Hampton Falls, NH – September 19, 2011 – The Fidelity Investments® Jumper Classic®, presented by Porsche had an extremely successful week of competition at the Silver Oak Equestrian Center. Located in the beautiful seacoast town of Hampton Falls, NH, The Jumper Classic® is New England’s premier equestrian event. This elite level competition attracted the country’s top riders, Olympians and local equestrians who competed for over $200,000 in prize money.

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$75,000 Fidelity Investments® Grand Prix Highlights

The Fidelity Investments® Jumper Classic®, presented by Porsche, was all Kent Farrington on Sunday as he won both feature classes. He and Samar, owned by R.C.G. Farm, repeated their win from Saturday, this time in the $15,000 Equine Insurance Services Speed Stake presented by Great American Insurance Group. He then topped a strong field of contenders in the $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix with Calvin Van Het Wuitenshof, owned by WH Ventures. Second place in the grand prix went to Charlie Jacobs of Boston, MA, on Leap of Joy, while Kate Levy of White Plains, NY, rode Lirving du Volsin to third place.

While Farrington had the advantage of going last in the speed class, he had the opposite in the $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix. He and Calvin Van Het Wuitenshof went fourth in the first round and were the first clear trip, so they returned first in the jump-off. It didn’t faze the nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Kannan, however, as Calvin treated the second round like the speed classes that he is used to. Farrington sped through the course and barely pulled on the reins as Calvin showed stunning form. They set the pace at 40.493 seconds with no faults and couldn’t be caught.

“My plan was to go really fast!” Farrington laughed. “You know that you have to put the hammer down to have a chance at winning a class like this when you know you’re first in the order and have fast riders like Charlie and Kate coming after you. That horse is fast all by himself. I thought just go his normal fast speed. The vertical-vertical (double combination) is something that you normally have to slow down to and be careful, but on a horse like him that is that careful by himself, you can just ride it like a normal fence. That’s a huge, huge advantage.”

Regarding his phenomenal week at the Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic, Farrington said with a smile, “I’ve had some good luck here in Boston! This show has treated me well. As long as I keep winning, I’ll keep coming back!”

Wednesday to Sunday Jumper Classic Winners

Karina Aziz of Caledon, Ontario, Canada entered the Shire Equestrian Winner’s Circle on Wednesday after she and her horse Kandel won the $500 Der Dau 1.20m Jumpers. There were 48 entries in the class, where riders with a first round clear advanced to the jump-off. Aziz and Kandel were very speedy in the shortened course, and they stopped the timers in 37.428 seconds for the win.  Second place went to Jimmy Torano on Katina, owned by Danielle Torano, who had a jump-off time of 37.666 seconds. Finishing in 37.957 seconds, Jeffery Welles and Abigail Wexner’s Zycarla Z were third. Aziz has ridden Kandel, a 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Rosire, for two years. “He’s really fast, hot, and careful. He’s a good horse,” Aziz said.

The Masters Jumpers were sponsored by the Holistic Animal Healing Clinic and were the final class on Wednesday. Donald Little took the blue ribbon after completing the only double clear on course with Mr. Nightime. Olivia Weeks and Ronan, owned by Alexa Pessoa, were second, while Dennis Sisco and Leitrim Euro Touch were third.

Jeffery Welles and Abigail Wexner’s Zycarla Z topped the $5,000 1.40m Jumper class with a speed time of 72.799 seconds. Sean Crooks and Endeavor, owned by Glen Youell, were second in 74.213 seconds. Amy Millar rode Iron Horse Farm’s Top Gun to third in 74.476 seconds.

Zachary Libes piloted Tango for Abigail Wexner to the only double clear round in the $1,500 1.30m Jumper class. Amy Millar and Quidam 13, owned by DK-USA, were second with four faults in the jump-off and a time of 45.639 seconds. Ajee B, ridden by Amanda Derbyshire and owned by David Gochman, were third with four faults in 45.818 seconds.

In the opening 1.15m Jumper class, 53 entries contended for the blue ribbon, and it was Jimmy Torano on Campesino IV, owned by Emerald Isle Jumpers, who rode to the win with double clear rounds and a jump-off time of 32.749 seconds. Jeffery Welles and Sakkaro, owned by Triton Ventures Farms, were second in 36.153 seconds, while Amy Momrow and Jackie Piraquive’s Re Lujo were third in 37.594 seconds.

