000 Modified Child/Adult Finals. The day wrapped up with a fantastic $30,000 Showplace Grand Prix victory for Nick Novak and YB Blue.
Competing over a great track set by renowned course designer Conrad Homfeld, Wednesday's grand prix class saw a total of 25 competitors in the first round of competition. Eight horse-and-rider combinations were able to complete the course fault-free and advance to the jump-off, and the challenging shortened course saw just three clear rounds. Maggie Jayne and Caretina III, Alex Granato and Mad Season, and India Anderson and Gesa were first to attempt the course, but each had one rail down to finish with four faults in fifth, sixth, and seventh place respectively. Nick Novak and YB Blue returned next and were the first pair to go clean in the jump-off with a time of 41.418 seconds.
The fastest four-fault round from Charlie Jayne and Speedy Chicolina came next to place the pair in fourth place. Amelia McArdle and Pilot jumped double clear in 43.482 seconds to finish in third place. John McConnell and Katie Riddle came close, but could not quite beat Novak's time with their clear round in 42.919 seconds, to finish in second.
Winners Nick Novak and YB Blue won their first grand prix together two years ago in the fall, and returned to achieve their second grand prix victory together today. Novak has owned YB Blue for six years, purchasing the eleven-year-old gelding as a five-year-old. Novak rides with trainer Nancy Whitehead and has been competing at Lamplight for many years. Novak has made it his goal this year to be in the top three for the $60,000 Showplace Leading Rider Series Open Jumper division, and will be competing with Showplace Productions at Lamplight and Ledges throughout the summer to achieve that goal.
Just before the exciting $30,000 Showplace Productions Grand Prix commenced, the $10,000 Low Junior/Amateur Finals, sponsored by Pony Lane Farm, crowned Dana Waters and Biloxi with top honors. The pair not only earned the win in today's class but they earned the reserve champion of the Low Junior/ Amateur Owner Jumper division behind Erin Haas and Chianti 67.
Prior to Dana Waters earning her cooler and trophy, Grisset and Alissa Kinsey topped the $10,000 NAL Child/Adult Finals sponsored by WeatherTech.com. The pair not only earned the win in the class but won the championship of the Child/Adult Jumper division.
Competition in the Grand Prix Ring began Wednesday morning in the midst of heavy rains, but riders were able to expertly conquer Conrad Homfeld's course in the $4,000 Modified Child/Adult Jumper Challenge Cup Finals. The class was generously sponsored by Bill Kay Auto Group, and held in a Table II 2(A) format. The day's class saw 11 competitors and seven were able to clear the first round course to jump off. Those seven returned over the shortened course, and it was the last trip of Ashley Reed and Madonna that stopped the clock in 39.570 seconds that earned the day's top prize.
Wednesday's competition concluded the 2010 Showplace Spring Spectacular Horse Show. For results and more information on Showplace Productions horse shows, please, please visit www.showplaceproductions.com.
Jumper Highlights
The Showplace Spring Spectacular III began on Monday morning with the first of three rounds of competition in the brand new $100,000 Showplace Challenge Cup Series. The Challenge Cup features a unique new world cup format, multi-phase event for the jumpers. The phases of the Challenge Cup are pinned independently and riders are able to post additional NAL, M&S, and WIHS points to supplement their winnings from Spectacular I & II. Three qualifying classes were held at the beginning of the week leading up to the Challenge Cup Finals on Tuesday and Wednesday. Faults incurred during only the first round of each of these classes would count towards rider standings, and carried forward to determine the order of go for the championships.
The first day of competition for the Showplace Challenge Cup qualifiers was held Monday morning with class wins going to Erin Nelson, Erin Haas, and Marshall Reed. Illustrious course designer Conrad Homfeld set the tracks for the week's classes and challenged the riders to compete at their best. The $2,500 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers had their first round of competition to start the day, and the class win went to Erin Nelson of Flower Mound, TX, riding Gabriella Z.
Up Next, the $2,500 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers had their first round of competition for the Showplace Challenge Cup. Thirty eight entries showed over the course with many clear rounds, and 16 were able to jump double clear to race against the clock. Erin Haas, of Chelsea, MI, was the rider to win guiding her horse Chianti 67 through the timers in the fastest 36.757 seconds. Dana Waters earned second place with a clear jump-off in 37.366 seconds riding Biloxi. Waters' daughter Hayley took home third place riding Latina to the finish in 37.687 seconds. Amanda Metzler and Fire Cat finished in fourth place in 38.193 seconds, while Haas also took home fifth place honors riding All of a Sudden through the timers in 38.358 seconds.
Completing the day one Showplace Challenge Cup competition, young Marshall Reed guided Juliette, owned by Steve Schaefer, to victory in the $2,500 WIHS Children's Adult Jumper Classic. Seven entries were able to jump clear over the course, and Reed's time of 35.156 seconds with Juliette was the fastest of the day to earn the first place prize. Jessica Miltz and Sentra finished in second with a time of 35.774 seconds, and Alissa Kinsey and Grisset earned third in 36.024 seconds. Naomi Bradley and Kaydin Z finished in fourth, while Audi's Classic Pleasure and Mary Tanner received the fifth place ribbon.
For the last two days at the Showplace Spring Spectacular III, jumper riders have competed in the unprecedented $100,000 Showplace Challenge Cup Series. The Challenge Cup, taking place in the Grand Prix ring at the Lamplight Equestrian Center, featured a world cup format where jumper competitors entered three phases that were pinned independently. Faults incurred during only the first round of each of these classes counted towards rider standings, and carried forward to determine the order of go for the championships. Riders were able to post additional NAL, M &S, and WIHS points during the Showplace Spring Spectacular III.
Tuesday's Challenge Cup Finals were the $15,000 High Junior/Amateur Jumper Finals where Lisa Goldman piloted Morocco to the win and the $4,000 Low Children/ Adult Finals Classic II where Lady Godiva and Samantha Holt took home the sash and rosette. The $15,000 High Junior/Amateur Jumper Finals were generously sponsored by Pony Lane Farm, and the $4,000 Low Children's/Adult Finals were presented thanks to Midwest Neurosurgery and Spine Specialists. Prior to these big events, the Marshall & Sterling Child/ Adult Classic had their second round of Challenge Cup competition where Alissa Kinsey and Grisset rode to the blue.