For Immediate Release: June 19, 2022
Aiken, South Carolina
Week I of the Aiken Summer Classic wrapped up today after a well-attended week at Bruce’s Field.
Aiken’s own Daniel Geitner had a heck of a week at the office, winning the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, the $5,000 Marshall & Sterling Classic Hunter Derby, and the $35,000 Nutrena Grand Prix!
“Winning never gets old,” Geitner laughed.
Geitner wrapped up his successful week with the win in the $35,000 Nutrena Grand Prix over a course designed by world renown course designer and Olympian, Michel Vaillancourt.
Of the sixteen horse and rider teams entered, only five would advance to the jump off round where the time allowed was set at 48 seconds.
Geitner had five horses entered in the class and three qualified for the jump off round.
Geitner and his first ride, November Hill’s Cilia M turned in a four fault jump off round with a time of 38.347 seconds. Sarah Hubbard of Wellington, Florida, in the irons of Hubbard Horses, LLC’s Latino Van De Looise Heide followed in the order and their one jump fault in a time of 34.793 seconds took the lead.
The lead was short lived when James Billington, also of Wellington, Florida, rode Samantha Mackenzie’s Halifax Des Rosiers WB, posting the first clear round in the jump off with a time of 39.733 seconds, took the lead.
Geitner followed, this time in the irons of November Hill’s Lotus Van Het Hagehof. The pair turned in a fault free jump off round in a time of 37.00 seconds and set the new time to beat.
Geitner and GFZ Sport Horses, LLC’s Igo Van De Heibos sat in the last to go spot. The pair turned in a fault free round in a time of 37.699 seconds, securing the second-place ribbon and his victory with Lotus Van Het Hagehof.
Geitner commented, “It was plenty of course. Michel [Vaillancourt] designed it in his usual fashion which made it look and walk like it was a pretty easy course,” commented Geitner. “The most challenging part of the course was the triple combination line and an oxer in the corner. It felt a little downhill to the oxer, even though it wasn’t and then basically standing still to the skinny was the most difficult part,” he said.
“It walked nice but rode difficult. Michel is an absolute master and somehow, he always gets it right. He had a great number with 5 clean and I had 3 of them. I had some young horses to show, and it was great mileage for all of them,” Geitner added.
“Lotus is a 10-year-old and just stepped up this past year to the Grand Prix level. He tries hard, he’s fast, loves to show and the heat and he is a really game horse. I was lucky that I rode Celia earlier and then was able to watch a couple of other rides and I knew what I had to do with the last two horses,” said Geitner.
Billington and Halifax Des Rosiers placed third overall and Hubbard and Latino Van De Looise Heide earned a fourth place ribbon. Geitner and Cilia Hill earned a fifth-place finish and he also won a sixth place ribbon with Oak Ledge Farm’s Fazous as the fastest four fault first round in a time of 70.139 seconds.
Quinn Larimer of Mableton, Georgia rode Nestledown Equine Services, LLC’s Olympia Van Het Eikenhof to a seventh-place finish with their four fault first round in a time of 70.299 seconds.
Megan Rosenthal of Charlotte, North Carolina in the irons of Fairy Tale Farms, LLC’s Caliente earned an eighth-place finish for their four fault first round in a time of 70.995 seconds and ninth was awarded to Hakini, owned by Ellen Walker and ridden by Adam Sklansky of Birmingham, Alabama.
Larimer returned for a tenth-place ribbon with Nestledown Equine Services, LLC’s Bronson CR for their four fault first round in a time of 74.603 seconds.
Hubbard also placed eleventh with Hubbard Horses International’s Japardie for their four fault first round in a time of 74.269 seconds. Samantha Mackenzie and her own Inajottie WB wrapped up the class with a twelfth-place finish for their four fault first round in a time of 75.541 seconds.
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Nutrena is unique in its disciplined, scientific approach to animal nutrition. At the Cargill Animal Nutrition Innovation Campus located on 900 acres of land in Minnesota, their expert team of scientists includes more than 75 PhDs from all over the world focused on one thing: using sound science to create superior nutritional solutions.
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The Clothes Horse is the Official Awards Sponsor of the Classic Company and the Gulf Coast Winter Classic. The Clothes Horse has been manufacturing custom made horse blankets, tack room drapes and trunk covers since 1972.
