Traverse City, Mich. – July 30, 2017 – For the second week in a row, Mexico’s national anthem rang throughout the Flintfields Horse Park on Sunday as Santiago Lambre took home his third consecutive FEI win in the Amalaya Investments $50,000 Flintfields Farm Grand Prix CSI2* on Doloris to conclude Week Four of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF).
Twenty-seven international show jumping athletes came forward to challenge the Bernardo Cabral-designed first round course, but only six would jump fault-free to advance to the jump-off.
Michael Morrissey (USA) was the early clear pathfinder in the jump-off as second to go aboard QBS Equestrian LLC’s Chance STE Hermelle. The pair finished with 0 faults to their name in 38.97 seconds.
Theo Genn (USA) followed two trips later to produce another double-clear effort with Dirocco Blue, owned by Eduardo Leon. They crossed the finish line in 43.45 seconds, which would be good enough for third place.
Lambre entered through the archway of the Grand Prix Ring as the final challenger in the tie-breaking round, knowing he had to be fast and clear to beat Morrissey. He blazed around the shortened course with the 9-year-old KWPN mare, clocking in just ahead of Morrissey in 38.55 seconds to defend his grand prix title and secure his third GLEF win, while Morrissey would take home second place honors.
Lambre, who has a total of six horses competing throughout the GLEF circuit, also won Friday’s $35,000 Welcome Stake CSI2* with Doloris as well as the North Face Farm $50,000 Great Lakes Grand Prix CSI2* with Dingeman during Week Three.
Meagan Nusz (USA) finished in fourth place behind Genn as the fastest of the 4-faulters with Waomi, owned by Amalaya Investments, in 38.23 seconds.
Click here to watch Santiago Lambre’s interview!
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Santiago Lambre – Amalaya Investments $50,000 Flintfields Farm Grand Prix CSI2* winner
On winning his third consecutive FEI competition at GLEF:
“I never expected three wins in a row. The mare is unbelievably careful and when you’re in the ring you never have to worry about having a rail down. I’m very happy with her.”
On his jump-off round and string of horses:
“Before the last fence, I was thinking I was too slow to beat Michael [Morrissey], but I was really tight to the last jump. My three horses are 9 years old and I believe by next year I’ll have them ready to compete at the 4* and 5* level.”
On his plan for Doloris:
“I would like to win every class but I think I am already lucky to win three. [Doloris] will have another week off and then compete again during the last week here — the 3*.”
RESULTS
Amalaya Investments $50,000 Flintfields Farm Grand Prix CSI2*:
Place / Horse / Rider / Country / Owner / R1 Faults / R2 Faults / Time
1. Doloris / Santiago Lambre / MEX / Santiago Lambre / 0 / 0 / 38.55
2. Chance STE Hermelle / Michael Morrissey / USA / QBS Equestrian LLC / 0 / 0 / 38.97
3. Dirocco Blue / Theo Genn / USA / Eduardo Leon / 0 / 0 / 43.45
4. Waomi / Meagan Nusz / USA / Amalaya Investments / 0 / 4 / 38.23
5. Iluna / Ramiro Quintana / ARG / Michael Smith / 0 / 4 / 43.05
6. Willow / Alejandro Karolyi / VEN / Amalaya Investments / 0 / 8 / 49.47
7. Victorio 5 / Adam Prudent / USA / Plain Bay Sales / 1 / 72.34
8. Coachella / Erin Haas / USA / North Face Farm / 1 / 72.56
9. Udsrtum Du Lys / Alexa Lowe-Wiseman / USA / Alexa Lowe-Wiseman / 1 / 72.63
10. Rebeca LS / Darragh Kerins / IRL / Remarkable Farms LP / 1 / 72.72
11. Uitteraard / Ignacio Maurin / ARG / Stransky Misson Farm Inc. / 1 / 73.81
12. Cade / Abigail McArdle / USA / David McArdle / 4 / 66.59
Courtney Calcagnini and Bowie Win $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby for Second Year in a Row
Courtney Calcagnini and Lori Mathew’s Bowie returned to the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival to claim their second consecutive win in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on Saturday in the Grand Prix Ring at the Flintfields Horse Park.
Sitting in second place following the classic round, Calcagnini and the 11-year-old Warmblood gelding returned to challenge Andy Christensen’s handy round along with the remaining top 12 competitors out of the original 21 starters. Their careful but technical performance was well-awarded with scores of 90 and 88, with additional handy points, from the panel of judges. The pair completed all four high options, with the highest oxer marked at 4’6″, for a second round total of 201. Combined with their classic round score of 167.5, where the pair chose all high options as well, they earned an overall score of 368.5.
Saturday’s win proved even more beneficial for Calcagnini and Bowie as they now turn their focus towards preparing and competing at the upcoming 2017 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship in Kentucky Aug. 17–19.
