Welcome!
• Home • FAQs
• Site Map
Weather
• Contacts
Free Service Appreciation
Choose Pondside Web Productions for your hosting and web design needs!

Beth Underhill Takes Top Two Spots in $10,000 Canterbury Farm Open Jumper Welcome Stake at Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular II

June 21, 2007

Wayne, IL --- The open jumpers had their first class of competition today during the second week of the Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular horse show, which runs through Sunday, June 24, 2007. The horse show is held at the beautiful Lamplight Equestrian Center.

Canada’s Beth Underhill and Rhiannon proved last is the best when they sped to the win in the $10,000 Canterbury Farm Open Jumper Welcome Stake. Underhill beat her leading time with Rhiannon and finished second with Magdaline. Chuck Waters and 747, the only other double clear round, were the third place finishers.

The courses in the main grand prix ring at the Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular II this week are designed by Hector Loyola of Puerto Rico. The course today was a Table II, Sec. 2a-b option, where riders could choose to return immediately for their jump-off or at the end of the class. There were ten numbered obstacles in the first round, and seven riders were clear to advance to the jump-off. All seven chose to complete their jump-off at the end of the first round.

The first in the jump-off was young Nick Novak on his own horse, Viva. Novak and Viva stretched into the one stride at fence 3a and caught a rail for four faults. He finished the course in 37.235 seconds. Underhill was next on her first mount, Magdaline. Magdaline was smooth and neat. Underhill made the inside turn options to finish clear in a time of 36.656 seconds to take the lead.

Laura Linback and Sampras, owned by Woodrun, were next to challenge. They had a very quick pace to begin with, but it came at a price when they had the last jump down. They had four faults and stopped the timers in 37.660 seconds. Robert Kraut and Happy Hill Farm’s Accordian were another pair to fall into the four fault trap, this time at fence 3a. They recorded a time of 36.416 seconds for fourth place.

With a rail at fence four and a time of 40.031 seconds, Allison Kroff and Nomograff would miss their chance at the win in today’s class. Chuck Waters, however, had an opportunity to beat Underhill when he went clean on 747. Waters’ time was not quite fast enough in 37.190 seconds.

Underhill was the last to return on Rhiannon, a horse owned by Beth Underhill Stables. Rhiannon kept a quick pace and was quite careful through the one stride at 3ab. She finished clean in 36.495 seconds to take the lead away from her stablemate, Magdaline.

Thirteen-year-old Magdaline has been in Underhill’s barn for seven years. Magdaline was the pacesetter for today’s class, but Underhill was not necessarily going for the fastest time. “She’ll jump in the grand prix on Saturday, so I wasn’t trying to go as fast as I could possibly go. I was trying to be smooth and efficient,” she explained. “It was fortunate for us that there were horses that were quick, but they just had an unlucky rail, so her time held up. I was happy to have two clean rounds with her.”

Underhill only had herself to beat when she entered the jump-off with Rhiannon. Underhill has owned eight-year-old Rhiannon for a year and a half, and she has just moved up the grand prix level. “My plan was to go smooth and try and be clean. It was one of those times where everything started working out off the pace,” she recounted. “I just kept on the lick, and it worked out. I certainly wasn’t trying to beat Magdaline’s time, but it was really exciting that she did. It was good mileage for her and a super horse show for her to learn at.”

This was Underhill’s first time showing at the Lamplight Equestrian Center. “I’ve always heard such great things about it. This year I really made an effort to make my schedule work so I could come. Everyone is so helpful and friendly. I’m going to tell my friends to come next year!” she said with a smile.

The Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular II continues tomorrow with jumper action in two rings. In the grand prix ring, highlights include the $1500 WIHS Children’s Jumper and Adult Jumper Classics, the $500 NAL Pony Jumper Classic, and the $5,000 Four Bar High Jump, sponsored by AliBoo Farm.

For full horse show results and more information, please visit www.showplaceproductions.com.

Final Results: $10,000 Canterbury Farm Open Jumper Welcome Stake
1. Rhiannon, Beth Underhill: 0/0/36.495
2. Magdaline, Beth Underhill: 0/0/36.656
3. 747, Chuck Waters: 0/0/37.190
4. Accordion, Robert Kraut: 0/4/36.416
5. Viva, Nick Novak: 0/4/37.235
6. Sampras, Laura Linback: 0/4/37.660
7. Nomograff, Allison Kroff: 0/4/40.031
8. On Line, Kate Reuter: 4

To June 2007 News Articles Index | To Canada Equine ...On-Line Home