Hampton Falls, NH – September 15, 2010 – 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 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 first rider into the Shire Equestrian Winner’s Circle was Timothy Hooker of Lake George, NY, and Wellington, FL, on his horse Sovereign Mystery. They topped the 26 horse field in the Der Dau 1.20m Jumpers with double clear rounds and a jump-off time of 33.706 seconds. Second place went to Schuyler Riley on Conquest Z (35.444 seconds), while Caitlin Venezia finished third on Calmiro (35.595 seconds), owned by Olivia Magliochetti.

Hooker and Sovereign Mystery, a seven-year-old gelding by Czar, is out of Mysterious, and is a third-generation horse from Hooker’s breeding program. “I bred his mother and grandmother. We also owned his great-grandmother. His grandfather is my stallion Vicount, who has breeding lines of the great racehorse John Henry,” Hooker explained. “I thought that 1.25m or 1.30m was it (for him), but he’s proved that there may be more. But at seven years old and just a year doing this, he’ll show this week and then we’ll figure out what to do with him next year.”

Timothy Hooker and Sovereign Mystery

Hooker described, “He’s a very athletic horse that’s quick across the ground, which he demonstrated today. He’s very catlike and thoroughbred-y. He’s been showing jumpers for a year. He pretty much started here last year in the Six Year Old Young Jumpers. He won the six year old stake here last year, which was his first jumper class win. It’s kind of fitting that he should win the first class here today.”

Hooker is a regular competitor at the Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic. “This is a very nice venue,” he said. “It offers a grass field that is well-maintained all year. I didn’t feel like my horse was slipping. It’s a good end of the summer show because horses have started to get some experience, and they need that experience here. The jumps are very bright and offer the rider a good chance to push his horse at the jump and know his horse will respect the jumps.”

Molly Ashe Cawley and Tarantel’la won the $1,000 1.30m Jumpers. Cawley, who hails from Newton, CT, has been riding Tarantel’la, owned by Emily D’Alessandro, for only a few months since she had her second child Connor six months ago. Cawley said of Tarantel’la, “She’s a great mare; she’s super careful, fast, game, and gutsy. She’s a blast.”

Molly Ashe Cawley and Tarantel’la

Cawley and Tarantel’la were double clear in 39.013 seconds to take victory over Caitlin Venezia on Sarah Flink’s Aracona Z, who finished in 41.787 seconds, and Timothy Hooker with Apollo.

Other class winners from today included Olympic gold medalist Leslie Howard on Tammy Marek’s Feeling in the 1.25m Jumpers and Cawley, who picked up her second win of the day with Olivia Jack’s Tosca 290 in the $1,000 1.35m Jumper class.

“Olivia is a great rider and is ready for the next step up. Olivia was sick this summer and couldn’t ride for a couple of months, so Tosca hasn’t done much this summer. I just showed her to get some of the bucks out, which we succeeded in today!” Cawley laughed.

Cawley, who rides for Burr Associates, has shown at the Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic for three years and enjoys the atmosphere of this special show. “They try so hard and do so much for the exhibitors and the owners. It’s a pleasant show to be at. It’s relaxed, and the field is beautiful. It’s a nice back-home feeling,” she noted.

In today’s 5 and 6 Year Old Young Jumper division in Ring Two, Cody Parker captured the win on Ambitious, owned by Darren Graziano. Graziano owns and operates DG Venture, Inc., a training and sales barn based out of New York and Wellington, FL. DG Venture, Inc. specializes in developing young horses and riders for all levels of the sport and is also the sponsor of the 5 and 6 Year old division.

Cody Parker and Ambitious

In the Sidelines 1.10m Modified Children’s/Adult Jumper class, Lauren Horth aboard Clever Z rode into the winner’s circle to kick off this new division at The Jumper Classic. The Modified division was added to the class roster this year in order fulfill the Jumper Classic’s goal of expanding the number of jumper classes open to all levels of riders.

The Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic, presented by Porsche continues tomorrow with the $1,500 1.35m Jumpers, which serves as a warm-up for Saturday’s $12,000 Speed Derby, along with the 1.40m Jumpers and classes in the Masters, Children’s/Adult Jumpers, and Junior/Amateur-Owner Low and High divisions.

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 18th. The event culminates on Sunday September 19th with the $15,000 Equine Insurance Speed Stake presented by Great American followed by $75,000 Fidelity Investments AGA Grand Prix presented by Porsche.

Final Results: Der Dau 1.20m Jumpers
1   184 Sovereign Mystery, Timothy Hooker: 0/0/33.706
2   146 Conquest Z, Schuyler Riley: 0/0/35.444
3   323 Calmiro, Caitlin Venezia: 0/0/35.595
4   107 Tiffany, Leslie Howard: 0/0/36.796
5   9   Mayebelline, Cayce Harrison: 0/0/37.529
6   190 Acordyno, Libby Mc Kinney: 0/0/40.797
7   309 Little Lady D’el, Victoria Birdsall: 0/2/44.626
8   54  Reeva II, Lisa Rex: 0/4/36.137
9   189 Stunning, Libby Mc Kinney: 0/4/37.082
10  150 Veredus Lady, Schuyler Riley: 0/WD
11  64  Viper Van Het Bastynhof, Lisa Rex: 4/49.092                   
12  231 Boom Boom Pow, Kyle King: 4/58.097   

Final Results: $1,000 1.30m Jumpers
1   111 Tarantel’la, Molly Ashe Cawley: 0/0/39.013
2   26  Aracona Z, Caitlin Venezia: 0/0/41.787
3   185 Apollo, Timothy Hooker: 0/EL
4   219 Given To Fly, David Tromp: 4/69.928                   
5   220 Cartier, David Tromp: 4/70.223                   
6   114 Kennzo de Conte, Molly Ashe-Cawley: 4/70.948                   
7   163 Tommy Bahama, Jonathan Mc Crea: 4/73.692                   
8   151 Zidane, Schuyler Riley: 5/76.595                   
9   91  Oyster Grey, Jonathan Corrigan: 6/77.311                   
10  174 Pinup, Casandra Herman: 8/70.327

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.