Victoria Birdsall and Jerremy Win $10,000 SJHOF High Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic at Horse Shows by the Bay I

Katie Dinan Rides to Victory in the $2,500 Low Junior/Adult-Amateur Jumper Classic

Traverse City, MI - Today's feature class in the Team Elmer's Grand Prix ring at the first week of the 2008 Horse Shows by the Bay was the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame (SJHOF) High Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic. The class was sponsored by the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa of Traverse City. The fastest in the jump-off for the win was 15-year-old Victoria Birdsall of Topsfield, MA, on Jerremy. In the $2,500 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, sponsored by Kim Carey of Huntington Ridge Farm, Katie Dinan and Mobile 4 beat out six others for victory.

Horse Shows by the Bay also hosted Kid's Day this afternoon, with fun activities such as dog agility demonstrations, barn tours and meet-and-greets with horses entertained children and even adults all over the show grounds.

Today's course was designed by Eve Friske of Canada. There were 20 entries in the class, but only two could find the path to a clear round. Addison Phillips and Teirra had no jumping faults, but just missed the time allowed for one fault in 78.090 seconds. The course featured a double combination with the fantastic "Mackinaw Island Bridge," which caused many faults in the class, and there was a triple combination as well.

The first clear and the first in the jump-off was Birdsall on Jerremy, a horse she has only ridden since the beginning of the year. The pair has won classics before and are in the SJHOF standings in the junior division. Birdsall and Jerremy, a very experienced and fast horse, galloped quickly around the jump-off, slowed for the double combination, and crossed the finish timers with no faults in a time of 34.130 seconds.

The only other competitor in the jump-off was Francesca Senior on Lenardo. They too were very quick in the turns and had no faults, but finished just off Birdsall's pace in 34.243 seconds for second place.

Birdsall was happy with her win today and added another top finish to the year's accomplishments. Birdsall and Jerremy won a classic in Chicago last month and finished second in Fairfield, CT, after that. Jerremy had a two week break heading into this week's competition.

Since she has been riding Jerremy, Birdsall said she has learned how to go faster in jump-offs. "He's given me a lot of confidence with going for it and hunting to jumps. Usually I'll just pick a little bit and go slower. He gives me confidence to go for the win," she noted.

Although there were only two in the jump-off, Birdsall had an idea of what to do for that blue ribbon. "My plan was just to go fast as fast I could because you never know what the other riders are going to do," she explained. "If you have a rail, keep going because if they have a rail they could be slower. I just wanted to keep going."

Kim Carey of Huntington Ridge Farm generously sponsored the $2,500 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, which took place in the Team Elmer's Grand Prix ring earlier in the day.

Winning the class was young and talented Katie Dinan, who just turned 15-years-old. Residing in New York, NY, she rides with trainer Steve Weiss. Dinan had two horses in the class and won on her bay mare Mobile 4.

"I have had Mobile 4, 'Moby,' for a year and a half. I've been doing the Junior Jumpers since I have had her. My horse was great, I am really, really happy with her," said Dinan. "She could not have been any better so I was pleased." 

Close to 30 riders tackled the challenging first round. Run off of table II 2.2a, only seven riders who went clear with no time faults came back for the jump-off.

This was not Dinan's first time at the show. She competed here last year, but with the new Team Elmer's Grand Prix ring to ride in, she was excited to be back at Horse Shows by the Bay.

"I really like the new ring. I came to this horse show last year and I like it, but I think the new ring is extremely nice and fun to ride in so I was very excited to compete in it. I think the show is very pretty; I like all the jumps, the courses, and the rings are super big and nice to ride in," commented Dinan.

The highlight class of the week is tomorrow afternoon in the Team Elmer's Ring at Horse Shows by the Bay. The $25,000 Spy Coast Farm Grand Prix of Traverse City, which will start at 2:30 p.m. following the leadline class and a reining demonstration. To find out more, please visit www.horsesportsbythebay.com.

Final Results: $10,000 SJHOF High Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic, sponsored by Grand Traverse Resort and Spa
Horse, Owner, Rider, Faults, Time
1. Jerremy, Natalie Johnson, Victoria Birdsall: 0/0/34.130
2. Lenardo, Francesca Senior, Francesca Senior: 0/0/34.243
3. Teirra, Addison Phillips, Addison Phillips: 1/78.090
4. Sintra, Jessica Miltz, Jessica Miltz: 4/75.046
5. Quendo, North Face Farm, Erin Haas: 4/75.543
6. Logan, Katie Dinan LLC, Katie Dinan: 4/76.168
7. Thorastin, Fox Meadow Farm, Laura Pfeiffer: 4/76.796
8. Rocky W, Krestwood LLC, Kaitlin Campbell: 4/77.203
9. Sapphira Ward, Sarah Tait, Sarah Tait: 5/78.895
10. Liberty Lady, Barbara Kelly, Christina Kelly: 6/79.319

$2,500 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, sponsored by Kim Carey of Huntington Ridge Farm
1. Mobile 4, Katie Dinan LLC, Katie Dinan, 0/0/35.303
2. Chellapo Z, Mrs Wm Able Smith, Katherine Newman, 0/0/36.015
3. Lascar VI, SHF Enterprises, Inc, Sparky Frost, 0/0/41.653
4. Loralinde, Emily Reynolds, Emily Reynolds, 0/4/35.202
5. Like Money, Jamee Crawford, Jamee Crawford, 0/4/38.774
6. Gemini De Terlong, Robert Cole, Katherine Newman, 0/4/39.995
7. All of A Sudden, North Face Farm, Erin Haas, 0/8/35.830
8. CR Erin Go Bragh, Lanes End, Ande Farish, 2/77.401
9. Garleen P., Greer Hindle, Greer Hindle, 4/69.371

Photo Credit: Jerremy and Victoria Birdsall with J. Michael deAgostino, public relations manager for Grand Traverse Resort and Spa and Carol Voss at the $10,000 SJHOF High Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic at the first week of Horse Shows by the Bay. Photo (C) 2008 Jennifer Wood/PMG.