To watch an interview with Charlie Jacobs about his win, please click here: http://www.youtube.com/USEFNetwork.com.
The grand prix hosted 23 entries, and they competed over a course designed by Eric Hasbrouck. Heavy rain began halfway through the class, but it did not affect the horses and riders as five found the way to a clear round to advance to the jump-off. "I thought Eric did a great job with the course today. It was fair and asked the right questions for the field that was entered," Jacobs commended.
The first to return in the jump-off was Adrienne Sternlicht of Darien, CT, on Oreade des Dames, owned by Andres Rodriguez. They had eight faults in a time of 40.804 seconds and finished in fourth place. Katie Cox of Conroe, TX, and Sacramento N also accumulated eight faults, but with a slower time of 42.457 seconds, they placed fifth.
Jacobs and Flaming Star, a 12-year-old Irish-bred gelding by Fairman, took to the field next and posted the first clear round. Jacobs had a smooth, quick round where all the the jumps came up right out of stride, and he easily set the winning pace at 37.787 seconds.
"With five clear, I was fortunate to go third," Jacobs acknowledged. "I had the opportunity to watch a few and see how the lines might ride. I changed my plan a little bit. I had planned on taking numbers out, even to the two-stride. But I thought that probably wasn't necessary. I still tried to be smooth. My horse was really listening well today. We had a nice collaboration working."
Kristen Bumpus of Concord, MA, and Cupid were able to shave split seconds off of Jacobs' time in 37.455 seconds, but it came at the expense of four faults for third place. David Tromp of North Salem, NY, was last to go on Zidane Z, owned by Bayeart Farm Inc. They opted for a slow, clear round in 47.258 seconds for second place.
This was the first grand prix win for Jacobs and Flaming Star, a horse that he has only been riding since this past winter. "I was fortunate to have this horse to show here. I had a really lucky week," he mentioned. "We did show at Traverse City and he almost won both grand prix classes, but we were still working some kinks out. It feels like we've gotten them straightened out."
What Jacobs has worked on with his horse included finding the right tack. "He's a big horse, and he doesn't look like a sensitive horse, but he actually is quite sensitive. Whether it was the right bridle, or spur, I went in the middle of everything today and it seemed to really have clicked with him. He didn't feel offended by my hand or my leg. He was happy to work under those circumstances, and that was really nice," Jacobs explained.
Jacobs was excited to win his second class of the week at a horse show just outside his hometown of Boston. "It feels awesome to win, I'm so jacked!" he said with a smile. "We had a great week. Winning the Welcome and then winning the grand prix, that rarely ever happens. I couldn't be happier."
The first class on the Grand Prix Field this morning was the $5,000 Children's/Adult Jumper Classic. Alissa Kinsey of Atkinson, NH, was victorious on Grisset. Second place went to Pikpardin, ridden by Addison Gierkink for Wesley Gierkink of Harpswell, ME. Patriot K and Jenny Swanson, who rode for Kim Farlinger Stables, was third.
$25,000 Herb Chambers Companies Grand Prix Final Results
1. Flaming Star, Charlie Jacobs, CSJ Sporthorses LLC (Wellington, FL): 0/0/37.787
2. Zidane Z, David Tromp, Beyaert Farm Inc. (North Salem, NY): 0/0/47.258
3. Cupid, Kristen Bumpus, Kristen Bumpus (Concord, MA): 0/4/37.455
4. Oreade des Dames, Adrienne Sternlicht, Andres Rodriguez (Boca Raton, FL): 0/8/40.804
5. Sacramento N, Katie Cox, Katie Cox (Conroe, TX): 0/8/42.457
6. Wriomf, Judy Garofalo Torres, Jolly Group (Dover Plains, NY): 2/80.901
7. Tequila, DJ Volandre, Gina Volandre (Norwell, MA): 4/66.807
8. Leap of Joy, Charlie Jacobs, Deeridge Farms (East Aurora, NY): 4/71.078
9. Peaches, Jean Sheptoff, Jean Sheptoff (Waltham, MA): 4/73.582
10. Gideon, John Holmes, John Holmes (New Hope, PA): 4/74.410
11. Caloux Z, Caitlin Venezia, Christian Woschenko: 4/75.747
12. Quadrophenia, Caitlin Venezia, Holly Hill Farm (Marston Mills, MA): 4/76.016
The winner of the MHJ Junior Medal Final was 16-year-old Michael Janson of Berkeley, MA. Janson rode Fortune Cookie, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood. This was his second time competing in the MHJ Junior Medal Final; he placed fifth last year.