Kelsey King rode boldly aboard her own I’ll Say JSF to finish in second place with a total score of 349. It was the 9-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding’s first derby competition since 2014. The pair executed fluid tight turns in the handy round, receiving seven additional points from each judge to take the short-lived lead before being overtaken by Calcagnini and Bowie.
Well-versed junior rider Isabella Russekoff dominated the competition finishing in third, fourth and fifth place with Winnetou, Chinchilla and Kingston. The only competitor to have three mounts, Russekoff first navigated the handy round aboard Ashland Farms’ Kingston to give the 7-year-old equitation gelding his derby debut, finishing with a total score of 328 for fifth place. Suave Pony LLC’s Chinchilla followed with a 334 total score for fourth place and Winnetou, also owned by Suave Pony LLC, concluded Russekoff’s final hunter derby ride to earn her third place with a total score of 336.
Prior to the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby was the Grooms Class, presented by Meadowview Farm. The award was given to Juan Daniel Garcia Dominguez of Pinecone Farm, operated by Kristin Collins, and Ebony M. In addition, Dominguez also received Week Four’s Sidelines Magazine Style Award.
Click here to watch Courtney Calcagnini’s interview!
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Courtney Calcagnini – $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby winner
On winning the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby for the second year in a row:
“I’m so excited. This is a dream come true. I was a little nervous going in to the first round because we won last year but he was perfect, and awesome in the second round also. It all worked out.”
On Bowie:
“[Bowie] jumps amazing and really high. I tried to make sure I had a great pace going to fence one and just stayed on it the whole time. I didn’t see other riders go, but that’s what I liked the most about my round. He is one of a kind. He’s the scopiest horse I’ve ever ridden in my life. When we tried him in Europe he jumped 5 feet so this is so easy for him. It gives me so much confidence when I ride him. He’s a beautiful jumper and beautiful to look at. He’s so much fun. He actually did the amateurs this morning with his mom so it’s really special we were able to do both today. It’s the first time we’ve ever done that. I’ve been riding him since he was 8 years old. Getting him going in the derbies and now seeing how he is with Lori [Mathews], it’s just the best feeling in the world.”
On the course:
“It was a great course. I think they set it like it should be with nice, big jumps. I thought it was great prep for derby finals.”
On GLEF:
“They do a great job. It’s so beautiful here and the weather is amazing. At home it’s like 101 degrees so we love coming up here and staying for the month. It’s a beautiful facility with great, nice people. We leave Monday for Kentucky and we’ll be there for two weeks just resting and prepping again before derby finals.”
RESULTS
$25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby:
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Score / R2 Score / Total Score
1. Bowie / Courtney Calcagnini / Lori Mathews / 167.50% / 201.00% / 368.50%
2. I’ll Say JSF / Kelsey King / Kelsey King / 163.00% / 186.00% / 349.00%
3. Winnetou / Isabella Russekoff / Suave Pony LLC / 165.00% / 171.00% / 336.00%
4. Chinchilla / Isabella Russekoff / Suave Pony LLC / 160.00% / 174.00% / 334.00%
5. Kingston / Isabella Russekoff / Ashland Farms / 153.00% / 175.00% / 328.00%
6. World Affair / Winn Alden / Southern Arches LLC / 157.00% / 162.00% / 319.00%
7. Cuba / Tori Colvin / John and Stephanie Ingram LLC / 160.00% / 148.00% / 308.00%
8. Chicago / Ehrin Rittmueller / Christine Braeutigam / 149.00% / 156.00% / 305.00%
9. Monaco / Hillary Johnson / Altair Farms / 147.00% / 138.00% / 285.00%
10. Cassius / Caitlyn Shiels / Michelle Durpetti / 170.00% / 106.00% / 276.00%
11. Nobel Laureate / Erika Jakobson / Barn Rat LLC / 162.00% / 107.00% / 269.00%
12. Chalco / Jennifer Morton / Jennifer Morton / 142.00% / 98.00% / 240.00%
Tiffany Morrissey and Sebastian Best Competition in $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Hunter derby competition continued on Sunday at GLEF with the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, which is held each Sunday throughout the 2017 circuit.
Taking home the top prize and Black Star Farms winner’s wine, out of 21 competitors, was Tiffany Morrissey of East Wind Farms aboard Stacey Werner’s Sebastian. The pair moved up from fourth place after the first round, with a score of 87, to secure the win, receiving a score of 93 in the handy round for a total score of 180.
The 7-year-old Holsteiner gelding also received the Platinum Performance Hunter Horse of the Week on Sunday.
Arly Golombek led the way after the first round with a score of 94, piloting Pumpkin’s Patch Farms LLC’s Czech Mate. Their score of 85 in the handy round would garner them second place honors in the end with a combined score of 179.
