Aaron Vale of Aiken, SC, riding for Angelstone Farms claimed another victory on board the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Arriscraft Soleil with double clear rounds on November 20 over a field of 36 competitors in the $40,000 National Hunter Jumper League (NHJL) Grand Prix sponsored by Bayer/Legend. A first-round time of 88.158 seconds assured Vale a return spot in the jump-off. Their second clear round time of 43.024 seconds put them in the winner's circle. Vale had a total of six mounts for the event, with two making it into the final round.
Course designer Anthony D’Ambrosio’s 16-fence layout was a fair and interesting challenge for this level of riders. The rough spot appeared to come at the finishing 13a/b combo where several horses seemed to have just run out of steam and picked up faults.
Amy Millar and Sweet Dreams, owned by Jeeb’s Creek Investment, finished second with a clear jump-off time of 44.672 seconds. Coming in third was Pablo Barrios aboard the popular Wildcat for owner Juan Carmona with a clear jump-off of 45.297 seconds. Fourth was Kylee Jo Johnson aboard Derek and Anita Petersen’s Landintendant with a clear second round time of 45.485 seconds. And finishing out the top five was Amy Millar with Costa Rica Z for the Millar Brooke Farm jumping clean in 45.609 seconds.
In the $15,000 NHJL Junior Amateur Owner Jumper Classic, also sponsored by Bayer/Legend, 21 of the top-rated up-and-coming competitors in the country took on the 15-jump challenge, again offered by D’Ambrosio. Eighteen-year-old Melissa Rudershausen of Kennett Square, PA, decided to make her swan song as a junior the best possible. She took first and second place with her entries Prins, a bay 13-year-old gelding, and Cowboy, her 11-year-old chestnut gelding. Jumping into third was Lila Sessums and Continental B, followed in fourth by Laura Linback with Mohawk Du Clair Du, and coming back for fifth was Laura Linback and Floyd.
A combination of 44 children and adult riders took the field in Bayer/Legend’s $10,000 NHJL Child Adult Finals. Tackling a very technical 15-jump layout by D’Ambrosio with heights reaching almost four feet, Margaret Reiney and Marshall Dillion, training with Dennis Mitchell of Kimberden Farm out of Corryton, TN, claimed the big check. Second went to Kris Hoffman Kennedy on Quest D’Or, third John Silva with Glory, fourth to Sara Stumberg on Miles, and fifth to Ann Marie Walker with Radio Flyer.
From the hunter divisions, the $5,000 NHJL Junior Classic saw 15 strong riders vying for the judge’s nod. Elizabeth Porath and Hula-Hoop of the Meadow Hill Stable in Campobello, SC, got the recognition and took home the big money. Second was Euri Uchiyama aboard Pharrell, third Lindsay Maxwell with Been Swayed, fourth went to Megan Massaro riding Lasko, and in the fifth spot Lindsay Maxwell again, this time with Tico. And in the $5,000 NHJL Amateur Owner Hunter Classic it was Betty Oare with Starbound scoring the number one spot. Lee Cesery aboard What D’Ya Know placing second, Erin Stewart and Likewise in third, Margaret Camp and The Chairman placed fourth, and Darcy Cooper with Santos finished up the top five.
For further information on the 2005 Atlanta Fall Classic Series and results or the 2006 event calendar, please go to www.classiccompany.com or call the Classic Company office at (843) 768-5503.
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