Hampton Falls, NH – September 14, 2011 – The Fidelity Investments® Jumper Classic®, presented by Porsche, started today with a great turn-out of competition at the Silver Oak Equestrian Center. Located in the beautiful town of Hampton Falls, NH, the Jumper Classic® is New England’s premier equestrian event. This elite level competition attracts the country’s top riders, past Olympians and local equestrians who compete for over $200,000 in prize money. The Jumper Classic® runs through Sunday, September 18, with the highlight class, the $75,000 Fidelity Investments® Grand Prix, on Sunday. 

Course designer Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY, is designing the tracks in the Coldwell Bankers Previews Grand Prix Field this week. Karina Aziz of Caledon, Ontario, Canada entered the Shire Equestrian Winner’s Circle today after she and her horse Kandel won the $500 Der Dau 1.20m Jumpers.

To watch an interview with Karina Aziz, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACSPZagUX2M.

There were 48 entries in the class, where riders with a first round clear advanced to the jump-off. Aziz and Kandel were very speedy in the shortened course, and they stopped the timers in 37.428 seconds for the win.  Second place went to Jimmy Torano on Katina, owned by Danielle Torano, who had a jump-off time of 37.666 seconds. Finishing in 37.957 seconds, Jeffery Welles and Abigail Wexner’s Zycarla Z were third.

Aziz has ridden Kandel, a 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Rosire, for two years. “He’s really fast, hot, and careful. He’s a good horse,” Aziz said.

Karina Aziz and Kandel

Today’s 1.20m class served as a warm-up for Aziz and Kandel; they plan to compete in the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers this week. However, that didn’t keep Aziz from going for the win. “We wanted to get in the ring before the high amateurs. I haven’t shown for a month. He was quick and careful and tried really hard today,” she said. “I started with pace and I continued to flow the entire course. All of the jumps came up nice, so I didn’t have to slow down anywhere.”

This is the first time that Aziz has shown at The Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic. “I love the Boston (area),” she remarked. “This horse show is so nice. We drove 12 hours to get here from Toronto and it was definitely worth it.”

Karina Aziz accepts her awards from class sponsor Joseph Der of Der Dau

The Masters Jumpers were sponsored by the Holistic Animal Healing Clinic and were the final class today. Donald Little took the blue ribbon after completing the only double clear on course with Mr. Nightime. Olivia Weeks and Ronan, owned by Alexa Pessoa, were second, while Dennis Sisco and Leitrim Euro Touch were third.

Jeffery Welles and Abigail Wexner’s Zycarla Z topped the $5,000 1.40m Jumper class today with a speed time of 72.799 seconds. Sean Crooks and Endeavor, owned by Glen Youell, were second in 74.213 seconds. Amy Millar rode Iron Horse Farm’s Top Gun to third in 74.476 seconds.

Zachary Libes piloted Tango for Abigail Wexner to the only double clear round in the $1,500 1.30m Jumper class. Amy Millar and Quidam 13, owned by DK-USA, were second with four faults in the jump-off and a time of 45.639 seconds. Ajee B, ridden by Amanda Derbyshire and owned by David Gochman, were third with four faults in 45.818 seconds.

In the opening 1.15m Jumper class, 53 entries contended for the blue ribbon, and it was Jimmy Torano on Campesino IV, owned by Emerald Isle Jumpers, who rode to the win with double clear rounds and a jump-off time of 32.749 seconds. Jeffery Welles and Sakkaro, owned by Triton Ventures Farms, were second in 36.153 seconds, while Amy Momrow and Jackie Piraquive’s Re Lujo were third in 37.594 seconds.

The GGT Footing Ring Two hosted competition as well, and the following horses and riders were the winners:
.80m Jumpers – Jake, Megan Murfey, Janet R. Murfey
.90m Jumpers – Barcelona, Robyn Coons, Linda Langmeier
1.00m Jumpers – Deveron, Alexa Riccio, Amy Rhodes
1.10m Jumpers – Sea Me Smile, Kara Riley-King
$500 Children’s/Adult Jumper 1.10m – Filthy Lucre, Alexa Riccio, Alexandra Carlton

The Fidelity Investments® Jumper Classic® presented by Porsche continues tomorrow with the highlight class, the $12,000 UBS Financial Services Welcome Stake. Other classes include 1.30m and 1.40m Jumpers, Children’s/Adult Jumpers, and Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers.

For more information, please visit The Fidelity Investments® Jumper Classic® website at www.jumperclassic.com.

