Articles: Press Release
Chantal and Wilhelm Genn Capture $10,000 THIS
Open Welcome Stake Win at Showplace Spring Spectacular
Wilhelm Genn and Chantal won the $10,000 THIS Open Welcome Stake at the
Showplace Spring Spectacular. Photos © Jennifer Wood/PMG.
Contact:
Jennifer Wood of
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
at (561) 753-3389 or at pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
Wayne, IL - June 4, 2009 - Starting out the first week right today in the
$10,000 Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) Open Welcome Stake was
Wilhelm Genn of Lebanon, OH. Genn and his 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding
Chantal raced to the win in the class over 41 other competitors. Kate Reuter
of Oconomowoc, WI, with On Line was second, while Theo Genn rode Ariado to
third place.
A strong field came out for the first big Open Jumper class at the Showplace
Spring Spectacular. The two week horse show runs through Sunday, June 14, at
the Lamplight Equestrian Center. In today's $10,000 THIS Open Welcome Stake,
10 were clear in the first round to advance to the jump-off. Of those 10,
five were double clear, keeping all of the jumps up to score a top ribbon.
The course designer for this week is Dave Ballard of Canada. He set up a
first round course of 14 numbered obstacles, and competitors were allowed to
complete their jump-off course right away or wait until the end of the
class. All but one of the 10 clear rounds chose to ride their jump-off right
away.
The early leader in the class was Morgan Kennedy on Zaboomerang. They were
the first double clear and crossed the finish line in 35.433 seconds and
would end up in fourth place. Genn and his first horse, Happy Z, had the
fastest time of the day in 32.215 seconds, but they had a rail at fence 15b
for four faults. They would eventually settle for sixth place.
The lead changed hands when Wilhelm Genn's son Theo entered the ring on
Ariado, owned by Misty Lane Hayre. They brought the winning time down to
34.905 seconds. Reuter and On Line made the lead change hands five trips
later when they finished clear in 33.312 seconds.
It would be the very last horse in the ring who would take home the top
prize today. Genn and Chantal (below), owned by Laura Ryan-Barnaclo, were
quick and efficient through the turns. They took the lead in the class when
they posted a time of 32.529 seconds.
Chantal and Wilhelm Genn
Genn was pleased with his win today on Chantal, and he said that today's
warmer, sunny weather suited the big bay horse. "He feels great; I feel very
confident about him. I was talking about it last week that Happy normally
wins the most. Happy doesn't like the warm weather. She gets short of
breath. She's unbelievable in the winter (though). Now she gets a rail here
and there. She's not quite the same," he explained, "while Chantal is
awesome in the summer. Last year he won both grand prix in August. He likes
it; it mellows him out just a bit. He's just a little calmer, and I can ride
him a little bit more up to the jumps."
Chantal and Genn have won 20 grand prix events together, including last
week's $25,000 grand prix at Ledges Sporting Horses.
Genn felt that today's course worked out very well for the class. He noted,
"I thought it was a great course. My compliments to the course designer
because without making it big, he made it difficult enough that out of 44
horses there were only five double clean."
The course worked well for Genn, although he did not plan to go as fast as
possible in today's class. "Usually I don't go all out in the Welcome. I use
it as a warm-up for the grand prix," he said. "Obviously, it's nice to get a
good check in this, but I wouldn't go as fast as I would in the grand
prix. I would settle for fourth or fifth to do the right thing and have the
horse ready for the grand prix."
Genn will be one of many top competitors in this Saturday's $30,000
Showplace Productions Grand Prix, which will start at 3:30 p.m.
Earlier in the day in the Grand Prix Ring, the Young Jumper Championships
had their classes. The winner of the Five Year Old division was Eclipse B,
ridden by Lisa Goldman. Goldman also swept to the win in the Six Year Old
division on D'Or V'Dor B, a full brother to Eclipse B. Tommy Fiegel and
Bling It On Won the Seven & Eight Year Old division.
Eclipse B and Lisa Goldman D'Or V'Dor B and Lisa Goldman
Bling It On and Tommy Fiegel
Tomorrow's jumper schedule includes classes for High and Low Junior/Amateur
Jumpers, the $1,500 WIHS Classics for Children's and Adult Jumpers, and the
$500 NAL Pony Jumper Classic.
The USHJA Zone V Horsemanship Clinic will also be held tomorrow
afternoon. The clinic will feature content from Hunter Seat Equitation by
George H. Morris and The United States Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship by
Susan E. Harris. The informative clinic is the first of a series that will
be held throughout the season. Juniors, pony riders, amateurs, and
professionals are welcome to attend tomorrow under the food pavilion at the
conclusion of competition in the Grand Prix Ring.
For further information on Showplace Productions and the Showplace Spring
Spectacular, please visit www.showplaceproductions.com.
Final Results: $10,000 THIS Open Jumper Welcome Stake
1. Chantal, Wilhelm Genn, Laura Ryan-Barnaclo: 0/0/32.529
2. On Line, Kate Reuter, Kate Reuter: 0/0/33.312
3. Ariado, Theo Genn, Misty Lane Hayre: 0/0/34.905
4. Zaboomerang, Morgan Kennedy, Morgan Kennedy: 0/0/35.433
5. Topliner, David Dorner, Nora McDonald: 0/0/36.077
6. Happy Z, Wilhelm Genn, Wilhelm and Patty Genn: 0/4/32.215
7. Fontaine, Lisa Goldman, Lisa Goldman: 0/4/33.462
8. Sansierra, Lauren Tisbo, Tequestrian Farms: 0/4/35.198
9. Thomas Edison, Maggie Jayne, Alex Jayne and Ira Schulman: 0/4/36.108
10. 747, Chuck Waters, Chuck Waters: 0/4/38.318
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