Hampton Falls, NH – September 16, 2010 – The Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic, presented by Porsche, continued top-notch competition in their second day at the Silver Oak Equestrian Center. Located in the beautiful seacoast 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 19, with the highlight class, the $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix, on Sunday. Olympic course designer Linda Allen is designing the tracks in the Coldwell Bankers Previews Grand Prix Field this week.

The highlight class today was the $1,500 1.35m Jumpers, won by Olympian Peter Leone of Greenwich, CT. The class was a warm-up for Saturday’s $12,000 Millbrook Ventures Speed Derby and included practice for natural obstacles such as a ditch oxer, liverpool, open water with a rail, canter through the grob, and the Brook Ledge Derby Bank.

Leone piloted Reflection, owned by Lionshare Farm and Ger Poels Horses. The 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, imported from Holland this year, has been showing in small grand prix classes with Leone, but he had a different plan for the Jumper Classic.

“Knowing what a wonderful field and competition there is here at Fidelity, I wanted to drop him down from the grand prix level and target trying to win the Derby, the Derby prep, and the Speed Stake on Sunday. This is comfortable territory for him, (with) the size of the jumps, the natural obstacles. I can go out there and concentrate on competing rather than surviving,” Leone said with a smile.

Leone picked up the speed win in a time of 75.588 seconds. Second place went to Sandstone Monte Cristo, ridden by Kyle King, in 77.760 seconds. Victor VDL and Jonathan McCrea, who rode for Candy Tribble, were third in 78.061 seconds. Leone described Reflection as “a fast horse.” He added, “Without trying, he was quite fast today. He’s very rideable, he turns well, he’s quite careful, but thank goodness he’s also quite brave.”

Peter Leone and Reflection

Leone is a regular competitor at the Jumper Classic and feels that the show has four main advantages. “There are four things that I love about this show, and they’re all equally important,” he explained. “One is this fantastic, beautifully maintained grass jumping field with natural obstacles. That’s a huge part of show jumping that we don’t get to experience that often anymore. Two is the course designer. The effort was made to bring in a real top-level course designer. She knows how to use the field for good sport. Three is that show management puts on a very rider friendly show. One of the obvious differences is that there are only three rings. On Sunday, there is only one ring. All of the marquee classes go out on the big field. We can concentrate on competing instead of running around from ring to ring. Four is that the prize money is good. Put those four things together and that’s why I’m here.”

In addition to further classes with Reflection, Leone plans to show in Sunday’s $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix with Select, who won this year’s Grand Prix of Devon.

Molly Ashe Cawley and Tosca 290, owned by Olivia Jack, picked up their second win of the week today in the $2,000 1.40m Jumpers. They were quick once again and double clear in the jump-off in a time of 35.162 seconds. McLain Ward rode Esplanade 7 for Louisburg Farm to second place in 36.036 seconds with no faults. Gowran Park, ridden and owned by Andrew Bourns, finished third with a time of 36.499 seconds and a clear jump-off ride.

Molly Ashe Cawley and Tosca 290

In the $500 Arenus Masters 1.05m class this morning, Diana Walters rode into the winner’s circle on her steady mount Four on the Floor. Walters hails from Old Salem, NY, where she trains with Jumper Classic course designer, Eric Hasbrouck. She has competed at the show for several years and claims it is one of her absolute favorites.

“This is my first win here,” said Walters. “I was really excited to go ride on the grass field on this beautiful New England day. The conditions of this facility are excellent.”

Walters has owned Four on the Floor for the last ten years and says he is a very special animal. “He always takes great care of me,” she said. “I was so happy with my horse.”

The Masters Division concludes tomorrow with the $1,000 Masters Classic and the crowning of the division champion. This is the first year Arenus has joined The Jumper Classic as sponsors. Arenus is a premier provider of innovative health and nutrition products for pets and horses. The company is dedicated to animal performance, health, and longevity. The staff includes more than 75 veterinarians and other animal health professionals, who take to heart the company’s core principals: “Valuing Research, Relationships, and Results™”.

