Horse Shows by the Bay Series III Wrap-Up
RELEASE: July 29, 2009
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: Sarah Evers
Traverse City, MI - July 27, 2009 - It was an exciting victory for Kyle King and Riptide in Saturday's $30,000 D-BRAIDER Cherry Capital Classic Grand Prix during the third week of competition at the 2009 Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival. King and Riptide, owned by Alison Friedman, topped a field of 16 to earn top honors in the class, which was held in the Grand Prix Ring at Flintfields Horse Park in beautiful Traverse City, MI.
Saturday's grand prix class was the conclusion of open jumper competition at this year's Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival. The class was sponsored by D-BRAIDER and Karin Flint of Wellington, FL, and 16 entries showed over the challenging track set by course designer Michel Vaillancourt of Aiken, SC.
Vaillancourt tested the horses and riders over a difficult course in the first round and just five entries were able to complete the course without fault to advance to the jump-off. The top four went double clear and the top three galloped through the timers, each one faster than the next, in the jump-off. Laura Pfeiffer was first to jump off with Thorstin and put in a clear round in 40.551 seconds that earned fourth place upon completion of the class. Blythe Marano was next to jump the shortened course with Urban and went clean in a slightly faster time of 38.990 seconds that eventually earned second place.
Kyle King entered the ring and topped Marano's time, riding Riptide to a blazing fast round in 36.695 seconds to take the lead. Laura Pfeiffer followed with her second jump-off mount, Anberlin. Pfeiffer rode Anberlin to a clear round and finished faster than her time with Thorstin, but stopped the clock in 40.072 seconds to take over the third place honors. The final jump-off round belonged to David Beisel, who rode Patoile to a four-fault round in 38.055 seconds to earn fifth place.
Grand prix winner Kyle King is from Ocala, FL, and has ridden 14-year-old Riptide for many years. Riptide is by Ocean II, and King and his father bought the Holsteiner gelding in California as a two-year-old. King and Riptide have a long history together that includes over fifteen grand prix wins throughout the years, and even though King had not ridden the horse in four years, they proved today that they can still win.
Although he finished fifth in the grand prix, David Beisel has done consistently well throughout the three weeks of jumper competition at the Horse Shows by the Bay Series, and was presented with a special award prior to the class. Beisel was named the Ovation Leading Open Jumper Rider and was honored with a $500 gift certificate from English Riding Supply. A special CANTER exhibitor party and silent auction was also held during the grand prix, sponsored by Meijer.
Sunday's competition was the conclusion of three weeks of hunter/jumper competition at the 2009 Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival. Dressage and polo action will be featured for the fourth and final week at Flintfields Horse Park beginning Wednesday, July 29, and will run through Sunday, August 2. For more information, please visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com.
USHJA Member's Choice Awards
Please vote for Horse Shows by the Bay for the USHJA's Member's Choice Awards. The Member's Choice Awards Program, developed by the Show Standards Committee, gives horse show exhibitors and participants the opportunity to award excellence at USEF Licensed Hunter Jumper competitions through their feedback relating to the competition, the facility where it took place, footing, show personnel, and hospitality.
The goal of the Member's Choice Awards Program is to promote exhibitor friendly competitions and reward excellence based on the amenities and qualities exhibitors' value. Competitions winning the Best Overall Competition awards will receive a USHJA banner, recognizing their accomplishment. An award to each zone's "Member's Choice Award" Show will be given out at th