The first $5,000 Horseflight Classic on July 6 marked a thrilling start to six weeks of competition at HITS Vermont in Manchester, Vermont. The skies parted ways for a beautiful Saturday afternoon of elite competition across the venue, where Jonathan Corrigan (IRL), piloted Jarmensina VDM to the first major win of the season in a speedy victory in the $5,000 Horseflight Jumper Classic.
As top field horse-and-rider combinations took to the course designed by Marina Azevedo of Campinas, Brazil, very few rails were falling among the contenders. A total of five combinations advanced to the shortened course, and all five pairs jumped double-clear. The last of his three rides and last to go in the class, Corrigan laid down a brilliant performance to finish in a time of 33.028 seconds, just more than two seconds faster than the second place finisher.
“She’s just so naturally talented,” said Corrigan of Debra Wycoff’s nine-year old KWPN mare (Hermes de Lux x Corland). “She’s very careful and athletic. I don’t have to use a lot of leg or persuade her. She knows what she’s doing.”
Jarmensina finished off the winter season in the 1.40m classes before enjoying a break. She proved to be feeling her best, as along with her first show of the summer also came her first win.
“I didn’t do anything special,” laughed Corrigan. “I did all the same numbers as the other horses. Maybe on the rollbacks after I jumped each jump, I got my outside leg on a bit earlier and just kept her traveling a bit quicker the first few strides.”
Grace Debney (GBR) and Temple Equestrian LLC’s Jesprit H.S., a 10-year-old KWPN mare (Eldorado van de Zeshoek x Carosso VDL) were the first pair to go, laying down a blazing time of 35.089 seconds, which would ultimately hold up for the runner-up ribbon. Landing just tenths of a second behind Debney, U.S. rider Kyle Perkovich piloted his own Quinto, an eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Vision van’t Hazelarenhoekje to third-place honors.
Competition continues Sunday, July 7, with the $24,500 CWD Grand Prix, the culmination of the first of six weeks of competition at HITS Vermont. For a full list of results, please visit www.showmanagementsytem.com.
