Casady Leads Victory Gallop in $35,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix to Conclude SIR IV

Parker, Colo. – July 3, 2018 – The fourth week of the Summer in the Rockies (SIR) hunter/jumper show series marked the halfway point of competition at The Colorado Horse Park (CHP). The summer hosts the region’s most prominent event, attracting competitive equestrian athletes and their equine teammates from across the nation. The week also welcomed Zones 7 and 8 to the United States Hunter/Jumper Association Child/Adult Hunter and Jumper Championships, noting individual and team competition.

Shawn Casady and Durango VDL. Photo: © Captured Moments Photography
Shawn Casady and Durango VDL. Photo: © Captured Moments Photography

The $35,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix took place on Saturday, June 30, boasting twenty-one entries. Shawn Casady and Durango VDL galloped to victory in a jump-off that welcomed back four teams to contest the short track.

Durango VDL, owned by Highpoint Farm LLC, and Casady finished their lightning-fast jump-off round in 43.346 seconds. Casady, of Harriman, TN, has been riding the 2008 Dutch stallion for Craig and Tina Yates for three months and is thriving with the new partnership. “We’re still in the beginning of everything, but we’re starting to gel together,” Cassady said of Durango VDL. “I have gotten to know him a little bit. We’re still testing and tweaking things, but hoping for the best.”

Shawn Casady and Durango VDL in their awards presentation ceremony with CHP Director of Operations and SIR Competition Manager, Marion Maybank. Photo: © Captured Moments Photography
Shawn Casady and Durango VDL in their awards presentation ceremony with CHP Director of Operations and SIR Competition Manager, Marion Maybank. Photo: © Captured Moments Photography

Casady spoke highly of the course, designed by Marina Azevedo. “I really enjoyed the course. There were a lot of options. It asked several questions, but I think that’s good.” Casady rode to victory by way of “trimming the fat” in the jump-off. “You have to make a plan and stick with it,” he summarized.

Celso Ariani and Dali T. Photo: © Captured Moments Photography
Celso Ariani and Dali T. Photo: © Captured Moments Photography

Celso Ariani of Wellington, FL, and Dali T, owned by Ricardo Romero, raced through the timers in 43.553 seconds for reserve. The last of the double-clear rides belonged to Kayla Savard of San Diego, CA, who rode her own entry Chicago 149 for third place in 45.755 seconds. Competition continues as SIR V hosts the $60,000 Griffis Residential Grand Prix that will take place on Saturday, July 6 at 5:00 p.m. MST.

Kayla Savard and Chicago 149. Photo: © Captured Moments Photography
Kayla Savard and Chicago 149. Photo: © Captured Moments Photography

Jumper Highlights

The $20,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake was held on June 28 and saw a double podium placing for Celso Ariani. Ariani’s fastest ride was aboard Dali T, who raced to victory in 32.041 seconds. Ariani expertly guided Ricardo Ronero’s Janari Ter Dolen through the timers in 33.58 seconds for a second place finish. Shawn Casady rode Durango VDL to third with a jump-off time of 35.273 seconds.

Celso Ariani and Dali T. Photo: © Captured Moments Photography
Celso Ariani and Dali T. Photo: © Captured Moments Photography

Brazilian, Ariani, has been riding the 2008 Dutch Sport Horse gelding for one year. “He’s a very nice horse,” said Ariani. “He has already jumped a few important classes,” Ariani continued. “I went to Tryon for a month, then came here and felt very prepared with him.”

The $2,000 Holiday Inn/Trapper’s Chop House Low Children’s Jumper Classic named Ava Hernandez of Leawood, KS, victorious aboard her Stetson after jumping-off in 42.048 seconds. Second place was awarded to Callie Matteson of Colorado Springs, CO, and Galina 177, owned by Sydney Matteson, with a jump-off time of 40.28 seconds. Ava Nunn of Monument, CO, galloped Kennedy Eaton’s København’s Noble Charm through the timers in 40.722 seconds for third.

Denver, Colorado’s Jenna Hanson rode to victory in 42.246 seconds with Kyle Timm’s Joske Van De Knuffel in the $2,000 Horseware Ireland Low Adult Jumper Classic. Maxance McManamy’s Project Runway, carried Mandy Hosford of Holladay, UT, for a second-place finish in 39.811 seconds. Third place was awarded to Katharina Gebauer of Larkspur, CO, who piloted Crooked Willow Farms’ Veronica CWF through the jump-off in 39.889 seconds.

The $2,000 Front Range Kubota Modified Child/Adult Jumper Classic saw thirty two trips and was ultimately conquered by Lillie Parr of Marshall, TX, who galloped Pinecone Farm’s Falco Van De Noordhoek through the jump-off course in 36.401 seconds. Peyton Wyatt’s Cadmus carried Paige Miles of Centennial, CO, through the timers in 36.763 seconds for the red ribbon. Maile Braden of Baton Rouge, LA, rode her own entry, Beausoleil, for third in 36.78 seconds.

The $4,000 Voltaire Design Modified Junior/Amateur Classic was dominated by Wellington, Florida’s Kathleen Gannon-Ledsome, who rode her own entry, Hailey AD Z, in the class’s only double clear ride, jumping off in 31.303 seconds. Sydney Luzicka of Albuquerque, NM, rode her St John 10:9 for second place, with a four-fault time of 27.303 seconds. Alexis Sokolov of Rancho Santa Fe, CA, finished a four-fault jump-off in 29.577 seconds aboard her own Scarface for third.

