Horse Shows by the Bay Series I Wrap-Up

Traverse City, MI -- It was an exciting win for Ali Wolff and H&M Necoll in Sunday's $30,000 Spy Coast Farm Grand Prix of Traverse City at the 2009 Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival. The pair took top honors in a class of twenty-three entries at the beautiful Flintfields Horse Park in Traverse City, MI, for their first grand prix win together.

Canadian course designer Eve Frisque set the track for the afternoon's class in the Grand Prix Ring and eleven entries went clear over the first round course to jump-off. Four of those entries went double clear and Ali Wolff had two of the double clear rides.

Patricia Griffith and Urnike, owned by Heritage Farm of Katonah, NY, had a double clear round to take the third place prize with their time of 38.092 seconds. Scott Lenkart and Impulsive, owned by MacMillan Sport Horse of Minneapolis, MN, returned and put down an even faster clear jump-off round in 38.074 seconds, which held the lead until Ali Wolff and H&M Necoll entered the ring to push them back into second place.

Wolff and H&M Necoll were the final pair to jump double clear rounds and managed to top Lenkart's time by almost a whole second, galloping through the timers in 37.117 seconds to take the win.

This is Ali Wolff's second grand prix win, which she was very excited about. Her first grand prix win was at the Winter Equestrian Festival in 2007 with her other horse, Lanoo, who she jumped first in the jump-off today.

This is Wolff's first year competing at Horse Shows by the Bay and she will compete again next week before leaving to show in Kentucky for the rest of the summer, and then going back to Florida in the fall where she attends the University of Tampa and shows in the winter.

"I have never even been to Michigan even and I think that it is really nicely done," Wolff said of the show. "The weather is great, the show grounds are well kept and I love it; it is gorgeous here."

Earlier in the morning the competition kicked off for the day with the $2500 NAL/WIHS Adult Jumper Classic in the Grand Prix Ring. North Face Equine Service of Ann Arbor, MI, sponsored the class and the winning cooler and prize money was awarded to Elizabeth Perry and Leroy.

Ashley Reed and Fast Break, owned by Tiffany Hammack, took the top honors in Sunday morning's $2500 NAL/WIHS Children's Jumper Classic, which was sponsored by Phelps Media Group, Inc. International of Wellington, FL.

For more information about the 2009 Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival please visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com.

Jumper Results: Wednesday - Saturday

Hagyard Equine Medical Clinic sponsored the $1,000 1.30m Jumpers in the Grand Prix Ring Wednesday morning as 19 entries showed over the track set by Canadian course designer Eve Frisque. Fourteen of the original 19 entries went clear over the first round course to jump-off, and of those 14, ten went double clear. Patricia Griffith of Katonah, NY, showed her seven-year-old mare Veronieque to the fastest double clear round of the class for the win in a time of 30.805 seconds.

Second place honors were awarded to Oh, So Funny and Dave Dorner, who went double clear in a time of 31.600 seconds. Third place went to Shane Sweetnam and Shakespeare with a jump-off time of 32.062 seconds. Emily Williams and Samba 75 put in a great double clear effort with a time of 32.507 seconds to earn the fourth place ribbon. Dave Dorner and Topliner were the first to show and held the lead with the fastest time of 32.881 seconds for most of the class, but were eventually pushed back to fifth place. Rounding out the top honors, Patricia Griffith rode Chambertina through the timers in 33.101 seconds for sixth place.

The $1,000 1.35m Jumpers also competed over Eve Frisque's course Wednesday afternoon. Fourteen entries showed in the class, but it was the first pair who took the lead and stayed there right from the start. Kyle King and RMW San Friese jumped clear in the first round, went straight to their jump-off course, and made it look effortless as they raced through the timers in 30.280 seconds without touching a rail. The pair's time held up as the fastest throughout the class, and they would eventually earn the victory.

David Beisel and Moet Walk topped a field of eighteen for the win in Thursday's $3,000 NAL Open Jumper Speed class at the 2009 Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival.

