SHOW JUMPING DAILY
Candice King Wins $30,000 Cleveland Grand Prix for the Second Time
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Posted by Esther Morgan
History was made in 2002 when Candice King won the Cleveland Grand Prix aboard Espadon, as well as taking second, third and fourth place aboard her other mounts. With only one mount this year, King, of Wellington, Fla., took top honors aboard 11-year-old Toronto, owned by AAA Equestrian of New York City, N.Y. Coming in second place was one of the youngest competitors to ride in this year’s Cleveland Grand Prix, 17-year-old Shawn Casady, of Tenn., aboard Skara Glen’s Basel, owned by Skara Glen Stables, of Pittsburgh, Pa.
The $30,000 Cleveland Grand Prix hosted a field of 19 competitors. Doug Russell, of Ocala, Fla., designed the technically demanding course of 5-foot jumps. The challenging course saw seven riders go clear in the first round, but only two, King and Casady, went clear in the jump-off round. King’s jump-off time of 39.606 was just enough to beat Casady’s jump-off time of 39.623. King took home $9,000 in prize money, Casady received $6,600, and the third-place finishers, Charlie Jayne and Sylvester, the fastest of the four-fault jump-off rounds, took $3,900.
Leading up to the Cleveland Grand Prix was a weekend full of exciting competition and fun for the whole family. Friday evening’s $10,000 Welcome Stake was won by former Olympian Joe Fargis, aboard Lariat, who also went on to compete in Sunday’s Cleveland Grand Prix. Top honors in the fourth annual $10,000 International Hunter Derby on Saturday evening were taken by Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy, for the fourth time.
Saturday was Family Fun Day, featuring arts and crafts, hair spraying, face painting, the Horseless Horse Show, cowboy roping, bouncy horses, hula hoops, a bounce house, an appearance by Hunter the Horse, carriage rides and Classic K-9 dog agility shows. Michelle Nicastro and her 11-year-old Clydesdale mare, Ellie Bellie, of Sweetheart Stables in Chesterland, provided the carriage rides.
The Classic K-9 Dog Show, of Mt. Morris, Mich., performed multiple times Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Joining the dogs was Clifford, a 20-year-old Morgan horse, who rears on command and plays fetch. The Classic K-9 group was a part of the opening ceremonies before Sunday’s Cleveland Grand Prix, which included a performance by Clifford, a canine high-jump competition, an appearance by the miniature horse Rick O’Shay of the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, the horses and hounds of the Chagrin Valley Hunt, and the Color Guard of the Mounted Ranger Unit of the Cleveland Metroparks.
Local Riders Win Top Honors Against National Competitors
The local horses and riders who earned top honors in their events during the week included:
Children’s Hunter Pony – Small/Medium Champion: Tea Party, owned by Pamela Blossom of Gates Mills, trained by Jeff Gogul of Chagrin Falls, and ridden by Audrey Layman of Chagrin Falls.
Children’s Hunter – 14 & Under Champion: Eternity, trained by Jeff Gogul of Chagrin Falls and ridden by Danielle Reisman of Moreland Hills.
Children’s Hunter – 15-17 Champion: Middleton, trained by Jeff Gogul of Chagrin Falls, ridden and owned by Audrey Layman of Chagrin Falls.
High Pre-Green – 3’3” Champion: Grayon, ridden by Amanda Lyerly of Chardon.
Short Stirrup Champion: Here Comes The Sun, owned by Lilly Mack of Cincinnati, trained by Betsy Lewis of Chesterland, and ridden by Madison Oliver of Solon.
Low Child/Adult Jumper Co-Champions: Crescendo, owned and ridden by Erin Ashby of Chardon, trained by Heather Froehlich of Chardon and Wendsor, owned and ridden by Mikalah Singer of Solon, trained by Jenna Hoy of Mentor.
Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Years Champion: Wish List, owned and ridden by Lori Snetsinger of Aurora, trained by Betsy Lewis of Chesterland.
Junior Hunter – 16-17 Champion and winner of the OPHA Hunter Seat Medal: The New Yorker, owned and ridden by Bianca Buschor of Solon, trained by Liz Scoville of Burton.
Green Pony Hunter Champion: Quicksilver Butterfly, trained by Cari Gleeson of Moreland Hills, ridden by Emma Kurtz of Hudson.
Pony Hunter – Small Champion: All The Glory, owned and ridden by Emma Kurtz of Hudson, trained by Cari Gleeson of Moreland Hills.
$5,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic: Outline, owned, trained and ridden by Jennifer Waxman of Chagrin Falls.
T.H.I.S. Insurance National Children’s Medal: Casanova, owned and ridden by Alex Fedai of Kirtland, trained by Megan Udelson of Russell.
Ariat National Adult Medal: In A New York Minute, owned and trained by Liz Porter of Thompson, ridden by Kate Shaughnessy of Gates Mills.
$750 North American League/Washington International Horse Show Children’s Hunter Classic: Forget Paris, owned by Wendy Lewis of Willoughby Hills, trained by Bernie Villeneuve of Willoughby, ridden by Emily Manos of Hudson.
About the Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Classic
The Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Classic is presented by the Chagrin Valley PHA (Professional Horseman’s Association) Horse Show, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization headed by a voluntary Board of Trustees, comprised of local residents, business leaders and equestrians, who run the show with the help of a large volunteer team.
The show continues Tuesday, July 19, and runs through Saturday, July 23, with free general admission every day. This second week of national competition, rated AA hunters and level 4 jumpers by the United States Equestrian Federation, will conclude with the new $5,000 National Hunter Classic and the new $25,000 CVPHA Grand Prix, both on Saturday, July 23. Candice King and many other national competitors plan to compete in this new grand prix event.
For more information please visit www.clevelandhorseshow.com or call 330-903-9915.
Photos: Winners of the 2011 Cleveland Grand Prix, Candice King and Toronto - credit Anne Gittins Photography
Children's Hunter Pony - Small-Medium Champions Tea Party and Audrey Layman, of Chagrin Falls - credit Anne Gittins Photography
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