Wellington, FL – April 8, 2013 – Equestrian Sport Productions LLC (ESP) wrapped up its first week of spring competition this weekend at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, with an exciting victory for Ireland’s Darragh Kerins and S&L Farms’ S&L Elite in the $25,000 ESP Spring 1 Grand Prix.
The week’s jumper courses in the International Arena were designed by Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth, England. In Sunday’s grand prix, 28 entries contested the course with three qualifying for the jump-off. Sharn Wordley chose not to return for the jump-off with Filip Amram’s Quick Blue Z and finished in third place. In the two-horse jump-off, Kerins and S&L Elite cleared the short course in 43.897 seconds for the win. Amanda Derbyshire and David Gochman’s Attack II had eight jumping and four time faults in 48.096 seconds to take reserve honors.
Darragh Kerins and S&L Elite. Photo © Mancini Photos.
S&L Elite, an eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Action-Breaker, was showing in his first grand prix on Sunday and Kerins noted that it was a great and unexpected win.
“He just did some 1.40m classes during WEF and he was really good at it, but for his age he is very advanced, so I did not want to show him an awful lot,” Kerins stated. “He won a 1.40m and placed in a few and then had a few weeks off, so this was his first week back again. It’s great to have these classes during the spring, especially for a horse like him that is only an eight-year-old, because it is impossible to move him up during the big circuit. It is nice to have these classes to move up in a little bit more of a relaxed atmosphere.”
Going first in the jump-off, Kerins knew he had a fast combination to follow with Derbyshire and Attack II. He put his horse’s skill to the test and it paid off.
“Amanda is very fast and I knew that going in,” Kerins admitted. “My horse is not the quickest; he is a big, powerful jumper, but I just tried to be as quick as I could and leave the jumps up and see what happens.”
“It was a good class today,” Kerins said. “It was a hard course. I am just delighted for the horse. I have had him since he was three years old and it is a long way before you can do grand prixs like that. The owners, Sam and Libby Edelman, have been very patient with him as well, so hopefully now he can keep going on from here.”
S&L Elite and Darragh Kerins with his son in the winning presentation. Photo © Mancini Photos.
Final Results: $25,000 ESP Spring 1 Grand Prix
1. S & L ELITE DARRAGH KERINS S & L FARMS: 0/0/43.897
2. ATTACK II AMANDA DERBYSHIRE DAVID GOCHMAN: 0/12/48.096
3. QUICK BLUE Z SHARN WORDLEY FILIP AMRAM: 0/WD
4. PRIMO DE REVEL PAUL O’SHEA MICHAEL HAYDEN: 4/87.529
5. WHISPER H.E. SAMUEL PAROT SAMUEL PAROT: 4/89.814
6. CHICAGO 88 FEDERICO SZTYRLE ROSIANO FARM: 4/91.791
7. LARGO RAMIRO QUINTANA MAVERICK VENTURES LLC: 4/92.461
8. WAOMI MEAGAN NUSZ AMALAYA INVESTMENTS: 4/92.486
9. VDL DOGAN CANDICE KING BELLISSIMO LLC: 4/92.978
10. WIZZ PAUL O’SHEA PAUL O’SHEA: 4/93.111
11. QUEL PACHA BRIANNE GOUTAL SANTIAGO DIAZ: 4/93.434
12. WALK ABOUT JIMMY TORANO THE TORANO’S AND PALM MEADOW FARM: 4/93.841
The $10,000 Open Jumper Stake Class kicked off the week’s competition with a win for Amanda Derbyshire and David Gochman’s Attack II. A total of 49 entries showed over the Richard Jeffery designed course, and Derbyshire and Attack II had the fastest of three double clear rounds out of 17 that advanced to the jump-off. Their time of 46.995 seconds set the pace early in the order and held on for the win.
Attack II is a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Grandeur x Bonheur. Derbyshire (24) is from England and now spends her time in New York and Florida working for the Gochman Family.
“We got him after WEF last year just for a bit of fun for the barn and he has proved better than we ever expected,” Derbyshire said of the horse. “We save him and just use him when we can.”
“He’s my best friend,” she smiled. “He’s very mean, but I love him. He tries to bite and kick and no one can touch him except the groom, but he is the best horse ever and I have to thank David and Becky for buying him and keeping me in this.”
Amanda Derbyshire and Attack II. Photo © Mancini Photos.
“He is very fast and careful,” Derbyshire detailed. “He actually had not shown for like four weeks and he just came out and jumped right around today. He is always quick in the jump-off; you can always turn back because he is very careful and we have a good partnership.”
Darragh Kerins and Nick Skelton’s Mango finished second in 48.164 seconds. Kerins also placed third with the only other double clear round aboard Sinead and Oonagh Kennedy’s KEC Alligator Alley in 49.906 seconds. Ramiro Quintana and Maverick Ventures’ Alice had the fastest time in the jump-off in 43.744 seconds, but incurred four faults to finish fourth.