It was a demanding course, with the most common refusals and dropped rails coming at the oxer going in to the triple combination. Only four pairs made it through the course without fault, and the fastest of those four was the combination of David Beisel and Moet Walk, who went clear and raced through the timers in 81.130 seconds for the win. Along with the blue ribbon and prize money, Beisel was also awarded a pair of EquiFit boots for his victory.

Ali Wolff rode H&M Necoll to the second fastest clear round, coming through the timers in 81.409 seconds. Third place was awarded to Catherine Pasmore and Callabonna Z, who completed the course without fault in a time of 84.088 seconds. Shane Sweetnam, who piloted Spy Coast Farm's UnaDonja through the course in 85.810 seconds, rode the fourth clear round.

Class winner Moet Walk is a nine-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Harlow Investment Enterprises, LLC. Beisel, of Cincinnati, OH, has had Moet Walk for two years now and started showing him at the grand prix level last year.

This will be the fifth year that Beisel has traveled the eight hours from Cincinnati, OH, to compete at Horse Shows by the Bay. "Dean and Alex put on a great show," he acknowledged. "The footing, the stabling, everything is great."

Fresh off of a win in Thursday's NAL Open Speed class David Beisel and Moet Walk put together another exciting victory in Friday's $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Prix at the 2009 Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival.

David Beisel had two entries in Friday's class and qualified both of his horses for the jump off. He jumped first with Irish Hunt, but had two unfortunate rails and would not place in the money. Following that round however, Beisel entered the ring with Moet Walk, where he was now familiar with the course and still feeling confident from his win with the horse the day before.

Kaitlin Campbell held the winning time for a good portion of the jump-off rounds. Campbell rode Connery 9, owned by Sweet Oak Farm, through the course without fault and galloped through the timers in 43.458 seconds. The pair eventually ended up in second place, however, after Beisel and Moet Walk topped their time.

Kate Reuter was the first to go in the jump-off with her horse Online and also held the lead for several rounds. The pair ended up in third place with their time of 44.014 seconds.

Prior to the Welcome Prix, the Horse Shows by the Bay week one championship was awarded in the 1.25m Jumpers this morning. The division's classes were sponsored by sponsored by Antares Sellier France, and the championship tricolor was presented to Kelley Farmer and Woodstock, who is owned by McLain Ward. The division's reserve championship ended in a tie between Katherine Frame with Double Delight, and David Beisel with Gregory.

The 1.30m Jumpers also awarded their championship for week one with the tricolor going to Kyle King and Paola. There was another tie for reserve champion with Patricia Griffith aboard Veronieque and David Beisel riding Patoile earning the same number of points. Hagyard Equine Medical Institute of Lexington, KY sponsored the 1.30m Jumper classes.

The High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper championship was awarded to Tiffany Hammack riding Look Again after the division's three days of competition. Following close behind for the reserve championship was Pacific Beach-H.C. and Catherine Pasmore.

The Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper classes were sponsored by Northern Pines Farm of Maple City, MI, this week. The division's championship was awarded to Tiffany Hammack and Bull Run's Carrera Z, while Ashley Romano and Carabik Louis took home the reserve championship.

Seventeen-year-old Catherine Pasmore of Charlottesville, VA, rode to victory in the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame (SJHOF) Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic with Callabonna Z on Saturday at the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival.

A field of 16 showed in Saturday's $10,000 SJHOF Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, which was sponsored by Flintwoode Farms, LLC. The class showed over a track set by Canadian course designer Eve Frisque, and after the initial round of competition, six entries went clear to jump-off.

The jump-off course featured long gallops across the large Grand Prix Ring to start and finish the course and had a sharp rollback turn from fences three to four. Six horse and rider combinations jumped off, and of those six, Catherine Pasmore and Laura Pfeiffer each had two mounts. The two girls ended up taking the top four ribbons, but it was Pasmore and Callabonna Z, owned by Pasmore Stables, LLC, who raced to the victory with the fastest clear jump-off round in a time of 32.572 seconds.

The $5,000 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic was also held Saturday morning prior to the SJHOF Classic. The Grand Traverse Resort and Spa sponsored the class, and it was Kaitlin Campbell and Sienna, owned by Spy Coast Farm, who rode away with the victory.

