Laura Chapot and Thornhill Kate. Credit: Callie Clement/Phelps Media Group
The 2019 Devon Fall Classic ran September 12-14 at the Devon Horse Show grounds in Devon, PA. After taking a year off from the event, organizers welcomed high numbers of entries at the newly revamped show. With prize money offered in almost all classes, exhibitors from all levels of show jumping experienced a successful week of competition. Additionally, a record number of Show Jumping Hall of Fame Inductees attended as competitors, trainers, or event management members, including course designer Steve Stephens, show manager Peter Doubleday, grand prix rider and trainer Anne Kursinski and trainers Joe Fargis, Mary Chapot, Michael Matz and Neal Shapiro.
The show kicked off Thursday with the $5,000 Welcome Jumper Stake. Putting in two clear rides to win the class was Solem and Imogen De Regor, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare. The pair overtook Pablo Mejia’s double-clear time by just over a second with a time of 35.904. Racing to third place with one rail was Nikko Ritter and Shady Side Farm’s Hamlet VD Donkhoeve, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding.
Young Jumpers
Also on Thursday were the 6-Year-Old Jumpers and 7-Year-Old Jumpers divisions. Taryn Nolte and New Normandy Farm’s Domino Normandy, a flashy grey Selle Francais mare homebred out of New Normandy Farm, captured the win in the 6-Year-Old division. Finishing in second place was David Matisz and David Matisz LLC’s Nadav, while third was claimed by Laura Chapot and Calmanda 3.
Pablo Mejia and his own Don’t Worry VH Scheefkasteel Z, a Zangersheide mare, produced a clean and clear round to take the top placing in the 7-Year-Old’s. Second place was captured by Grace Long and Andrew Kocher’s Happiness VD Hazel Hof. Rounding out the third position was David Matisz and his own M. Holliday.
Friday’s highlight was the $5,000 Speed Stake, with 27 competitors, where Callan Solem and VDL Wizard emerged victorious. Third in the order of go, Solem and Horseshoe Trail Farm LLC’s VDL Wizard, a 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, had the first clear round of the evening, with a swift time of 68.263 seconds. The seasoned pair were the highest placed U.S. combination at the 2016 FEI World Cup Finals in Gothenburg, Sweden, finishing in seventh place in addition to representing the United States in many Nations Cups.
Eight trips later, Adam Cramer and Equi-Sport LLC’s King Clooney went clear but fell just short of Solem’s time. Laura Chapot and Mary Chapot’s Gideon, a 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood, came just .15 seconds short of Solem’s time, ending the evening in second place. Third place was claimed by Cramer with the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding, King Clooney, on a time of 71.562 seconds.
Earlier in the evening session, Molly Wolfe and Cinco De Mayo captured the top placing in the $1,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper class, the only combination to produce a clear round.
Friday, Thoroughbred Jumpers took to the Dixon Oval. Amanda Dobbs and MJ took the overall championship title after a win on Thursday in the $500 Thoroughbred Jumper class and the $500 1.00m Jumper class, which had 66 entries. Dobbs and the 11-year-old gelding went on to win the second class of the division Friday morning and were seventh in the $1,000 Thoroughbred Jumper Stake, keeping their overall lead to claim the championship title. Gracie Allen and Wise Son claimed the reserve championship title after taking sixth and second in the first two classes of the division. In the classic round, Allen and her 8-year-old gelding placed second with a double clear ride and a jump-off time of 30.182 seconds.
Allen’s other mount in the classic round, Breda, jumped a clear round in 60.232 seconds to move onto the jump-off, finishing in 29.592 seconds and securing the blue ribbon.
Grand Prix
Saturday evening, 33 competitors tried their hand in the $25,000 Devon Fall Classic Grand Prix. Laura Chapot and Thornhill Kate stole the show once again to capture the win. Chapot and the grey mare, owned by herself and Mary Chapot, also won the class in 2017.
Ten competitors qualified to return for the second speed portion, including Chapot aboard three different mounts, Callan Solem, Katia Manuel-Adams, Alison Robitaille, Gracie Allen, Flipip De Wandel, Anne Kursinski, and Matthias Hollberg.
Manuel-Adams and E.R.P. Can WWW.Olland.Biz held the early lead in the jump-off with a clear round in a swift time of 42.068 seconds. Four trips later, Chapot and Thornhill Kate, the 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare, usurped the top position with a time of 39.524 seconds. Two trips later, Kursinski and Market Street, Inc.’s UK crossed the timers in 40.831 seconds to eventually claim second place. The last competitor on course, Hollberg and William Zuschlag’s Southern Command, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, tripped the timers at 41.324 seconds for third.
Also on Saturday, Junior and Amateur-Owner riders competed in the $7,500 Show Jumping Hall of Fame (SJHOF) High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic where Emily Dougherty and her own Vivaldi emerged victorious. The SJHOF class was dedicated to Devon Fall Classic course designer Steve Stephens, who was inducted into the SJHOF in 2013.
Three combinations advanced to the jump-off. Mia Mannis aboard Brush Hollow Sales’ Espace Killy had one unlucky rail for third place. Dougherty and her 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding had a clear round in 34.622 seconds. Jaimie Auletto and her own Brazzaville had the fastest time but one unlucky rail for second place.
Earlier in the day, in the $750 High Adult Amateur Jumpers, Joy Slater and Fat Chance Farm’s Oilean Uno secured the win in the speed class in a time of 50.524 seconds. Nearly six seconds behind, Sarah Wood and Neal Shapiro’s Corozana took second place with Katherine Wiedmann and Longshore in third.
In Sunday’s $5,000 Low Amateur-Owner Jumper Zone 2 Horse of the Year (HOTY) Championship, Devon local Leslie Schillat and Three Pugs Farm LLC’s SLF Destiny had the win. Reserve champion was Kendra Sue Walmer and her own Printings Pola Z.
In the $1,500 Low Adult Amateur Zone 2 HOTY Championships, Shelby Bently and her Lucky Penny were champions with Misty Linaberry and her own Celestine in reserve. Madison Briggs and MJM LLC’s Doutzen won the $1,500 Low Children’s Jumper Zone 2 HOTY Championship, with Elizabeth Harvey and Christopher Harvey’s DD Boy in reserve. The $3,000 High Adult Amateur Jumper Zone 2 HOTY Championship was won by Sarah Wood and Neal Shapiro’s Corozano with Emily Throop and her own Capitalist in reserve.
The $3,000 High Children’s Jumper Zone 2 HOTY Championship was won by Corinne Davies and her own En Vogue. Carly Eakin was runner up aboard Riding Rink LLC ‘s Dior. Finally, Mark Leone and Redfield Farm’s Exite were victorious in the $5,000 Low Junior Jumper Zone 2 HOTY Championship. Reserve honors were claimed by Morgan Webster and her own Excentriek.