1. Attack II/Amanda Derbyshire/0-0/40.51
2. Caprice Vande Brouwershoeve/Kim Farlinger/0-0/41.08
3. Condesa Z/Jill Knowles/0-0/47.51
4. Happy Z/Wilhelm Genn/0-4/39.53
5. Cookie Monster/Ryan Genn/0-4/40.37
6. Bugatti/Wilhelm Genn/0-4/43.22
7. Condero 3/Bob Brawley/0-8/41.25

"On the first-round course there were some tricky spots," she said. "Then, in the jump-off  I was trying to go clean. I did go first, setting the bar. He did everything and more than I asked. I made a mistake to the last fence. I pulled a little too much, and he popped right up then cleared it for me."

"All and all, he's not the easiest horse to ride because he's very eager to jump and gets excited," said Whitehead. "He always goes and never stops, but he is a handful. That part she did very well, but I was a little disappointed she added a stride to the last in the jump-off, and I certainly thought someone would beat us because of that."

Although the 18 remaining competitors tried, no one was able to catch Billings, and she led the victory gallop aboard the flashy 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Lupicor--Loretta Utopia).  

"Madison is a beautiful rider. Even though he's lunging and plunging she has a gorgeous position over the top of the fence," said Whitehead. "She handles it all so well."

Heather Flynn also managed to rein in her mount Une Etoile De L'Eclypse during the first round and jump-off to post the best performance in the $2,500 NAL/WIHS Adult Jumper Classic, sponsored by Chelten Benefits Group. When others are kicking for more speed, Flynn sits chilly.

"The first round was good. I'm working on control, and she was very much in control," said Flynn. "The five [stride line] was really hard because so many people were having that rail there. But I got her back beautifully. The rest was perfect."

Une Etoile De L'Eclypse and Heather Flynn

In the jump-off, trainer Molly Ashe gave Flynn some words of advice.  

"We call it the jump button," said Flynn laughing. "Molly always tells me, 'Don't press the jump button. Don't go!' So, I just jumped the first fence, and she took me. She knows when she's in the jump-off. She says, 'All right, let's go.' And, honestly, I just sit there. I point her at the jumps, and she takes care of me. She's such a sweet horse. I love her."

"He's amazing. He's the best horse I've ever had," said Pirkle. "He's a Thoroughbred that I've had for two years. My trainer brought him in and had me get on him to test him out and see if we got along, and we did right from the start." 

Just A Dream and Anika Pirkle

Earlier this year, Pirkle and Just A Dream spent three weeks on the HITS Ocala Winter circuit in Florida honing their skills. "We won every class we entered there," said Pirkle smiling. "He's awesome to ride, and when he gets really excited he starts squealing. He sometimes bucks a little bit because he's having so much fun."

 

Pirkle and Just A Dream won every Children's Jumper class this week to earn the show championship as well. 

Anika's mother Yasemin Pirkle cheered the pair on from the rail and is thankful that

their partnership is so strong. 

 

"He doesn't like to touch the rails; he's very careful," she said. "The good thing about him is that if she makes a mistake going to a jump, as long as she commits to her mistake early enough he'll do his best to fix it for her. That's what makes watching them so much fun, because they really are a great team. He just loves his job, and it shows."

Anika added in one more thanks for her banner show: "I would like to thank my trainer, David Dorner of Bridle Oaks Farm, because I couldn't do any of this without him."

In the R.L. Polk Family Main Hunter Ring, David Beisel and Lavish edged Peter Pletcher and Cupid for the top call in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Walgreens.

Beisel and Phyllis Harlow's Lavish jumped to second place in the Classic Round, and trailed Pletcher and Lindsay Holstead's Cupid by .25 point.

The tables were turned in the Handy Round, however, and Beisel's score of 94 was the best of the day, and Pletcher secured second place with a 91.  

Beisel and Lavish, a 9-year-old Westphalian (by Don Bedo), have been together for two years. He's mainly Phyllis' horse and every now and then she'll let me ride him in a derby just for fun," he said. 

Lavish and David Beisel celebrate their derby win

Beisel, who also competed in the grand prix being held concurrently, managed to juggle the two classes. "I had 4 faults in the grand prix, so I didn't have to worry about jumping off," he said laughing. "I was comfortable doing both since I do it all week long, and Sunday is no different I guess." 

"In the first round he felt like he flowed really nice. I thought I was conservative to the last jump. But it seemed like he was having fun out there," he said. "I came back next-to-last for the Handy, so I got to watch a little bit and tried to formulate a good plan." 

Beisel, of Goshen, Ohio, who is not afraid of speed, said he may have impressed the judges with his hand gallop.

"I wanted to come way out so I could show off a gallop to the jump, which I thought I demonstrated well," he said. "Then, I went as handy as I could to the trot jump. It was a lot of fun, and I want to thank Phyllis Harlow for letting me show this nice horse and to Alex Rheinheimer and the staff for putting on another great week of showing."

To watch Lavish and David Beisel perform their Handy Round, please click here.