Hampton Falls, NH – August 13, 2012 – The Jumper Classic®, presented by Fidelity Investments® and Audi of America had an extremely successful week of competition 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 attracted the country’s top riders, Olympians and local equestrians.


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Victory in $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix Goes to Candice King and Kismet 50
More than 5,000 spectators came to watch the final day of The Jumper Classic for the $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix. Course designer Olaf Petersen, Jr. of Munich, Germany, designed the tracks in the Coldwell Bankers Previews Grand Prix Field this week. Only one rider found the clear path to the jump-off. Candice King piloted Mark Bellissimo’s Kismet 50 to the win after a strong, clean round.
There were five four-faulters from the first round and the fastest of those was Leslie Howard on Utah, who finished in 81.572 seconds for second place. Stopping the timers in 82.539 seconds, Peter Leone and Lincourt Gino placed third. Fourth place went to Nick Dello Joio on Rado, who had a time of 84.347 seconds, while Charles Jacobs and Leap of Joy were fifth with a time of 86.034 seconds. Teenager Chloe Reid rode Damascus to a time of 87.347 seconds and just missed the jump-off when they stepped in the water.
King got the ride on Kismet 50, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Kannan, in May at the Old Salem Horse Show. This is their ninth horse show together. She noted, “When I got her, I was just trying to form a partnership, as we all do. I knew she was a great horse. The Dvorkins and Pine Hollow believed in me and it was nice to have their support and to give me the chance to have the ride on such a great horse. I just took awhile to get to know her and get her in my program so that we could work together. It’s been a fun ride so far.”
Mark Bellissimo recently purchased Kismet 50, and King said that she felt like she and Kismet have “been knocking on the door.” She explained, “We’ve had mostly clear rounds. I’ve had a rail in the jump-off with the winning time four times now. I felt really confident today when we walked the course, on how she felt and the conditions like this. I was excited. The Bellissimos have supported me from the get-go on having the ride on her and they bought her. I’m very fortunate to have them supporting me. We’re having a great adventure with it, so I’m excited.”
“For me, she’s like a hand in glove,” King described. “From the first time I showed her, I felt like I was back at home on her. I’ve been bringing along young horses all my career, so for me to have a horse like Kismet who’s already had a lot of experience under her belt is great. The mare is a winner. She knows the game and we suit one another, so I’m quite excited.”
This was King’s first grand prix win at The Jumper Classic. She said that she has shown regularly here since 1996 and laughed, “I’ve been here a lot of years and I finally won it. I’m usually the consistent one, not the winner here, so I’m very excited. I thank all of my sponsors.”
Wednesday to Sunday Jumper Classic Winners
The opening class of the week was the Der Dau 1.20m Jumpers. There were 49 entries in the class, where riders with a first round clear advanced to the jump-off. It was Jeffery Welles of Brewster, NY, who took first and second place in the class. Riding Amanda Gunthal’s Laracon, he came home clear in 34.502 seconds for victory. Welles and Waterloo, owned by Kenzie Snyder, were second in 35.235 seconds. Third place went to Paul Halpern on Hermine 44, owned by Kamine & Fisher Families LLC, who finished in 36.587 seconds.
Welles returned to the Shires Equestrian Winner’s Circle in the $3,500 1.30m Jumpers on KM Whatever RV, a nine-year-old KWPN gelding by Murano x Kaberlina and owned by Dana Scott. There were 44 entries in the class. Welles said, “He’s a really good, careful, fast horse. He’s a really fun horse.” Tilghman, ridden by Sarah Segal for Horatio Street Ventures, was second. In third place was Devin Ryan on Boucanier, owned by Eadle Valley Partners.
The winner of the $5,000 1.40m Jumpers on Wednesday was Christine McCrea of East Windsor, CT, on Avenir, a 12-year-old Belgian warmblood gelding by Phin Phin x Jezabel owned by Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables. Seventh Fee, ridden and owned by Michael Dorman, was second in the class, while third place went to Palmyra Partners’ Arkansas, ridden by Hillary Simpson.
