Mary Lisa Leffler and Paulexi, LLC's Quastor Van De Helle Z clear the CWD oxer on their way to the win in the $25,000 CWD Grand Prix
"We had to add rings and redo the schedule a bit in order for everything to run smoothly. We definitely accomplished that," said Classic Company President Bob Bell. "And, with the wet weather we had on Saturday, we had no choice but to move the CWD Grand Prix to the covered arena," he added.
The move did not dampen the spirits of the exhibitors as eighteen tackled the course designed by International Course Designer Michel Vaillancourt, of Augusta, Georgia. Only four rounds went clean, but it was Mary Lisa Leffler of Brookeville, Maryland aboard
Quastor Van De Helle Z, owned by Paulexi, LLC who took the win with a clean first round in a time of 67.544 seconds and a clean jump off round of 33.622 seconds.
Second place went to Adam Cramer of Pittstown, New Jersey in the irons aboard Equi Sport, LLC's Luke 54. They duo turned in a clean first round effort in 71.553 seconds and a clean jump off round in 35.128 seconds. Devin Ryan of Long Valley, New Jersey rode his own Calissandro to a third place finish after turning in a clean first-round effort in 68.336 seconds and a four fault jump-off round in 33.061 seconds. Frances Land of Alpharetta, Georgia, riding her own Vieanne turned in a fault-free, first round effort in 64.714 seconds but with nine jump faults in the jump-off round, would settle for fourth.
Amanda Flint of Long Valley, New Jersey rode The Coverboy Group's Newlight VDL to a fifth place finish with two jump faults and a time of 73.791 seconds in the first round while fellow New Jersey rider Devin Ryan rode Barbara Rowland's No Worries to a sixth place finish with four jump faults in the first round with a time of 64.723 seconds.
Seventh place went to Collin, owned by Positive-ism, Inc., and ridden by Amanda Wise of New Fairfield, Connecticut after turning in a first-round effort in 67.624 seconds with four jump faults. Eighth place was awarded to Robert Lee of Oldsaybrook, Connecticut riding Brook Run Farm, LLC's El Grecco in a first round time of 68.869 seconds and four jump faults. Ninth place was awarded to Neil Badcock of King City, Ontario, Canada and his own Campino after turning in a first round effort in 69.065 seconds with four jump faults. Tenth place went to Robbie Donaldson of Columbus, North Carolina, aboard his own Ruby Tuesday who jumped the first round in a time of 68.257 seconds with eight jump faults.
$5,000 Open Welcome
The $5,000 Open Welcome Class on Thursday saw some of the top riders in the country tackle the course designed by Michel Vaillancourt. The legendary Joe Fargis of Middleburg, Virginia bested the field and took first place honors aboard Sandron's Lariat in a first round effort of 71.167 seconds and a clean second round in a time of 31.225 seconds.
Second place saw Amanda Flint of Long Valley, New Jersey, in the irons aboard her own and the Coverboy Group's Superbad with a first round effort in 75.018 seconds and a clean second round in a time of 33.143 seconds. Adam Cramer, of Pittstown, New Jersey rode Equi Sport, LLC's Luke 54 to the third placing with a first round time of 71.840 seconds and a clean second round effort in 35.797 seconds.
Fourth place was awarded to Amanda Flint and the Coverboy Group's VDL Zedaldin who turned in a first round time of 76.459 seconds and a clean second round in a time of 35.944 seconds. Lanie Thomas of King City, Ontario, Canada earned a fifth place ribbon aboard Neil Badcock's Albion with a clean first round effort in a time of 71.839 and a clean second round effort in a time of 36.002 seconds. Sixth place went to Mary Lisa Leffler and Paulexi, LLC's Quastor Van De Helle who turned in a clear first round in 72.011 seconds and a second round in a time of 36.343 seconds. Ken Whelihan of Otis, Massachusettes rode Ursula Green's James to seventh place with a first round time of 73.659 seconds and a clean second round effort with a time of 36.751 seconds. Devin Ryan of Long Valley, New Jersey wrapped the class up with the eighth place ribbon riding Barbara Rowland's No Worries in a first round effort of 70.642 seconds and a four fault second round in a time of 31.929 seconds.
Week II of the Atlanta Spring Classic continues this week starting tomorrow and will run through Saturday. The new TAKE2 Thoroughbred Hunter and Jumper Division will highlight the week along with the $5,000 Open Jumper Welcome and the $25,000 Grand Prix scheduled for Friday night.