The Clothes Horse now makes items for some of the most prestigious show barns and horse shows in the country, as well as for private horse owners nationwide. The Clothes Horse has grown to be the manufacturer of the most elegant and well-crafted horse products available. Visit them at www.theclotheshorse.com.
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Hubbard wins the $7,500 Schneiders Saddlery Welcome |
Sarah Hubbard of Wellington, Florida won the Week 1 $7,500 Schneiders Saddlery Welcome with Hubbard Horses, LLC’s Latino Van De Looise, besting a field of eighteen horse and rider teams.
With a first-round time set at 73 seconds, nine would advance to a second-round opportunity.
Hubbard was the first to advance to a second-round opportunity with Latino Van De Looise and turned in a fault free round in a time of 28.552 seconds setting the new time to beat.
“He [Latino Van De Looise] is just naturally fast. Even if I’m first to go, I just make my plan. He’s quick even if you’re not trying. I really didn’t expect to win. I was treating the Welcome as a prep for the Grand Prix and wasn’t leaving any strides out, just working on tight roll backs and thought, if I got a third, I’d be happy,” she said.
“I couldn’t believe I won,” she said. “He has been on somewhat of a roll. We just won two $25,000 Grand Prix and got a third in a $30,000 Grand Prix in Tryon. I’ve never show here before in Aiken and my boyfriend is the farrier. He told me that it was a great show and I’m so glad we came here. The facility and footing is great and it’s so nice to be in the barns with great airflow, especially with the summer heat. The show has been great with scheduling and putting the bigger classes early in the morning. We got to do the Welcome at 7 am and the heat wasn’t really an issue,” she said.
Quinn Larimer of Mableton, Georgia and Nestledown Equine Services, LLC’s Olympia Van Het Eikenhof were the next to advance to a second round. Their fault free round in a tine of 30.910 seconds would see them finish in third place.
Sarah Wayda of Princeton, New Jersey, and her own Elriki turned in a clear second round, but their time of 32.789 seconds saw them finish in sixth overall.
Mackenzie and her own Inajottie WB followed Wayda and posted a clear second round in a time of 31.355 seconds and earned a fourth-place finish.
Geitner and November Hill’s Lotus Van Het Hagehof advanced to a second-round opportunity earning four jump faults in a time of 30.563 seconds, awarding them the seventh place ribbon.
Larimer returned for another second-round opportunity, this time aboard Nestledown Equine Services, LLC’s Bronson CR. The pair turned in a fault free second round in a time of 29.115 seconds, earning them a second-place finish.
James Billington and Samantha Mackenzie’s Harvest WB were up next but four jump faults in a time of 31.55 seconds would see the pair finish in eighth place.
Hubbard returned to the arena, this time in the irons of Hubbard Horses, LLC’s Japardie. A clear second round in a time of 31.654 seconds earned them a fifth-place finish.
Samantha Mackenzie and her own Khinula WB were the last to advance to a second-round opportunity. Four jump faults in a time of 38.213 would see them out of the ribbons.
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About Schneiders Saddlery |
Schneider’s Saddlery is a proud sponsor of Classic and Gulf Coast Classic Companies and the $7,500 Schneiders Saddlery Welcome Classes at the Aiken Summer Classics.
At Schneider’s, their family-owned company has maintained a dedication to value, product quality, innovation, customer service, and a love and commitment to the equestrian industry. Visit them online at sstack.com.
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Cheers! Mr. Manhattan Wins the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby!
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Geitner rode Martin Schlaeppi’s Mr. Manhattan to the win in the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and earned a second-place ribbon with Page Flournoy’s Lord Don. Geitner also won fourth place with his and Nancy Mcbrayer’s Pen and Ink and a fifth-place finish with November Hill’s Handsome A.
“Nancy [Wallis] does a great job designing the courses. She just got back from Devon and Upperville and she’s obviously been designing some top places,” commented Geitner. “I had four mounts in the class and two of them were very experienced. Mr. Manhattan and Handsome A have less experience in the hunter derbies. Manhattan just got back from Devon where he won the First Year Green Stake and did the Derby at Devon very well; he just missed getting a ribbon. This week’s International Hunter Derby is only his third Derby ever and is actually the first Derby that he ever won. Manhattan is a quality First Year horse, but I think he’s going to make a name for himself in the Derbies too,” he added.