Jacob Pope and Team Rakowsky Equestrian LLC’s J’Adore, winners of Week One’s $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Greg Crolick Stables and Grosse Pointe Hunt Club, finished in third place. The pair earned scores of 89 between both rounds of competition for a final score of 178.
Click here to watch Tiffany Morrissey’s interview!
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Tiffany Morrissey – $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby winner
On Sebastian:
“He is 7 years old. One of my customers, Stacey Werner, owns him. He has only done a couple of derbies and has successfully won three of them. I came back fourth after the first round and I knew I had to do all of the inside turns [in the handy round]. I went inside to the trot jump and just tried to show-off my strong points; turning as tight as I could. Stacey showed him last week and she had a high score of 85 in her second round of the classic. She was second in the Low Adult Hunter Classic so it’s nice that he can double-division. He shows with her and then he goes in the derbies with me.”
On Sebastian’s plan for the future:
“Every class he gets better and better. Hopefully he’ll do some international derbies next year, but he is still eligible green so we don’t want to break that this late into the season. Hopefully he’ll have big plans for next year.”
On GLEF:
“We’ve had a great four weeks here and we have two weeks left. Then we are headed home back to Florida. We’ve had a very successful month so far and hopefully the end is as good as the beginning!”
RESULTS
$5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby:
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Score / R2 Score / Total Score
1. Sebastian / Tiffany Morrissey / Stacey Werner / 87.00% / 93.00% / 180.00%
2. Czech Mate / Arly Golombek / Pumpkin’s Patch Farms LLC / 94.00% / 85.00% / 179.00%
3. J’Adore / Jacob Pope / Team Rakowsky Equestrian LLC / 89.00% / 89.00% / 178.00%
4. Arius / Kristen Berian / Coral C Stables LLC / 84.00% / 87.00% / 171.00%
5. Namesake / Arly Golombek / Palm Ponies LLC / 90.00% / 78.50% / 168.50%
6. Skolar / Siena Vasan / Carriage Hill Farm / 83.00% / 83.50% / 166.50%
7. Black Label B / Owen Gajoch / Owen Gajoch / 81.00% / 85.00% / 166.00%
8. Salt Life / Kelsey Wickham / Squish and See Partners LLC / 85.00% / 78.00% / 163.00%
9. Carbon Copy / Erin Ferguson-Hughes / Marike Dussault / 82.00% / 80.00% / 162.00%
10. Shoofly / Melissa Donnelly / Mary Moroun / 82.00% / 77.00% / 159.00%
11. California W Z / Chloe Wilkenfeld / Chloe Stables LLC / 80.00% / 78.00% / 158.00%
12. VDL Felton / Taylor Theis / Taylor Theis / 80.50% / 69.00% / 149.50%
Kendall Meijer Earns Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunter Division Championship
In the Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunter division, Kendall Meijer of Grand Rapids, Michigan, claimed championship honors with Moonwalk, owned by Copper Fox LLC.
Meijer, who trains with Cathy Johnson of Meadowview Farm, and the talented grey gelding finished in fourth place in the first over fences class and won the handy round on Saturday to kick-off the division.
The pair returned on Sunday and continued their winning ways, grabbing a blue ribbon in the under saddle class. They concluded the division with a second and fourth place in the final two over fences classes to receive the championship tricolor.
Click here to watch Kendall Meijer’s interview!
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Kendall Meijer – Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunter division champion
On Moonwalk:
“[Moonwalk] is awesome. I’ve had him for two and a half years now. He’s a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood and he’s just a joy to ride. He has the most rhythmic canter. He’s so fun to find the jumps on and he just punches his knees. He likes a loose rein and he’s just really automatic, I love that.”
On competing at GLEF:
“I’ve been here for a month and it’s been an ‘always the bridesmaid, never the bride’ kind of month for me. I was second three weeks in a row in the Adult Amateur Hunter Classic and reserve champion last week. My horses have been going great but it’s really nice to end with a championship.”
On Traverse City:
“I love Traverse City. I find Northern Michigan to be the most wonderful place on Earth. The restaurants up here are awesome, the beaches are awesome and the weather has been spectacular. You can’t beat it!”
Philippa Ammann Awarded ‘Rafael’ Sportsmanship Perpetual Memorial Trophy
During Week Four of GLEF, 10-year-old Philippa Ammann was awarded the ‘Rafael’ Sportsmanship Perpetual Memorial Trophy, established in 2015 by the Gochman family for their beloved pony, Rafael. It is awarded annually to a child on a pony who shows love and admiration for their pony partner and who also exhibits extraordinary sportsmanship to their fellow riders and ponies. The coveted trophy was presented to Ammann on Saturday during the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Ammann rides with Hillside Farm and shows Smartie Pants in the Small/Medium Children’s Hunter Pony division.
Click here to watch Philippa Ammann’s interview!