Final Results: $10,000 Open Jumper Stake
1. ATTACK II AMANDA DERBYSHIRE DAVID GOCHMAN: 0/0/46.995
2. MANGO DARRAGH KERINS NICK SKELTON: 0/0/48.164
3. KEC ALLIGATOR ALLEY DARRAGH KERINS SINEAD & OONAGH KENNEDY: 0/0/49.906
4. ALICE RAMIRO QUINTANA MAVERICK VENTURES LLC: 0/4/43.744
5. CELENA Z MARGIE ENGLE ELM ROCK LLC: 0/4/46.811
6. PRIMO DE REVEL PAUL O’SHEA MICHAEL HAYDEN: 0/4/47.38
7. GRAPPA JIMMY TORANO JAY DUKE: 0/4/47.389
8. VALINSKI S MICHAEL DORMAN WYNDMONT: 0/4/48.145
9. UNE ETOILE DE L’ ECLYPSE BRITTNI RAFLOWITZ MAARTEN HUYGENS: 0/4/48.316
10. VDL DOGAN CANDICE KING BELLISSIMO LLC: 0/4/48.586
11. ORBETELLO FEDERICO SZTYRLE HAMPTON FARMS LLC: 0/4/49.034
12. HUGE DANIEL VASCONCELOS DANIEL VASCONCELOS: 0/4/52.955
Also showing at PBIEC this week, Lucy Mitchell-Innes won the $1,500 Tackeria NAL Child/Adult Jumper Classic riding Lanes End’s CR Erin Go Bragh with Addison Piper and Trump Farm LLC’s Halbi d’Ariane in second.
In the $1,500 M&S Child/Adult Jumper Classic, Francesca Dildabanian and Sunshine were the winners over Tracy Scheriff-Muser riding Emily Williams’ Max.
The $1,500 Office Depot Low Adult Jumper Classic saw a win for Marie Studd riding M&M Show Stables’ Laroni. Lisa Moore and Cavalier’s Royal Diamond, owned by Moore Equines LLC, finished in second. The $1,500 Office Depot Low Children’s Jumper Classic was won by Sheer Levitin riding Nabuco du Theil. Sebastian Piussan riding Romain Marteau’s Wibrands finished second.
In the $2,500 Sanctuary at PBIEC NAL Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic, Leah DeMartini and Elm Rock LLC’s Zubantos were the winners with Elizabeth Patz and Doublethink LLC’s Rolls finishing second. The $2,500 Gold Coast Feed High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic was won by Victoria Arute riding Olympic Dreams LLC’s Zakenman Zaffier. Victoria Press and Cayenne 140 finished second.
Hunters and Equitation
Saturday afternoon featured three classics for the Small, Medium and Large Pony Hunter divisions. Skip Bailey set a challenging course for the ponies and their riders, which included jumping in and out of two rings that encompassed the span of jumps. The $1,000 Small Pony Hunter Classic was first to go with eleven entries and a win for 12-year-old Emma Kurtz of Hudson, OH, riding David Gochman’s Rafael. The pair earned scores of 83 and 86 for a 169 point total to lead the victory gallop.
Emma Kurtz and Rafael. Photo © Mancini Photos.
Zayna Rizvi and Peacock Ridge LLC’s Q-2 finished second with scores of 77.5 and 84 to total 161.5. Third place honors went to Erika Luter aboard Emmalee Virginia’s Benjamin Buttons with scores of 76 and 82 for a 158 total.
Rafael is a ten-year-old Welsh Pony gelding that Kurtz has ridden off and on since last summer.
“He is sort of like riding a horse,” Kurtz described. “He is just really slow and smooth. He is really easy. You have to be careful with the lead changes, but the rest is really easy.”
“He is definitely different from all the other small ponies that I ride,” Kurtz added. “He is just so easy and smooth. He has a really fun jump.”
Emma Kurtz and Rafael. Photo © Mancini Photos.
Kurtz enjoys showing in Wellington and had fun with the interest course on Friday. “The course was fun and jumping in and out of the rings was cool,” she smiled. “I like the weather showing here, and the rings and the jumps are all really nice.”
The $1,000 Medium Pony Hunter Classic was held next with ten entries and a victory for 12-year-old Francesca Dildabanian of New York, NY, aboard her own pony, Laugh Out Loud. The pair earned scores of 79 and 87 in the two rounds of competition for the winning 166-point total. In a very close second, Yasmin Rizvi and Peacock Ridge LLC’s Trillville finished on 165 points with scores of 82 and 83. Phoebe Alwine and Happily Ever After placed third with scores of 83 and 78 to total 161.
Francesca Dildabanian and Laugh Out Loud. Photo © Mancini Photos.
Laugh Out Loud is an eleven-year-old German Pony gelding that Dildabanian got after the Devon Horse Show in 2012.
“He is my favorite horse or pony that I have,” the rider praised. “He is really sweet and he has an amazing personality. He is so much fun to ride because he also rides like a horse. He has a really big stride and goes really slowly, so it is always so much fun to get on him and just have a good time.”
Commenting on the day’s course, Dildabanian added, “I thought it was really fun because I have been here all circuit and the same kind of course all of the time, so this was new for me and I thought it was great.”