Janson spoke of what he has worked on since last year that helped him gain victory. "I think I have an ability now to ride him smoothly. He's a big horse and he's really long. I've learned to keep my body quiet because I'm a taller rider. It's just been getting that consistency in being smooth."
Adeline Audette, a barnmate of Janson's, placed second. The 16-year-old from Fall River, MA, rode Barnabee, who came back from colic surgery last winter. "He picks favorites and he's really sensitive, but he's a really good boy. He's come a long way, which is really exciting. I'm really proud of him," she said.
Both Janson and Audette, along with Devon Wood, Hannah Janson, and Elizabeth Kenny, who placed third through fifth, train with David Olinyk of Olinyk Show Stables.
Janson and Audette were kept in the ring for a test after the flat phase of the class, and they were asked to switch horses and jump the first five jumps of the original course. It was the first time that Janson had switched horses in a test before. "I've ridden with Addie for four years and I've never had the pleasure to ride her horse," Janson said. "She's been beating me for years now! It seemed like he liked the forward ride with a lot of leg. I thought it went well. I thought she rode my horse quite well also."
Audette added, "His horse was awesome. I've never ridden him before, but he's basically what I expected him to go like. I've seen him go a lot. This was a good experience to get to switch horses with a horse I've never ridden before. It's good preparation for the bigger finals this year."
Janson was pleased with his win going into the fall indoor season and the equitation finals. "We like to call this the Massachusetts Olympics because it turns out to be such a big deal for everyone here. It was a lot of fun," he said.
Mary Davis of Neeham, MA, took a chance today and it paid off. With her own horse injured, Davis leased a horse for the day to compete in the MHJ Adult Medal Final Over 30 and persevered through a jumping round and flat phase for the win.
"Getting on a new horse for the first time while it was raining was difficult, but my trainer, Christy McCormack, worked with me through it. Once we got out there, he perked up his ears and went forward and I saw the distances," Davis said. Davis rode Epic, owned by Keira Mahoney and trained by Mary Beth McGee.
McCormack added, "Mary fought really hard to get everything done. He isn't her typical ride. She is such a strong competitor that she was able to go out there and get it done."
After finishing second the past two years, the win was especially satisfying for Davis. "It's a tremendous feeling. I love these finals. I typically go for the Ariat (Medal Finals) so these local ones are great practice. All my friends are here, I know everyone in the ring, and we've been in there together before," she explained.
Second place in the final went to Karen Salon on Scholar, owned by Carl Catani. Salon also trains with Catani. Kim Miller, who trains with Patti Harnois, rode Presidio and finished in third place.
Haleigh Landrigan of Marshfield, MA, took home the win in the MHJ Adult Medal Final 18-30. She rode her horse her horse Casper, aka "Huey," a 12-year-old Warmblood gelding she has only ridden for six months. "He's easy to ride, but he's very lazy," she said with a smile. Landrigan trains with Greg Prince and Cookie DeSimone.
Anna Whitman and Optimus Prime, owned by Nancy Murphy, rode to a second place finish. Whitman trains with Kathy Fletcher. Julie Gildea, who trains with Patti Harnois, rode Lincoln Russell's Gandhi to third place.
This was Landrigan's first time competing in the Adult Finals, but she competed in the MHJ Junior Medal Final. "I think it's a lot more fun in the adults because it's a lot less stressful," she said. "I didn't ever really like jumping 3'6". I like jumping three-foot better."
Landrigan noted, "I liked my first round a lot, but I didn't like my test! I could have improved on my trot jump, which has always been my weakness."
