Robert Dover And FBW Kennedy Win USET Grand Prix
Patricia Becker And Tsunami Win USET Intermediaire I
WELLINGTON,
FL - February 6, 2004 - For the first time since he returned to
the show ring with his two Jane Clark-owned Grand Prix mounts, Robert
Dover entered them both in the same class and produced a one-two
finish - in the $1,500 USET Grand Prix, a Qualifying Competition
for the USET Grand Prix Championship and the 2004 Olympic Selection
Trials, Dover placed first with FBW Kennedy, scoring 75.694% and
placed second with Rainier, earning 72.431%. Arlene Page riding
her own Claire placed third, earning 70.417%.
"I
could not be more elated with my horses," said Dover, 47, of
Long Island, NY, and Wellington, FL. "They were such a pleasure
to ride. I'm so thankful to Jane Clark for the chance to ride these
horses." Dover said he was also thankful for having "the
best help in the world - Kathryn Bateson and her fiancé Carl
Chandler and all the people that are behind me, working all the
time to make 'Team Clark' work so well."
Ringside
was thronged to watch the class, with Dover leading off on Rainier
and wrapping up the six-horse roster on FBW Kennedy. "I was
a little more composed by the second ride and feeling very self-assured
after my first ride that I would have the calmness and the steadiness
with the second horse," said Dover, comparing the two performances.
"The second horse felt so on his game as I warmed up. It was
great also having our Olympic coach Klaus Balkenhol here. In the
warm-up he gave me a few things to think about right as I was getting
ready to go in. It just came together lovely with both of them."
Dover
said he would prefer to ride Rainier and Kennedy in separate classes
so that they would not be compared to each other. "But at the
same time, they're both very high quality horses so at least it's
not like comparing one average horse with one top horse," he
said. "They're both really wonderful top horses, which is what
Klaus just told me. That also thrilled me that he said they're just
terrific." Rainier is a 13-year-old, gray, 17-hand Oldenburg
gelding by Rolando. FBW Kennedy is a 13-year-old, chestnut, 16-hand
Wurtemburg gelding by Tiro. Both horses competed in the 2000 Sydney
Olympics - Rainier with Dover, and Kennedy with former owner Lone
Jorgenssen of Denmark.
Officiating
were Jessica Ransehousen at H, Lorraine MacDonald at C, and Joan
MaCartney at B. All of the judges placed Dover first on FBW Kennedy,
scoring them 373, 363, and 354. The judges were not all in agreement
on the second place horse, Rainier. Their marks were 356, 336, and
351. Arlene 'Tuny' Page and Claire scored 344, 341, and 329 - Judge
Lorraine MacDonald had this duo in second place.
Page,
47, of Wellington, FL, has owned and ridden Claire for five years
and said her ride today was, "Exactly as the score reflected
- three marks better than it was two weeks ago. I was really happy.
We're going absolutely in the right direction. Things are going
absolutely the right way. My game plan is to not change a thing.
We just keep developing just as we are now, no more pressure. She's
still three months away from being really strong."
Claire, a former jumper in Germany, is a 12-year-old, 17-hand bay
Holsteiner mare by Cassini. Page noted that the best part of Claire's
test today was the second piaffe/passage tour. "It was really
good, super lowering of the hindquarters. Good expression but still
very relaxed and very good pirouettes."
In
the final class of the afternoon, Patricia Becker and Tsunami won
the $1,000 USET Intermediaire I, a Qualifying Competition for the
USET Intermediaire I Championship. Becker and Tsunami topped a class
of 12 horses. While the judges were unanimous in their choice of
the top three, their rankings varied. Officiating were Ransehousen
at H, MacDonald at C, and MaCartney at B. Their marks for Becker
were 281, 275, and 260 for a total of 68.00%, which placed her first.
Two judges, MacDonald and MaCartney, scored Catherine Morelli on
BeSe as the winner. The judges' marks for Morelli were 270, 278,
and 266, which he4r in second place with 67.833%. The judges' tallies
for Kathy Priest were 274, 260, and 266, which gave her 66.667%
and third place, though Ransehousen placed this pair second, and
MaCartney tied them for first place with Morelli.
2004 WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL TICKET INFORMATION
Show days for the 2004 Winter Equestrian Festival are Wednesday
through Sunday. Gates open at 8:00 am. Ticket Prices: Wednesdays
are free to everyone; Children 12 and under are admitted free every
day; Young Adults 13 to 18 and Seniors are $5 on Thursday through
Sunday; Adults are $5 on Thursday and Friday, $10 on Saturday, and
$15 on Sunday. The Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club is located on
Pierson Road off South Shore Boulevard. For additional information,
visit www.stadiumjumping.com or call 561-793-5867.
2004
WEF SCHEDULE OF COMPETITIONS
February 4 - 8 Bayer/USET Foundation Gold Coast Jumper Classic CSI***
February 5 - 8 Wellington Dressage (Qualifier for Olympic Selection
Trials)
February 11 - 15 Kilkenny/ICH Internationale CSI***
February 18 - 22 Florida Classic/WCHR Spectacular CSI-W/Y CSI-Ch
February 19 - 22 Zada Enterprises, LLC Florida Dressage Classic
February 25 - 29 PDP Capital Wellington Masters CSI***
March 3 - 7 CN Wellington Open CSI-W
March 10 - 14 CSIO United States Cosequin Finale CSIO***
March 18 - 21 Zada Enterprises WEF Dressage Classic CDI***/Y
(Qualifier for Olympic Selection Trials)
March 24 - 28 Tampa Bay Classic CSI-W (Bob Thomas Equestrian Center)
March 30 - April 3 Tournament of Champions CSI-W (Bob Thomas Equestrian
Center)
April 3 Budweiser American Invitational (Raymond James Stadium)
2004
WEF MILLION DOLLAR GRAND PRIX SERIES
February 8 $50,000 Bayer/USET Foundation Wellington Cup, CSI***
February 15 $50,000 Kilkenny/ICH Internationale Cup, CSI***
February 22 $60,000 Idle Dice Classic, presented by Palm Beach Post,
CSI-W
February 29 $75,000 PDP Capital Masters Cup, CSI***
March 7 $75,000 CN Wellington Open presented by Estates of Wellington
Green, CDI-W
March 12 $50,000 Samsung Nations' Cup, presented by CN, CSIO****
March 14 $100,000 Cosequin U.S. Open Jumper Championship, CSIO****
March 28 $75,000 Grand Prix of Tampa, presented by Kilkenny/ICH,
CSI-W
April 3 $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational, presented by The
Tampa Tribune
.
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