Lexington, Ky. – July 27, 2018 – Jumper competition returned the the Rolex Stadium Friday at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show presented by Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC. David Oberkircher, who arrived in Kentucky on Thursday, dominated the day by winning the both the Medium and High Junior/Amateur Owner jumpers. In the Medium division, Oberkircher piloted Castelino Van De Helle to a win over a field of 28 entries with a double clean effort and quick jump off time that clocked in at 34.907.
Unlike Thursday evening in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, which saw only three clear rounds of 44 starters, 11 of the 28 riders that competed in the Medium Jumpers produced double clear efforts. Oberkircher, who has recently started a new career that leaves him less time to compete at horse shows, knew that he had a chance with his veteran stallion. The 15-year-old Holsteiner, who is owned by Southfields Farm, LLC of Collegeville, Pennsylvania, seamlessly navigated the course that consisted of 13-expertly placed fences. Although the pair have not shown much together over the last year, due to some minor injuries that the stallion sustained, they picked up a gallop and took a dominating lead by more than a second. Sohpia Studd and Hera-V placed second with a jump off time of 35.375.
Earlier in the day, Oberkircher and another one of his mounts, Upper, beat 14 other horse and rider combinations in the High Junior/Amateur Owner class with a double clear effort and jump off time that was two seconds faster than the second place competitor. The Pennsylvania native, who trains with the husband and wife team of, John Roche and Chelsea Sundius at JR Show Stables, plans to compete in the $50,000 Rood & Riddle Grand Prix Saturday as well as the the Under-25 Jumper Classic on Sunday.
The Grand Prix is only one of the exciting events happening Saturday, as Hats Off Day returns to the Kentucky Horse Park. Hats Off to Kentucky’s Horse Industry Day is a celebration of the horse and its impact on the state of Kentucky. The day offers fun family activities including arts and crafts for children, horse and pony rides for children and adults, interactive educational booths and thrilling equestrian competition. Hats Off Day is the only day of the year that an entire family can enjoy the Kentucky Horse Park and all it has to offer, at no cost!
Learn more about Hats Off Day by clicking here.
To see a complete schedule of classes at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, click here.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
David Oberkircher – Medium Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumpers winner
On Castelino Van De Helle:
“Castelino Van De Helle is a 15-year-old stallion. I’ve had him for about three years now. This past year he has had some injury issues just being an older horse, so I’ve taken my time bringing him back up. This is his second show this year and I was really happy with how he performed. I imported him from Belgium. He had jumped some 1.60m [classes] and Nations Cups, so he’s really experienced. I kind of caught him on the tail end of his career and he was a good horse for me to move up into the High [Jumpers]. He just had so much experience it was great for me.”
On his plan:
“It’s always fun to win. I wanted to just have a good rhythm and kind of get in the groove. I started a new job as a financial analyst this past month, so I haven’t been riding as much. I just wanted to get back in the ring and get in the swing of things.”
On Kentucky:
“It’s a great facility. It’s really horse-friendly. It’s great to be in this big stadium and it’s good for the horses to really open up their stride and I have some bigger horses, so it really suits them well. I’m planning to jump the grand prix tomorrow night. I couldn’t jump the welcome because I was working yesterday. I’m going to do the High Classic, the U25 on Sunday and the grand prix on Saturday. I’ll be going to Florida towards the end of the year around November. I’m going to pick and choose my shows this fall. I will probably head to the American Gold Cup and Split Rock, but I can’t take too much time off with the new job.”
RESULTS
Medium Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumpers
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Faults / R2 Faults | Time
1. Castelino Van De Helle / David Oberkircher / Southfields Farm LLC / 0 / 0 | 34.907
2. Hera-V / Sophia Studd / Sophia Studd / 0 / 0 | 35.375
3. All About Anjes / Addison Piper / Addison Piper / 0 / 0 | 35.954
4. Figeac De Reve / Virginia Ingram / Virginia Ingram / 0 / 0 | 37.964
5. Cupido Van’t Schuurke / Christina Antonucci / Sweet Oak Farm / 0 / 0 | 38.875
6. All In 9 / Kathryn Hall / Kathryn Hall / 0 / 0 | 39.716
7. Broere Extase / Charlie Jacobs / CMJ Sporthorse, LLC / 0 / 0 | 40.228
8. Acolina R / Sarah Turner / Sarah Turner / 0 / 4 | 36.799
9. Flim Flam / Eliza Fauntleroy / Eliza Fauntleroy / 0 / 4 | 37.430
10. Angelina / Sophia Studd / Sophia Studd / 0 / 4 | 37.838
11. Valco De Jochri / Atkins Ward / Atkins Ward / 0 / 12 | 37.957
12. Samoa / Anna Beth Athey / Anna Beth Athey / 0 / RF | 81.026