Third place was awarded to Amy Hassinger’s Cadouch Z, ridden by Matt Martin of Ocala, Florida. Hamilton, owned and ridden by Amy Krebs of Franklin, Tennessee placed sixth overall and Debbie Smith’s Lentinus, ridden by Shane Powell of Ocala, Florida, earned a seventh-place finish.
James Hassinger of Aberdeen, North Carolina rode his own Sandro to an eighth-place ribbon and Savannah Metheny’s Lorado Van Het Kleit, ridden by Adam Sklansky of Birmingham, Alabama finished with a ninth-place ribbon.
Superlative, owned and ridden by Blakely Ansley earned a tenth place and Fairy Tale Farms, LLC’s Den Dekker, ridden by Megan Rosenthal of Charlotte, North Carolina finished in eleventh place.
Kelly Sims’ Quoted, ridden by Skyler Ezzell of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, wrapped up the class with a twelfth-place finish.
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Brooklyn Wins the $5,000 Marshall & Sterling Classic Hunter Derby
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The $5,000 Marshall & Sterling Classic Hunter Derby, including Non-Pro Rider Bonuses, was the last qualifying event for the Aiken Week 2 $15,000 Marshall & Sterling Classic Hunter Derby Finals and welcomed 42 horse and rider teams over a course designed by Nancy Wallis of Lambertville, New Jersey.
Geitner piloted Martin Schlaeppi’s Brooklyn to the win and he earned a third place with Kate Richardson’s Coltrane, and an eighth place with the Kent Group, LLC’s Varenna.
Geitner commented, “Nancy [Wallis] designed a great course. It’s a neat format. With the ‘hunt and go’ format and with that many rides in the class, you can do your class and be done and not have to bring the horses back out again. It’s nice to not have to prepare them again. It’s a fantastic opportunity for all the riders and the horses to get to do the handy round. The usual format that only lets the top twelve do the handy round doesn’t give those green horses and less experienced riders the opportunity to do handy rounds. The Marshall & Sterling Classic Hunter Derby provides an excellent experience and gives the riders and the horses the mileage they need in the handy rounds to get better. It’s really nice that the class offers the Non-Pro Rider Bonus. Even if someone doesn’t get a ribbon, if they score high enough, they will bet a piece of that Non-Pro Bonus,” he said.
Second place honors went to Beth Congel’s Legist, ridden by Penny Lombardo of Loxahatchee, Florida. Lombardo also rode Tricia Barr’s Party Started to a ninth-place finish.
Playground, owned by Bright Shade Farm Stables, Inc.’s and ridden by Donald Sheehan of Maryville, Tennessee earned a fourth-place finish and Amy Hassinger’s Kingsboy, ridden by Matt Martin of Ocala, Florida placed fifth. Martin also rode Grace D. Christerson’s P.S. Limited Edition to a seventh-place finish. Adore, owned and ridden by Hannah Smith of Winston Salem, North Carolina placed sixth and also won the $500 Marshall & Sterling 3’3” Non-Pro Rider Bonus.
James Hassinger of Aberdeen, North Carolina rode his own Finn to a tenth-place finish and won the $500 Marshall & Sterling 3’ Non-Pro Rider Bonus.
Eleventh place was awarded to Thankful, owned by Czech Mate, LLC and ridden by Katie Bailey of Aiken, South Carolina.
Callaghan, owned by Carrie King and ridden by Hope King of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina wrapped up the class with a twelfth-place finish and won the $300 Marshall & Sterling 3’ Non-Pro Rider Bonus.
Skyler Ezzell of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, and Paige Schwartz’ Auto Correct won the $200 Marshall & Sterling 3’ Non-Pro Rider Bonus.
Taylor Jesel of Madison, Georgia and her own Minka won the $300 Marshall & Sterling 3’3” Non-Pro Rider Bonus and Rebecca Love of Atlanta, Georgia and Ral-Star, LLC’s Eilan Del Maset won the $200 Marshall & Sterling 3’3” Non-Pro Rider Bonus.
