Thursday, August 25, 2011

Jumping: Fieldstone: Halifax: Charlie Jacobs Goes One-Two in $7,500 Open Welcome Stake at Fieldstone Summer Showcase

Halifax, MA - August 24, 2011 - The Fieldstone Summer Showcase hosted its first major class of the week on the Grand Prix Field with the $7,500 Open Welcome Stake. Charlie Jacobs of Boston, MA, rode Leap of Joy to first place in the class and was second on Flaming Star. The Fieldstone Summer Showcase features top hunter/jumper competition at their beautiful facility in Halifax, MA.

Today marked the second day of competition for the Fieldstone Summer Showcase, which will now run through Saturday, August 27. The MHJ Finals will run at the same times and in the same rings but now on Saturday instead of Sunday. The $25,000 Herb Chambers Companies Grand Prix start time has been moved to noon on Saturday, August 27 (from 3 p.m.). The $7,500 Herb Chambers Companies Speed Stake has been moved to Friday, August 26, at approximately 11 a.m. (from Saturday).

In today's class, Jacobs rode both horses with no faults in the opening round. He returned in the jump-off first on Flaming Star and posted another clear round with a time of 43.696 seconds. Six more would follow Jacobs into the jump-off but none were able to catch his time with no faults.

Jacobs bested himself when he entered the ring on his second horse, Leap of Joy. They were clear and very quick through the rollback turns over the course designed by Eric Hasbrouck. Jacobs and Leap of Joy stopped the timers in 43.556 seconds.


Charlie Jacobs and Leap of Joy
Four more would contest the jump-off, but no other could match his feat. Third place in the class went to DJ Volandre on Tequila, owned by Gina Volandre. They were clear in 45.324 seconds.

Jacobs said he enjoyed competing on the grass field, "I like this field a lot. It's very beautiful. It's really level, and the ground is very forgiving. I enjoy riding out here. It's very nice."

As the Principal & Alternate Governor of the Boston Bruins hockey team, Jacobs is no stranger to competition. He has been a top rider since he was young, and he continues to excel in equestrian sport. With the Fieldstone horse shows, Jacobs feels lucky to have a top horse show "basically in my backyard."

He added with a smile, "I slept in my own bed last night, drove down this morning and rode my horses. I feel very fortunate first and foremost for my string of horses but also to come here and show. My kids showed this morning and this afternoon. My niece is here. It's very much a family affair."


Charlie Jacobs and Leap of Joy with Fieldstone Vice-President Shawn Clawson
Jacobs has owned Leap of Joy, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Lavari, for three years. He purchased the talented horse from top British show jumper Peter Charles and has brought him along through the Low Amateur-Owner Jumpers up to the open classes this summer. This past winter, they were the circuit champions in the High Amateur-Owner Jumpers at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).

"(Leap of Joy) was a young eight so to speak; he was a little green," Jacobs described of his winning mount. "We took our time in the Amateur division and he has been great. He is leading the country for the Show Jumping Hall of Fame standings. He's had a great year. Who knows? Maybe we'll be able to do something even more interesting this winter!"

Flaming Star, a 12-year-old Irish-bred gelding by Fairman, had more experience up to the 1.50m level in the United Kingdom before Jacobs purchased him last winter. "He came with more of a resume than Leap of Joy. He was more established," Jacobs said. "When I got him, I spent time during Florida trying to get to know him in the Low Amateurs, then the Mediums followed by the Highs. He was champion the last week of WEF in the High Amateurs. He did some really great things this summer. He's been really good for us."


Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star
Jacobs is looking forward to showing both horses in the $25,000 Herb Chambers Companies Grand Prix on Saturday.

The Fieldstone Summer Showcase continues tomorrow with a full day of competition in six rings. The highlight classes of the day are the $10,000 Pony Hunter Derby Finals and $10,000 2'9" Hunter Derby Finals on the Grand Prix Field.

