McLain Ward and Contagious
Devon, Pa. – June 4, 2022 – International show jumping competition at the 2022 Devon Horse Show came to a close Saturday evening. A talented field of athletes and their mounts from around the world have been vying for points toward the coveted Open Jumper Championship since Tuesday. Coming off of his 12th win in the $250,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon CSI4*, McLain Ward etched his name on The Little Big Man Trophy and was awarded with the Open Jumper Championship honors. With a total of 35 points earned throughout the week, Ward also received the Leading Open Jumper Rider title. After two wins during the week on two different mounts, Jessica Mendoza emerged as the Leading Open Jumper Lady Rider and was presented with the Carol Hofmann Thompson Leading Lady Rider Challenge Trophy in memory of Carol Hofmann, given by her family and friends in 2014.
Ward, dubbed the “King of Devon”, put forth a valiant effort aboard his 2020 Tokyo Olympic mount Contagious, owned by Beechwood Stables LLC, Thursday evening to ultimately earn the Open Jumper Championship title Saturday and receive the champion cooler, sponsored by Saratoga Horseworks Ltd. In honor of his Leading Open Jumper Rider title, Ward was presented with The Orchard Lodge Perpetual Trophy, given in memory of Hope Montgomery Scott. The Open Jumper Reserve Champion was awarded to Schuyler Riley (USA) and Katherine Gallagher’s Robin de Ponthual, the second place finishers from Thursday’s $250,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon CSI4*, for accumulating a total of 18 points.
Jessica Mendoza
Great Britain’s Mendoza made her first trip to The Devon Horse Show a special one, taking home her first Devon blue Tuesday after topping the $50,000 Jet Run Devon Welcome Stake CSI4* with her own mount Play. Friday evening, she rode her very own Dublin to the win in the $37,000 Devon Speed Derby CSI4*, clinching the Leading Lady title.
Laura Chapot and Diarado’s Flying Dutchman
The $74,000 Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake CSI4*, sponsored by Hygain, was the highlighted event of Saturday evening, welcoming FEI competitors to the Dixon Oval one final time. Olaf Peterson Jr. (GER) set forth a challenging 13-effort track, with Laura Chapot and Diarado’s Flying Dutchman emerging as the only pair to navigate a clear effort. Their fault-free ride ultimately earned them the win, and they were presented with the The John Wanamaker Perpetual Trophy. Israel’s Steven Bluman rode away with second place after finishing on 4 faults in a time of 71.57 seconds, while 16-year-old Zayna Rizvi rounded out the top three aboard Exquise du Pachis for her 4-fault effort and time of 74.51 seconds.
In the $20,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Amateur-Owner Classic, sponsored by Hermes, Layla Kurbanov and Ronja, an 11-year-old Swiss Warmblood mare owned by Ilan Ferder, raced to the top prize following two rounds of challenging competition. The pair’s double clear effort earned them The Good Enough Challenge Trophy, as well as points contributing to the Amateur-Owner Jumper Championship.
Announced shortly after the conclusion of the Classic, Alexandra Pielet and Hyperbolics, a 10-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Co-Pielet LLC, was named the Amateur-Owner Jumper Champion, taking home the Goblin Challenge Trophy and championship cooler, sponsored by Saratoga Horseworks Ltd., with a total of 16 points. Pielet garnered even more awards in the Dixon Oval Saturday afternoon, also earning the Leading Amateur-Owner Jumper Rider Award, sponsored by Hermes, with the The Marshall-Hale Perpetual Trophy. Kurbanov and Ronja were named the reserve champions of the Amateur-Owner Jumper division with a total of 15.5 points.
Alexandra Pielet aboard Hyperbolics with Layla Kurbanov and Ronja
Competition at the Devon Horse will conclude Sunday, June 5, welcoming the Pennsylvania Bred Yearling Colts and Geldings to the Dixon Oval at 8:00 a.m.
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