Georgina Bloomberg Completes Sweep with Ambassador Cup Win - Kappler Takes 2nd Qualifier at the Washington International Horse Show

PHOTO CREDIT: Chris Kappler and VDL Oranta Win $25,000 President's Cup Qualifier at the Washington International Horse Show. Photo by Al Cook Productions.

Washington, D.C. - October 28, 2005 - Georgina Bloomberg of New York City completed a clean sweep of the Amateur Owner Jumper Division with a win in the Ambassador's Cup Jumper Classic on Friday at the 2005 Washington International Horse Show. The show, the nation's premier indoor equestrian showcase, runs through Sunday at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C.

Seventeen starters went to the post in the grand finale for the Amateur Owner Jumper division, the $10,000 Ambassador's Cup. The scoring was Table II, Sec 2a. Time First Jump-off. The courses at Washington are being designed by Steve Stephens of Palmetto, Florida.

Of the seventeen starters, six produced first round clear efforts to advance to the tiebreaker against the clock.

Tracy Weinberg and Cromwell were the first to return for the speed round. The duo laid down a beautifully efficient jump-off ride, leaving all of the fences standing and clocking in at 36.794 seconds.

Second to go, Salsa and Gabby Slome, picked up ten faults and a finish time of 42.194 seconds. They were followed by Olaf and Jessica Miltz. Although Miltz was clear, she could not catch Weinberg's time and slipped into second place at 39.445 seconds.

Georgina Bloomberg once again qualified both of her mounts for the jump-off. Action was the first of her two to return. Bloomberg picked a feverish pace and finished up her jump-off ride with an amazing right hand cut following the double combination to the final fence in the tiebreaker. Action and Bloomberg flashed across the finish line in 31.832 seconds, a whopping 4.96 seconds faster than Weinberg.

Then Danielle Torano, last year's Amateur Owner Leading Rider, and Lojana picked up a rail and a refusal for eight faults and finished in 40.647 seconds.

When Cayce Harrison had an unintended dismount from her horse Quickstar II Z, it was all over. Bloomberg returned on her second mount, Lumina 2, and cruised home comfortably in third place with a time of 38.737 seconds.

Lumina 2, with wins in the first two classes and a third place finish in the Ambassador's Cup, was named the Amateur Owner Jumper Champion. Bloomberg won the Leading Amateur Owner Jumper Rider title as well. She had garnered the same honors last week at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg with Action.

"It's always great to mix it up a little bit and not always shine on one horse," Bloomberg said. "I think anyone with more than one horse hopes they can do well on both. Action has always been there for me and it was a great win today, but it meant a lot to me for Lumina to be Champion at Washington."

Bloomberg spoke of that eye popping cut to the final fence. "That's Action's specialty. That's a huge advantage that I have with a horse like him," she explained. "Outside I lose that, because I don't have that much stride across the ground. That's why I love to come indoors with these horses, because I can win with turns like that. You can beat the big strided horse with the tight turns. You have to know your horse to do that," she admitted. "I've had Action six years and I know exactly what he can do."

The Championship at Washington is very special for the Gotham girl. "I've been coming to Washington since I showed my small ponies and was Grand Champion here with Kid You Not, my large pony. I remember back then they told me that my pony was never going to make it. He wasn't good enough. I wasn't good enough," said Bloomberg. "I worked my butt off for four years and he was finally Grand Champion. So with those kind of memories, Washington is very, very special to me. I feel like Washington is kind of my place to shine really," she said.

Bloomberg, whose international career is on the fast track, said that it will not be long before she moves beyond the Amateur Owner Jumpers. "I love the Amateur Owner Jumpers, but I feel that every show I do, I'm getting closer to the last time I'll be doing this division," she said. "I want to enjoy what's left of my time doing them, and I still do get a thrill every time I walk in the ring, but I'm going to be moving on pretty soon."

Results of Class 208 $10,000 Amateur Owner Jumper TII 2a - 2005 Washington International Horse Show - October 25-30, 2005

2 -259 Tracey Weinberg -CROMWELL -0.00 /36.794

3 -103 Georgina Bloomberg -LUMINA 2 -0.00 /38.737

4 -205 Jessica Miltz -OLAF -4.00 /39.445

5 -422 Danielle L. Torano -LOJANA -8.00 /40.647

6 -523 Gabby Slome -SALSA -10.00 /42.194

7 -154 Cayce Harrison -QUICKSTAR II Z -0.00/elim.