The GGT Footing Ring Two hosted competition as well, and the following horses and riders were the winners:
.80m Jumpers – Jake, Megan Murfey, Janet R. Murfey
.90m Jumpers – Barcelona, Robyn Coons, Linda Langmeier
1.00m Jumpers – Deveron, Alexa Riccio, Amy Rhodes
1.10m Jumpers – Sea Me Smile, Kara Riley-King
$500 Children’s/Adult Jumper 1.10m – Filthy Lucre, Alexa Riccio, Alexandra Carlton

Jeffery Welles of Brewster, NY, won the $12,000 UBS Financial Services Welcome Stake with Zycarla Z, owned by Abigail Wexner. The first to go clear and complete their jump-off was Christine McCrea on Avenir, owned by Windsor Show Stables and Candy Tribble. They were quick across the middle of the ring and left all of the jumps up. They stopped the timers in 45.144 seconds, which would leave them in second place at the end of the day. Immediately following McCrea, Kent Farrington and Calvin Van Het Wuitenshof, owned by WH Ventures, were clear. However, in the jump-off they had eight faults in a time of 44.391 seconds for third place.

Welles and Zycarla Z, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by Zandor Z, were the next to contest the jump-off. Welles took out a stride between the second and third jumps, then kept a quick pace. They crossed the finish line with no faults in 44.391 seconds for the win.

In the opening class on Thursday morning, Kent Farrington and Dynamo sped to the win by over two seconds in the $3,500 1.40m Jumpers. They were double clear in 36.743 seconds. Schuyler Riley rode Lapacco to second place n 38.938 seconds, while Katie Dinan and Nougat Du Vallet were third in 40.716 seconds.

In the $2,000 1.30m Jumpers, Amanda Derbyshire rode Ajee B for David Gochman to victory with a jump-off time of 37.376 seconds. Peter Leone and Nerval de la Batia were second in 37.672 seconds. Jonathan McCrea and Aristoteles V were third with a time of 41.664 seconds.

The Children’s/Adult Jumper competitors took to the Coldwell Bankers Previews Grand Prix Field for the first time, and it was McKayla Langmeier piloting Saks to the only double clear performance for the win. Jeanine Cash and Turbo were the fastest four faulters in 38.064 seconds. Tati Singer and Zia were third in 42.475 seconds with four faults.

Katie Dinan scored her second win of the day, this time in the $1,500 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers with Sandro. They were the fastest of two double clears in the class and their time of 44.270 seconds garnered the win. Karina Aziz and Courdia de Laubry were just behind in second place in 44.446 seconds. Jean Sheptoff and Ami Des Gemmes were third with four faults in 43.969 seconds.


There was a full day of classes as well in the GGT Footing Ring Two on Thursday. The $500 Masters Jumpers, sponsored by the Holistic Animal Healing Clinic, was the first class of the day. Dennis Sisco piloted his horses Clapton and Pangloss to first and second places. Jeff Papows and Eurostar finished third.

Other winners of the day in the GGT Footing Ring Two include:
1.10m Jumpers – Finnian, Lisa Rex, Christine Walsh
1.15m Jumpers – Tzigane De Muze, Stacey Mahoney, Brookside Enterprises
$750 1.20 Jumpers – Franciscus VD Lentamel, Beezie Madden, G&W Equine Partners

Jimmy Torano of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, was able to tackle the course for victory with Danielle Torano’s Katina in the $3,500 DG Ventures Speed Derby. There were 37 entries to compete over a course that included a section of the derby bank and an option fence that gave riders the opportunity to jump over a dry ditch or a liverpool. The horses and riders went for speed through the 13 obstacles. The fastest recorded time in the class with a clear round went to Jimmy Torano and Katina, owned by Danielle Torano. Two competitors late in the class were the only ones to come near Torano’s time. Jay Land and Nepal finished in 71.818 seconds for second place, while Kristen Bumpus and Cupid crossed the timers in 73.317 seconds and were third.

Torano said that while Katina is usually his wife Danielle’s ride, he took the opportunity to work with the horse this week. He went early in the order, but set down a pace that couldn’t be matched. “I have a very, very fast horse in general,” he said.

