Olivia Sweetnam Captures Devon Horse Show Children’s Jumper Championship

Devon, Pa. – May 29, 2022 – The Children’s Jumper division concluded at the 2022 Devon Horse Show on Sunday, following two days of exciting competition in the Dixon Oval. A total of 20 horse-and-rider pairs put their best foot forward in three total classes hoping to accumulate points towards the division’s overall standings. At the conclusion of the third and final leg of the championship, $2,500 NAL/WIHS Children’s Jumper Classic, sponsored by Westover Companies/Guntram Weissenberger, Jr., Olivia Sweetnam was presented with the tricolor ribbon for her stellar performances on Just Noble throughout the weekend. Sweetnam swept the division, winning all three classes and ultimately receiving the Leonard Tose Memorial Challenge Trophy with a total of 35 points.

Olivia Sweetnam and Just Noble

Sweetnam started Sunday morning off strong, riding Just Noble, a 9-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare owned by Sweet Oak Farm, into the winner’s circle of the $1,000 Children’s Jumper class, sponsored by Dover Saddlery, for the second time over the weekend. The pair completed a lightning fast jump-off round, tripping the timers in just 26.841 seconds. Katie Traintos on Rolling Acres’ Casilla, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding, also completed a double-clear round, but was unable to beat Sweetnam’s time, finishing in 27.703 seconds for the red ribbon. Annelise De Rosaire and Nahar, a 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Court Farm LLC, rounded out the top three in the class with a clear jump-off time of 28.647 seconds.

Olivia Sweetnam and Just Noble
Olivia Sweetnam and Just Noble

Returning to the ring for the final leg of the division, the $2,500 NAL/WIHS Children’s Jumper Classic, sponsored by Westover Companies/Guntram Weissenberger, Jr., the field of young riders tackled a 14-obstacle first round course designed by Olaf Petersen Jr. (GER). The technical track challenged each to navigate some tricky combinations and tight turns in order to add their names to the jump-off list. At the wrap of the first round, 9 pairs were set to return and take on the shortened track.

Olivia Sweetnam and Emma Brody
Olivia Sweetnam and Emma Brody

Setting the pace with the first double-clear effort was Katie Triantos riding her own 5O1 Mischief Managed to a jump-off time of 40.701 seconds. Sweetnam and Just Noble quickly unseated the duo, shaving an impressive seven seconds off of the leading time to cross the timers in 33.510 seconds. In the end, Sweetnam’s effort was strong enough to claim her third win in the division, hoisting the www.HorseinOil.com Challenge Trophy at the conclusion of the class. Second place was awarded to Emma Brody and Nicarmargue for their jump-off time of 36.365 seconds, with Isabella Cukrowski and Vendredi Riverland rounding out the top three in a time of 36.411 seconds.

Emma Brody and Nicarmargue
Emma Brody and Nicarmargue

After riding to a total of 11 points across the three classes, Brody was presented with the reserve champion honors for her rides aboard her own Nicarmargue. In addition to their second place finish Sunday afternoon, Brody and the 14-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding also claimed fourth place earlier in the day in the $1,000 Children’s Jumper, sponsored by Dover Saddlery.

Competition at the Devon Horse Show will resume Monday, May 30, kicking off the professional hunter divisions in the Dixon Oval beginning at 8:00 a.m.

FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE

Olivia Sweetnam – Children’s Jumper Champion

On the course
“They set it pretty big and I had won both classes before, and I put a little bit of pressure on myself because this is the final, and the classic, so I was a little bit nervous to be honest. I kind of just went for it. In the first round, the first couple of jumps I was a little conservative, which wasn’t part of the plan, but I picked it up throughout the round and then [Just Noble] jumped beautifully. Then for the jump off I was really just hoping to go quick and double clear and then finish it off.”

On her partnership with Just Noble:
“I got her about one year ago. We imported her from Europe. She is an 8-year-old mare, her name is Noble in the barn. She’s so sweet, I love her so much! In the beginning my mom didn’t have much hope in her, but my dad saw something that nobody else really did and I really loved her. One month after we got her, she started winning. She won my first children jumper class and we just have a really good bond. She’s just such a sweet horse in both the ring and the stalls.”

Olivia Sweetnam and Just Noble
Olivia Sweetnam and Just Noble

On winning all three classes at Devon:
“Honestly it feels kinda crazy! I don’t know, I can’t really believe it happened to be honest. I’m so happy with [Just Noble] and how she jumped all week. She was so amazing.”

On the Devon Horse Show:
“I love it! This is my fourth time coming to the show. I really love it here. The whole environment makes it feel so special with the crowd and everything. It really makes it a special horse show and that’s not something you see all the time, especially for these jumpers.”

On her future plans:
“I’m done riding [Just Noble], I’m moving up to the bigger jumpers which I already have with a different horse, but you can’t cross enter so this is my last hoorah. My barn-mate Lindsay Tomeu will lease her for a bit, and then eventually when my little brother is ready, he will take her.”

RESULTS

$2,500 NAL/WIHS Children’s Jumper Classic, sponsored by Westover Companies
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Faults | R1 Time / R2 Faults | R2 Time
1. Just Noble / Olivia Sweetnam / Sweet Oak Farm / 0 | 71.526 / 0 | 33.510
2. Nicarmargue / Emma Brody / Emma Brody / 0 | 76.650 / 0 | 36.365
3. Vendredi Riverland / Isabella Cukrowski / Isabella Cukrowski / 0 | 74.661 / 0 | 36.411
4. Tizimin LS / Olivia Sallaberry / Megan McDermott / 0 | 73.730 / 0 | 38.835
5. 5O1 Mischief Managed / Katie Triantos / Katie Triantos / 0 | 77.678 / 0 | 40.701
6. Colina SN / Hailey Guidry / Honor Hill Farm LLC / 0 | 73.706 / 4 | 36.624
7. Nahar / Anneliese De Rosaire / Court Farm LLC / 0 | 70.955 / 4 | 37.827
8. Casilla / Katie Triantos / Rolling Acres / 0 | 76.718 / 6 | 55.804
9. Nemo / Camden Kitchens / Camden Kitchens / 0 | 74.627 / 8 | 36.549
10. Nossa Van De Bien / Rylynn Conway / Rylynn Conway / 1 | 80.495
11. Diego / Hannah Politsky / Jump Services, LLC / 4 | 73.310
12. FVF Quixote / Jenna Nelson / Jenna Nelson / 4 | 75.362

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