Winning the Adult Medal Final was "a big relief" for Landrigan. "It feels very, very good to win. My sister Kelsey won two years ago, so I wanted to follow in her footsteps," she remarked.
Madison Sachs won the Short Stirrup Medal Final riding her horse Tiger Lily, a sixteen-year-old purebred roan Welsh Cob. Sachs has been riding Tiger Lily for two years and this was their first final together. Sachs will turn thirteen this October. She will be a seventh grader at Mount View Middle School in Holden, MA, where Sachs is from. She trains with Fifi Schmidt. Second place went to Nina A. Rotondo riding her horse Holland Hill trained by Kris Thomson. Third place went to Taylor Goodridge riding Belle De Jour owned by Gina Virga and trained by Fifi Schmidt.
Marissa Cintolo won the Children's Medal Horse Final riding Loverboy who is sixteen years old and owned by Barbara Alexander. Cintolo leased "Julien" for the summer when her horse went lame. Cintolo just turned sixteen and will be a Junior at King Philip Regional high school in Wrentham, MA, where Cintolo is from. She trains with Cindy Van De Meer at Saddle Rowe in Medway, MA. Second place went to Danielle Barretto riding Tuff Lacin Mi Boots owned by Debbie Barretto, who is her trainer. Third place went to Kendra Gierkink riding her horse Limerick and trained by Kristen Bumpus.
Shana Johnson won the Adult Mini Medal Final riding Jondolar de la Monteleon who is fourteen years old. Johnson has owned him since he was eight. Johnson hails from Scituate, RI, and trains with Karen Johnson at Hidden View Farm in Carolina, RI. Second place went to Emily McGuirk riding her horse Follow That Dream and trained by Trina Baker. Third place went to Alexandra Leonard riding her horse He's Just My T Smooth and trained by Courtney Hazelton.
Ashley Ann Lavoie won the Children's Medal Pony Final riding Tommy, a seven-year-old roan Welsh pony owned by Lynsey M. McCarthy. Lavoie just turned twelve years old and will be going into seventh grade at Sutton Middle School in Sutton, MA where Lavoy is from. She trains with Cookie DeSimone at Woodridge Farm in Sherborn, MA. Second place went to Alexa Casale riding Woodland's Moon Fox owned by Sarah Warden trained by Cookie DeSimone. Third place went to Ilaria Lentrichia riding her horse Portfolio trained by Dina Patnaud.
Sophie Lenihan of Hingham, MA won the Mini Medal Final riding her horse Honor Roll who is an eight-year-old bay warmblood. Lenihan is thirteen years old and will be going into seventh grade at Milton Academy in Milton, MA. She trains with Carl Catani at River Wind Farm in Pembroke, MA. Second place went to Elisabeth Moraski riding Indian owned by Amy B. Gurney who is her trainer. Third place went to Elizabeth Anderson riding her horse Top That and trained by Amy Gurney.
Today was the conclusion of competition at the Fieldstone Summer Showcase. Fieldstone Equestrian thanks their exhibitors for a wonderful show and looks forward to welcoming them back for 2012.
Conveniently located just 28 miles south of Boston in the heart of southeastern Massachusetts, The Fieldstone Equestrian and Show Facility is bar none in the New England region. The outstanding competitions provide a great opportunity for riders, owners, and trainers to experience something new and different from their standard horse show destinations. This beautiful, scenic facility is the perfect option for competitors looking to give their horses a breath of fresh air and compete in a beautiful, relaxed environment. Centrally located, the horse show is easily accessible from Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and anywhere in the northeast region.??
The stunning show grounds offer competitors, guests and spectators beautifully manicured grounds, miles of trails and an exhibitor friendly atmosphere. The facility boasts nearly 100 acres, equipped with nine all-weather show rings by GGT footing, permanent and temporary stabling, ample parking, and a beautiful all-grass Grand Prix field. Renovated in 2009, this field is a world-class venue for the facility's premier classes. With show schedules boasting over $100,000 in cash and prizes and great exhibitor parties and events, these horse shows are not to be missed!??
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