The $4,000 Osphos® NAL/WIHS Children’s Jumper Classic saw one double-clear ride by Alexis Sokolov and her own Clinton who jumped off in 35.371 seconds for the blue ribbon. Owner/rider Riley Delbecq of Austin, TX, completed the course with four faults in 71.746 seconds for second place aboard Centadel SF. Third place was awarded to Rebecca Wills of Memphis, TN, who piloted Kravitz E, owned by Maarten Huygens, through a four-fault course in 76.283 seconds.

Roman Mezeger of Greenwood Village, CO, took home the top prize in the $4,000 Osphos® NAL/WIHS Adult Jumper Classic aboard Blair Cudmore’s Lalique with a jump-off time of 31.487 seconds. Fiach Byrne’s entry, Daphnie, was piloted through the timers in 33.178 seconds by Katy, Texas’ Karianna Knezevich for second place. Carol Tucker of Elizabeth, CO, and her own Cha Cha Cha jumped off in 33.401 seconds for third place.

The $5,000 Horseware Ireland NAL Low Junior/Amateur Classic saw 19 trips. Brooke Cudmore of Omaha, NE, rode Blair Cudmore’s Southern Rose for top honors, jumping-off in 27.191 seconds. Madelyn Porter of Ladue, MO, rode Dragonfly Farms’ aptly named Dragonfly’s Esmeralda through the timers in 27.738 seconds for the red ribbon. Third place was awarded to Jennifer Lanoha of Omaha, NE, who completed the jump-off in 29.345 seconds atop Dare To Compare, owned by Karen Ensminger.

The Griffis Residential Medium/High Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic awarded first and second place to Tali Dejong of Golden, CO. Dejong rode her entries Amadeus for first place and D Adermie R8 for second. Third place belonged to Graziella Martins of Centennial, CO, and her entry, High Heels.

Hunter Highlights

Forty-two trips were seen on Friday, June 29, in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. Champion honors were awarded to Belynda Bond of Pilot Point, TX, and Gesture LLC’s Norderney, with a score of 183.5. Reserve champion was assigned to Amberlee Wentz of Colorado Springs, CO, who was awarded 178 points for her ride on Davidson, owned by Dana Vollbracht.

Paige Shanahan of Flower Mound, TX, rode Tommy Brawley’s Highlands Percival for champion honors in the $100 Stirrup Hunter Classic. Reserve champion was awarded to Zoe Rucks of Boulder, CO, atop Paradiso, owned by Karina Patel.

Belynda Bond and Norderney. Photo: © Captured Moments Photography
Belynda Bond and Norderney. Photo: © Captured Moments Photography

The $1,000 Marshall & Sterling NAL/WIHS Children’s Hunter Classic awarded top honors to owner/rider Mackenzie Robards of Baton Rouge, LA, and Pachabel’s Canon. Audrey Bruening of Parker, CO, took home reserve champion aboard Woodhaven Stables’ Three Rivers.

The $1,000 Marshall & Sterling NAL/WIHS Adult Hunter Classic saw nineteen trips and named Heather Hays of Covington, LA, and Colleen Hammer’s Rafiki the winners. Amy Coretz of Tulsa, OK, piloted Caran D, owned by Eighteen Acres Farm, for reserve.

Aedan Mooney of Golden, CO, rode Brannon Loomis Mooney’s Shining Star to the blue ribbon in the $1,000 Pony Hunter Classic. Simply Max, owned by Hampton Baker, was guided by Riley Delbecq for the honor of reserve champion.

The $100 Pre-Children’s Hunter Classic awarded top honors to Rachael Harrower of Jackson, WY, and Luminaire, owned by Dawn Marie Critton. Brynn Carroll of Littleton, CO, navigated the course atop Elizabeth Hamilton’s Caviare for the reserve honors.

The $100 Pre-Adult Hunter Classic saw the winning ride from Henrietta Hall of Santa Fe, NM, and her entry Paradisio.

The $100 Platinum Performance Modified Adult Hunter Classic assigned champion and reserve honors to Jill Brewer of Marshall, TX. Pinecone Farm’s entries Livin’ The Dream wore the blue ribbon and Stone Town took home the red.

Cece Siegfried of Tusla, OK, led the victory gallop aboard Wheels up, owned by Eighteen Acres Farm, in the $100 Platinum Performance Modified Children’s Hunter Classic. Ella Burbach of Phoenix, AZ, guided Willoway Farm’s Jamestown over the course for reserve.

The $1,000 CWD Junior Hunter 3’3″/3’6″ Classic saw twenty three trips and awarded the champion prize to Ainslee Gregg of Frisco, TX, and Valentine, owned by Bottom Line Equestrian. Jaden Porter of Ladue, MO, rode for reserve with Dragonfly’s Steel Octopus, owned by Dragonfly Farms.

The $1,000 Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3″/3’6″ Classic saw the winning ride from champion Nicole Lyvere of Lakewood, CO, and her All In. Jenna Hanson of Denver, CO, rode her Coastal for reserve champion.

The $1,000 Serengeti Hunter Classic awarded champion honors to Michaela Edwards of Anchorage, AK, aboard her Con Brio. Amy Coretz and Caran D navigated the course for the reserve honors.

The Colorado Horse Park will host three more weeks of world-class hunter/jumper competition. SIR will return on July 4 and continue through July 8 for the circuit’s fifth week. The competitive atmosphere will raise, as will the stakes in the $60,000 Griffis Residential Grand Prix.

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