July 2022 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN July 2022 Page 7 www. EquineColicReliefUSA.com • Email: zebecash2@hotmail.com Tell our advertisers you found them in East Coast Equestrian! Show jumping competition reached a pinnacle Thursday night, June 2, at the Devon Horse Show, with a packed house of spectators ready to cheer on the sport’s best in the $250,000 Sap- phire Grand Prix of Devon CSI4*. With a full grandstand and view- ers across the country watching through ESPN3, the enthusiasm surrounding Devon’s premier event was as high as it had ever been. At the end of the night and two competitive rounds, it was the “King of Devon,” McLain Ward, and Contagious who came out on top with the win. The 16-obstacle first round course drew a field of 20 athletes. First to contest was Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and Cornwall BH. They had one rail down in the final line of the course, which would quickly be coined “heart- break alley” as the source of faults on course. Catherin Tyree (USA) and her own BEC Lorenzo then produced the first clear round of the night. Following suit with fault-free rounds were Mark Bluman (COL), Schuyler Riley (USA), Adrienne Sternlicht (USA), Mimi Gochman (USA), Lucy Deslauriers (USA) and Ward (USA). Kicking off the seven-horse jump-off, Tyree and BEC Loren- zo acquired 8 faults, setting the pace at 35.95 seconds. Bluman, riding Marilyn, also put in a quick effort in 35.63 seconds, but one rail left the door wide open for remaining competitors. Riley and Robin De Ponthual, the old- est horse in the jump-off at age 17, took the lead with 33.57 in the second round with no faults, while Sternlicht immediately followed with a 4-fault finish in 34.25 seconds aboard Cristal- line. The youngest rider of the evening, 17-year-old Gochman, and Celina BH produced a nearly clear effort with only the last fence coming down in 33.12 sec- onds. Delauriers and her mount Enanda posted a time of 33.62 seconds, but 8 faults left them out of the running for the top honors. All eyes were on Ward and his 2020 Olympic Games mount, Beechwood Stables LLC’s Conta- gious. With 11 wins in the Devon Grand Prix, Ward had a swift start, immediately putting the 13-year- old Deutches Sportpferd gelding ahead of the rest. He continued to shave seconds off the clock and landed from the final fence in a clear 32.3 seconds, claiming his twelfth win and fourth consecu- tive win in the $250,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon CSI4*. Second place honors went to Riley and her 2022 FEI World Cup Finals mount, Robin De Pon- thual, a 17-year-old Selle Francais gelding. Third place was awarded to Gochman and Celina BH. The 17-year-old is in her first year of competing in CSI4* competition. Wednesday evening, inter- national show jumping athletes returned to the Dixon Oval for the $37,000 Devon International Speed Stake CSI4*. In the end, it was Rodrigo Pessoa and Venice Beach who sped to the victory. The 23 starters had only one shot at a The King of Devon Continues His Reign at the 2022 Devon Horse Show quick and clear round. Colombia’s Roberto Teran Tafur and Rocking Basilisk Farm LLC’s Santana were the first to ride fast and clear through the track in 73.51 seconds. Rounds became progressively quicker throughout the evening, as Caitlyn Connors (US) aboard her own Express Blue GP Du Bois Madame also went clear in 71.78 seconds, and Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa on Venice Beach finished fault-free in 66.92 seconds. Great Britain’s Jessica Mendoza turned on the heat with her own Dubli for a clear finish in 68.15 seconds. Seven- teen-year-old Zayna Rizvi took over Mendoza’s second place po- sition shortly after with Excellent, finishing in 67.68 seconds. At the conclusion of the class, Rizvi and Excellent took the red ribbon, while Mendoza and Dublin took the yellow. In the $74,000 Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake CSI4*, Laura Chapot and Diarado’s Flying Dutchman emerged as the only pair to navigate a clear effort for the win. Israel’s Steven Bluman rode away with second place after finishing on four faults in a time of 71.57 seconds, while Zayna (Continued on page 16)