Hannah Holik and Cupido de Laubry Clear Winners of 1.40m Open Jumpers at Summer in the Rockies III

 

Parker, CO – June 18, 2014 – Hannah Holik and Czech Mate LLC’s Cupido de Laubry were on fire as Summer in the Rockies III kicked off today. They raced through a speedy jump-off round and earned first place in the $2,500 Open Jumper 1.40m. Not only were they the only ones to go double clear in the class of 15, but they were two seconds ahead of the next fastest pair in the jump-off. “I always go in, especially with him, hoping and thinking that we could win,” Holik, of Jackson Hole, WY, said. “I know he has the scope and the speed and the stamina to win every class – it’s really up to me and how well I ride him that day.”

Guilherme Jorge built an inviting course to get the week started in the Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix Arena, with straightforward lines and two double combinations. Riders were able to give their horses confident, forward rides in preparation for the days to come. Rails were scattered around the course, with the first double combination (fences 6ab) tripping up a number of horses. For the jump-off, riders began over the same line as the first round course, an oxer to a vertical, and then had a tight rollback turn to the right to fence 13, a tall red-and-white vertical that horses were seeing for the first time. From there, they headed to the in-and-out, fences 8ab, and then made a rollback to the left to reach an oxer. They executed another right-hand rollback to the Holiday Inn/Hampton Inn vertical and finished over the last red-and-white vertical. The first two to go, Matt Cyphert on Carat V and John Pearce on Chantico, both moved on to the jump-off but had a rail each there, with Cyphert’s time of 39.754 seconds giving him the early lead over Pearce’s 41.167 seconds. Holik and Cupido de Laubry quickly stole that lead away with their fast double clear in 35.378 seconds.

None of the next eight riders were able to join the fray in the jump-off, many dropping just a single rail to prevent them from moving on. Bjorn Ikast and Iz’s Viva La Vida broke that streak with a clear first round, but had fences 13 and 11 down in the jump-off for eight jumping faults in a time of 37.640 seconds. Janet Hischer and Livia Z followed suit, incurring faults for rails at fences 8a and 11 and coming home in 39.406 seconds. Ikast and Hischer took fourth and fifth place respectively behind Holik, Cyphert, and Pearce. Holik said the distances in the jump-off rode well, and she focused on a few fences in particular to ensure a clear round. “I wanted to make sure he cleared the beige rails (of fence 2, the Parker Adventist Hospital vertical) since we’ve had trouble with that one in the past,” she said. “It was a tight rollback to the candy stripe vertical (fence 13), and I just wanted to be efficient there in the least amount of strides. After the in-and-out, I wanted to make sure he got his eye on the oxer soon enough and cleared the back side. He was perfect – he knew it was coming.”

Holik has fine-tuned the warm-up routine for “Cupi” so that he has the right energy level when he enters the ring. “When we first got him, we did harder flat lessons in the morning,” she explained. “But he’s slowly transformed. He can do a light workout in the morning and then a harder workout before we go in to jump, and he seems to be happy with that. We sometimes go on trail rides before the class or take it easy in the morning, and then we gear him up for the class later in the day.” She takes advantage of the Colorado Horse Park’s extensive trail system to keep her horses fresh during the show. “Here, where they have great trails, we take them for a nice trail ride on Tuesdays just so they can relax,” she said. Holik is keeping busy with schooling and competing her horses at Summer in the Rockies, but she fit in some time for a college visit as well, touring the University of Denver. The rising senior at Jackson Hole Community School is hoping to attend a large university and keep riding and competing at a high level on the side. $2,500 Open Jumper 1.30m John McConnell and new mount La Bella Soiree may be just getting to know each other, but their partnership was strong enough today to claim the winner’s check in the $2,500 Open Jumper 1.30m. This is the first horse show for La Bella Soiree, a 9-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by Molly Precourt, since she was imported from Germany about three months ago. She competed at the 1.40m level in Germany, and McConnell’s goal is to step her up to the grand prix. While she didn’t fare as well as hoped in the last week’s $25,000 Littleton Equine Medical Center/Platinum Performance Grand Prix, she showed she is back in the game today, and McConnell plans to give Thursday’s $15,000 Open Welcome Stake a try.