Final Results: $7,500 Open Welcome Stake
1.    Leap of Joy, Charles M. Jacobs, Deeridge Farms (East Aurora, NY): 0/0/43.556
2.    Flaming Star, Charles M. Jacobs, CMJ Sporthorse, LLC (Wellington, FL): 0/0/43.696
3.    Tequila, D.J. Volandre, Gina Volandre (Norwell, MA): 0/0/45.324
4.    Apropos, D.J. Volandre, D.J. Volandre (Norwell, MA): 0/0/47.824
5.    Wednesday Morning, Wendy L. Smith, Diane Denby (Somers, CT): 0/0/47.996
6.    Sangre Azul, Elizabeth Kenny, Alvaro J. Lozada: 0/0/48.573
7.    Quipit L.F., Ragan B. Roberts, Ragan B. Roberts (Little Rock, AR): 0/0/49.419
8.    Carisco, Molly W. Ashe, Sarah E. Ryan (Westport, CT): 0/4/43.148
9.    Vienna, David J. Tromp, Beyaert Farm Inc. (North Salem, NY): 0/4/43.245
10.    Valdez, Olivia Jack, Olivia Jack (Fairfield, CT): 0/4/47.228

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!

Eventing: USEF: Pan Am Games: Mandatory Outing for the 2011 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team Set to Begin By Joanie Morris


Lexington, KY - The journey to the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico makes its next eventing stop in Richland, Michigan. Fourteen of the 15 horses currently short-listed by the USEF head to the Midwest to contest their Mandatory Outing at the Richland Park CIC and Horse Trials August 25-28.

The Pan American Games will be contested at the CCI2* level in 2011, which gives many riders who have never before represented the United States the chance to ride on the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the first time. They will contest a modified division made up of the CCI2* dressage test, the Advanced cross country course and an Advanced height show jumping track.

Allie Slusher withdrew her horse Pierre on August 23, which moved Jennifer Taxay Kelly onto the Short list as the first ranked substitute. The second ranked substitute, Matt Flynn, also withdrew Breakthrough from consideration. This leaves 15 horses on the short list, all of which will contest the Mandatory Outing except for Cold Harbor. Boyd Martin and Cold Harbor were excused from the event as Martin prepares Neville Bardos for the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in England next week. Michael Pollard will ride his wife Nathalie's Schoensgreen Hanni at Richland Park before he joins Martin in England to ride Icarus at Burghley.

Both riders received Land Rover Training and Competition Grants to offset the expense of that trip. Please click here for more information:
http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=7434&star=true

Out of the 15 riders on the USEF Short List, three have represented the U.S. at previous
championships. Martin and Buck Davidson were teammates on the 2010 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Davidson has Absolute Liberty, an 8-year-old Thoroughbred cross mare, in consideration for his second Pan American Games. Twelve years ago, Davidson rode Pajama Game to a sixth place finish in Winnipeg. Lynn Symansky rode as an Individual in 2003 at the Pan American Games when they were held at Fair Hill International (in Maryland). She and No It Tissant jumped immaculately to finish 10th. Symansky's next star is Donner. Together they won the Intermediate division at the 2010 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Championships and were fifth at the 2011 Jersey Fresh CCI2*. 

The youngest member of the short list was also the 2009 Gold Medalist at the Adequan FEI North American Young Rider Championships. Maxance McManamy, is only 19 years old, was the 2009 winner of the USEF Junior Equestrian of the Year award. On the field of play she won the 2011 Twin Rivers CCI2* in April with her colorful paint gelding, Project Runway. She is currently recovering from a broken foot.

On the senior end of the equation is Dr. Kevin Keane. Renowned as one of the premiere sport horse veterinarians in the world, he travelled with the U.S. Show Jumping Team in the 1980s and has many of the top eventing horses in the U.S. in his care. An amateur competitor, he has had a hugely successful year with Fernhill Flutter and is poised to make a bid for his first team opportunity.

Anna Collier and Upper Crust D, McManamy and Project Runway, Shannon Lilley and Ballingowan Pizzazz, Tamra Smith on Mar de Amor, Jennifer Taxay Kelly and Jolie Wentworth on Good Knight make up a strong West Coast contingent heading to Richland to vie for Pan Am selection.

Anna Collier and Uppercrust D were second at both the CIC2* at Galway Downs and the CCI2* at Twin Rivers in the Spring of 2011. Lilley was third in the CCI2* at the Event at Rebecca Farm in July, and the following weekend she served as the Chef d'Equipe of the Area VI eventing at the 2011 Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North.  Her Junior Team won Silver.

