Jason McArdle And Elicole Race To The Win In $25,000 Markel Insurance Grand Prix
Jason McArdle aboard Elicole
September 15, 2019 – San Juan Capistrano, CA – Eighteen horse/rider combinations took to the field on Saturday afternoon to contest the second to last qualifying event in the $25,000 Markel Insurance 1.45m Jumper Series. Following a six-horse jump off, Jason McArdle emerged victorious abroad Elicole, owned by Fairbanks Valley Farm, LLC. Savannah Jenkins and Rahmannshof’s Bamiro, owned by Georgy Maskrey-Segesman finished close behind to take second place honors.
FEI 3* course designer Marina Azevedo (BRA) constructed a technical track on the Oaks International Grand Prix Field at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park at San Juan Capistrano. Azevedo’s 16-effort course was set with a very tight time, allowing riders only 80 seconds to cross the wire, fault free. After the first three riders were unable to navigate the course without a penalty, the time allowed was adjusted to 84 seconds. That modification gave the second rider of the day, Lisa McCluskey and Cavalos, a ticket to the jump-off round after they earlier posted a time of 83.819 seconds without incurring any jumping faults.
Jason McArdle aboard Elicole, Bob and Pam Buie of Fairbanks Valley Farm, LLC, Lauren Dendiu and Melissa Brandes and Robert Ridland of Blenheim EquiSports
Lane Clarke followed with the second clear round of the day, piloting Frodosi. In fact, Clarke rode clean on both of his Lighthouse Farms mounts, repeating on VF Epic Air. The three other fault-free rides in the opening round were turned in by Jamie Sailor and Cucky 3, Savannah Jenkins and Rahmannshof’s Bamiro and Jason McArdle with Elicole.
In round two, none of the first four riders managed their way to the finish line without a fault. With just two to go, Savannah Jenkins posted the first double clear, crossing the wire in 40.443 seconds. That left the final rider of the day, Jason McArdle, with a small window to steal the win. Showcasing Elicole’s quickness on the flat, McArdle edged out Jenkins by a fraction of a second, stopping the clock at 39.868 for the victory.
Savannah Jenkins and Rahmannshof’s Bamiro
“I’m ecstatic! Over the last four months, Eli has been knocking on the door. Today, in the schooling ring, I could just tell she was on her game”, said McArdle after the win. “The jump-off shaped up in my favor. I saw Savannah do an inside turn from one to two; I did not. However, I was quicker everywhere else and it worked out.”
The winning pair was also awarded the South Pacific Perpetual Trophy. Created by Joan Irvine Smith of The Oaks, the award is named in memory of her champion stallion of the North American Holsteiner Breeding Program, South Pacific.
Riders who made it through to the jump-off were also racing to claim the SmartPak Fastest horse award of a $500 SmartPak Gift Certificate & Neck Ribbon. That prize went to Jamie Sailor aboard Cucky 3, owned by Christine Trstensky. After the pair clipped the first fence, they turned on the after-burners and managed to negotiate the second round faster than anyone else with a quick 35.718 seconds, placing third overall.
Jamie Sailor and Cucky 3 with Melissa Brandes of Blenheim EquiSports
Earlier in the day, the $20,000 Blenheim EquiSports U25 Championship Classic wrapped up the season-long series for the younger riders. Once again it was Savannah Jenkins lighting up the scoreboard with her horse Quintana 11 owned by Georgy Maskrey-Segesman. The pair emerged on top following a three-horse jump-off with all double-clears. In the end, it was Jenkins’ 30.464 seconds edging out Emma Catherine Reichow and the horse she owns named Forever Alve. Hayden Zade aboard Triskel Del Kerliven finished third.
Savannah Jenkins on Quitana 11 with Ionut Capito, owner Georgy Maskrey-Segesman and Melissa Brandes of Blenheim EquiSports
Next Saturday marks the final qualifying event of the Markel Insurance 1.45m Jumper Series before the Final that will be held during The Las Vegas National, November 11 – 17, 2019. The top 25 riders from the 2019 Series Qualifiers will be eligible for the Final, with a purse of more that $41,000 and still growing.
