David Beisel Is Triumphant in $1,000 Level 6 Jumpers on First Day of Horse Shows by the Bay Competition

Traverse City, MI - Today marked the first day of three weeks of competition in Traverse City, MI at Horse Shows by the Bay, which runs through August 3. Horses and riders showed up holding nothing back. If today was any indication on how the show will progress over the next three weeks, everyone is in for a thrilling competition.

The Jumpers started today, and the $1,000 Level 6 Jumper class was full of excitement. The class was run as a Table II Sec 2(b); get through the first round with no faults and you complete the jump-off right away.

The winner of the class was David Beisel and horse Irish Hunt, owned by Carlie Beisel of Greenwood, MO. David Beisel resides in Cincinnati, OH. Irish Hunt was only one of many that David rode in the class, but it was the one who came out on top.

"My plan today was to get Irish in the ring and get the kicks out. It has been three weeks since I have showed him," said Beisel. "I wanted to let him get the friskiness out before the NAL Speed class tomorrow and the Welcome Prix on Friday."

The course, designed by Chris Brandt of Ontario, Canada, was challenging but exciting for many riders, with only eight making it to the jump-off. Many tight turns and several two-stride lines were difficult to judge with the openness of the ring, but riders still seemed to like it.

"The course rides great, so both myself and Irish had fun," commented Beisel. "The horse is twelve-years-old. I bought him from Dennis Murphy about three years ago and he had just started doing the upper level stuff when I got him." 

$1,000 Level 6 Jumpers Table II Sec 2(b)
1. Irish Hunt, Carlie Beisel, David Beisel
2. Sienna, Spy Coast Farm, Shane Sweetnam
3. Ulrike, Heritage Farm, Patricia Griffith
4. Tiger Lily, Laura King-Kaplan, Laura King-Kaplan
5. Audio-K, Wendy Arndt Hodges, Casey Hodges
6. Euro Mon Ami, Maggie McAlary, Maggie McAlary
7. Belvedere, Kimberly Seay, Kimberly Seay
8. Sailor, Tania Kulhman, Tania Kuhlman

Tomorrow Horse Shows by the Bay will continue with another wonderful day of showing. In the Team Elmer's Grand Prix ring, the class to watch is the $3,000 NAL Open Speed class. For more information and full results, please visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com.

Photo Credit: Shane Sweetnam on Sienna, second in the Level 6 Jumpers. Photo (C) 2008 Randi Muster Photography.