Smith and Leigh Mesher's Mar de Amor won the CIC3* at The Twin Rivers event in April, Mesher owned Amy Tryon's exceptionally consistent performer, My Beau, whom Mesher rode at the 1998 North American Young Riders Championships and then went on to top placings around the world at the CCI4* level with Tryon.

Taxay Kelly owned Outlawed, the horse with whom David O'Connor was shortlisted for the 2004 Olympic Games and was most recently fourth behind Lilley in The Event at Rebecca Farm's CCI2* with Taboo.

Wentworth and Good Knight were second in last fall's CCI2* at Galway Downs and then fourth in the Event at Rebecca Farm's CIC3* in July.

Emily Beshear and Here's to You head west from their Virginia base. They are long established at this level, having won the CCI2* at Jersey Fresh in 2009. In 2011, they were eighth at the Bromont CCI3*.

Hannah Sue Burnett has been on a roll in 2011. She was second at the Bromont CCI2* on Jacqueline Mars' Harbour Pilot - the horse on which she is short-listed - and placed sixth at the Rolex Kentucky CCI4* presented by Bridgestone on St. Barths. Burnett has been preparing Harbour Pilot, a homebred Irish Sport Horse gelding, all year for this opportunity.

Jonathan Holling and his mother Constance's Downtown Harrison have rocketed through the levels. They have two top three CIC2* placings to their record and were seventh at the CCI2* at the Bromont International CCI - all in 2011. Downtown Harrison has never had a cross-country penalty since his eventing career began in 2009.

Kristin Schmolze has had a long string of success at the upper levels, highlighted by a second place finish at the 2003 Fair Hill International CCI3* with Cavaldi. She and Ballylaffin Bracken look to make their first team together.

Four Facts About the Short List:

Average age of the 15 short-listed horses: 9.6 years
Average age of the riders: 30 years
Total miles travelled to Richland Park: 38,992
Six of them travelled over 2000, Shannon Lilley came the furthest: 2322 miles.

The complete short list as of August 24th:

Emily Beshear/34/Somerset, VA/Here's to You/11/Thoroughbred/G/ Deep Purple Eventing

Hannah Sue Burnett/25/Ocala, FL/Harbour Pilot/8/Irish Sport Horse/G/ Jacqueline Mars

Anna Collier/35/Vancouver, WA/Uppercrust D/10/KWPN/G/ Anna Collier

Bruce Davidson Jr./35/Ocala, FL/Absolute Liberty/8/Thoroughbred Cross/M/Sharon Will

Jonathan Holling/34/Ocala, FL/ Downtown Harrison/7/Trakehner-Thoroughbred Cross/G/ Constance Holling

Kevin Keane/56/Kennett Square, PA/Fernhill Flutter/9/Irish Sport Horse/G/ Kevin Keane

Shannon Lilley/32/Gilroy, CA/Ballingowan Pizzaz/9/Irish Sport Horse/G/ The Lilley Group

Boyd Martin/32/Cochranville, PA/Cold Harbor/11/Canadian Sport Horse/G/ Dana Diemer

Maxance McManamy/19/Templeton, CA/Project Runway/7/Trakehner/G/ Maxance McManamy

Michael Pollard/30/Dalton, GA/Schoensgreen Hanni/8/German Sport Horse/M/ Natalie Pollard

Kristin Schmolze/28/Califon, NJ/Ballylaffin Bracken/11/Irish Sport Horse/G/ Kristin, Janet, and Bill Schmolze

Tamra Smith/36/Murietta, CA/Mar de Amor/11/Selle Francais/G/ Leigh Mesher

Lynn Symansky/28/Middleburg, VA/Donner/8/Thoroughbred/G/Lynn Symansky

Jennifer Taxay Kelly/47/Agua Dulce, CA/Taboo/7/Thoroughbred/M/ Jennifer Taxay Kelly

Jolie Wentworth/30/Martinez, CA, /Good Knight/9/Canadian Sport Horse/ Tracy Bowman

ENDS

The competition runs Thursday-Sunday, please visit: http://www.richlandpark.com/ for complete information and the link to live scoring.