adambroom.com

IRISH show jumper Jessica Kurten will not appear in front of a tribunal following the positive test of her horse Castle Forbes Maike for a prohibited substance.

 
Instead, an International Equestrian Federation (FEI) disciplinary committee will conduct a closed meeting to decide if she is responsible and any punishment.
Two random samples taken from Castle Forbes Maike at a show at La Baule in France last May tested positive for a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
Jessica has always maintained that her horse was not given any drug, and has declined in the past to ride on a team with fellow Irish international Cian o’Connor, whose horse failed a dope test at the Athens Olympics.
A tribunal with the disciplinary committee of the FEI was set for 21 February, to discuss the medication offence with Jessica.
“After all the documents had been gathered, the FEI was of the opinion that no hearing was necessary,” said FEI spokesman Malina Gueorguiev. “We gave that option to the rider, and she decided not to appear at the hearing.”
The FEI has prepared a file of evidence from vets, laboratories and other witnesses, to send to Jessica’ s legal team - which has already run up a bill of CHF60,OOO or £2 ,000 - so they can respond to any further claims.
But Jessica’s lawyer, Dr Ulf Walz, says the FEI is trying to impose a secrecy clause before it hands over the documentation.
In a fax to the FEI dated 28 January, Dr Walz said: “By subjecting the handing over of the documents to conditions, the FEI violates several fundamental defence rights of (Jessica Kurten), especially constitutional rights and procedural rules.”
The FEI refused to comment on the situation, saying the rider now has until 28 February to respond.
The drug found in Castle Forbes Maike - Etoricoxib - is not widely known for its use in horses, and its presence is considered a minor infringement of FEI rules.
Penalties for this offence include a one-year suspension from competition and a fine of CHF15,OOO (£7,000). Jessica may also be asked to forfeit the £22,000 (£15,400) won at La Baule.

GOLDEN girl Ellen Whitaker has signed a new major sponsorship deal with her long-time supporters Caldene.

Yorkshire-based Caldene – one of the most established and well-known brands in the equestrian industry – is happy that one of the highest profile sponsorships in the world of showjumping is going from strength to strength.

Ellen has a huge fan base and growing team of top horses and is well established in the major league.

Currently ranked sixth in Great Britain and 66th in the FEI Rolex World rankings, Ellen has a hectic Spring schedule planned, competing at the British Open in Birmingham as well as shows throughout Europe.

Ellen and Caldene have worked together for the last four years and the Bradford-based company remain very committed to supporting Ellen in her quest by extending and further enhancing their backing.

Marketing manager Richard Lawrence said: “We have had a wonderful four years with Ellen fronting the advertising campaigns and helping to develop the brand further.

“The new sponsorship package sees a significant investment in Ellen and her efforts and we are delighted to support her. The sponsorship is the largest we have been involved with.

“The photo-shoots with Ellen are always good fun with the images bringing a great lifestyle feel to our advertising campaigns.”

Ellen’s top rides include her 2007 European team horse Locarno 62, owned by Dawn Makin; new horse to the team Ocolado, also owned by Dawn and previously with James Fisher; as well as her stalwarts Kanselier and Henri de Here.

Ellen said: “I really enjoy working with the team and am looking forward to an exciting few years ahead thanks to the new sponsorship support.

“The range is fantastic with both the competition gear and leisure collections catching my eye. I wouldn’t want to wear anything else. I am very fortunate to have secured backing from a number of the leading names in the industry and recognise without both their assistance and the support from very good owners competing at top-level would be very difficult. It looks set to be a really exciting year.”

Authentic and Beezie Madden and Sapphire and McLain Ward have been named to the US showjumping short list to the Olympic Games, by the US Equestrian Federation Ad Hoc Committee on Selection.

Selectors have the discretion to recommend up to four of the 10 horse/rider combinations to the short list regardless of their participation or placing in the selection trials. The remaining six combinations will be chosen according to their ranking at the conclusion of the Selection Trials which run February 27-March 9 in Wellington, Florida.

