Amateur Alec Lawler Wins $50,000 Tuff Rider/Equine Couture Grand Prix, at HITS Thermal
THERMAL, C.A. (January 27 2014) – After riding in a junior/amateur-owner high jumper classic earlier in the day, Alec Lawler of Atherton, California stepped up to the big time on Sunday and bested a field of 32 horse-and-rider combinations in the $50,000 Tuff Rider/Equine Couture Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis.
The senior earth systems major at Stanford University rides with Burt Mutch, and admits that “the goal” is to ride professionally upon his graduation. “We are here aiming for the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix and both World Cup Qualifiers while we are here in Thermal,” said Lawler.
Anyone watching Sunday’s event at HITS Thermal would agree that Lawler has the talent and the horses to get him to the top of the sport. He piloted two self-owned mounts in Agamemnon and Dauphin De Muze, jumping to the blue with the latter, an 11-year-old imported Belgian Warmblood gelding.
Martin Otto of Muenster, Germany set the course and Lawler was first to attack the track. He rode clear, but picked up two time faults with Agamemnon, to keep them from the jump-off. “The courses have been great all week and I was really happy with how both my horses jumped – I had two on the clock with my first, which was frustrating, but it couldn’t have worked out better for Dauphin De Muze,” said Lawler, who piloted Dauphin De Muze 14th in the original order.
Otto set 12 obstacles, which included both a double and triple combination, with faults evenly distributed throughout the course. Erin Davis-Heineking of Aledo, Texas was second in the order and was the first to post a clear round in the irons of October Hill Sales Limited’s October Hill’s Concho. Andrew Ramsey of San Francisco, California guaranteed a jump-off two trips later aboard Shalanno Farms, LLC’s Asamo Van’t Steenputje. Six more would eventually join them, including Lawler, to set the stage for an eight-horse jump-off.
“With eight advancing, I knew I had to be quick,” Lawler said. “My biggest challenge was keeping my excitement under control – I had to remember to be careful.”
Ramsey was the first to secure a double clear, setting the Great American Time to Beat at 46.37 seconds. Lawler was quick to answer in 44.66 seconds, and the two were the only double clears of the class, handing Lawler the win and settling Ramsey in second.
Jenni McAllister of Sun Valley, California rode to third with Legis Venice, owned by LEGISequine.com. Their jump-off time was 46.50 seconds with four faults at the second-to-last fence of the round. Davis-Heineking was fourth with a heartbreak rail at the last fence of the jump-off and a time of 47.62 seconds. Elizabeth Gingras of Edmonton, Alberta capped the top five aboard her own Floreen SFN in 48.82 seconds with four faults.
With the conclusion of Desert Circuit I, the first World Cup week is upon HITS Thermal. Next week’s $54,000 Strongid® C 2X™ CSI-W2*, which is a qualifier for the 2014 FEI World Cup Final in Lyons, France this April, will highlight the action in the grand prix ring. Weekly qualifiers for the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix will continue each week and give high-performance riders opportunities for the March 16 event, as well as for the Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix in Saugerties, New York.
About JPC Equestrian
JPC Equestrian, Inc. produces Tuff Rider and Equine Couture and is the world’s largest manufacturer of popular, affordable, and innovative rider apparel. JPC’s Tuff Rider and Equine Couture brands offer a supreme selection of riding breeches, jodhpurs, sport and show shirts, footwear, outerwear, horse clothing, saddle pads, and other accessories. With this wide array of brand and products, JPC is able to offer the best in designer riding apparel and accessories, horse clothing, English saddles and horse tack, leather goods, grooming supplies, and helmets. Whether it's for competition or for pleasure, JPC has everything for horse and rider.
About Zoetis
Building on 60 years of experience as Pfizer Animal Health, Zoetis delivers quality medicines and vaccines, complemented by diagnostics products and genetics tests and supported by a range of services. They work every day to better understand and address the real-world challenges faced by those who raise and care for animals in ways they find truly relevant. Zoetis produces a comprehensive range of safe and effective products, including equine vaccines, dewormers and sedative analgesics, to help professionals and individual horse owners keep their animals healthy. Both veterinarians and horse owners know and trust the Zoetis will help their horses live longer, healthier lives.
©Flying Horse Photography
Alec Lawler is busy balancing his education and Stanford University with his riding career. He made time this weekend, however, to win the $50,000 Tuff Rider/Equine Couture Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, with Dauphin De Muze at HITS Thermal.
©Flying Horse Photography
Alec Lawler accepts winner’s awards, including a Horze Equestrian cooler, after the $50,000 Tuff Rider/Equine Couture Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal.
|
$50,000 Tuff Rider/Equine Couture Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis
|
Mexico’s flag flies, Eduardo Sanchez Navarro wins $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner High Jumper Classic
Rising to the occasion that was Otto’s course, Eduardo Sanchez Navarro of Cruz Manca, Mexico topped a field of 26 as the only double-clear effort in Sunday’s high junior/amateur-owner jumper classic, presented by Bayer’s Legend. He piloted his own Alfie Scappino BMW.
“I thought the course would be a challenge and that there would be very few clear,” said Navarro. “The design turned out to be just right, however. The numbers were perfect.”
Seven advanced to the jump-off with Navarro to return second. He set the Great American Time to Beat at 41.97 seconds, which he admits he thought was not fast enough. “I came out knowing that we had a great jump-off, but also that I surely left room for someone to go faster,” he said.
Faster they went, but rails dropped for the remaining five contenders. The fastest four fault ride was posted by Adrienne Dixon of Hillsborough, California on her own Ramazzotti 54 with a time of 40.19 seconds for second place. Third went to Saree Kayne of Santa Monica, California in the irons of Saphir 270. Canadian rider Jaclyn Duff and her own Stakkarus were fourth, and Lily Berlin of St. Helena, California capped the top five on her own Quasiboy.
The first week of competition at HITS Thermal was a confidence builder for Navarro and the perfect preface for his foremost goal – to move up to the grand prix level later in the circuit. “We started the circuit getting the horses back into showing, but Alfie jumped great and I look forward to getting him into a grand prix soon,” he said.
All high junior/amateur-owner jumper classics at HITS Desert Horse Park will are qualifiers for the Bayer's Legend ® (hyaluronate sodium) Injectable Solution $250,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix, enticing West Coast riders to head east this fall for the HITS Championship at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York. For more information on the Bayer's Legend ® $250,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix, visit HitsShows.com.
About Bayer Animal Health
Bayer Animal Health is amongst worldwide leaders in animal health. Bayer has attained this leadership position by continuously researching and developing products for animal health since 1919. A responsible relationship between humans, companion animals and livestock requires ensuring the health of animals. For more information on Bayer Animal Health, visit bayer.com.