Final Results: Der Dau 1.20m Jumpers
1   152 Kandel, Karina Aziz, Iron Horse Farm: 0/0/37.428
2   264 Katina, Jimmy Torano, Danielle Torano: 0/0/37.666
3   287 Zycarla Z, Jeffery Welles, Abigail Wexner: 0/0/37.957
4   294 Stunning, Ken Whelihan, Westbrook Hunt Club: 0/0/38.626
5   142 HH Phenix, Haley Buttenweiser, Double H Farm: 0/0/39.499
6   232 Ajee B, Amanda Derbyshire, David Gochman: 0/0/40.902
7   233 King Rolo, Amanda Derbyshire, David Gochman: 0/0/41.838
8   383 Krystoff, Molly Kenney, Oakley Clark: 0/0/42.052

Final Results: Masters Jumpers sponsored by Holistic Animal Healing Clinic
1   406 Mr. Nightiime, Donald Little, Donald Little: 0/0/39.699
2   271 Ronan, Olivia Weeks, Alexa Pessoa: 1/78.197                   
3   303 Leitrim Euro Touch, Dennis Sisco, Dennis Sisco: 8/75.091                   
4   346 Eurostar, Jeff Papows, Jeff Papows: 8/77.496                   
5   221 Tenfold, Mindy Whitman, Mindy Whitman: 10/87.005                   
6   300 Clapton, Dennis Sisco, Dennis Sisco: 16/85.090                   
7   302 S & L Clever, Dennis Sisco, Dennis Sisco: 30/99.376

Final Results: $5,000 1.40m Jumpers
1   287 Zycarla Z, Jeffery Welles, Abigail Wexner: 0/72.799
2   38  Endeavor, Sean Crooks, Glen Youell: 0/74.213
3   154 Top Gun, Amy Millar, Iron Horse Farm: 0/74.476
4   338 Costa Rica Z, Amy Millar, Millar Brooke Farm: 0/75.291
5   37  Dancer, Lauren Crooks, Adeline Negre: 0/75.580
6   260 Winner, Jimmy Torano, Torano/Sir Ruly Inc.: 4/74.696
7   156 Ferrero K, Amy Millar, Brookstreet Stables: 4/78.066
8   125 Henry Jota Romano, Candice King, Romance Farm, Inc.: 4/81.998


Final Results: $1,500 1.30m Jumpers
1   290 Tango, Zachary Libes, Abigail Wexner: 0/0/45.414
2   155 Quidam 13, Amy Millar, DK-USA: 0/4/45.639
3   232 Ajee B, Amanda Derbyshire, David Gochman: 0/4/45.818
4   233 King Rolo, Amanda Derbyshire, David Gochman: 0/4/48.612
5   379 High Quality, Andrew Bourns, Andrew Bourns: 1/74.226                   
6   316 Zilverstar VDL, Candice King, Hyperion Stud LLC: 3/76.123                   
7   174 Babbe Van’t Roosakker, Cara Raether, Trelawny Farm LLC: 6/79.991                   
8   147 Flaming Star, Charles Jacobs, CMJ Sporthorse LLC: 7/80.300


Final Results: 1.15m Jumpers
1   267 Campesino IV, Jimmy Torano, Emerald Isle Jumpers: 0/0/32.749
2   378 Sakkaro, Jeffery Welles, Triton Ventures Farms: 0/0/36.153
3   112 Re Lujo, Amy Momrow, Jackie Piraquive: 0/0/37.594
4   251 Good Luck Scappino, Nicole Schwarzer, Nicole Schwarzer: 0/0/45.109
5   164 Valet, Judy Garofalo Torres, Laura Parker: 0/4/35.923
6   244 Loredc 51, Federico Sztyrle, Herbert Sambol: 0/4/36.909
7   247 Cool As Well, Chris Ewanouski, Herbert Sambol: 1/77.386                   
8   265 Charlotte Des Bruyeres, Jimmy Torano, Emerald Isle Jumpers: 1/77.787

The Fidelity Investments® Jumper Classic® presented by Porsche, now in its 22nd year, annually attracts some of the nation’s most elite equestrian athletes as well as international competitors.  The show offers five days of competition and culminates in the premier event, the $75,000 Fidelity Investments® Grand Prix, held on one of the top grass grand prix fields on the east coast. For more information on the Fidelity Investments® Jumper Classic® presented by Porsche, please visit www.jumperclassic.com.

Fidelity Investments® is one of the world’s largest providers of financial services, with assets under administration of $3.3 trillion, including managed assets of nearly $1.5 trillion, as of July 31, 2010. Founded in 1946, the firm is a leading provider of investment management, retirement planning, portfolio guidance, brokerage, benefits outsourcing and many other financial products and services to more than 20 million individuals and institutions, as well as through 5,000 financial intermediary firms. For more information about Fidelity Investments®, visit www.fidelity.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: Kendra Cecieta, Director of Media Relations, media@jumperclassic.com 

EDITORAL CONTACT: Pamela Mansfield, Editor In Chief, pmansfield@jumperclassic.com

PHOTO CREDIT: Karina Aziz and Kandel won the $500 Der Dau 1.20m Jumpers and were presented with their awards by Joseph Der of Der Dau. Photos © Flashpoint Photography, www.flashpointphotography.com.  These photos may only be used in relation to this press release and with full photo credit.

WEBSITE: www.jumperclassic.com, Press Releases and Photos are available for download.