LITTLESTOWN, PA (June 23, 2015) – It was sunny skies and warm temperatures at Swan Lake Stables as Adrienne Marciano and her own horse, Laspari, captured the coveted win in the $24,975 PJA Grand Prix, sponsored by Dover Saddlery, at the PJA Jumper Classics on Sunday, June 14.
“I thought it was a great class,” said Marciano, an amateur from Berwyn, PA. “It was a challenging course. It had a little bit of everything.”
Marciano and her 10 year old Gelding bested a field of 29, which featured many accomplished Grand Prix professionals and amateurs alike, on a course set by Course Designer Dave Ballard of Tottenham, Ontario, Canada. A challenge from start to finish, with rails dropped at many points throughout the field with a time allowed that left no room for error or second guessing. The last fence on course, a tall oxer with a plank as the front rail, dashed the hopes of many who nearly advanced their way to the jump-off.
“A good amount of riders caught the last jump, the oxer with the plank in front,” Marciano explained. “I also noticed the triple combination was coming down a lot because it was a forward four strides to it. Your horse had to be careful enough through there to leave all of the jumps up.”
At the end of the first round, six horse-and-rider combinations featuring seasoned Grand Prix professionals and two amateur riders advanced to the short course in an exciting jump-off. Marciano herself would have two of the six mounts to determine the winner.
Andrea Torres Guerreiro of Leesburg, Virginia and Fifty Shades, owned by Santa Catalina Farm, were the first to go in the jump-off and put the pressure on quickly with a clear effort in a fast time of 39.867 seconds that would hold the lead up until the last ride.
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Marciano returned next on her second mount, Canoso, whom she owns. They had four faults at the back rail of the final fence in a time of 40.550 which would earn them the fourth place ribbon overall.
“I did all of the inside options the first time on Canoso,” said Marciano. “To the last jump it was a long approach so you had to gallop to it. I thought I was home free, but it came up a bit long and he just caught the last rail behind.”
Tracy Magness of Hughesville, Maryland, an accomplished High Performance rider with many championships on her resume, showed next aboard Tresor Du Paradis, owned by Mr. & Mrs. John Bartko. The duo posted a clear effort in 42.536 to move into second place. The eventually finished third overall.
Manuel Torres, father of Andrea Torres Guerreiro, joined his daughter in the jump-off next aboard Cinderella, whom Andrea owns. An unintentional dismount at the first obstacle would unfortunately give them no score, however, secured the sixth place ribbon and gave the father-daughter combination a successful Sunday outing.
Mary Lisa Leffler of Brookville, Maryland, another veteran of the sport and accomplished High Performance rider, made her way into the arena aboard Carlot, owned by the Rolling Acres Farm. Leffler attempted to take the lead, however, four jumping faults in a time of 40.870 seconds would guarantee them the fifth place ribbon overall.
Marciano and Laspari were last to go as Guerrerio’s time still held the lead.
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“I knew I had a very good chance to win because he [Laspari] is naturally so quick. We did all the inside turn options and everything came up great off of the short turns. I knew that all I had to do was gallop, but catch a good distance to the last fence and that’s what we did.”
The plan proved successful as the crowd held their breath at the last fence, the same daunting oxer with the plank from the first round. The duo crossed the finish line clear in 38.176 seconds to a roaring approval of spectators and secured the win for a Pennsylvania native.
“I have to give the credit to my horse, Laspari,” Marciano beamed. “He’s amazing. He is a very shy guy, but to me and only me he is Mr. Personality. He actually won’t let anyone catch him but me when he goes out into the field. We share a very special bond, he always gives me 100%. He was a breeding stallion in Germany and he has hundreds of babies on the ground. My boyfriend Seth [Vallhonrat] found him on one of his trips to Germany. I’m so incredibly lucky to have him.”
The pair added the prestigious PJA Grand Prix victory to their list of accomplishments, a resume that features ribbons at all the major horse shows on the East Coast, including the win in the 2014 $20,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic at Devon.
Sunday’s main event concluded a weekend long of great horse sport that featured rated classes at PJA Jumper Classics, which is held annually at Swan Lake Stables in Littlestown, PA and celebrated its 44th year of competition. The three day show held from Friday, June 12 to Sunday, June 14 featured a full lineup of jumper classics with outstanding prize money offered in every class in the Grand Prix Arena, which has been recently renovated with new outstanding footing. Events included Young Jumper Championship Qualifiers, a $5,000 1.30m Open Jumper Welcome Stake, $2,500 1.20m Jumper Classic, $3,000 1.25m Jumper Classic, $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic and a $5,000 M&S/NAL/WIHS Child/Adult Jumper Classic.