The short list will travel to Europe and compete at CSIO’s La Baule, Rome, St. Gallen, Rotterdam and Aachen before Selection for the 2008 Olympic Games is finalized in early July.

Madden and Authentic, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Abigail Wexner, were members of the 2004 Gold Medal winning Olympic Team in Athens and won Team and Individual Silver Medals at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany.

Ward and Sapphire, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Ward and Blue Chip Bloodstock, were on both medal winning teams with Madden and Authentic in Athens and Aachen.

In addition to a new premiere location in Hampton Falls, NH, the Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic welcomes a new course designer, Linda Allen of Salinas, CA. Allen will design the grand prix ring, which will feature the $75,000 Fidelity Investments AGA Grand Prix, the $10,000 Welcome Stake, the $10,000 Speed Stake and $15,000 Mohegan Sun Derby, just to name a few of the classes. There will be a total of over 20 classes held in the grand prix ring.

Allen has more than 30 years of experience in the show jumping world, from competing in the 1970s to designing the 1996 show jumping course in the Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA, and the 1992 World Cup Finals in Del Mar, CA. She won the Walter Cox Trophy and American Horse Shows Association (AHSA) Course Designer of the Year award four times. Allen is one of only 10 individuals originally accredited in 1993 by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) as an FEI Official International Course Designer. She is an FEI International Judge, show jumping clinician, and has designed courses worldwide as well as throughout the U.S. U.S. show jumpers are familiar with her professionalism and designs that challenge the horse and rider while maintaining a safe environment for the athletes.

For the past nine years, the Jumper Classic has enlisted the course design services of Richard Jeffery of the United Kingdom, who worked with Allen on the 1996 Olympics.

“I am truly looking forward to doing the Jumper Classic as, from all that I have heard from both Richard and many riders, this event is one of the few unique and special events on the calendar in the U.S.,” said Allen. “It will be a challenge to follow Richard Jeffery as course designer, but I believe that our shared philosophy—to always present courses that are challenging yet fair to each and every competitor taking part, as well as providing a beautiful and exciting spectacle to spectators—will help maintain a continuity for the Jumper Classic, keeping it an event that competitors look forward to returning to year after year.”

Jumper Classic Show Manager, Margaret Lynch, who has been part of the exciting growth of this show over the past 19 years, said, “We are fortunate to have been able to secure Linda Allen to carry on the expert course designing at the Jumper Classic. Linda comes to us with top credentials. We are very excited about having not only a new venue but a new course designer to work with and the first ever American Grand Prix Association (AGA) competition at this great new location.”

The Silver Oak Equestrian Center in Hampton Falls, NH, features a grass grand prix ring, an all weather grand prix ring, as well as four warm-up rings. All-weather footing and a grass stadium are key features of this new venue, which will retain the European flair that the Jumper Classic has become known for among its top-notch athletes and devoted spectators. It is the only AGA-sanctioned show jumping event in New England.

“The organizing committee has an avid interest and an attention to detail that brings it far above the ‘cookie cutter’ events that are the norm today,” Allen said, adding that she strives to design a course that has an appeal for spectators as well, “be they afficianados of the sport or first timers.”

For more information, please visit www.jumperclassic.com or call (978) 283-7708.

International show jumping is set to return to the Royal Windsor Horse Show, in England, after eight years.

The show, which will run from May 8 to 11, will be the first of the season’s major outdoor events and is expected to see some top international names.

With nearly 3,000 entries competing in showjumping, driving and showing classes and competitions, the organisers have announced that the show will hold an additional day for national competitions on Wednesday, May 7.

Director Simon Brooks-Ward said: “We are delighted to be able to bring back international competition to Windsor.

“At the same time we are keen to protect our national competition and the introduction of the
additional day on Wednesday means that we can cater for all.

“The allure of international show jumping in this unique setting will, we hope, become a feature of the show for years to come. It has also given us the incentive to increase the seating capacity and to upgrade all the facilities on the showground.”

The opening day of the competition, set in the private grounds of Windsor Castle, is expected to feature a host of national showjumping classes. This will be followed by a programme of at least three international jumping competitions a day.

