Parker Doubles Fun at Blenheim
By Staff Report April 10, 2012
Michelle Paker accepts the trophy from representatives from the Summit General Insurance Agency. (Amy McCool Photography)
Coming off a spectacular victory in the $10,000 Jumper Classic, Michelle Parker again swept the competition in the $40,000 Blenheim Spring Classic Grand Prix, presented by Summit General Insurance on April 7. With the stands filled, spring in the air and the sun shining, all eyes were on Parker as she guided her fearless 9-year-old grey mare Xel Ha to a double clean effort in a blazing 38.220.
Xel Ha is a 17 hand Selle Francais that Parker plans to take up to 1.6m this season. Just the day before Parker won the 1.35m jumper classic, presented by CardFlex, on Reina, a 16.3 Holsteiner she is offering for sale as an advanced young rider horse, and says the mare “has the perfect amount of motor for an amateur.” Parker owns and is head trainer at the Cross Creek West hunter-jumper facility in San Marcos, CA.
A total of 31 horse and rider duos took to the Blenheim EquiSports grass field at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park on April 7 to take on a demanding course, designed by Mexico’s Benjamin Fernandez.
A vertical-oxer double combination, an oxer vertical-to-oxer triple combination, an optional water jump and a finish over a wide liverpool oxer were just some of the challenges comers faced. Six riders were able to master the first round and qualify for the jump-off.
Michelle Paker and Xel Ha (Amy McCool Photography)
In round one, Josephina Nor Lantzman (BRA) and her trusted mount Chello Z had the first clear of the day and followed up with another flawless effort in the jump-off, setting the bar in a time of 40.744. John Pearce (CAN) and Forest View Farm’s Chianto stood up to the challenge and surpassed Nor’s time in 38.830. Michelle Parker then piloted the 9-year-old Selle Francais mare, Xel Ha, owned by Tula Pinnella, to a quick and concise jump off, cutting corners and galloping between fences to stop the clock and take the lead in 38.220.
It came down to Parker’s second mount in the jump off to try and make it a 1-2 finish. Parker guided Cross Creek Farm’s Socrates De Midos to a fault free jump-off, but finished in 39.908, good enough for third. Seven of the eight riders were able to go clean in the jump-off, making it a very intense and exciting wrap-up to the second week of the Blenheim Spring Classic Series.
The competition continues in San Juan Capistrano next week with the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on Friday, April 13th, and the $50,000 Orange County Register Grand Prix on Saturday, April 14th. There is free parking and general admission to all events.
RESULTS: $40,000 Blenheim Spring Classic II Grand Prix
presented by Summit General Insurance
1. Xel Ha – Michelle Parker – Tula Pinnella 0/0/38.220
2. Chianto – John Pearce – Forest View Farm 0/0/38.830
3. Socrates de Midos – Michelle Parker – Cross Creek Farms 0/0/39.908
4. Chello Z – Josephina Nor Lantzman – Josephina Nor Stables 0/0/40.744
5. Lerche 37 – Tamie Phillips – Tamie Phillips 0/0/41.432
6. Warinde B – Lauren Hester – Hester Equestrian 0/0/41.950
7. SF Uryadi – Jennifer Crooks – Olivia Cox-fill 0/0/43.733
8. Abigail – Lauren Hester – Hester Equestrian 0/8/39.80
For more results, or additional information about Blenheim Equisports horse shows, click here.
Short URL: https://theequestriannews.com/?p=9666