Horses - Duncan McFarlane and Eezy Win $15,000 Open Jumper Prix at HITS Tahoe Week IV - July 2001 - Equiworld

Duncan McFarlane and Eezy Win $15,000 Open Jumper Prix at HITS Tahoe Week IV

MINDEN, NEVADA (July 20, 2001)-Duncan McFarlane of San Ramone, California, riding Eezy won the $15,000 Open Jumper Prix at HITS Tahoe in Minden, Nevada, today. McFarlane was one of only two riders to go double-clear in a field of 19 horses. Peter Breakwell, a member of the New Zealand Olympic Team at Sydney, was clean but less than half a second slower on Dekoracija, taking second place. McFarlane took home $4,500 for owner Kathie Cheatham. Eezy is a nine-year-old, 17.3-hand, bay Irish-bred gelding by Diamond Chin out of Brown Dolie by Skylar. Danny Foster of Georgetown, Ontario, Canada, designed the course.

Foster built a 12-jump Round One that started riders off going towards the in-gate from the oxer at Fence No. 1, then turning left to the oxer at Fence No. 2, which was placed almost at the gate. Riders took a hard left to the vertical at 3 and a sharp right to a vertical-oxer double combination at Fence No. 4, followed by a left-handed circular route to the vertical at 5 and the oxer at 6. Riders continued left on a gallop to the Liverpool at 7 followed by a shortening up and right turn to an oxer-vertical double at 8. Riders made a quick jag right to a fast straight line from the oxer at 9 to the vertical at 10, and a left turn, again going away from the in-gate, to a triple bar at 11 into the final vertical at 12. Time allowed was set at 93 seconds. One rider retired on course. Five riders had clear rounds and qualified for the Jump-Off.

The nine-obstacle Jump-Off required riders to start at Fence No. 2 and continue the route left to 3 and right to 4A, then make a quick left to 6. Riders again had the gallop going left to the Liverpool at 7, and the quick right to the double at 8AB, followed by the jag to 9 and a final hard left turn to 12, which was set almost parallel to the 9. Time Allowed was 59 seconds.

McFarlane and Eezy were first in the order in the Jump-Off and set the pace with a clear round in 47.745, which proved to be unbeatable. Julie White of Yerington, Nevada, aboard her Thoroughbred Sunrise was next to go but had Fences 7 and 9 down for eight faults in 53.156, finishing in fourth place. Olympian Peter Breakwell of Redwood City, California, and Dekoracija owned by Aries Equine turned in a clean round, but their time of 48.238 put them in second place. John French of Woodside, California, the 2000 World Championship Hunter Rider Professional Rider of the Year, and Millenium were next to go but incurred seven jumping faults at the second element of the double and added seven time faults for a score of 14 faults in 57.657, taking fifth place for owners Cathy and Alex Mendez. Last to go was speedster Javier Fernandez of Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico, on Loreto, who had the fastest time, 46.816, but lowered the second element of the double for four faults, ending up in third place for owner Charles R. Parks.

$15,000 Open Jumper Prix, July 20, 2001
HITS Tahoe IV, Minden, Nevada
Course Designer: Danny Foster

Pl#/Horse/Rider/Owner/Prize Money/Rd 1 Faults/J-O Faults -Time
1/Eezy/Duncan McFarlane/Kathie Cheatham/$4,500/0/0-47.745
2/Dekoracija/Peter Breakwell/Aries Equine/$3,300/0/0-48.238
3/Loreto/Javier Fernandez/Charles R Parks/$1,950/0/4-46.846
4/Sunrise/Julie White/Douglas M. White/$1,200/0/8-53.156
5/Millenium/John French/Cathy & Alex Mendez/$900/0/14-65.570
6/Careless/Jenni Martin/Augustin Walch/$750/4/NA
7/Alcatraz 34/Jenni Martin/Augustin Walch/$600/4/NA
8/Chico/Ron Keller/Ron Keller/$450
9/Irish Boy/Jose Antonio Greaves/Jose Antonio Greaves/$450
10/Technicolor/Leslie Steele/Nancy Markwell/$300
11/Oberon/Peter Breakwell/Damien Eastwood/$300
12/Jupiter/Jose Antonio Greaves/Jose Antonio Greaves/$300

Number of horses that competed in this class: 19
Class Prize Money: $15,000

DIRECTIONS: From the Reno/Tahoe airport (about 40 miles), travel south on Highway 395 to Minden; at Stockyard Road, turn left; show grounds entrance is on the left. From Lake Tahoe (about 12 miles), take Route 207 (Kingsbury Grade), cross Foothill Road to Mottsville, proceed 3 miles; turn left onto State Highway 395 North; turn right at Stockyard Road; show grounds entrance is on the left. From Minden (about 2 miles), follow 395 North; turn right at Stockyard Road; show grounds entrance is on the left.

HITS TAHOE: 1901 N. Hwy. 395, Minden, Nevada, 89423. Phone during show dates: 775-783-8907.

www.HitsShows.com