8 -63 Laura Linback -MOHAWK DU CLAIR DE LUNE -4.00 -58.103

9 -69 Joy Slater -SHINDIG - 4.00- 58.262

10 -155 Cayce Harrison- REGGAE -4.00-58.597

11 - 289 Paige Johnson -REDDY TEDDY -4.00-60.083

12 - 522 Michelle Spadone -R MABLE KZ -4.00 -60.519

Henry Pfeiffer and Elton Tops in Junior Jumpers Time First Jump-Off

Twenty-two starters lined up for the early afternoon Junior Jumper competition at the Washington International Horse Show on Friday at the MCI Center.

Scoring was Table II, Sec 2a, Time First Jump-Off. Only three of the starting field advanced to the second round tiebreaker.

In the jump-off, Henry Pfeiffer and Elton were the first duo to return and they survived for top honors. The pair toured the speed course with four faults, tripping the timers in 31.705 for the win. Hemmingway and Whitney Linders also had a rail, but their slower time of 34.151 dropped them to second place. Hillary Dobbs and VDL Lotus Excel were eliminated.

"I came in wanting to win like everybody else," said Pfeiffer. "I had to go first in the tiebreaker, so I had to go clean and decently fast. I needed to get him back a little to the jump I had down, but once I had that knockdown, I pretty much went for it the rest of the way. And it held up," he said with a smile. "I really didn't know about Hillary Dobbs but I show against Whitney Linders all year. She's always tough, so I really wasn't sure if my four faults would stand up."

The Junior Jumpers finish on Saturday with the crowning of the coveted Junior Jumper Championship, this following the $10,000 Senator's Cup Junior Jumper Stake.

Official Results of Class 201 $2,500 Junior Jumper TII, 2a -2005 Washington International Horse Show -October 25-30 2005 1 546 -Henry Pfeiffer -ELTON -4.00/31.705

2 719 -Whitney Linders -HEMMINGWAY -4.00/34.151

3 702 -Hillary Dobbs -VDL LOTUS EXCEL -0.00 /elim.

4 671 -Taryn Nolte -LANCE - 4.00- 55.757

5 687 -Hannah Selleck -CIRKA Z -4.00-57.908

6 168 -Blythe Marano -RIVER -4.00 -58.596

7 456 -Maggie McAlary -PEDRO -4.00-58.635

8 207 -Jessica Speiser -CALINO DE LEZEAUX -4.00 -59.054

Chris Kappler and VDL Oranta Gallop to Victory in $25,000 International-Open President's Cup Qualifier

Twenty seven starters arrived for the final afternoon feature on Friday and a final chance to qualify for the $100,000 President's Cup, sponsored by Salamander Hospitality, LLC. It is the highlight of this year's jumper division and one of the nation's most prestigious show jumping titles.

The $25,000 International-Open Jumpers President's Cup Qualifier was sponsored by the Split Rock Farm and the Braun Family and was scored under FEI Table A, Art. 2382.2. Time first Jump-Off.

Seven of the starting field advanced to round two to face the clock.

Chris Kappler and his new mount VDL Oranta emerged victorious, producing a fault free round over the speed course and tripping the finish timers in 34.31 seconds.

Cayce Harrison and Coeur finished second, 1.09 seconds off the pace, clocking in at 35.40 seconds. Philippe Rozier of France riding Senna picked up the third place award with a clean go and a time of 34.25 seconds.

Official Results of Class 211 -$25,000 International-Open Jumper Art 238.2.2 -2005 Washington International Horse Show -October 25-30, 2005

2 156 -Cayce Harrison -USA -COEUR 0.00 35.40

3 700 -Philippe Rozier-FRA -SENNA 4.00 34.25

4 619 -Eliza Shuford - USA -LARENTINO 4.00 34.95

5 704 -Jimmy Torano -USA -GALANT DE SEMILLY 4.00 35.70

6 287 -Paige Johnson - USA -KADENA R 8.00 34.19

7 483 -Leslie Howard -USA -ROLLING THUNDER 12.00 32.17

8 721 -Aaron Vale -USA -SEA CLOUD ret.

9 395 -Kelley Small -CAN -CALIBUR 1.00-61.13

10 424 -Danielle L. Torano -USA -GIBSON 1.00- 62.66

11 382 -Molly Ashe - USA -NEUVILLE 4.00 -54.12

12 138 -Michael Walton -USA -ELU DE LA HARDIERE 4.00-55.59

For complete results for all classes at the 2005 Washington International Horse Show please go to: www.ryegate.com