“We’re trying to move up to do the big courses,” McConnell explained. “We stepped up last week and weren’t so fortunate, but we’ll do the Welcome again tomorrow and see where we’re at.” “She’s got a great attitude and a really sweet disposition, and she’s great in the barn,” he added. “She can be a little strong in the bridle sometimes, but goes in a loose ring snaffle. She’s really a nice horse.” Thirteen horse and rider combinations gave Jorge’s first round course a try, and seven of those advanced to the jump-off. Delaney Flynn and Quite Quick posted the first double clear midway through the class, finishing in 39.346 seconds. McConnell was next to reach the jump-off and took a neat, efficient track, making the best of opportunities to save ground and leave out strides. He and La Bella Soiree clocked in at 38.639 seconds, moving into the lead. The three pairs immediately following them were all double clear, but none managed as quick a time, leaving McConnell and La Bella Soiree to take home the top prize. McConnell said the course rode well and was a perfect way to start out Summer in the Rockies III. “Guilherme (Jorge) is a great course designer,” he said. “Everything is set to make the horses get better as the week goes on. There are no traps out there. Everything is set to make them jump, and he’ll build as the week goes on.” Jumper competition returns Thursday with the $15,000 Open Welcome Stake. The week’s feature is Saturday’s $30,000 McElvain Energy Grand Prix. Click here for full results from Wednesday. Visit the Colorado Horse Park’s website and follow them on Facebook andTwitter for updates throughout Summer in the Rockies.

Results: Summer in the Rockies III – Wednesday, June 18

(Number/Horse/Owner/Rider/Prize Money)

 

$2,500 Open Jumper 1.40m

1. 280/Cupido de Laubry/Czech Mate, LLC/Hannah Holik/730.00

2. 199/Carat V/Claire Hyde/Matt Cyphert/482.50

3. 402/Chantico/Forest View Farm & Karen Ball/John Pearce/357.50

4. 310/Iz’s Viva La Vida/Bjorn Ikast/Bjorn Ikast/230.00

5. 283/Livia Z/Sharon Granberg/Janet Hischer/175.00

6. 312/Royal Flush/Bjorn Ikast/Bjorn Ikast/175.00

7. 450/Akkato/Wells Bridge Farm Inc/Paul Rohrbach/175.00

8. 495/Super Bad/Blair Cudmore/Brooke Cudmore/175.00

 

$2,500 Open Jumper 1.30m

1. 369/La Bella Soiree/Molly Precourt/John Mc Connell/730.00

2. 306/Quite Quick/Irish Rose Stables/Delaney Flynn/482.50

3. 367/Leon D’Or/James Mc Connell/Amanda Mc Connell/357.50

4. 241/Quickie/Natascha Gates/Natascha Gates/230.00

5. 256/Girl Scout/High Standard Equestrian, LLC/Megan Ghere/175.00

6. 293/Cutler/Twisted Tree Farm/Janet Hischer/175.00

7. 257/Renoir Du Buisson/Jed Cogan/Megan Ghere/175.00

8. 452/Celina/Jacqueline Toomey/Jacqueline Toomey/175.00

 

$500 1.25m Jumper

1. 137/Barlando/Farfetched Farm/Kristen Blomstrom/150.00

2. 257/Renoir Du Buisson/Jed Cogan/Megan Ghere/110.00

3. 323/GSCO Excello/Michelle Ebert/Megan Jordan/80.00

4. 113/Livorno/Molly Precourt/Karen Banister/60.00

5. 261/Cici’s Angel/Palmer Divide Ranch/Haley Griffis/50.00

6. 103/Diamond/Anastasia Stewart/Colleen Acosta/50.00

7. 540/Conjure/Taylor Ross/Suzanne Suttles/0.00

8. 557/Tea Party/Treesdale Farms/Bethany Bolen/0.00

 

Young Jumper 6/7/8 Year Old

1. 471/J.E.S. Quito/Nicki Wilcox/Nicki Wilcox

2. 352/Mabel/Brita Wallace/Rachel Lindsey

3. 395/Vanessa/Ceinwen Muma/Ceinwen Muma

4. 315/Supernatural/Bjorn Ikast/Bjorn Ikast

5. 277/Saveur de B’Neville/MHJ Sales, LLC/Armando Hassey

6. 426/Catoctin/Kathryn Kantes/Mickie Sage

7. 289/Collin/Paige Waslewski/Samantha Waslewski

8. 276/Cassino/Armando Hassey/Armando Hassey

 