Other expected highlights include the DAKS Pony Club Mounted Games and the Shetland Pony Grand National, as well as the return of the Royal Windsor Food and Drink Festival.

The grand finale on Sunday will be the Musical Ride of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery. Also taking place in the nearby Home Park, is the International Carriage Driving supported by Land Rover, which will run over four days, from Thursday to Sunday.

Tickets are now available. To book visit www.rwhs.co.uk or call 0871 239 5568.

 TWENTY-five riders will compete today in the Grand Prix Class of the His Majesty the King’s Showjumping Championship at the Bahrain Defence Force Military Sports Complex in Sakhir.

This sixth and final class of the championship, which is for His Majesty the King’s Cup, is part of the Arab League which is a qualifier for the World Cup to be held in Germany in August.

The top 25 riders, who qualified from Class Four on Thursday, will be looking to improve on their overall standings in the Arab League when they clash in today’s Grand Prix Class which starts at 2.30pm.

Among riders in the fray in the Grand Prix Class, with BD3,000 total prize up for grabs, will be Syria’s Fadi Zbibi who is presently leading the Arab League with 71 points.

He is three points ahead of Saudi Arabia’s Prince Abdulla bin Miteb who is holding second position, followed by defending champion and compatriot Khalid Al Eid (61 points) in third place.

Today’s Grand Prix will be an opportunity for Zbibi to extend his lead after neither Prince Abdulla nor Al Eid managed to qualify for the class.

Other riders in the top 10 standings who will have the chance to improve on their standings are fifth overall Shadi Ghareeb (55 points) of Syria, sixth Abdulla Al Miri (54) of the UAE, seventh Ali Al Rumaihi (41) of Qatar and ninth Diaa Bashir (37) of Egypt. The Grand Prix Class will be preceded by Class Five, which commences at 9.30am.

McLain Ward and his mount Quo Vadis continued their successful streak in the Equestrian Sport Productions show jumping event Wednesday in Wellington.

The Olympian, who splits his time between Wellington and Brewster, N.Y., won the $8,000 1.45-meter Classic on the opening day of the sixth week of competition at the CN Winter Equestrian Festival.

Ward topped a field of 25 riders in the DeNemethy Arena by a four-second margin in 57.761 seconds. Amy Mumrow and her horse Summer Storm were second in 61.722
Quo Vadis, owned by Debbie Sweeney, won a class last week and finished second in another.

“She is a horse I showed all last summer and has been very successful on the European tour in Rotterdam and Hampton Classic Grand Prix,” Ward said. “Debbie has six kids and the flu bug, so I got to show the horse the last two weeks.”

In the hunter competition, Ken Berkley of Flemington, N.J., and 6-year-old chestnut gelding Sambalino won the Green Conformation Hunters class. Berkley took the blue ribbon in the first class with a score of 87.

Results
$8,000 1.45-meter Classic

(horse, rider, faults, time)

1. Quo Vadis, McLain Ward 0, 57.761

2. Summer Storm, Amy Mumrow, 0, 61.722

3. Cantate Z, Rodrigio Pessoa, 0, 62.114

4. Olympia 90, Laura Kraut 0, 62.889

5. Sequoyah Farm Utopia, Edward Doyle 0, 63.511

Romelia Calderon and her 2007 FEI World Cup mount Pernot captured the blue ribbon in Sunday’s $25,000 HITS Grand Prix to conclude the Kachina Classic at HITS Arizona.

Calderon, who won the first Grand Prix at HITS Thermal in 2007, got the best of 25 pairs in the first round and nine combinations in the jump-off to score $7,500 in prize money for Riley Stables. The Mexican rider was also eighth aboard John’s Flight.

Calderon and Pernot were first to go in the jump-off and set Great American Time to Beat at 38.93 seconds. What made Calderon’s effort even more impressive was that only one other pair managed a double-clear round. Natasha Merback and her mount Van Schundel’s Cincy were fourth to challenge the jump-off route and negotiated a clean round, stopping the clocks in 39.08 to secure second place and $5,500 for Redliw Corporation.

