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Calvert Captures Her First Ever Grand
Prix Victory At Opening Class Of The HITS Desert Circuit |
The eleventh annual
Horse Shows In The Sun Indio Desert Circuit kicked off its six weeks of
top equestrian competition with the $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix. Cathleen
Calvert and Shania topped a 35 horse field to take home $7,500 in prize
money. Calvert is a relative newcomer to the grand prix ranks, the highest
level a show jumping rider can reach. Calvert had a successful career
as a junior rider through 2000, winning many top equitation awards and
culminating with both team and individual gold medals at the North American
Young Riders’ Championships. “I started in my first grand prix
classes at Indio last year, and to win this year is great!” said
an ebullient Calvert of her first grand prix victory.
Calvert catch rides
both hunters and jumpers, and rides under the watchful eye of Dale Harvey.
Calvert and Shania have moved up through the show jumping ranks together
and theirs is a story of hard work,perseverance, and talent. “I got
Shania when she was five,” said Calvert of the eleven year old dark
brown Dutch Warmblood mare. “She is by Wellington and has lots of
talent, but she is difficult, kind of quirky. She will suddenly decide
something is spooky and dash sideways.”
Although there were
eight four-fault rounds over Ken Krome’s attractively built course,only
two riders managed fault-free rounds. Calvert was joined in the jump off
by Richard Spooner, a popular rider on the grand prix tour and a regular
visitor to the winner’s circle. “Richard had to go first in
the jump off with Hilton’s Flight,” explained Calvert “and
Dale told me to watch what Richard does. He told me that if Richard is
clean, try to duplicate his track. He told me if Richard has a rail to
try to play it safe and jump around clean.”
Spooner and Hilton’s
Flight started off with a bold, positive jump off round, but when Spooner
made the right turn to the last fence, a large oxer, Hilton’s Flight
became difficult to turn. “He just didn’t want to come right,”
said Spooner of the Freedom Farms’ owned gelding.“He is a green
horse and didn’t get his eye on the jump. I was riding to a specific
(take off) distance and as Hilton’s Flight resisted in the turn my
takeoff option got longer and longer. To help the horse get across the
oxer I threw myself up his neck and it distracted him. In fact, I think
it really annoyed him and he flung me through the finish markers when
we landed.”
Since Spooner crossed
the finish line without his horse, he received no score,leaving the door
wide open for Calvert. “I was really concerned about Richard because
I knew he had hurt his knee earlier. Besides, he is a really nice guy
and I felt for him.” Calvert rode a cautious jump off round and had
one rail at the midpoint. “I was going a bit slow, but Shania jumped
really well. This a great start to my year,” said a happy Calvert.
The Indio Desert Circuit
continues each week through March 10, with a mid-circuit break February
11-17. Last year Spooner prophesized six grand prix wins and met his goals
when he clinched the $150,000 Ford Grand Prix, the fourth time in five
years Spooner took the top prize in the final class of the circuit. “This
year I am hoping for four wins, but I think I let one slip through my
fingers today. I don’t have Southshore this year and I won two of
my six classes with him last year. That is why I am predicting four wins
this year,” said Spooner of his 2002 Desert Circuit goals. Crowd
favorite Robinson is jumping great according to Spooner and hopefully
fans will be able to cheer for the flashy white gelding leading a victory
gallop.
Show Manager Tom Struzzieri
and his staff continue to improve the Indio Desert Circuit, and this year
pony riders are enjoying a brand new ring. Riders are enjoying expanded
riding areas throughout the grounds. This Sunday jumper riders will vie
for the top prize in the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix beginning at 1:00 p.m.
$25,000 Ariat Grand
Prix - Friday, January 25, 2002
Indio Desert Circuit I - Indio, CA
Ken Krome, Course Designer
Place Horse Rider
Owner Prize Money Rd 1/ Rd 2 Faults/JO Time
1st Shania Cathleen Calvert Same $7,500 0/10 - 55.380
2nd Hilton Flight Richard Spooner Freedom Farms, Inc. $5,000 0/E
3rd Charmed Regan Roberts Alex Dillard $3,500 4
4th El Campeons Nicole Shahinian- ElCampeon Farms $2,250 4
Jo Jo Simpson
5th Jamco’s Demeure John Pearce Forest View Farms $1,500 4
January 27 1:00PM
$50,000 EMO Grand Prix
February 3 1:00PM
$50,000 Cosequin Grand Prix
February 10 11AM–1PM Kids’ Day
February 10 1:00PM $75,000 Bayer/USET Grand Prix
February 24 1:00PM $50,000 Rio Vista Grand Prix
March 3 11AM–1PM Seniors’ Day
March 3 1:00PM $50,000 King Shavings GrandPrix
Presented by Dyson & Dyson
March 10 11AM-2PM First Annual “Fiesta Day”
March10 2:00PM $150,000 Ford Grand Prix of the Desert
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