The Colorado Horse Park Summer in the Rockies Fast Facts

What: Summer in the Rockies AA-Rated Hunter Jumper Show Series

Event Dates:

June 4-8 Summer in the Rockies I

June 11-15 Summer in the Rockies II

June 18-22 Summer in the Rockies III*

July 2-6 Summer in the Rockies IV

July 9-13 Summer in the Rockies V*

July 16-20 Summer in the Rockies VI

*WCHR Member Events

Hunter Highlights:

$5,000 National Hunter Derby – Week III

$15,000 International Hunter Derby sponsored by Winsome Farm – Week III

$10,000 National Hunter Derby – Week V

$40,000 International Hunter Derby sponsored by Serenity Farm – Week V

Jumper Highlights:

$25,000 Summer in the Rockies Grand Prix sponsored by Holiday Inn of Parker Grand Prix – Week I

$25,000 Summer in the Rockies Grand Prix sponsored by Littleton Equine Medical and Platinum Performance – Week II

$30,000 Summer in the Rockies Grand Prix sponsored by McElvain Energy – Week III

$30,000 Summer in the Rockies Grand Prix sponsored by Griffis Residential – Week IV

$50,000 Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix – Week V

$50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix – Week VI

$10,000 High Junior/Amateur Owner Classic sponsored by The Kathy and Brad Coors Family

$20,000 High Junior/Amateur Owner Classic sponsored by The Kathy and Brad Coors Family

Plus:

$10,000 July Grand Prix Rider Bonus for the Leading Grand Prix Rider sponsored by The Kathy and Brad Coors Family – Weeks IV – VI

Prize List:

Click here for an online version of the prize list.

For a hard copy of the prize list, please e-mailprizelist@cohorsepark.com with your name, address and phone number and specify which prize list you would like (spring/fall or summer).

Entries:

Mail to The Colorado Horse Park, 7522 South Pinery Drive, Parker, CO 80134 or fax to (303) 841-7879. Entries close 30 days before each show.

Contact Information:

Pat Boyle, Show Manager                     (847) 274-6834

Brian Curry, Show Manager                   (303) 918-2908

Colorado Horse Park Main Office           (303) 841-5550

Colorado Horse Park Main Office Fax    (303) 841-7879

Show Office                                             (303) 841-7461

Show Office Fax (during show only)       (303) 841-1419

Show Grounds Address:

7375 E Bayou Gulch Rd, Parker, CO 80134

From North: I-25S exit Ridgegate Parkway – go east under the freeway.  Ridgegate Parkway to S. Chambers Road, approx 3 miles (Traffic light) – turn right/south onto Chambers Road. At end of Chambers Road turn left/east onto Hess Road.  Hess Road to Parker Road/Hwy 83 – turn right/south onto Hwy 83 approx 4 miles to Bayou Gulch Road. (Traffic light). Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

From South: I-25N, exit Founder’s Parkway.  Founder’s Parkway to Highway 86, approx 4 miles (traffic light). Turn east/left onto Hwy. 86 to Franktown/Hwy 83. At Franktown go north on 83 approx. 7 mi. to Bayou Gulch Rd. (Traffic light), turn right/east onto Bayou Gulch Rd. Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

About the Colorado Horse Park:

Celebrating its 21st Anniversary, the Colorado Horse Park was founded by visionary Helen Krieble who acknowledged the need for a high-volume horse show and horse boarding facility to serve Colorado.  The Colorado Horse Park welcomes more than 35,000 visitors per year and hosts over 40 competitions annually.  CHP features a derby arena designed by Olympic-designer Linda Allen and a cross-country course designed by Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor and eventing super-star James Atkinson. There are 300 permanent stalls with capacity for more than 1,000 stalls.

 

The picturesque property, located only minutes from the town of Parker, hosts international equestrian events in multiple disciplines. Visitors enjoy the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountain surroundings and access to miles of trails and open space.  The Colorado Horse Park is committed to supporting equestrian education and amateur athletics, preserving open space, fundraising for local charities and supporting the community.

Visit CHP at:

http://coloradohorsepark.com/ 

To access the schedule: http://coloradohorsepark.com/events