Wellington, FL – April 6, 2015 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) wrapped up its first week of spring competition this weekend at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, with a victory for 23-year-old Kaitlin Campbell of Georgetown, KY, and her mount Rocky W in the $25,000 Nutrena Spring 1 Grand Prix. Week one of ESP’s Spring Series featured Richard Jeffery and Hector Loyola as the jumper course designers.
In Saturday’s grand prix, 36 entries contested the course with only four qualifying for the jump-off. When Campbell walked the course, she felt it was perfectly set for Rocky W.
Kaitlin Campbell and Rocky W
“When I walked the course, the combination was set for him how he likes it. All the lines were perfect for him – I knew he could jump a clear round,” said Campbell. “My only concern was the liverpool next to the makeshift lake – as [Rocky W] can sometimes be a bit funny about water. Once we got over that jump, I knew we would go clear.”
Campbell was one of four to go clear in the first round and took victory in the jump off with a time of 42.72, beating Maggie Jayne of Elgin, IL, by only 0.082 of a second. When asked how she felt after seeing Jayne’s jump-off round, Campbell said, “She was really fast and probably a lot smoother and tighter to the jumps than I was. She most likely did less strides than me, but I know Rocky is so fast across the jumps that I feel that is what ultimately won me the jump-off. ”
Campbell’s Mount, Rocky W, was bought at the end of his 8-year-old year to move up to the junior jumpers on. She rode him through college in the amateurs and just kept moving up. She ultimately found success in the Grand Prix Ring.
“It was funny because when I was walking out of the ring, Paul O’Shea, that was third place, asked how many Grand Prixs [Rocky W] had won, and my response was that I didn’t know,” Campbell stated. “After thinking about it and counting my past wins, this was our 14th Grand Prix win and our 56th overall class win.”
Kaitlin Campbell and Rocky W in their winning presentation
When asked what the highlight of her day was that Saturday, her response was different than most would expect, “All the people I work for [at Marigot Bay Farm in Lexington, Kentucky] were there afterwards. The oldest girl I train, Kelly, showed right after me and was going into the ring on a new horse,” said Campbell. “She went in right after me [in the next class] and jumped her first clear round. It was a proud moment and highlight of the day for me.”
Final Results: $25,000 Nutrena Spring I Grand Prix
1 382 ROCKY W – OWNED BY KAITLIN CAMPBELL – KAITLIN CAMPBELL – 0/0/42.720
2 270 SPLENDOR – OWNED BY PONY LANE FARM – MAGGIE JAYNE – 0/0/42.802
3 346 PRIMO CALYPSO – OWNED BY MICHAEL HAYDEN & PAUL O’SHEA – PAUL O’SHEA – 0/4/44.541
4 130 FAROUKH – OWNED BY SARAH WAYDA – SARAH WAYDA – 0/4/45.297
5 407 WILHELMUS S – OWNED BY GRAHAM FLETCHER – CHRISTINA FIRESTONE – 1/87.319
6 513 BIG STAR – OWNED BY HC SPORT HORSES – SAYRE HAPPY – 3/89.040
7 186 ARAMON – OWNED BY TAYLOR REID – THEO GENN – 4/78.938
8 345 PRIMO DE REVEL – OWNED BY MICHAEL HAYDEN – PAUL O’SHEA – 4/80.309
9 442 MOONDOGGIE – OWNED BY 73 WEST GROP – LESLIE HOWARD – 4/81.241
10 107 LOVE – OWNED BY HANNAH PATTEN – HANNAH PATTEN – 4/81.476
11 400 AL CALYPSO – OWNED BY SAMUEL PAROT – MANUEL FERNANDEZ HACH – 4/82.889
12 477 GALOUS – OWNED BY BLUE GATE FARM LLC – DENISE WILSON – 4/83.560
Jumper Highlights
ESP’s spring circuit kicked off its jumper competition with a $10,000 Open Jumper Stake Class with a win for Wilhelm Genn and Bugatti. The class saw 32 entries with nine advancing to the jump-off and three double clear rounds. Wilhelm Genn and Eduardio Leon’s Bugatti had the fastest time of 47.976 seconds for the win. Denise Wilson and Blue Gate Farm’s Galous finished second in 50.883 seconds. Mark Bluman and Stranky’s Mission Farm’s Califa LS placed third in 51.416 seconds.
Wilhelm Genn and Bugatti
The $5,000 1.35m Classic was also held with a total of 40 entries and seven competitors advancing to the jump-off round. Amy Momrow aboard Monty Kelly’s Baldino Du’Rouet claimed first place with a time of 43.418. Second place went to David Blake and his mount, Park Lane, with a time of 46.755. Third place went to Deanna Phelan and her mount, Dubline, with a time of 49.945.
Amy Momrow and Baldino Du’Rouet
The $1,500 NAL Child/Adult Jumper Classic, sponsored by The Tackeria, saw 20 entries with eight clear rounds. Samantha Johnson aboard Sarah Wayda’s Campol took first place with a time of 31.979. Second place went to Ned Cunniffe and Whipstick Farm’s DollyDoo with a time of 37.631. Third place went to Carina Sola aboard Nadine Beck’s Viktoria 77 with a time of 37.994.
In the $2,500 FarmVet Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, Chloe Field and Hidden Brook Farm’s Via Veneto were the winners. The $2,500 Equiline High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic saw a one-two finish for Taylor Reid aboard Ugano and Boucanier respectively.
Hunter & Equitation Highlights
The hunter divisions were in full swing during Week I of ESP’s Spring Series. In the $5,000 USHJA Hunter Derby, Taylor St. Jacques and JT Farm’s Iberia were the winners with Tracy Scheriff-Muser and Caroline Gouse’s Shoreline in second. Rachel Kennedy and Suzanne Smith’s Blue Monday finished third.
Taylor St. Jacques and Iberia
In the $1,000 Junior Hunter Classic, sponsored by Sweet Oak Farm, Emma Kurtz took first place aboard David Gochman’s Fredrick. Victoria Colvin and Lili Halterman’s Genuine took second, and Giavanna Rinaldi and Charlie Jayne’s All Wrapped Up took third.
In the $1,000 Amateur Owner Classic, sponsored by Sweet Oak Farm, Piper Benjamin took both first and second place on her mounts Corvine and Topsider respectively. Third place went to Tina Allen aboard her mount, Galaxy.
Emma Kurtz swept the ribbons in the $500 Pony Classic sponsored by Charles Moorecroft Inc. Taking first place aboard Dr. Betsee Parker’s All My Love, second place on Dr. Betsee Parker’s Enjoy the Laughter and third place on Linda Evan’s Dreamland.
In the equitation classes, Taylor St. Jacques won the Pessoa USEF Hunter Seat Medal sponsored by Randolph College as well as the ASPCA Maclay class. Giavanna Rinaldi topped the WIHS Equitation overall.
ESP’s Spring Series continues this week on April 8-12, 2015, featuring the $30,000 Spring 2 Grand Prix on Sunday, April 12. For full results, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Photo Credit: Photos © Mancini Photos, www.manciniphotos.com. These photos may be used only in relation to this press release and must include photo credit.