Diana Walters and Four on the Floor

The Children’s/Adult Jumpers continued their competition today with a class in the Coldwell Bankers Previews Grand Prix Field. While they showed together, ribbons were presented separately to the Children’s Jumpers and Adult Jumpers. The winner of the Children’s class was Roxanna, ridden by Kaylie Holroyd for Shelly Holroyd. Jeanine Cash rode Tiona, owned by Danielle Stacy, to the win in the Adult Jumpers.

The Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers had their first classes today with Low and High divisions offered. In the Low class, Daniela Cordero rode Undine, owned by Turtle Hall Farm Partners, to victory. Banana D’ive Z and Meagan Nusz took the blue ribbon in the High division.

The Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic presented by Porsche continues tomorrow with the highlight class, the $10,000 Welcome Stake, which is a qualifier for Sunday’s $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix. Show jumping action continues throughout the weekend with exciting classes to entertain spectators that include the $12,000 Millbrook Ventures Speed Derby and the $1,200 Merial Pro/Am Class on Saturday, September 18. The event culminates on Sunday, September 19, with the $15,000 Equine Insurance Speed Stake presented by Great American followed by the $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix.



For more information and full results, please visit www.jumperclassic.com.

Final Results: $1,500 1.35m Jumpers/Derby Warm-up
1   41  Reflection, Peter Leone: 0/75.588
2   230 Sandstone Monte Cristo, Kyle King: 0/77.760
3   161 Victor VDL, Jonathan Mc Crea: 0/78.061
4   96  Lennox Lewis 2, Leslie Howard: 0/79.738
5   242 Charmer, Peter Leone: 0/81.330
6   18  Skara Glen’s Palenque, Candice King: 0/81.980
7   295 Canasucre, Andrew Bourns: 0/82.407
8   19  Skara Glen’s Cartier, Candice King: 0/83.527
9   246 Dahlia, Kevin Babington: 0/85.394
10  276 Shaq, David Oliynyk: 3/92.438
11  12  Southern River, Jeanne Hobbs: 4/80.079
12  312 HH Oakland, Marie Hecart: 4/85.132

Final Results: $2,000 1.40 Jumpers
1   115 Tosca 290, Molly Ashe-Cawley: 0/0/35.162
2   33  Esplanade 7, Mclain Ward: 0/0/36.036
3   296 Gowran Park, Andrew Bourns: 0/0/36.499
4   88  Maestro Du Desert, Johnathon Corriga: 0/4/37.943
5   6   HH Linton, Quentin Judge: 0/4/38.354
6   32  Vocas, Mclain Ward: 2/76.395                   
7   162 Colorado, Jonathan Mc Crea: 2/76.668                   
8   272 Boo Van Het Kastanjehof, Andrew Welles: 4/71.619                   
9   31  Vigo, Mclain Ward: 4/72.591                   
10  92  Lacongo, Johnathon Corriga: 4/73.534  

Final Results: $500 Arenus Masters Jumpers
1   271 Four on the Floor, Diana Walters: 0/0/34.360
2   240 Atman, Olivia Weeks: 0/0/35.274
3   243 Kemosabe, Bevo Tarika: 0/0/35.621
4   254 Katharine, Elizabeth Lamotte: 0/0/35.683
5   305 Mr. Nightime, Donald Little: 0/0/35.789
6   253 Somerset, Elizabeth Lamotte: 0/0/36.037
7   239 Ronan, Olivia Weeks: 0/0/36.468
8   79  Prego, Lucy Mitchell-Innes: 0/0/38.039
9   53  Nike, Susan Lowery: 0/0/39.242
10  110 Gianni, Jamie Prusak: 0/0/39.751
11  289 Heliotrop, Lee Thornton: 0/0/40.051
12  347 Paddington, Shelly Holroyd: 0/0/42.963

The Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic presented by Porsche, now in its 21st 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: Photos © Flashpoint Photography.  These photos may only be used in relation to this press release and with full photo credit.

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