Blenheim
EquiSports |
Laura
Kraut Wins $10,000 Hermes International Speed Class To Open
2002 Oaks Blenheim International CSI-A
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San
Juan Capistrano, CA—July 25, 2002—Sydney Olympic veteran
Laura Kraut of Oconomowoc, WI rode Liberty to victory in the $10,000
Hermes International Speed Class to open the 2002 Oaks Blenheim
International CSI-A.
Kraut
topped a field of 47 entries in the first competition at the second
annual international show jumping extravaganza which is hosting
the final three rounds of United States Equestrian Team (USET) selection
trials being used to pick this country’s squad for the 2002
Show Jumping World Championships to be held as part of the World
Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain in September.
Three-time
Olympic medalist Joe Fargis of Southampton, NY was the eighth rider
to try the 12-jump, one-round course and he took an early lead in
the class when he rode Diams III, owned by Mary B. Schwab and Oeji
Farm, to a penalty-free ride in 50.31 seconds. His lead held until
the 41st entry of the class, Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, NY, finished
fault-free in 48.19 seconds on Authentic, owned by Elizabeth Busch
Burke and John Madden Sales.
The
fourth-to-last entry was Kraut and her Sydney Olympic mount, Liberty,
owned by the Summit Group. Kraut clinched the win with a fault-free
ride in 46.81 seconds. “Liberty was just wonderful today,”
Kraut said. “She jumped beautifully and now that I’m out
of the selection trials, I intend to try to win every class I can.”
Placing
second was Madden with Fargis finishing third. Fourth place went
to the reigning World Champion, Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil, who finished
fault-free in 50.49 seconds on Gandini Bianca D’Amoury, owned
by Keri Pessoa. Finishing fifth was three-time U.S. Olympic veteran
Anne Kursinski of Frenchtown, NJ who rode Escapade, owned by the
Escapade Group, to a clean ride in 52.57 seconds.
This
year marks the second annual Oaks Blenheim International CSI-A,
which was the country’s first outdoor CSI-A (international
individual show jumping competition). It is also the second time
Selection Trials to determine a USET squad are being held at the
Oaks Blenheim Exhibitions – Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park.
Selection Trials for the USET’s Sydney Olympic squad were held
at the San Juan Capistrano venue in 2000. Sunday’s $175,000
Cargill Grand Prix of the United States, presented by HBO, will
be the final event that determines the show jumping squad that will
represent the United States at the World Equestrian Games in Jerez,
Spain in September.
Other
exciting classes at the CSI-A are the $10,000 Robert Mondavi Winery
International Welcome Class, the $35,000 Budweiser International
Speed Derby, the $25,000 St. Regis Resort International class and
Round #4 of the Selection Trials on Friday, a $25,000 event also
presented by Budweiser.
In
addition to thrilling show jumping competition, spectators can enjoy
a range of activities and entertainment, including live music and
a Kids Day sponsored by Fidelity Investments on Saturday, July 27
with an Extreme Games Promo and a Soccer Shoot Out to be held between
classes.
Single
day admission for Friday, Saturday and Sunday is $15 per day with
three-day passes available for $35. Children under the age of three
are admitted free each day. Daily parking is $5 for venue parking
and just $.50 per person for general parking which includes a shuttle
ride to the show grounds. VIP hospitality tent tables can also be
purchased for the duration of the show.
Tickets
can be purchased online at www.capistranofestival.com or by phone.
For VIP Hospitality Tent Reservations, please call: (949) 716-4854.
For General Admission Ticket Sales please call: (949) 489-8826.
Blenheim EquiSports, under the direction of Olympic veteran rider
Robert Ridland and CEO R.J. Brandes, is one of the country’s
largest equestrian management and promotion companies. Events managed
by Blenheim EquiSports include the 2000 Budweiser World Cup Finals
in Las Vegas, the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Trials and the inaugural
Oaks Blenheim International CSI-A
For
general information, please visit www.capistranofestival.com
or www.blenheimequisports.com
or call (949) 443-1844.
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