Hunter Results: Thursday - Sunday

Thursday at the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival riders competed for top honors in the professional hunter divisions at the Flintfields Horse Park. After two days of competition Emily Williams and Andiamo earned the Grand Champion Working Hunter award, sponsored by Equestrian Endeavors, while Kelley Farmer captured the Grand Champion Conformation Hunter title, also sponsored by Equestrian Endeavors.

Williams and Andiamo, owned by Brad Wolf, competed in the Regular Working Hunter division, sponsored by CHFarm LLC, where they won the championship prize after earning two first place ribbons, two second place ribbons, and a fourth place ribbon. Williams also earned the Regular Working Hunter reserve championship award for her ride aboard In the Black, owned by All Seasons Farm. Williams and In The Black placed first in the under saddle and the second class over fences.

Kelley Farmer and Upshot also topped Thursday's hunter standings, earning the Grand Champion Conformation Hunter prize after winning the Conformation Hunter championship award. The pair earned four of the division's blue ribbons and two red ribbons. Tammy Provost and Park Avenue followed with the reserve championship ribbon after placing first in the model and the third class over fences.

Earlier in the day Peter Pletcher and Argentum earned the Second Year Green Working Hunter championship tricolor. The pair earned two first place ribbons, a second place ribbon, a third place ribbon, and a fourth place ribbon. Following with the reserve championship award was Peridot, ridden by Kara Raposa.

Sari Clapperton and Ivory Coast earned the first championship prize of the day during the First Year Green Working Hunter division. The pair won the under saddle class, and earned two second place ribbons, a third place ribbon, and a fourth place ribbon in the over fences classes. Peter Pletcher and Portofino followed with the reserve championship honors after earning a first place ribbon, two second place ribbons, and two fifth place ribbons.

The third day of competition at the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival began Friday in the Polk Family Main Hunter Ring with the ASPCA Maclay and the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal classes. The blue ribbon during the ASPCA Maclay was awarded to Miranda Travers-Cavill for her ride aboard Linkin, while Friday's win in the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal was presented to Rachel Schnurr and Landor 17. The Horse Shows by the Bay series will continue through Sunday, August 2, at the scenic Flintfields Horse Park.

Riders competing in the ASPCA Maclay were first asked to compete over a course of eight fences, including a broken line and a two-stride line. All riders without major faults during the jumping portion were asked to return for the under saddle portion of the class, where the judges asked them to show at a walk, trot, canter, and lengthen at the canter down the quarter line.

After successfully completing the jumping portion and the under saddle portion of Friday's class, Canadian-native Miranda Travers-Cavill and Linkin took home the blue ribbon. Julia Lourie and Markus followed in second place, while Cara Monforton and Justin placed third.

Following the ASPCA Maclay, twenty-nine juniors competed in the Pessoa/USEF Medal. Riders competed over a similar jumping course with singles, broken lines, and a two stride, and the top four were called back to test. The test asked riders to canter directly to the first fence, trot the second fence, hand gallop to an oxer, walk four steps, counter canter the final fence, and return to the line-up at a sitting trot.

All four riders successfully completed the test, but Rachel Schnurr and Landor 17 had the winning round. Cassie Moffatt and Pop-Socks were awarded the second place ribbon, while Lacey Gilbertson and Cannoli earned the third place award, and Caitlin Ziegler and Veto followed with the fourth place honors.

English Riding Supply of Scranton, PA donated both first place prizes; Travers received an embroidered Centaur Show Pad for her Maclay win and Schnurr took home a Pessoa Bridle for winning the Pessoa/USEF Medal.

It was a dramatic end to Saturday's $15,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby as Patricia Griffith and North Country and Lillie Keenan and Genuine both received overall scores of 373. Their tie was broken by Griffith's round two score, where her decision to take the higher options and make the tight inside turns paid off and she received all ten bonus points from both pairs of judges. Griffith and North Country led the night's victory gallop at the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival at Flintfields Horse Park, while Keenan and Genuine followed in a close second.

Thirty-five riders competed in Saturday's main event in the Grand Prix Ring, which got underway at 5 p.m. Course designer Dean Rheinheimer set a challenging track that included a bank jump, a snake fence, and an in-and-out option, as well as options for inside turns.

