It's Two in a Row for Steven Weiss and Sil in $3,000 NAL Open Jumper Speed at Horse Shows by the Bay

Traverse City, MI - Competition continued this morning in the Team Elmer's Grand Prix ring, and the highlight class was the $3,000 NAL Open Jumper Speed. For the second week in a row at Horse Shows by the Bay, Steven Weiss took the blue ribbon with Sil, owned by Laura Connolly of Rye, NY. Close behind in second was David Beisel with Irish Hunt, while Weiss finished third on VDL Nuit de Pomme.

Today's course was designed by Michel Vaillancourt of Canada and featured good turns with two combinations. There were three clear rounds in the class and an elimination. Weiss commented, "It was a nice introduction for the week and for Sunday. I've seen (Michel's) work before, and it was a nice course. It's a really beautiful ring. It's similar to Kentucky for us."

The early leader in the class was Irish Hunt, ridden by David Beisel, who blazed around the track in 61.650 seconds and with the first clear round. Five trips later, it was Weiss and Sil who brought the winning time down to 60.884 seconds. Weiss would wrap up the class on VDL Nuit de Pomme, who was the only other clear round in 70.831 seconds.

Weiss gets the ride on Sil and VDL Nuit de Pomme when amateur-owner rider Connolly is unable to show, and Sil has been in Weiss' program for two years. He explained, "Whenever she can come, she'll show him. He can do most grand prix - not the biggest grand prix in the world, but most grand prix. Whenever I get a chance to do this, he's smart enough and experienced enough to do this with me."

The 10-year-old Warmblood won last week's NAL Open Speed class as well, and Weiss noted that Sil is "fast" and that today's class was "great preparation for the grand prix on Sunday."

He added, "By going a little bit fast in this class, (it) makes him braver for the grand prix."

Competition at Horse Shows by the Bay continues tomorrow with the $10,000 Welcome Prix, sponsored by AmberWay Equine Solutions of Ortonville, MI. The big class of the week is the $25,000 Grand Traverse Bay Grand Prix. Festivities kick-off at 2 p.m. on Sunday with a leadline class and exhibition.

For more information on Horse Shows by the Bay and full results, please visit www.horsesportsbythebay.com.

Final Results: $3,000 NAL Open Jumper Speed
1. Sil, Laura Connolly, Steven Weiss:0/60.884
2. Irish Hunt, Carlie Beisel, David Beisel: 0/61.650
3. VDL Nuit de Pomme, Laura Connolly, Steven Weiss: 0/70.831
4. Ulrike, Heritage Farm, Patricia Griffith: 4/64.523
5. Rocky W, Krestwood LLC, Kaitlin Campbell: 4/64.690
6. Victor III, Spy Coast Farm, Shane Sweetnam: 4/65.134
7. Sienna, Spy Coast Farm, Shane Sweetnam: 8/63.051
8. Keops Rouge, Deborah Connor, Ehrin Braeutigam: 8/76.499

Photo Credit: Sil and Steven Weiss won the $3,000 NAL Open Speed class for the second week at Horse Shows by the Bay. Photo (C) 2008 Jennifer Wood/PMG.