Washington, D.C. – October 23, 2008 – Canadian Mario Deslauriers and Paradigm won the first open jumper class at the 50th Washington International Horse Show–the $25,000 International Open Jumper class, a qualifier for Saturday night’s $100,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix. Hillary Dobbs of
The $25,000 International Open Jumper class was a Time First Round format with 26 entries. Deslauriers went tenth in the order and was chasing the fast time of 53.76 seconds set by Darragh Kerins on Night Train, owned by Double H Farm. Kerins finished in second place, while Carolyn Kelly and Rulanda were third in 53.46 seconds.
Deslauriers and Paradigm, a 14-year-old gelding, sped easily through the course with neat turns to bring the winning time down to 52.16 seconds with no faults. Although there were eight clear rounds in the class, no one was able to catch his time.
“It feels good. I had a so-so week last week in
Deslauriers felt that Paradigm was comfortable with the speed class as his opening trip at
This is Deslauriers’ first time back to the WIHS in more than five years and he said he was enjoying his time in
$20,000 Gamblers Choice
Hillary Dobbs, Leading Open Jumper Rider at the 2007 WIHS, kept her winning form by taking the blue ribbon in the $20,000 Gambler’s Choice. She rode Marengo, her horse that won two classes at WIHS last year.
Dobbs said the Gambler’s Choice is “little bit stressful,” due to its uncertain nature of choosing your own course and being ready for anything. She and her trainers, Missy Clark and John Brennan, were brainstorming courses, but made last minute changes to the plan as when McLain Ward was was only behind Dobbs by 70 points. “Missy masterminded a great course,” said Dobbs.
McLain Ward just missed winning the Gambler’s Choice class two years in a row. He and Goldika 559 finished in second with 1200 points, just behind Dobbs’ 1270 accumulation. Christine McCrea and Twisther finished third with 990 points.
Dobbs thought her opening class with Marengo was the perfect setting for her speedy horse. “It was his first time in the ring this week, and I was very pleased with the way he jumped. He felt fresh and careful. He enjoys this kind of competitive class too, galloping and turning. He’s just a very competitive horse, and this is right up his alley,” she said.
The night session featured the always popular Barn Night competition, so the seats were full of enthusiastic fans. Marengo and Dobbs were unfazed by the loud atmosphere, and Dobbs actually thought it made her horse rise to the occasion.
“I think the more atmosphere and cheering and the more I’m spurring him on, makes him jump even better,” she said. “He feels the presence of the crowd. I enjoy those kinds of fun classes here. I’m looking forward to the costume pair class tomorrow!”
Amateur-Owner Jumper
Paige Johnson of The Plains, VA, and Chiron S were last to go and were first in the Amateur-Owner Jumper Time First Round class with a clear round in the fastest time of 55.964 seconds. Second and third places went to Natalie Johnson of
Junior Jumpers
Alexandra Arute of
See full results.
1 PARADIGM, MARIO DESLAURIERS
2 RULANDA, CAROLYN KELLY
3 NIGHT TRAIN, DARRAGH KERINS
4
5 LAPACCO, SCHUYLER RILEY
6 HIDDEN CREEK’S PAMINA L, MARGIE ENGLE
7 ORMSBY HILL, JIMMY TORANO
8
9 UP CHIQUI, KENT FARRINGTON
10 SAPPHIRE, McLAIN WARD
11 URBANUS, CHARLIE JAYNE
12 BOTTOM LINE, JENN SEREK
FINAL RESULTS: $20,000 GAMBLER’S CHOICE
1 MARENGO, HILLARY DOBBS
2 GOLDIKA 559, McLAIN WARD
3 TWISTHER, CHRISTINE McCREA
4 BRAVO VAN DE KWAKKELHOEK, BRIANNE GOUTAL
5 CARLSSON VON DACH, DARRAGH KERINS
6 BOXTER, ANGEL KAROLYI
7 SINATRA IV, AARON VALE
8 SORBETTE, ERYNN BALLARD
9 CONCERTO, MARIO DESLAURIERS
10 CREME BRULE, BEEZIE MADDEN
FINAL RESULTS: $2,500 AMATEUR-OWNER JUMPERS
1 CHIRON S, PAIGE JOHNSON
2 RODENBURGH’S
3 TOKADE DE KALVARIE, NATALIE JOHNSON
4 RONJA, MARLEY GOODMAN
5 LUCKY ONE, LILY HAHN
6
7 SR. DOCTRO, BLYTHE MASTERS
8 NALEIDA, CATIE BOONE
FINAL RESULTS: $2500 JUNIOR JUMPERS
1 SAPHIRA, ALEXANDRA ARUTE
2 RASTELLA, CLEMENTINE GOUTAL
3 JAMISON, KIMBERLY McCORMACK
4
5 PERFEKT, CHASE BOGGIO
6 KELLINE FONROY, CLEMENTINE GOUTAL
7 VENTURO, JENNIFER WAXMAN
8 PERLE, SAMANTHA SCHAEFER