The twelve riders with the highest scores from the first round were asked to return for the handy round. After the first round Griffith and North Country held the fourth place position, and Griffith knew she would have to be bold again to take over the lead. Griffith chose to do the higher in-and-out option and also did the difficult inside turn that followed. Her decision paid off when she received ten bonus points from both judging teams, for a score of 195 and a total of 373 to take over the lead.

Twelve-year-old Lillie Keenan galloped into the ring next aboard Genuine, who held the second place position after the first round. The pair laid an excellent track, taking all of the high options, and received a score of 185. Keenan and Genuine's two-round total was 373, creating a tie with Griffith. All overall ties are broken by the team one judging score from the second round, which placed Griffith just ahead of Keenan in the standings.

The final horse on course was last year's winner, Peridot, with Kara Raposa in the irons. They also had a very good trip, but they were not handy enough to catch Keenan and Griffith. The pair received a score of 177 for a total of 366 and finished in the third place position, securing Griffith's victory.

During the handy round Griffith really had to put the pressure on the riders that followed her and having ridden the course first with Valedictorian helped her make a plan with North Country. "I knew I had Kara and some great riders behind me so my plan was to jump the high options," she noted. "On my first horse I jumped the lower one and snuck inside that oxer and after I did it on the first horse I was like 'maybe I can still go inside'. It was dicey but I knew I had to take a shot."

Taking the shot paid off for Griffith, as she was the only rider to receive all ten bonus points for handiness from the judges. "That's what won the class," admitted Griffith. "Lillie and I tied, so had I not done that and jumped the bigger one I would have gotten second and wished I'd jumped the bigger one."

Five Star Tack of Holicong, PA donated a custom bridle to the winner of the night's $15,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby, Patricia Griffith and North Country. There was also a beautiful complimentary exhibitor party catered by Outback Steakhouse which was sponsored by Hillside Farm and Friends - Bloomfield Hills, MI; Rush and Carl Weedon of Brookwood Farm - Lake Bluff, IL; and Outback Steakhouse Traverse City, MI.

Sunday marked the final day of competition during the Horse Shows by the Bay Series I at the scenic Flintfields Horse Park. Caitlin Ziegler and Winter Place took home Sunday's top honors, receiving the Grand Champion Junior Hunter award after earning the Small Junior 15 and Under Hunter championship tricolor. Aleena Bobich and News To Me also topped Sunday's results, earning the Grand Champion Children's Hunter Award after garnering the Children's 15-17 Hunter championship prize and winning the $1000 NAL/WIHS Children's Hunter Classic. The Horse Shows By the Bay Equestrian Festival will continue through August 2 with more exciting hunter, jumper, and dressage action.

The Junior Hunter divisions began competing Saturday, and after two days of competition Ziegler and Winter Place took home the Grand Champion Junior Hunter Prize and the Small Junior 15 and Under Hunter championship award. The pair earned three blue ribbons, a red ribbon, and a yellow ribbon. Lillie Keenan and Genuine followed with the division's reserve championship award.

Ziegler was also very pleased with the performance of her second Junior Hunter mount, Casanova. The pair earned a first place ribbon and two second place ribbons to capture the Large Junior 15 and Under Hunter championship award. The reserve championship honors were presented to Lillie Keenan for her ride aboard Valedictorian.

Aleena Bobich and News To Me also had success early during Sunday's competition. The pair began by earning the Children's 15-17 Hunter championship award and the Grand Champion Children's Hunter award. The pair then proceeded to win the $1000 NAL/WIHS Children's Hunter Classic.

Victoria Press also had a successful day at the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival, winning the $1000 Pony Hunter Classic, sponsored by the Gochman Family, with her medium pony Hands Up. The pair received a first round score of 87 and a second round score of 85 for a two round total of 172.

The final division to finish for the day was the Adult Amateur 18-35 Hunters, where Emily Wygod and New Zealand earned the division's championship honors and the Grand Champion Adult Amateur Hunter award.

Equestrian Endeavors generously donated the beautiful coolers for the Grand Championship awards this week.