Wellington, FL – July 10, 2012 – G&C Farm is proud to support the sport of show jumping in North America, and would like to congratulate Richard Spooner on his victory in the $50,000 G&C Farm Rider’s Cup at the summer series at Spruce Meadows. Richard Spooner was able to win the series through his consistent performances in the FEI classes at the Spruce Meadows tournaments.
Along with their sponsorship at events, G&C Farm supports multiple riders, including Olympic gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa, young riders Luis Fernando Larrazabal and Mark Bluman, Gustavo Arroyo, Luis Miguel Martinez, and Elizabeth Rae Eaton, along with the Mirabal family. G&C Farm is based in Wellington, FL, and owned by Gustavo and Carolina Mirabal of Venezuela.
“We are very happy with the results so far,” said Gustavo Mirabal. “We will continue to support our riders and help them reach the top of the sport. Our coaches, Helio and Rodrigo Pessoa, have done a great job teaching the riders.”
Luis Fernando Larrazabal and G&C Leroy won classes at the Upperville Colt & Horse Show and the Lake Placid Horse Show. Photo copyright Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
For his first place finish in the G&C Farm Rider’s Cup, Richard Spooner took home the winner’s share of $25,000. He improved on his second place finish from last year. Second place went to Beezie Madden, who won $15,000, while Kent Farrington placed third and received $10,000.
“Sponsoring at major events such as Spruce Meadows is a fundamental part of G&C Farm,” said owner Gustavo Mirabal. “It is very important for us to give back to the sport, and we are so pleased to offer a rider bonus series. It helps make the competition even more exciting and we love rewarding the most consistent riders. We congratulate Richard, Beezie, and Kent on their fantastic performances this year.”
Spooner remarked, “I was ecstatic to come home with that. It’s the type of thing the entire circuit you keep your eye on, because it’s such a wonderful bonus and gracious donation to the riders and our efforts.”
G&C Farm created the $50,000 G&C Farm Rider Cup in 2010 to honor the top FEI level show jumpers during the summer series at Spruce Meadows. The award is calculated through accumulated points given to riders who compete in eligible competitions at the 1.50m and 1.60m divisions during the Summer Series. Athletes accruing the most G&C Farm Riders’ Cup Series Points at the “National”, “Continental”, “Canada One”, and “North American” Tournaments were awarded the 2012 Championship Bonus on the final day of the “North American” Tournament.
This is the third year that G&C Farm has sponsored the Rider’s Cup at Spruce Meadows, and it has been an exciting addition for riders during the summer tournaments. Riders keep track of their standings, and it has come down to the final classes to determine the winner every year. In 2012, Richard Spooner was vying for the win with fellow American rider, Beezie Madden.
Richard Spooner is presented with the G&C Farm Rider’s Cup. Photo copyright Spruce Meadows Media Services.
“It was very exciting, because it went down to the last minute with Beezie,” Spooner said. “It was neck and neck to the last class. She went in with her horse and I had to beat her by seven places. Cristallo was clear and second and just snuck by and got the championship. The G&C Farm Rider’s Cup lended a lot of excitement to the tour, definitely for the riders.”
Spooner had a fantastic string of horses to call upon, including Chivas (“a really phenomenal addition to the string”), Billy Bianca, Let’s Dance, Apache (“He was on fire up there.”), and Cristallo “He was as good as he usually is.”). He was consistently in the top ribbons and was victorious in five FEI classes. He noted, “I couldn’t have been any happier with my horses.”
G&C Farm Riders Perform Well at Home and Abroad
At the recent Lake Placid Horse Show and I Love New York Horse Show in Lake Placid, NY, G&C Farm riders had some great results. At the second week, Luis Larrazabal and G&C Flash were third in the $30,000 Open Jumper Classic. Luis also rode G&C Lepanto to second in the 1.40m Speed Challenge, and was fifth on G&C Sacramento. He and G&C Lepanto were fourth in the 1.40m Speed Stake and seventh in the 1.35m Jumpers. In the first week, Luis and G&C Lepanto won the 1.40m Speed Challenge. Luis and G&C Leroy were the fastest clear to win the 1.30m Jumpers and were second in the 1.35m Jumpers.
In the $75,000 Upperville Grand Prix, Luis Larrazabal and G&C Flash were double clear for fourth place. Mark Bluman and G&C Blue were also in the jump-off and finished fifth. Luis and G&C Sacramento were 10th. In the $25,000 Upperville Welcome Stake, Mark Bluman and G&C Blue were double clear and finished in fourth place. Luis and G&C Leroy were first and fourth in the 1.30m Jumpers and secured the division championship. Gustavo Mirabal and G&C Miltoo were second in the Low Amateur-Owner Jumpers.
Mark Bluman and G&C Blue. Photo copyright Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Results also came from the Devon Horse Show, where G&C Con Air and Mark Bluman were fifth in $7,500 Open Jumper Faults Converted class and eighth in the $20,000 Gambler’s Choice class. Luis rode G&C Flash to fifth place in the $32,000 Open Jumper class. G&C Lepanto and Luis were ninth in the Gambler’s Choice. Mark Bluman and G&C Blue were 12th in that class as well as 12th in $7,500 Open Jumper class, in which he and G&C Con Air were also 11th.
Showing in Europe, Rodrigo Pessoa had great results with G&C Atlanta, a new six-year-old mare by Andiamo x Heartbreaker. They were double clear in the 6 Year Old Final in Aalst CSI and placed third.
“G&C Farm wants to congratulate Rodrigo for his great results with all of his horses in Europe,” said Mirabal. “We are very excited that G&C Quick Star 11 will start her competition this summer at the CSI 2* in Chantilly, France.”
G&C Farm will compete next at the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows on July 25-August 1 in Lexington, KY.
For more information on G&C Farm please visit the new website at www.gandcfarm.com, like them them on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter.
G&C Farm brings exceptional horses and top jumper riders to the highest levels of competition. Their state-of-the-art, full-service facility is located in Wellington, FL. The vision of G&C Farm is to improve the instruction and training of their top jumper riders and horses in order to seek a place at all high level tournaments and top competitions, including the World Equestrian Games and Olympic Games. G&C Farm sponsors Olympic gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa, as well as other up-and-coming riders.