The winner of last Sunday’s $25,000 HITS Grand Prix, Allison Kroff and Miss Hans were sixth to go in the jump-off and had an unlucky rail down midway through the track to secure third place. Another top finisher was Brandie Halloway and her mount Argentina, who finished in fourth place for Hayes Investment Corp. Holloway also saw an unlucky rail hit the floor midway through the course. The veteran of the the HITS Arizona Winter Circuit was also fourth and sixth in last Sunday’s $25,000 HITS Grand Prix.

Rounding out the top five were Lane Clark and mount David. Clark and David were inches from a clear round but suffered heartbreak at the final effort as they dropped the last fence on the jump-off course. Clark collected $1,500 in prize money for owner Anne Cole.

In other action at HITS Arizona, Tammy Chiplo and Lottie secured the $4,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic. Laura Schenker and Calajary led the way in the $2,500 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Low Classic, while Lindsay Udelson and Haute Brian took home blue in the $2,500 Modified Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic. In the hunters, it was Ashley Bolwar and Most Wanted who triumphed in the $1,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic. Sarah Thomas and Quality took first in the $500 Marshall & Sterling Children’s Hunter Classic, while Holly Andrews-Kramber and Time and Again took home the blue in the $500 Marshall & Sterling Adult Hunter Classic. For more results from the Kachina Classic, visit http://www.hitsshows.com/resultswinter_08.html.

The next grand prix show jumping event will be the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix scheduled for Sunday, February 24.

The six-week event has been a staple of West Coast circuits for many years. HITS took over production of the circuit in 1991. The HITS Arizona Winter Circuit offers a full range of competition classes for beginners to advanced riders. Exhibitors gain valuable experience in the show ring under the eye of some of the country’s top judges.

For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com.

When last we left Bill Lowry, he had just accepted the $10,000 Grand Prix Rider Bonus at the Jacksonville Winter Series after narrowly beating good friend Wilhelm Genn, who had just won the finale grand prix. Our next scene opens with Lowry and partner Polygraaf taking the first victory in a Valentine Welcome Stake set at the opening week of the 2008 Gulf Coast Winter Classics.

Mother Nature took her cue, providing warm temps and sunny blue skies for the backdrop. While a star of international course designing fame, Michel Vaillancourt took center stage in creating a flowing layout of 11 obstacles and 14 efforts on the lush green prix field to entice our cast of characters. Most eyes were on two main figures, Bill Lowry and Wilhelm Genn, as they revived their roles of top riders from last month’s Jacksonville Winter Series in hot pursuit of the $10,000 Grand Prix Rider Bonus awarded at the end of this five-week series.

Lowry, who’s Winsor Farm Sales, Inc., is based out of North Scituate, RI, directed two rides in the class, held Valentine’s Day on the grass grand prix arena of the Harrison County Equestrian Center. The first being his 12 year-old Hessen gelding Rio Corde who ended the first track with a clean time of 71.73, far below the allotted 84 seconds. “He’s a handful,” Lowry described his co-star.

The second was 10-year-old Westphalian gelding Polygraaf, also clear in 73.43. Joining them for the second act were four additional stand ins, including Lebanon, OH’s leading man Wilhelm Genn with Chantal, after a clear first round of 72.79 seconds. Vaillancourt’s shortened feature of six obstacles, asking seven efforts, was one written with an adrenaline rush for both horse and rider as they traversed across the grass over 4’6 heights and rolled back off vertical to vertical in the hope of clearing the final oxer under the 45 second limit.

Lowry and the accomplished Rio followed Grand Bay, AL’s most recognized prix figure, Holly Shepherd piloting the Sarah Patterson-owned Quilmes. The pair finished with four faults in a time of 42.644 seconds, and that gave Lowry the choice of how to write this scene’s ending—with caution or gusto. The pair opted for the latter, crossing the timer clear at 35.340 and set a tone of challenge for remaining takers. Valliant attempts followed, but as the curtain fell on this episode only Lowry himself came close, with Polygraaf finishing clear in 36.022 to claim second place. Kennett Square, PA’s star performer Laurie Jakubauskas and Counterfoil were credited with third place after a fault free ride in 37.925, while Lowry’s friendly nemesis Wilhelm Genn and Chantal landed the fourth award going clear in 40.995.

