Jumping
At the Oaks Blenheim Classic, Karen Healey's riders were major players and very successful. Starting with the jumpers, in the $5,000 1.45m classic, Hannah Selleck of Thousand Oaks, CA, and her horse Bauer rode their way to victory. In addition, her name has been added to the Young Riders team for Zone 10 at the 2008 North American Junior Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC). Shelby Wakeman of Westlake Village, CA, and Pandoer, were named as the alternates for the junior team. They finished fifth in the $10,000 High Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic.
Nineteen-year-old Selleck has ridden Bauer, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, for two years, although he did not show much in the second half of last year due to an injury. Selleck competed in the 2006 NAJYRC on the Zone 10 junior team. When she could not compete last year, she made it her goal to qualify this year. They showed lightly through the winter and were consistent through the trials leading up to this past weekend's finals.
The finals format follows that of a championship, with a speed class, a jump-off class, and a final class with two rounds. Going into the final two rounds, Selleck and Bauer sat in fifth place. "I knew we had to do well on the last day in order to stay near the top for the team," Selleck remembered.
In the first round, they had just one time fault. They returned for the second round in the second to last position. Selleck consulted with Healey and they decided to go for a slower, clear round due to the very tight time allowed. They finished the second course with just one time fault after finishing one-tenth of a second over the time allowed. When the last rider went in and had two rails, Selleck was the winner of the 1.45m Classic. In the trials, her top finish in the final class gave her second place and a spot on the team.
Having achieved part of her goal, Selleck will now focus on competing in more grand prix classes with Bauer to prepare him for the NAJYRC. They will travel to Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Canada, and will show in the 1.45m and 1.50m classes.
"It's kind of a relief (to qualify for the team) because it's such a long process," Selleck said afterwards. "The trials start after the winter circuit. Now I can start thinking about other things that I want to do; it's really nice."
Selleck mentioned that she also looks forward to getting to know her Zone 10 teammates before they compete together in August.
In the High Junior/Amateur Jumpers, Tina DiLandri and her horse Chanel 292 rode to a championship and came in 8th in the Classic. Navona Gallegos and Acrobat were on their game as well and picked up a second in a High class.
The Low Junior Jumper championship was awarded to Wakeman and Punker, and they were eighth in the Classic. Not far behind, Lauren Kay and Damiro 21 were second in the Lows and fourth in the Modified Junior/Amateur Jumpers. Carol Bird and Mambo rode their way to a third in the $2,000 Low Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic and picked up another third in a class. Also showing in the Modified division was competitor Juliana Ball who was third and eighth on horses Sjapoo and Lottie, and won a class and was tied for champion. Lottie also was first in the 1.25m Jumpers with owner Tammy Chipko.
In equitation, it was Shelby Wakeman's day. She won the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search, the WCE Medal and the WIHS Equitation Classic. Also competing, Selleck was second in both the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search and WCE Medal. Alex Block was second in the CPHA Foundation. Gallegos rode her way to third in the WEC Medal. Jocelyn Neff picked up second place in the WIHS class with DiLandri in third; Neff was also second in Equitation over fences, fourth in the ASPCA Maclay and fifth the WCE Medal.
In the $10,000 ASG/USHJA International Hunter Derby, Selleck and her horse Bella finished fourth. Neff and Allegro were eighth, while ninth and eleventh to Tammy Chipko with All That and Amnesty. Amnesty was also a winner in the Amateur-Owner 36 and Over Hunters and picked up a third in the Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic.
Karen Healey Stables will compete next at the Oaks Blenheim June Classic II Horse Show on June 11-15, 2008.
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