Caelinn Leahy and Dymendy Debut at Devon with Win in Speed Leg of Junior Jumper Championship

Devon, Pa. – May 23, 2019 – The first event of the Junior Jumper championship saw 23 young riders and their mounts vie for top honors in the $3,750 Junior Jumper speed class, sponsored by Land Services USA, Inc., to wrap-up competition in the Dixon Oval on the opening day of the 2019 Devon Horse Show and Country Fair. In her debut at the historic event, 17-year-old Caelinn Leahy and Steve Schaefer’s Dymendy, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, emerged victorious on Thursday, earning the Flight Cup Perpetual Trophy after blazing around the one-round course, designed by Brazil’s Guilherme Jorge, in 60.239 seconds.

Caelinn Leahy and Dymendy (Photo: The Book LLC)
Caelinn Leahy and Dymendy (Photo: The Book LLC)

Trained by Schaefer out of Bellis Farm in Maple Park, Illinois, Leahy made the trip to Devon, Pennsylvania, for the first time this year and wasted no time collecting her first Devon blue.

Kicking off jumper competition during Junior Weekend, Jorge built a challenging first day track set at 1.40m in height, which saw 10 finish with no faults.

First to go in the class and finishing in second place, just tenths of a second behind Leahy, was Alexandra Pielet and Co-Pielet, LLC’s Helene VE in 60.743 seconds.

Rounding out the top three was Ava Ellis and Clear Ride LLC’s Remmits Delphi in 63.275 seconds.

Caelinn Leahy and Dymendy
Caelinn Leahy and Dymendy

The Junior Jumpers will compete again on Friday, and the champion will be crowned after Saturday night’s Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior Jumper Classic as junior riders continue to take center stage throughout the weekend.

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

On winning on opening day of the 2019 Devon Horse Show and Country Fair:
“I am so excited to be here. I’ve never been to Devon before so it’s a new experience. It’s a great way to kick-off the weekend and I’m really excited. My horse was great. I’m just really excited to be here. It’s an awesome show and I’ve wanted to come here for a long time. To finally be here is unreal, it’s awesome!”

On Dymendy:
“I couldn’t have asked anything more from her. This is kind of her specialty class. She likes to go fast and do this, so right from the get-go I knew this was going to be a fun day to take a shot and go for it. We’re here to do well and I think that she was excited and ready too. This is my first year with her. She’s been awesome. I’ve been showing her in the high juniors and some grand prix classes. She’s really game. She’s a new mount for me but so far it’s been great. I’m really excited about this partnership and to see where it goes.”

On Thursday’s course:
“I was really lucky. I got to watch Alex [Pielet], who went first. Her track was the exact same plan as ours so I really just watched her and went back to the barn and was like, ‘OK, got it.’ It was a perfect course to get us started today. There was just enough long gallop stretches, which I know my mare really enjoys, and she can do them so well. I think the course suited us perfectly and it was a great day!”

RESULTS

$3,750 Junior Jumpers, sponsored by Land Services USA, Inc.:
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / Faults / Time
1. Dymendy / Caelinn Leahy / Steve Schaefer / 0 / 60.239
2. Helene VE / Alexandra Pielet / Co-Pielet, LLC / 0 / 60.743
3. Remmits Delphi / Ava Ellis / Clear Ride LLC / 0 / 63.275
4. Alania / Sophee SteckbeckSophee Steckbeck / 0 / 64.054
5. Dirkie Z / Paige Matthies / Barbara Smith / 0 / 64.062
6. Show Show / Elizabeth Lang / Alex Jayne / 0 / 65.240
7. Calisto 26 / Alexandra Pielet / Alexandra Pielet / 0 / 66.437
8. Waliba VDL / Elli Yeager / Elli Yeager / 0 / 67.352
9. Climbus / Paige Matthies / Barbara Smith / 0 / 68.894
10. Fineman / Graciela Robert / Rose Hill Farm / 0 / 73.198
11. Czechmate / Savannah Hemby / Andrew Bourns Sport Horses Inc. / 4 / 67.707
12. Buckle Up / Ned Cunniffe / Whipstick Farm, Ltd. / 4 / 69.027

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