Francesca Dildabanian and Laugh Out Loud. Photo © Mancini Photos.
The $1,000 Large Pony Hunter Classic was the final class of the day with a win for 17-year-old Barbara Ann Merryman of Baltimore, MD, aboard Samantha Koswitz’s Storyteller. The pair earned consistent scores of 84 and 85 for a 169-point total. Emma Kurtz and Linda Evans’ Dreamland were second with scores of 82 and 81 for a total of 163.
Storyteller is a ten-year-old German Sport Pony gelding that Merryman has been riding off and on for two years. She described him with a smile, “He is the best. He is very fun. He is forward and energetic and he likes his job. He is definitely a joy to ride.”
Merryman noted that Storyteller seemed to like the different course just as much as she did.
“It was awesome; it was definitely different from just our regular pony hunter rounds,” the rider stated. “It is nice to do something fun and different and my rounds were really good. He was looser and a little happier I think; he thought it was more interesting.”
Barbara Ann Merryman and Storyteller. Photo © Mancini Photos.
Final Results: $1,000 Small Pony Hunter Classic
1. RAFAEL EMMA KURTZ DAVID GOCHMAN: 83/86/169
2. Q-2 ZAYNA RIZVI PEACOCK RIDGE LLC: 77.5/84/161.5
3. BENJAMIN BUTTONS ERIKA LUTER EMMALEE VIRGINIA: 76/82/158
4. MISTY ERIKA LUTER MONTOGA, INC: 79/73/152
5. FIREFLY HANA BIELING LOCHMOOR STABLES : 75/74/149
6. ROLLINGWOODS KNEE DEEP FARAH RIZVI PEACOCK RIDGE LLC: 80/68/148
7. ELATION EMMA KURTZ DR. BETSEE PARKER: 86/60/146
8. DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT ZAYNA RIZVI KJ ROBINSON, LLC: 66/72/138
Final Results: $1,000 Medium Pony Hunter Classic
1. LAUGH OUT LOUD FRANCESCA DILDABANIAN FRANCESCA DILDABANIAN: 79/87/166
2. TRILLVILLE YASMIN RIZVI PEACOCK RIDGE LLC: 82/83/165
3. HAPPILY EVER AFTER PHOEBE ALWINE PHOEBE ALWINE: 83/78/161
4. TRULY NOBLE EMMA KURTZ PEGASUS SHOW STABLE INC: 69/85/154
5. LAKEVIEW PICKPOCKET FARAH RIZVI DARYL STOUT: 77/65/142
6. POWER TRIP SOPHIA CALAMARI SOPHIA CALAMARI: 78/62/140
7. STARS AND STRIPES ANDERSON F. WAGNER ANDERSON F. WAGNER: 83.5/40/123.5
8. JEMIMA PUDDLE DUCK ANDERSON F. WAGNER REDWOOD FARM LLC: 77.5/30/107.5
Final Results: $1,000 Large Pony Hunter Classic
1. STORYTELLER BARBARA ANN MERRYMAN SAMANTHA KASOWITZ: 84/85/169
2. DREAMLAND EMMA KURTZ LINDA EVANS: 82/81/163
3. PRIDE FRANCESCA DILDABANIAN FRANCESCA DILDABANIAN: 87/40/127
4. SEVEN STEPS EMMA KURTZ DR. BETSEE PARKER: 78/25/103
5. KNOCK MY SOXS OFF OLIVIA NOTMAN OLIVIA NOTMAN: 70/Elim/70
Barbara Ann Merryman and Storyteller. Photo © Mancini Photos.
In other hunter divisions for the week, Beth Bidgood was the Amateur-Owner Working Hunter 3’3″ & 3’6″ champion with Northernside LLC’s For the Crown with Daryl Portela and James B. Pirtle Ent. Inc.’s Winner in reserve.
Jeff Gogul swept the First Year Green Working Hunter division, earning the championship aboard Ruth Kanner’s By the Way and finishing reserve with Gina Badagnani’s Ever the Optimist.
In the Performance Working Hunter 3’3′” & 3’6″ division, Ascot, owned by the HJ Group LLC, and ridden by Cynthia Hankins and Robin Hummel-Johnson, earned the championship with Gogul and By the Way in reserve.
Young rider Emma Kurtz swept the Medium Pony Hunter division, taking the championship with David Gochman’s True Love and finishing reserve aboard Pegasus Show Stable Inc.’s Truly Noble.
The Small Junior Hunter division saw a championship win for Vivian Yowan and Saddle Ridge LLC’s Shockwave with Barbara Ann Merryman and Kimberly Stewart’s Lost Love finishing in reserve.
In the Low Working Hunters, Jennifer Smith’s Quincento finished at the top of the division after placing first, first, second and fifth.
In the equitation, Ailish Cunniffe won the Pessoa/USEF Hunt Seat Medal, sponsored by Randolph College, riding Venice. T.J. O’Mara and Walstib Stables LLC’s Kaskade won the ASPCA Maclay class, and Brianne Link and Spock were the winners of the WIHS Equitation Classic Overall as well as the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search.
For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.