Wayne, Illinois - Sept. 11, 2015 - Jumper classics highlighted the start of the weekend at the Showplace Fall Classic Championship, featuring the $5,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Show Jumping Hall of Fame (SHJOF) Jumper Classic, sponsored by Wisconsin Equine. Caelinn Leahy and Esquilino Bay went head-to-head with Giavanna Rinaldi and G.P.S. Brilliant Disguise in a two-horse jump-off, yet it was Leahy who came away victorious.

 

Guilherme Jorge (BRA) designed the courses in the Grand Prix Ring, and none were able to traverse his technical track cleanly for the $5,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner SJHOF Jumper Classic, with the four-fault efforts battling it out over the shortened track. 

 

"I was pretty surprised about the four faults," Leahy reflected. "It was a really nice course; it was set really reasonably. There were some technical parts to it, but then you could play with other parts."

 

Caelinn Leahy and Esquilino Bay

Leahy and Rinaldi were the only two riders to incur only four faults during the opening round, and Leahy returned as the first to jump-off. 

 

"I was talking to my trainer, Steve Schaefer, on the way up, and he told me just to really go for it," Leahy said. "He told me that even if we had four faults, we would still have a quick time. I knew that it was a very competitive class, and with Gia being up next, I knew that we were going to go for the win and not only try to go clean."

 

They were able to set the pace at 37.278 seconds, but a rail at the final fence during the speed phase would leave enough room for Rinaldi to make her move. Luckily for Leahy, the same fence would fall for Rinaldi, and they would not catch Leahy's time, falling shy of their pace with a time of 38.613 seconds.

Giavanna Rinaldi and G.P.S. Brilliant Disguise

 

"Texas was totally on his game," 13-year-old Leahy smiled as she spoke of Esquilino Bay. "We had the Nutrena fence down because I did not commit to leaving one stride out. It a lot of fun riding that class, especially because Gia and I are good friends outside of the ring. I thought that she completely had me. She had a wonderful round, and if it had not been for that fence, today would have been her win."  
 

Following the $5,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner SJHOF Jumper Classic was the $1,500 Low Children's/Adult Classic, sponsored by Integrity Farm, where Kristen Franz and her own Radioactive rode to the tricolor. Nine horse and rider combinations found their way into the jump-off, but out of the eight to jump double-clear it was Franz's speed that gave them the win. Second place was awarded to Emily Britton and Grandeur B, while third place went to Matt Yeterian and Zanziboy.

 

"He loves his job, and he loves to jump so much. He tries so hard all the time. He loves to go fast, so you kind of just always have to be sitting in the saddle and holding onto him. If you let him go, he will shoot off like a rocket. I knew that we could win just based on his natural pace," Franz described. "I loved the course. We did the modified class, as well, and it rode great for him. He is pretty proud of his ribbon [laughs]."

Kristen Franz and Radioactive were the $1,500 Low Child/Adult Classic, sponsored by Integrity Farm.

 

The 14-year-old currently trains with Liz Atkins of Benchmark Stables, a new relationship for Franz; however, she believes that Atkins has helped her take her riding to the next level. For Franz and Atkins, the Showplace Productions' competitions are home.

 

"It's great to be back for the Showplace Fall Classic," Franz continued. "I love it here. I live almost right next to it. I want to thank my dad because he is the sponsor of pretty much everything I do. This classic was the end of the show for us, but I am looking forward to seeing my friends compete in the 'A' Finals this weekend."

 

Franz also rode in the $1,500 Modified Child/Adult Classic, sponsored by Benchmark Stables, and although she posted the fastest time, four faults would keep her out of the top ribbons for the division. Gannon Bennett and Iron Legacy DRF stood in the winner's circle for the presentation shot, claiming the win as one of eight double-clears out of a starting order of 21. Their time of 29.194 seconds was a fraction faster than second place finishers Melissa Douglas and Silvana, owned by Cecily Waud of Lake Forest, Illinois.

Gannon Bennett and Iron Legacy PRF won the $1,500 Modified Child/Adult Classic, sponsored by Benchmark Stables.

 

Bennett said, "It was a ton of fun out there today. My horse was amazing, and she listened to all of my commands. She likes a very calm and subtle ride, and I thought she did great in what was a very technical course. If you made one mistake, you were doomed. I could not have asked for her to be better."

 

The $1,500 NAL Child/Adult Jumper Classic, sponsored by Barrington Saddlery, capped the classic competitions for the fourth day of competition at the Showplace Fall Classic Championship. It was 2015 USHJA North Region Children's Jumper Individual Champion Kesley Taylor who took the win with Zelda. They continue to sit at the top of the ranks for the North American League 2015 Children's Jumper Standings with 4,278 points, and the duo now prepares for the Finals, set to take place during the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in October. 

 

The Showplace Fall Classic Championship is one of the Midwest's most important competitions and includes the USEF Zone V Horse of the Year Finals, the IHJA "A" Medal Finals and the Marshall & Sterling Midwest Finals. The highlight show jumping event, the $30,000 Showplace Grand Prix, is set for Saturday morning, prior to the start of the Marshall & Sterling Junior Medal, Sore No More Children's Medal and Farnam Adult Medal Finals. The IHJA equitation medal finals will conclude the championship competition on Sunday with a full day of medal finals.