Lexington, KY – July 29, 2022 – Jumper competition returned to the Rolex Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park bright and early Friday morning. Junior and amateur show jumping competitors took to the ring to contest the High Junior/Amateur 1.40m Jumper. As the first junior/amateur competition of the Kentucky Summer series, talented horse-and-athlete combinations vied for a top spot on the leaderboard. Concluding the two phases of competition, it was Anna Beth Athey aboard her own, Jolene AK who emerged victorious.
Manuel Esparza (MEX) put together a challenging course utilizing the whole ring for the junior and amateur athletes to try their hand at. With an all important jump off to qualify for, the first round kept riders reserved to ensure a clear round. A total of five horse-and-rider athlete duos made their way around the track and left all rails intact, ensuring them a spot in a competitive second phase. Time was of the essence as the athletes had to strategize the best way to remain clear while also posting the fastest time possible. Athey proved to execute her plan the best, finishing the jump-off track over two seconds faster than her second place competitor.
Athey, coming off a second place finish aboard Caraghs Quality Lady in Thursday night’s $25,000 Kentucky Summer Classic, is no stranger to the podium. In today’s class, Athey piloted her own mount, Jolene AK, to a double clear effort while also posting the fastest time amongst her competitors both in the first round and the jump-off. Athey and the 8-year-old KWPN mare maneuvered the first round track seamlessly, taking every inside turn available and hitting each obstacle in stride, crossing the wire at 76.512 seconds. The speedy duo did not let up in the jump-off, posting a time of 30.482 seconds to secure the blue ribbon.
Second place was awarded to Lacey Gilbertson aboard Seabrook LLC’s Baloppi, a 15-year-old Danish Warmblood mare. Gilbertson and Baloppi put together a valiant double-clear effort, but came up just short, crossing through the timers at 32.467 seconds in the second phase. Rounding out the top three with a double-clear effort of their own was Angela Swanson and AE Swanson Farms LLC’s Belle Z. Swanson piloted the 14-year-old Zangersheide mare to two great rides, but could not catch the time to beat in the jump off, finishing their round at a time of 35.190 seconds.
Show jumping competition at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show will come to a pinnacle Saturday, July 30, with the highlight event of the week, the $50,000 Rood and Riddle Grand Prix which will take place at 7:00PM EST in the Rolex Stadium.
RESULTS
High Junior/Amateur 1.40m Jumper
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Faults | Time / R2 Faults | Time
1. Jolene AK / Anna Beth Athey / Anna Beth Athey / 0 | 76.512 / 0 | 30.482
2. Baloppi / Lacey Gilbertson / Seabrook LLC / 0 | 80.701 / 0 | 32.467
3. Belle Z / Angela Swanson / AE Swanson Farms LLC / 0 | 79.935 / 0 | 35.190
4. Up Des Chaines / Ellie Dupuis / Ellie Dupuis / 0 | 76.512 / 4 | 33.118
5. Sambuka De Lurberri / Teri Kessler / Teri Kessler / 0 | 78.914 / 4 | 36.486
6. Vox Dei / Daneli Miron / Miron Sport Horses LLC / 4 | 76.800
7. Hairo / Skyler Fields / Skyler Fields / 4 | 80.408
8. Feromoon G / Danielle Torano / Danielle Torano / 12 | 81.263
9. Chris W / Emma Blumenkrantz / Emma Blumenkrantz / Refused