The GGT Footing Ring Two hosted competition on Wednesday as well, and the following horses and riders were the winners:
1.10m Jumpers – Super G, Paul Halpern, Kathleen Kamine
1.15m Jumpers – Quelanotte Rouge, Jeffery Welles, Kenzie Snyder
$500 Watershed Low Children’s/Adult Jumpers – Will of Iron, Michelle Kamine, Kathleen Kamine
$750 Horse Watch High Children’s/Adult Jumpers – My Lovely Louise, Michelle Blunda, Michelle Blunda
Holistic Animal Healing Clinic Masters Jumpers – Justice, Nina Simons, Nina Simons
The winner of the $12,000 Welcome Stake was Jonathan McCrea of East Windsor, CT, on Twisther, owned by Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables. There were 22 entries in the $12,000 Welcome Stake, and riders had the option to ride their jump-off round immediately following their first round or to return at the end of the class. McCrea and Twisther rode their jump-off immediately following their first round and were able to lower the winning time to 34.539 seconds with a clear round.
McCrea just bested his wife, Christine, who rode Victor E to a clear jump-off in 36.000 seconds. Third place went to Candice King on Louisburg Farm’s Whistler. They completed the jump-off fault-free in 37.158 seconds. Rounding out the double clear rounds were McCrea and his second mount Colorado (37.743 seconds) for fourth and Michael Dorman on Seventh Fee in fifth with a time of 39.004 seconds.
The $1,500 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers started their division with 37 entries. Riding to the win with a clear jump-off time of 32.129 seconds was Cody Parker of New York, NY, on Ambitious, a seven-year-old KWPN-NA mare. Parker bred Ambitious herself out of her retired jumper, Kolumbina, and Ambitious is by Indoctro. The $1,500 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper class was also held in a jump-off format, and New York City’s Francesca Bolfo piloted Venus TR to the win.
Starting out the morning on Thursday was the $3,500 1.40m Jumpers. The class was held in a faults converted format, and the fastest for victory was Zephyr, ridden and owned by Michael Dorman. Jeffery Welles was able to come away with the win in the $2,000 1.30m Jumpers out of 29 entries riding Valdano, owned by Laura O’Connor. Coming in second place was Feeling, ridden and owned by Tammy Marek. Third place went to Raccoon, ridden by Molly Ashe Cawley for McLain Ward.
Thursday’s winners in the GGT Footing Ring Two were:
$500 Holistic Animal Healing Clinic Masters Jumpers: Foxgate’s Joker, Christine Blair, John Blair
1.10m Jumpers: Revelstoke, Annie Phillips, Annie Phillips
1.15m Jumpers: Super G, Paul Halpern, Kathleen Kamine
$750 Sidelines Magazine 1.20m Jumpers: Don Pedro, JJ Lavieri, Jessica Herman
$500 Watershed Farm Low Children’s/Adult Jumpers: Shades of Bay, Sidney Gerken, Sidney Gerken
In the $3,500 DG Ventures Speed Derby, Olympian Peter Leone piloted Tuvalu, owned by Alison Finger, to the fastest clear round for victory. Leone and Tuvalu were the last of 20 entries and knew the time they would have to beat. Leone sped around the course and clocked the fastest time in 76.818 seconds with no faults. The previous winning time, 77.733 seconds, was set by Rugged Bear and Sarah Hubbard, who had to settle for second place. Third place went to Maestro de Shalimar and Stephanie McComisky, who finished clear in 77.787 seconds.
Opening up Friday with a win was Devin Ryan of Long Valley, NJ, on Roman Saluut in the $3,500 CMJ Sporthorse 1.30m Jumpers. They were the fastest over the speed course for victory out of 23 entries. Second place went to yesterday’s winners, Valdano and Jeffery Welles, who rode for Laura O’Connor. Jonathan McCrea and Candy Tribble’s Boston finished third.
In the $3,000 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers, Cody Parker and Ambitious scored their second win of the week. Vicki Lowell and Tippitoo finished second, while Megan McDermott and Sagamore Farms’ Lacongo placed third. In the $3,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers, Chloe Reid and Damascus found the path to victory. Anna McKnight and Carisco were second, while Sophie Morner and Veron, owned by Lovsta Stuteri, were third.
The $5,000 1.40m Jumpers saw Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star post the fastest time in the jump-off to win. Molly Ashe-Cawley and Wriomf, owned by The Jolly Group, were just behind in second place. Kirsten Coe and Ilan Ferder’s Baronez finished third.
In the GGT Footing Ring Two, the final class was the $1,000 High Children’s/Adult Jumpers. Michael Matice of Denville, NJ, rode Lexus to victory. It was their second win this week at The Jumper Classic.