The healthy competition between friends began four weeks ago at the Jacksonville Winter Series in Green Cove Springs, FL, where the first $10,000 rider bonus was up for grabs. The buddies battled back and forth with the narrowest of margins separating them as they met in the finale event. While Genn won the $25,000 Grand Prix and Lowry came second, a mere one point advantage gave the bonus to Lowry. Now the duo find themselves writing the next version of “As the Jumps Fall” here in Gulfport over the next five weeks. And as Lowry pointed out a new cast of characters to include, “International great Bjorn Ikast, the quick Laurie Jakubauskas and Counterfoil, and many other greats. You can’t count anyone out. Should be tough competition.”

On Sunday afternoon, a burst of sunshine blasted away the clouds to hail new heroes, Bjorn Ikast and Anchor Man of Mexico City, Mexico, in the first $25,000 Gulf Coast Grand Prix presented by Flashpoint Media Services.

Vaillancourt produced another technical masterpiece in a 12 obstacle/15 effort 83-second course that tested the talent of the 18 horse-and-rider field with its tight rollback turns.

Lowry was second in the order with Polygraaf and the first pair to post a clear round in 80.39; he would do the same with Rio Corde going clean in 76.89. Six others would eventually join them, including Genn with two mounts. The exciting 49-second dash for the cash round comprised of seven jumps asking eight huge efforts had all the elements needed for a hair raising, crowd pleasing finale to the day with it’s sweep of turns around the field.

Each of Lowry’s mounts faulted—Polygraaf with four faults in 41.205 and Rio Corde the same in 42.028. Genn piloted first mount Cedric through the course clean in a time of 44.187, giving the pair the lead until nearly the end. Following was Amanda Flint aboard Cajun, who also fell victim to the joker fence to finish the day with four faults in 41.706.

“Going next to the last I could see a few ride and see my feeling was right. You just had to be lucky and keep the fences up,” Bjorn stated. He felt Anchor Man was relaxed entering the final round, with a good rhythm and confidence. The buzzer rang and Anchor’s blazing gallop to the first fence seem to ignite both rider and the cheering audience as the gelding set about to spoil Genn’s hope of victory. They crossed safely over the joker fence, all eyes took a glance at the ticking clock and the crowd went silent. Anchor Man cleared the final oxer in 40.945; the audience erupted into a frenzy of excitement. One pair remained to challenge, Laurie Jakubauskas and Counterfoil, a defending champion of the Gulf Coast series. Once again the eyes of all were torn between watching the spitfire bay gelding and the precious seconds on the clock. Heading toward the final line it looked like an upset in the making, until as Ikast said previously, “the easiest thing in show jumping is to get one rail down.” The sound of a thud confirmed a second career win for Anchor Man and despite an amazing time of 38.395 a third-place finish for Counterfoil.

Ikast traveled six days from Mexico to compete; Jakubauskas, a defending champion, came back from Pennsylvania. Eric Loube, originally from France, and a new local resident by way of London, England, Vicky Miller, will be on their best hooves over the next four weeks, giving spectators the opportunity to witness some true World Class competition.

Official results for the event were, in second place rider-owner Genn and Cedric for co-owner Cary Van Worner finishing clear in 44.187; third went to Laurie Jakubauskas and Counterfoil in a time of 38.395 with four faults; fourth spot was Lowry with Polygraaf for owner Winsor Farm Sales, Inc., with four faults in 41.205, and the fifth position went to owner-rider Amanda Flint on Cajun with four faults in 41.706.

The Gulfport Winter Classics continues with more hunter/jumper and Grand Prix action through March 16. Admission is free and the public is invited to enjoy the exciting competition throughout the week. Classes run Wednesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. until approximately 4 p.m., along with another $25,000 Grand Prix each Sunday at 2 p.m., plus the race for the the $10,000 Budweiser High-Point Grand Prix Rider, presented to the top rider, calculated by earned points during the five-week series.