Temecula, Calif. – May 28, 2021 – Teamwork was the name of the game in the $10,000 NEE Hunter/Jumper Team Challenge during Nilforushan Equisport Events’ Temecula Valley National II, presented by Interactive Mortgage. Hunters and jumpers partnered in teams of two, in hopes of claiming top honors in the unique crowd-favorite class. Though, in a unique twist of events, the competitors were not only vying for the highest combined score but also the best costumes! Thanks to their overall score comprised of the highest hunter marks of the class and one of the fastest jumper times, the combination of Shiloh Roseboom and Amanda Gomez took the win for the second year in a row, aboard Venice and Dolliebanta.
The $5,000 NEE Hunter/Jumper Team Challenge added an inventive twist to standard equestrian competition, this time with hunters and jumpers teaming up to combine their talents all while showcasing their inventive and exciting costumes. Scores were calculated by subtracting the time from the jumper portion of the course from the score awarded by a judge to the hunter counterpart to determine a final tally, with the highest score winning the day. Hunters took to the ring first, riding over their 8-obstacle course, followed by the jumpers, navigating Manuel Esparza’s (MEX) 7-obstacle course.
Three-time class winner, Shiloh Roseboom took to the Grand Prix Arena aboard Enchantment Farms LLC’s 16-year-old Warmblood gelding, Venice alongside her 2020 partner, Amanda Gomez who rode Dolliebanta. The pair were looking for a repeat finish of last year’s class, with Roseboom heading up the hunter course and Gomez tackling the jumper course. The dynamic duo debuted their Super Mario Brothers-themed costumes. Roseboom, dressed as Mario, was the first to take to the track, laying down one of the highest scores of the evening. Her effortless fluidity throughout the trip and subtle finesse wowed the judges. Following quickly behind was Gomez, dressed as Luigi. With their reining title on the line, Gomez and Ali Nilforushan’s 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, Dolliebanta leveled up, blasting around the jumper course and taking one of the tightest rollback turns to cross the finish in a blisteringly fast time. The superstar pair took an early lead in the class.
Sarah Cline and Katalina Considine-Rickard entered the arena ready to have some fun in the sun aboard their mounts Beauwaniki and Lennox RW. The bikini-clad riders had their sights set on besting Team Super Mario Brothers in hopes of stealing the win. Considine-Rickard and Kate Considine’s 9-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, Lennox RW gave the hunter course their best effort showcasing style and textbook form. Combined with Cline’s blazing fast time over the jumper course with her own 15-year-old Warmblood mare, Beauwaniki, the pair held their own against the current reigning champions, but their performance fell just shy of Roseboom and Gomez as they settled into a close second.
Though many teams attempted to unseat Team Mario Brothers from their first place throne, none were successful in their endeavors. The final pair to take to the ring, Emma Post and Robert Blanchette aboard Won Love and Dia Fina, had nothing to lose giving their respective rounds their all. Decked out in a cow costume, Post gave a spectacular performance aboard her own Won Love while Blanchette, Wednesday’s $5,000 1.35m Train with Shelby Welcome Stake winner, once again showcased his unmatched footspeed. Together the pair was able to secure a last-minute upset in the results snagging a third place podium.
Roseboom added another ribbon to her collection taking home the blue for the third consecutive year in a row, becoming the only rider to go undefeated in the class’ history. Paired together with Gomez for the second year in a row, the dream team defended their championship title taking home the lion’s share of the prize.
Competition at Nilforushan Equisport Events’ Temecula Valley National II, presented by Interactive Mortgage comes to a head Saturday, with the $40,000 BioEqualizer National Grand Prix.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Shiloh Roseboom – $5,000 NEE Hunter/Jumper Team Challenge – Winner
On Venice:
“Venice was absolutely incredible. I take him out for this class every time. He knows what to do and he will just take care of me!
On planning her team:
“For the partnership, I knew the class was coming up and I was looking for partners. I was going to do it with Amanda [Gomez] again, and then she was supposed to go to Sacramento. She still said she would show up for it and she did, so it was great!
On winning for the third consecutive time:
“It feels awesome but it was definitely nerve-racking to go in and have to wait 20 teams later to go.”
On picking their costumes:
“We were trying to brainstorm on Monday and Tuesday and we still could not come up with anything. I eventually just googled “costume ideas for two,” and found this and thought it was a good idea, and we pulled it all together!”
On the exciting atmosphere:
“He [Venice] was like, ‘Oh, we are doing this again.’ He is pretty good at night. We did the Ronnie Mutch Equitation Championship and he was awesome. He just doesn’t care about any of it. He was just awesome.”
On Nilforushan Equisport Events:
“I really like it. I would come back every week if I could!”
Amanda Gomez – $5,000 NEE Hunter/Jumper Team Challenge – Winner
On Dolliebanta:
“I have an incredible horse. She is probably one of the top horses I have ever sat on. As long as you get her to the right spot, she jumps clear every time. I was really grateful to have her back for this class.”
On their partnership:
“Of course Shiloh is the best team partner ever! I actually did this class last year with her, and it was my first time winning this class, so this is our second year winning in a row as a team.”
On the exciting atmosphere:
“My mare is used to this kind of atmosphere. Last year she was really really great, and we actually went last year when the sun was down so we were in the dark and our horses were absolutely amazing so it was nice to be in the light this time. But yes, we could not have asked them to be any better.”
On Nilforushan Equisport Events:
“Ali and Francie [Nilforushan] do such a wonderful job and we are happy to be here every chance we can get.”