Additional winners in the GGT Footing Ring Two on Friday were:
1.10m Jumpers: San Souci, Peter Leone, Matti Fisher
1.15m Jumpers: Super G, Paul Halpern, Kathleen Kamine
$1,000 1.20m Jumpers: Sante, Katherine Weber, Katherine Weber
$500 Watershed Farm Low Children’s/Adult Jumpers: Lots O’ Dots, Jessica Nickless, Jessica Nickless
In the $12,000 Speed Derby, Jeffery Welles of Brewster, NY, and Laracon, owned by Amanda Gunthel, were fastest for first place. Fifteen entries attempted the faults converted course, but it was Jeffery Welles who recorded the fastest round for the win. He rode Amanda Gunthel’s Laracon, an eight-year-old gelding, to a very fast, clean round in 86.446 seconds. Leslie Howard and her derby veteran Lennox Lewis 2 were the early leaders with a final time of 86.861 seconds, which finished second. Howard and her second horse, Tammy Marek’s Feeling, had the faster time of 85.302 seconds, but with four faults added, their final time of 89.302 seconds placed them third.
The $5,000 SmartPak High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic was one of the feature classes of Saturday afternoon. There were 17 entries, and five returned for the jump-off. The pacesetter was Margaret Bopp of Greenwich, CT, on Nerval de la Batia, an 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Gipsy de St. Martin. They went clear and set the time to beat at 39.401 seconds, which no one was able to catch. Second place went to Chloe Reid and Damascus, who were clear in 39.654 seconds. Greer Hindle and Jagger placed third as the only other double clear in 40.177 seconds.
There were 39 entries in the $5,000 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. Six of those were able to find the clear path to the jump-off. The first to return were Natalie Horween of Barrington, IL, and Catina del Masset, a 11-year-old Holsteiner mare by Catano They set the winning time at 35.864 seconds, which could not be beat. Second place went to Francesca Bolfo and U2, who were also clean in 37.411 seconds. The final double clear round was recorded by Zachary Libes on Barisme VDL, who had a time of 38.835 seconds.
Ahmed Alali made his trip to The Jumper Classic a successful one today when he went one-two in the $1,000 Holistic Animal Healing Clinic Masters Jumper Classic results. On his first horse Crusader, a nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Cassini I, he set the early winning time of 62.763 seconds. Riding near the end of the class on Fenway, a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Candillo, he was able to lower that winning time to 61.875 seconds with another clear round. Third place went to Tuvalu and Alison Finger, who were clear with a time of 64.347 seconds.
The $2,500 Woodridge Farm Children’s Jumper Classic was the first feature class in the GGT Footing Ring Two. Sidney Cardoza rode Via Vanti to victory. Charles Jacobs and Elphaba, owned by CMJ Sporthorse LLC placed second, while Carnaval Z, ridden by Isabelle Norton and owned by Snowbrook Farm, finished third.
Michael Matice and Lexus captured their third win of the week in the $3,500 Dover Saddlery Adult Jumper Classic. They were able to beat a field of 16 entries. Adele Norton, who rode Chloe Reid LLC’s Queen of Hearts, placed second. Third place went to Crossfire LLC’s Lenny 42, ridden by Kristin Zimmerman.
Additional winners in the GGT Footing Ring Two on Saturday were:
1.15m Jumpers:Baltimore, Allison Stawarz, Allison Stawarz
$1,500 1.20m Jumpers: Sante, Katherine Weber, Katherine Weber
$2,500 1.30m Jumpers: Zico T, Chris Kappler, American Equestrian Assoc. II LLC
$750 Watershed Farm LLC Low Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic: Aurora, Ashley Fatur, Ashley Fatur
There were 27 entries in the $15,000 Equine Insurance Speed Stake on Sunday, and they competed in a faults converted format. Riding out of the third spot in the order, the early leading time was set by Leslie Howard and Lennox Lewis 2, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Laureatus. They had the all-important clear round and didn’t add anything to their time of 60.718 seconds.
There were some challengers to Howard’s time: Francesca Bolfo and Venus TR were very speedy in 57.765 seconds, but with four faults added, they finished just off the pace in 61.765 seconds for second place. Dana Scott and KM Whatever RV were clear in 64.554 seconds for fourth place. Fifth place went to Peter Leone and Wayfarer, who stopped the timers in 66.205 seconds. Howard went last in the class on her third mount, Zack, and had a faster time of 59.586 seconds but also had a rail at fence four to finish on 63.586 seconds and third place.
The Jumper Classic would like to thank their sponsors, exhibitors, staff, spectators and volunteers for another fantastic, successful event and looks forward to welcoming everyone back next year.
The Jumper Classic® presented by Fidelity Investments® and Audi of America, now in its 23rd 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 Jumper Classic, please visit www.jumperclassic.com .