The stage is now set for the $15,000 Marshall & Sterling Classic Hunter Derby 3’ and 3’3” Finals, including Non-Pro Rider Bonus, on deck for Week 2 of the Aiken Summer Classic. All ribbon winners since the Gulf Coast Winter Classic will be offered the opportunity to compete for no entry fee. Geitner said, “I qualified three horses but will have two in it next week. One was only here for the first week, but I will be riding the others and looking forward to it,” he added.
Thank you to our sponsor Marshall & Sterling and best of luck to all competitors!
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About Marshall & Sterling Equisport Insurance |
Marshall & Sterling Insurance is the title sponsor of all Classic Hunter Derbies at all Gulf Coast and Classic shows and new for 2022, the title sponsor of the $15,000 Marshall & Sterling 3’ and 3’3” Classic Hunter Derby Finals, with Non-Pro Rider Bonuses, slated for Week 2 of the Aiken Summer Classic.
Marshall & Sterling Insurance specializes in personalized plans that encompass a full range of extensive coverage options, uniquely tailored to fit your distinctive needs.
Marshall & Sterling’s Equisport Division was created by insurance professionals to meet the demands of horse owners from competing professionals, dedicated amateurs, and those who just plain love horses. With a client service and claims team second to none, one quick call to their office will provide you with instant answers.
Marshall & Sterling Insurance has been around for more than 100 years. Reach out to the company that stands the test of time. For more information visit them on the web.
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Memory Lane Paparazzi Wins the Scott Fitton Best Pony Model Award
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Memory Lane Paparazzi, owned and shown by Adison Stark won the Best Pony Model, sponsored by Scott Fitton.
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Brooklyn wins the Kiara Barnett Trophy
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Martin Schlaeppi’s Brooklyn, ridden by Daniel Geitner, won the Kiara Barnett Trophy
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Thank you MDS Farm for your sponsorship of Friday night's Italian Dinner! A good time was had by all! |
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The Classic Company Gives Back |
The Classic Company has donated all entry fees for USHJA classes to the Aiken Horse Park Building Fund.
"We all love Bruce's Field and are happy to support their building fund. Their improvements here are for the benefit of all those involved in the equestrian sport, and we appreciate their efforts to constantly improve this magnificent facility," commented Bob Bell, President of Classic Company.
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The Aiken Summer Classic Social Calendar Week 2 |
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The Classic Company is known for its southern hospitality and the Week 2 social calendar will be a sure crowd pleaser! All are welcome!
Week Two:
- Wednesday Welcome Party on the Porch – 4pm, Sponsored by Aiken Saddlery
- Friday Marshall Sterling Finals Breakfast at Hunter Ring 2. Sponsored by Braemer Road
- Friday Dinner Party next to the Porch 5:30 Low Country Boil Sponsored by Accolade Farm
- Saturday Pizza Ringside Sponsored by Marketmoor LLC
- Sunday Mimosas & Muffins Spectator Tent - Ring 1 and 2 Team I.E.C Blue Canoe Restaurant
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About the Classic Company |
The Classic Company's philosophy is to offer an event for every level of rider and horse. From Lead Line to Olympic level Grand Prix competition, from seasoned veteran horse and rider team to a first-time horse show experience, the Classic Company offers competition that provides the competitor substantial prize money, award-winning facilities and courses, quality competition and the best customer service in the industry.
Service is what sets the Classic Company apart from other horse show companies. The Classic Company provides champion service from in-gates to show office at all its venues. Top competition with an emphasis on southern hospitality is their hallmark and the reason thousands prefer to compete at Classic Company produced events each year.
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Green Boundary Club has extended special consideration for the Aiken Summer Classics. Come experience Southern charm at its finest in any one of the six spacious rooms at Green Boundary Club.
This gorgeous, 1927 winter colony home is seated in the heart of Aiken's Historic District and lies within walking distance of downtown's multitude of shopping, dining and entertainment venues. Also close by are the historic Palmetto Golf Club, the Hitchcock Woods, Rye Patch and Hopeland Gardens and Bruce's Field.
Their rooms are artfully decorated in tune with the club's 1927 décor yet come equipped with a variety of modern day amenities. There is plenty of room to accommodate lengthy stays with room to work, kick back and relax.
To book a room, please call 803.649.2549, or email the front desk at [email protected]
Aiken, SC 29802
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