John Pearce and Chantico are Invincible in $25,000 Markel Insurance Grand Prix
John Pearce flying to the win on Chantico
June 23, 2019 – San Juan Capistrano, CA – John Pearce and Chantico, owned by Karen Ball of Trabuco Canyon, set the stage and never looked back in this weekend’s $25,000 Markel Insurance Grand Prix, presented by The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel at the Blenheim June Classic III.
It was an exciting afternoon of world-class show jumping and first-class hospitality at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park at San Juan Capistrano as twenty-four horse/rider combinations battled for their place on the podium.
Course designer Oscar Soberon, of Dallas, TX, engineered a challenging 1.45m track on the Oaks International Grand Prix field that included several large bending lines that made use of the entire arena. Tight combinations, including a triple, placed at the far end of the ring followed by a solid square oxer to finish, tested the athleticism and endurance of each horse.
John Pearce aboard Chantico with Don Faison and Brandon Seger of Markel Insurance, Lisa Seger and Josh Mullins of LSI Insurance, Monique Geske and Carrie Borg from The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel and Melissa Brandes of Blenheim EquiSports
Time also proved to be a factor with only half of the field managing to navigate the fifteen jumping efforts within the time allowed of 88 seconds. Pearce and Chantico were first on course and set the bar high with a clear round in 84.605 seconds. However, it wasn’t until the thirteenth rider, Nicole Haunert aboard Calgary IV, owned by Cherokee Show Horses, Inc., that there was a second clear round.
With only five pairs remaining, Judy Nielson and Costo Rico had the crowd on their feet and cheering as she raced over the final jump only to be followed by a collective groan as a single time fault registered on the scoreboard.
Nicole Haunert, second to last in the order and aboard her third mount of the day, Concule, once again managed to negotiate the course without pulling a rail, but her two time faults would eventually land her in fourth place.
Nicole Haunert and Calgary IV
Returning for the jump-off round, Pearce showcased his experience as a former Olympian for team Canada and veteran of two FEI World Equestrian Games as he sliced fences and took out strides, executing tight roll-backs and jumping clean in a lightning 46.292 seconds.
Haunert, a Markel Insurance Grand Prix winner earlier in the year, was now the only one standing between Pearce and the victory. Knowing she had to go clear and faster, she and Calgary IV gave it their best, however, she could not keep up with Pearce and Chantico, eventually crossing the timers in 49.703 seconds resulting in a second place finish.
John Pearce enjoys his victory ride with Chantico
“It was a little bit of a course of endurance” Pearce remarked during his post-win interview. “Chantico is a 14-year old Oldenburg that I’ve had for about five years. He just started being successful in the grand prix last fall with a lot of success this spring. He’s a very competitive horse with a lot of heart and he’s super athletic.”
WATCH! Post-win interview with John Pearce and see his winning ride in the jump-off (below)
This is the sixth of thirteen qualifying events in the Markel Insurance 1.45m Jumper Series to be held throughout the Blenheim EquiSports 2019 Horse Show Season, with the Final to be held during The Las Vegas National, November 11 – 17, 2019.
Competition continues next week with the Blenheim Red White and Blue Classic featuring the seventh $25,000 Markel 1.45m Grand Prix (and Independence Day Costume Pair Relay), the $7,500 Antares Sellier 1.35m Open Jumper Classic, Short Stirrup, Green Rider Low Children’s Adult Hunter Classics, and much more!
RESULTS
$25,000 Markel Insurance 1.45M Grand Prix
Place – Entry Number – Horse – Rider – Owner – Faults/Time
1. 530 – Chantico – John Pearce – Karen Ball – 0/0/46.294
2. 387 – Calgary IV – Nicole Haunert – Cherokee Show Horses Inc – 0/0/49.703
3. 639 – Costo Rico – Judy Nielson – Megan Bielinski – 1/88.542
4. 388 – Concolue – Nicole Haunert – Cherokee Show Horses Inc. – 2/89.978
5. 531 – Firestone – John Pearce – Janet Teague – 4/82.371
6. 658 – Dudallah – Jeffrey Fields – Halland Mckenna – 4/83.001
7. 644 – Cavalos – Lisa McCluskey – Lisa McCluskey – 4/86.378
8. 498 – Samba de Landelta Z – James Mcdonald – Diana Mcdonald – 4/86.928
9. 383 – Certain VD Begijnakker – Zume Gallaher – Blue Gate Stables, LLC – 4/87.87.311
10. 285 – Crack One – Emily Esau-Willams – Ixchel Mosley – 5/88.928
11. 398 – VF Epic Air – Lane Clarke – Lighthouse Farms – 7/90.019
12. 836 – Bella Donna – Savannah Jenkins – Georgy Maskrey-Segesman – 8/84.717
Photos 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
A SURFSIDE RETREAT STEEPED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LUXURY
Set atop a bluff overlooking the Pacific, The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel expresses modern luxury through a prism of relaxed coastal living. Here, you can savor regional cuisine while drinking in ocean views. You can answer the sea’s siren song by surfing or enjoying marine-inspired spa treatments. Your senses become sharper, the sun feels warmer, the days melt into perfect starry evenings. Enjoy the view from this Laguna Beach resort.
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.