Catch more exciting show jumping action beginning Wednesday September 18 during the Blenheim International Jumping Festival featuring USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Final, West, EMO Insurance/USHJA Jumping Seat Medal Final, West, USHJA Green Hunter 3’, 3’3”, 3’6”, & 3’9” Incentive SW Regional Championships, NAL West Coast Finals, Show Jumping Hall of Fame JR/AO Jumper Final, West and much more!
RESULTS
$25,000 Markel Insurance 1.45M Grand Prix
Place – Entry Number – Horse – Rider – Owner – Faults/Time
1. 416 Elicole – Jason Mc Ardle – Fairbanks Valley Farms LLC – 0/0/39.868
2. 651 Rahmannshof’s Bamiro – Savannah Jenkins – Georgy Maskrey Segesman – 0/0/40.443
3. 560 Cucky 3 – Jamie Sailor – Christine Trstensky – 0/0/35.718
4. 346 Frodosi – Lane Clarke – Lighthouse Farm LLC – 0/4/37.61
5. 553 Cavalos – Lisa Mc Cluskey – Lisa Mc Cluskey – 0/4/46.177
6. 347 VF Epic Air – Lane Clarke – Lighthouse Farms LLC – 0/14/53.854
7. 627 Adele XII – Bruno Diniz Das Neves – BDN Horse Investments – 4/76.779
8. 201 Duc De Rohan – Michelle Kerivan – Michelle Kerivan – 4/81.49
9. 622 For His Glory Se – Hillary Ridland – Rose Sullivan – 4/82.165
10. 711 – Seven Seas – John Pearce – Karen Coyne – 4/83.677
11. 271 – NKH Quanto – John Bragg – Caruso & Bragg – 4/83.834
12. 710 – Chantico – John Pearce – Karen Ball – 8/79.689
RESULTS
$20,000 BLENHEIM EQUISPORTS U25 CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIC
Place – Entry Number – Horse – Rider – Owner – Faults/Time
1. 650 – Quitana 11 – Savannah Jenkins – Georgy Maskrey-Segesman – 0/0/30.464
2. 146 – Forever Alve – Emma Catherine Reichow – Emma Catherine Reichow – 0/0/31.27
3. 446 – Triskel De Kerliven – Hayden Zadel – HHZ, LLC – 0/0/32.781
4. 647 – Belladonna 42 – Savannah Jenkins – Georgy Maskrey-Segesman – 4/71.037
5. 491 – Clinton – Jonas Vervoort – Alexis Sokolov – 4/73.317
6. 659 – Clint Eastwood 10 – Anna Ishiyama – Anna Ishiyama – 5/75.973
7. 314 – Quadrigus – Gabriela Pattinson – Susanne Coleman – 12/73.323
8. 473 – Chappie – Derek Chang – Andrew Chang – 14/85/09
9. 239 – Centurion – Sloan Elmassian – Sloan Elmassian – 20/73.252
10. 312 – Dexceminka – Danielle Lean – Danielle Lean – 24/72.913
11. 145 – Cubiki – Emma Catherine Reichow – Emma Catherine Reichow – 37/100.075
Photos provided by: McCool Photography
Thank You To Our Generous Sponsors & Partners
Markel Insurance Company is proud to once again partner with Blenheim EquiSports for another season of fun in the sun.
Representative Brandon Seger will be on the show grounds to answer any questions related to your equine insurance needs. At the show and in the barns, Markel is the Insurance Company with Horse Sense. With offices across the US, Markel is your national insurance provider covering equine risks for over 50 years.
Thank you for your support – contact Brandon to get a horse, farm or liability insurance quote today: [email protected] 213-219-7837
Markel/Lisa Seger Insurance Field Agent Josh Mullins is also available to answer any questions related to your equine insurance needs.
Contact Josh at: [email protected]
949-212-2970
Blenheim EquiSports, an equestrian event management company based in San Juan Capistrano, CA, produces events in three locations: San Juan Capistrano, Del Mar and Las Vegas, NV. The events include 19 USEF “Premier” rated hunter-jumper shows featuring five FEI CSI events, including a Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League event; the Markel Insurance 1.45m Jumper Series & Final, Developing Jumper Qualifiers & Championships, USHJA International & National Hunter Derbies, Pony Derby Finals, the Whitethorne Equitation Challenge, Medal Finals and more.