In Friday morning’s opening class, the $1,000 Masters Jumpers sponsored by the Holistic Animal Healing Clinic, Donald Little of Ipswich, MA, was able to gallop to his second win of the week with Mr. Nightime. Their clear round brought the blue ribbon and the division championship. Little and Mr. Nightime were speedy in 69.934 seconds for the win. Olivia Weeks took second and third places on Ronan (70.042 seconds) and Atman (73.311 seconds).

The second class on Friday was the $3,000 Deeridge Farm 1.30m Jumpers, and Irishman Andrew Bourns of Wellington, FL, was the winner over the speed course on La Bella Stella. Their clear ride in 73.183 seconds captured the blue ribbon. Amanda Derbyshire and King Rolo were second in 74.157 seconds. Norman Dello Joio placed third on Pacifico De La Nutria, owned by De La Nutria, when he stopped the timers in 75.465 seconds.

In the GGT Footing Ring Two, Paige Sorce and Lord des Tourelles, owned by Lindsey Werner, were victorious in the $1,000 1.20m Jumpers. Werner is out of Top of the Line Farm in Chestnut Ridge, NY.

Other winners in the GGT Footing Ring Two include:
1.10m Jumper: Callebaut, Maureen Sullivan, Maureen Sullivan

1.15m Jumper: Sky’s The Limit, Kristen Bumpus, Elsa Kania

$500 Modified Child/Adult 1.20m: Lincourt Gino, Monica Carrera, Monica Carrera

$750 Children’s/Adult Jumpers: Saks, McKayla Langmeier, Linda Langmeier

In the highlight class on Saturday, Kent Farrington of Chicago, IL, won the $12,000 Millbrook Ventures Speed Derby with Samar, owned by R.C.G. Farm. The class hosted 31 entries over a derby course that included the full Dover Saddlery Derby Bank as well as an option of the ditch or liverpool, and an open water. There were 14 obstacles on course, and the class was scored as a faults converted format, where rails down added four seconds to the rider’s final time.

Although Kent Farrington and Samar had the last jump down, their fast time still enabled them to win the class. They finished with a final time of 84.404 seconds. Second place went to Leslie Howard and 73 West Group’s Goed Zo, who were the early class leaders with a time of 85.094 seconds after a rail down. Nicholas Dello Joio and Navarre D’olueis, owned by J Adalberto Roig, were third in 85.989 seconds. They too had one rail down.

Farrington calls the 13-year-old Warmblood gelding “a speed specialist.”

Danielle Torano matched her husband’s win on Friday with one of her own on Saturday. She and her veteran competitor Capitano won the $5,500 SmartPak High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. Second place went to Katie Dinan on Sandro, and Dinan also picked up third place on Belle Dame D. For her win today, Torano was presented with a custom saddle from Devoucoux. Katie Dinan won a Devoucoux bridle.

In the $3,500 Holly Hill Farm Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, 12-year-old Katherine Strauss of Southampton, NY, rode Waterloo S to victory when she went double clear with a time of 36.793 seconds. Strauss had two rides in the jump-off; she placed third with Chellando Z (38.332 seconds). Second place went to Victoria Vargas D’Agostino on Rombouts Soleil, who finished in 37.785 seconds. For her win, Strauss was awarded a custom tack trunk from Platinum Woodworking.

Olivia Weeks of Southport, CT, has benefited from her daughter’s previous mounts before, and today’s $2,500 Adult New England Equine Medical & Surgical Adult Jumper Classic was no different. Weeks rode HJ El Divino to first place when they scorched through the jump-off course with no faults in 38.444 seconds. Just behind in second place was Monica Carrera on Tiffany, who stopped the timers in 38.517 seconds. Elizabeth Maloney and Irie were third in 40.089 seconds.

Elsa Kania and Carreras were able to post the fastest time in the jump-off for the win in the $1,500 Woodridge Farm Children’s Jumper Classic. They were double clear in 36.682 seconds. McKayla Langmeier and Denmark finished second in 37.873 seconds, while Nina Montross rode Voigtsdorfs Ohio to third with a time of 35.802 seconds with four faults.

