Temecula, Calif. – Apr. 24, 2022 – The final day of Temecula Valley National Premier I welcomed juniors and amateurs into the Grand Prix Arena for classics at their respective height levels. Beginning at 1.45m, the course was set and athletes attempted to add their names to the list of jump-off contenders to take home the lion’s share of prize money and an automatic entry into the National Equestrian Tournament taking place June 1-5. Olaf Petersen, Jr.’s courses for the day included a vertical-oxer-vertical triple combination, a liverpool oxer, and several tricky bending lines. The course stayed the same for the High and Medium Junior/Amateur classes and was slightly adjusted to a new track for the Low Junior/Amateurs.
Kicking off the day, the $5,000 Mastermind High Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic saw only three clear rides in the first round of competition, leading to a competitive tiebreaker where Jake Endicott found himself in the winner’s circle again, this time aboard Diamant’s Aurora, owned by Pegasus Show Stable, Inc.
The fences were lowered to 1.35m and 31 entries took to the $5,000 Equifit Medium Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic to vie for top honors. With 11 returning on clear rounds for the jump-off, the stakes were high to capture that coveted qualification for the National Equestrian Tournament. Competition was steep in the tiebreaker, with eight of the first nine jumping double-clear rounds, each fighting to beat the quick time of 43.229 seconds set early on by Sarah Cline and Beauwaniki WH. Olivia Schneider and Valdez shaved nearly a second off the leading time and slid into first place with a time of 42.117 seconds. With the final few pairs pulling rails on course, Schneider’s win was solidified and Cline finished second.
Fifty-four athletes took turns in the Grand Prix Arena to contend in the $2,500 Ogilvy Low Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic. Twenty combinations managed to navigate the first round clear, making for an extremely competitive tiebreaker. Setting the pace as just the second pair to go, Olivia Esse and Handyman, owned by Oscany, Inc., galloped home in 37.030 seconds and could not be caught, despite 18 entries coming forth to challenge them. Second place went to Jayme Omand and Napels VH Pannenhof on a double-clear effort with a jump-off time of 37.962 seconds.
The day came to a close in Jumper 1 with the $1,500 Child/Adult Jumper Classic 1.15m, sponsored by Train with Shelby, which welcomed 41 competitors over a Meghan Rawlins-designed course featuring a triple combination and a triple bar oxer to challenge competitors. Only eight combinations jumped double-clear efforts and the win went to Amy Gallagher and Grace Gallagher’s Viva Vinio Z. With this win, Gallagher qualifies for the National Equestrian Tournament.
The National Equestrian Tournament, held during Temecula Valley National III, will offer athletes an opportunity to vie for significant prize money and up the ante for the final week of competition this spring. Today’s winners each earned themselves a spot in the tournament with their wins, but entries can still be purchased for anyone who wishes to participate in the first event of its kind.
Temecula Valley National Premier II kicks off Wednesday with the 1.30m and 1.40m Open Jumpers, followed by the $10,000 1.35m Welcome Stake.
FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE
Olivia Esse – $5,000 Low Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic winner
On Handyman:
“He’s just so much fun. I feel like I can go super fast on him and still be in control. I’ve had him for about a year and a half now. He’s a lot of fun every time we go in the ring. This is our first show back in a while. I usually do the 1.30m on him but we were both a little rusty. Hopefully we can jump a little higher in the future. I work in fundraising for an environmental law firm during the week so I’m not able to practice too much but I’m hoping to show a little more consistently this year and maybe even move up to the 1.40m.”
On her jump-off:
“I knew I had to be fast since there were 20 in it. He has a huge stride so I knew I could leave one out in the first line and be quick around my turns. Those long gallops he can really get going, so overall it was a really good course for us to shine.”
On Nilforushan Equisport Events:
“This is actually my first time at Temecula. I really like it. I’m from Los Angeles so it’s really nice to have somewhere that’s close. I can come out on the weekend. I really like the weekend and everything they have set up. We plan to come back next weekend and then I’m working out my summer plans but I think we’re going to do Traverse City.”
RESULTS
$5,000 Medium Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Faults / R1 Time | R2 Faults / R2 Time
- Valdez / Olivia Schneider / Olivia Schneider / 0 | 76.462 / 0 | 42.117
- Beauwaniki WH / Sarah Cline / Sarah Cline / 0 | 75.830 / 0 | 43.229
- Cooper GH / Katrina Montinola / Katrina Montinola / 0 | 78.327 / 0 | 43.405
- Zirocco / Talise Baker-Matsuoka / Talise Baker-Matsuoka / 0 | 74.953 / 0 | 43.965
- Cayani SN / Emilie Bell / Cloche Farms, LLC / 0 | 70.958 / 0 | 43.755
- Charly-Ann / Sydney Flashman / Sydney Flashman / 0 | 74.865 / 0 | 44.762
- Catomy M / Elizabeth Simpson / Woodgrove Farm / 0 | 75.376 / 0 | 45.072
- Ferrari / Jayme Omand / Jayme Omand / 0 | 75.788 / 0 | 45.317
- NKH Quanto / Madison Nadolenco / Legacy Equestrian, LLC / 0 | 75.665 / 8 | 47.484
- Ce Ce Senior / Carson Cunnings / Carson Cunnings / 0 | 79.745 / 8 | 48.920
- Limitless / Kate Shurtleff / Kate Shurtleff / 0 | 77.333 / 12 | 43.570
- Chico 951 / Anna Jacoby / Anna Jacoby / 1 | 80.447
$5,000 Low Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Faults / R1 Time | R2 Faults / R2 Time
- Handyman / Olivia Esse / Oscany, Inc. / 0 | 75.290 / 0 | 37.030
- Napels VH Pannenhof / Jayme Omand / Jayme Omand / 0 | 73.310 / 0 | 37.962
- BB Cassito / Peyton Krahenbuhl / Peyton Krahenbuhl / 0 | 71.011 / 0 | 38.505
- Cascalido / Madison Sanders / Madison Sanders / 0 | 77.391 / 0 | 39.312
- Traver’s Girl HS / Michelle Berry / Professional Maintenance Systems / 0 | 67.718 / 0 | 39.350
- Calea 8 / Chloe Kuang / Chloe Kuang / 0 | 76.201 / 0 40.416
- Santiago / Carlos Riviera Torres / Carlos Riviera Torres / 74.670 / 0 | 41.527
- Ducati 24 / Savannah Carter / The CL Group / 0 | 76.516 / 0 | 43.08
- Korinthe De Goedereede / Megan Cameron / Heatherly Davis / 0 | 72.153 / 0 43.279
- Gavarni / Tatum Levy / Tatum Levy / 0 | 76.429 / 4 | 36.674
- Dekato / Peyton Krahenbuhl / Christian Coyle Show Stables / 0 | 74.043 / 4 | 37.720
- Capella Van De Poenjaard Z / Saree Solanki / Tomboy Farms / 0 | 77.046 / 4 | 40.361