Columbus, OH – September 30, 2017 – It was another great day for the Irish at the Split Rock Jumping Tour Columbus International CSI 2* at Brave Horse Show Park, in Johnstown, OH, as Andrew Bournes rode his Ringwood Zebo to win the $10,000 Amalaya Investments 1.35m Prix in resounding fashion.
Bournes was one of 15 clear rounds out of a starting field of 46 horse and rider combinations. Only five of those pairs could manage double clear over the Alan Wade course, and none could match Bournes’ time with Ringwood Zebo. Bournes did not appear to be pushing the 8 year old for more speed over the course, but the timers told the story with a finishing time of 39.972, 0.8 of a second faster than Taylor Land, Alpharetta, GA, and Falco V, who were pushed back into second place.
“Ringwood Zebo is a very exciting new prospect that I have. This is his biggest win since he got over here. He comes from my farm in Ireland. He was produced by my parents and he really has been fantastic. He jumped in a 2* Grand Prix two weeks ago in Canada. He was double clear there as well. He’s just gone from strength to strength.
“Ever since I got him he has been wowing us with his ability and then today he showed some extraordinary speed. He is deceivingly fast. I don’t think the others even saw him coming. With a young horse like this you can’t get too brave with your plan, he has a lot of stride and scope, so I left out strides and kept him very, very tight in his turns. I relied a lot on his rideability, which I think made him so much faster than the other horses, because he was able to win the class and not look like he was breaking a sweat doing it.”
Bourne modeled his fist pump, a tradition for winners at SRJT, on Usain Bolt’s signature move. “I guess I have a lot of faith in this horse, that he is really a pretty reliable guy because the Usain Bolt, is a risky move. If they spook and you don’t have your hands on the reins it could end very messy for me. I like to think that I pulled it off pretty well, and I think I have a good chance at the award.”
The $5,000 U25 Welcome, sponsored by Booth Show Jumpers, was won in decisive fashion by Emanuel Andrade, VEN, and Clouwni, a 2003 Holsteiner gelding by Colman x Odessa XVII. The pair completed the jump-off fault free in a time of 34.183 seconds, two seconds ahead of Taylor Land and For Edition, who posted a double clear in 36.321 for second place.
“I am very excited about my result today,” said Andrade. “This horse has been amazing in the last month. Last week we won the Puissance in New York City, so we have been winning constantly and I am very happy with him.”
Alexandra Welles, Long Lake, MN, added another win to her resume, taking the $7,500 1.20m Junior/Amateur Owner Final with a decisive final round aboard XM. The pair turned in two faultless rounds and finished the jump off in a time of 27.971.
“The other night I promised Derek [Braun] that if I won again this week that I would do a double fist pump, but I got too scared to drop the reins, so I did a modified version,” Welles said with a grin after the class.
“I am taking it pretty easy this week and focusing on her, and she is two for two,” said husband Andrew Welles. “I can’t say enough about the setting, the horse show and the job the Split Rock team had done. Everything about this is what we need here in the states. A great day, a lot of fun and I am so proud of her.”
It was a fourth win for Francesca Bolfo at the Columbus International, as she piloted Cadermie to victory in the $7,500 HorseFlight 1.30m Junior/Amateur Owner Final. Bolfo, New York, NY, topped a field of 22 to capture the blue ribbon with an astounding jump off round in 31.343 seconds.
“She is so amazing,” said Bolfo as she hugged the 10 year-old Dutch mare. “She is so game, she just looks for the fences.”
Fifth Win For Francesca Bolfo at Split Rock Jumping Tour Columbus International CSI 2*
It was a fifth win in five days for Francesca Bolfo at the Split Rock Jumping Tour Columbus International CSI 2*, but this one she had to fight for.
The course for the $7,500 High 1.40m Junior/Amateur Owner Final, designed by Alan Wade, left no competitor unscathed. Of the 15 original starters, Only Sloan Hopson with Costa Rica VH Waterschoot Z and Bolfo on Jadalco, were able to post clear rounds.
Hopson had a rail down in a time of 41.092, leaving the door open for Bolfo. All looked well for Bolfo, until she, too, had a rail down, but she pushed Jadalco for more speed and the horse responded to finish in a time of 39.231 to take first place.
“I had another horse that went second in the class,” said Bolfo. “And I definitely faced some difficulties right off the bat. I knew coming back with Jadalco that he is such a scopey horse and such a good guy that if I was prompt and under the time I stood a good chance, but having an opportunity to watch everyone else really helped. In the jump off I had the luck of the draw in going after Sloan, and when she had the rail down, I had a plan. Then I had the same rail down and realized I had to pick up the pace and get going. I know my horse is incredibly scopey so I could make a really tight turn back on the wall and then find the last line quite easily.
“Jadalco and I partnered up this July,” continued Bolfo. “He is only 8, and he is such a love. I am so fortunate to have a horse like him. He has the most incredible temperament. He is a joy to show, he is a joy to be with on the ground and he loves spending time with people. He loves my dog. He loves my mother. All around I am just thrilled about him and I am looking forward to what is going to happen in the future.”
The $10,000 Booth Show Jumpers U25 Grand Prix, for riders under the age of 25, was won by Emanuel Andrade and another of his extraordinary string, Bon Jovi, an 11-
year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. Of the four horse and rider combinations to qualify for the jump off, Andrade rode two. Each of the four posted clear rounds in the jump off, making it a speed duel for the win, with Andrade posting the fastest time, 35.459 seconds.
“I think that it is important to have a class where young talent can compete against their peers,” said Jenny Booth of Booth Show Jumpers, sponsor of the class. “To get in the ring and have a tough class that helps them develop their skills will give them the confidence to move up and compete with the seasoned professionals.”