In the GGT Footing Ring Two, the $750 Modified Children’s/Adult Jumpers competed, and it was Randy Levesque on Lyla, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, who took home the win. Levesque, a sponsor through his company Equine Insurance Services and board member of the Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic, noted, Sometimes it goes just right and sometimes it doesn’t. I love this show, my horse loves this show. It’s terrific for the exhibitors!”

The last class of  Saturday in Ring Two was the $900 Fox Grove Studio Children’s/Adult Farewell class. Wendy Wood of Amesbury, MA, and City Life 7, a seven-year-old Holsteiner gelding, picked up the blue ribbon.

Other winners in the GGT Footing Ring Two included:
1.15m Jumpers: Sky’s The Limit, Kristen Bumpus, Elsa Kania

$1,000 1.20m Jumpers: Trubbels, Tonya Henning, Juan Bancalari

$2,500 1.30m Jumpers: Estepona B, Kevin Babington, Kindle Hill Affiliates

$900 Fox Grove Studio Child/Adult Farwell Class: City Life, Wendy Wood, Wendy Wood

Winners in the Wentworth Country Club by the Sea Ring Three were:

.80m Jumper: Flying Dutchman, Charles Jacobs, CMJ Sporthorse, LLC

.90m Jumpers: Armani Code, Taylor Phoenix, Taylor Phoenix

1.00m Jumpers: Iceman, Dagny Mactaggart,  Dagny Mactaggart

1.10m Jumpers: Carson, Lucy Huber, Lucy Huber

Circuit championships were also awarded on Saturday. Ribbons and prizes were awarded to those who had the most points in the Fieldstone Triple Crown, the three “AA” shows at Fieldstone Equestrian and Show Facility, as well as the Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic. The winners are as follows:

Masters Jumpers:
Champion: Eurostar and Jeff Papows
Reserve Champion (tie): Clapton and Dennis Sisco/Mr. Nightime and Donald Little

Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers: Champion: Waterloo S and Katherine Strauss
Reserve Champion: Chellando Z and Katherine Strauss

High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers:
Champion: Sandro and Katie Dinan
Reserve Champion: Capitano and Danielle Torano

The $15,000 Equine Insurance Services Speed Stake presented by Great American Insurance Group was the opening class on Sunday. There were 38 entries in the class, and the course offered different obstacles like the liverpool and small part of the Dover Saddlery Derby Bank. The early leader in the class was McLain Ward on Domino, owned by Blue Chip Bloodstock. Their tidy trip around the course posted a clear round and time of 81.339 seconds. That would hold up for second place in the class.

Third place went to Nicholas Dello Joio on Navarre D’olueis, owned by J Adalberto Roig. Although they had four faults, those were converted into seconds added onto their quick time. They had stopped the timers in 81.671, but they finished with a time of 85.671 for third.

While some had quick trips and others were clear, none were close to catching Ward’s time until the final competitor in the ring. Farrington and Samar were fresh off their win in yesterday’s speed derby. Farrington was neat through the first three fences, but when he had a rail at fence four, he “kicked into another gear” to finish the course. They stopped the timers in a blistering time of 77.124 seconds, and with four faults added, their time of 81.124 seconds was just enough for the win.

The Fidelity Investments® Jumper Classic® presented by Porsche, now in its 22nd year, annually attracts some of the nation’s most elite equestrian athletes as well as international competitors.  The show offers five days of competition and culminates in the premier event, the $75,000 Fidelity Investments® Grand Prix, held on one of the top grass grand prix fields on the east coast. For more information on the Fidelity Investments® Jumper Classic® presented by Porsche, please visit www.jumperclassic.com.

Fidelity Investments® is one of the world’s largest providers of financial services, with assets under administration of $3.3 trillion, including managed assets of nearly $1.5 trillion, as of July 31, 2010. Founded in 1946, the firm is a leading provider of investment management, retirement planning, portfolio guidance, brokerage, benefits outsourcing and many other financial products and services to more than 20 million individuals and institutions, as well as through 5,000 financial intermediary firms. For more information about Fidelity Investments®, visit www.fidelity.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: Kendra Cecieta, Director of Media Relations, media@jumperclassic.com 

EDITORAL CONTACT: Pamela Mansfield, Editor In Chief, pmansfield@jumperclassic.com

WEBSITE: www.jumperclassic.com, Press Releases and Photos are available for download.