Blenheim
EquiSports |
Mandy
Porter Wins $25,000 St. Regis Resort International Class At
2002 Oaks Blenheim International CSI-A
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San
Juan Capistrano, CA—July 26, 2002—Mandy Porter of Solana
Beach, CA rode Lavita to victory in the $25,000 St. Regis Resort
International Class Friday at the 2002 Oaks Blenheim International
CSI-A.
Porter
topped a field of 41 entries in the jump-off class at the second
annual international show jumping competition which is also 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.
Porter
was one of 12 entries to qualify for the tiebreaking jump-off by
riding fault-free over the 15-jump, first-round course designed
by Sydney Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela.
The last of the 12 to try the eight-jump tiebreaker course, she
clinched the win when she rode Lavita, owned by Barbara Ellison,
to the only fault-free jump-off ride, finishing in 48.62 seconds.
The
fastest time in the jump-off was actually turned in by Francie Steinwedell-Carvin
of LaCanada, CA. She finished in 43.15 seconds on Laddidor, owned
by Prentis Partners, but a rail down at the second-to-last fence
gave her four faults and a second-place finish. McLain Ward of Brewster,
NY also beat Porter’s time, finishing in 43.88 seconds, but
his mount Rio downed a rail at the last fence for four faults and
a third-place finish.
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.
In
addition to the selection trials, other exciting classes at the
CSI-A include the $10,000 Hermes International Speed Class, won
Thursday morning by Laura Kraut on Liberty; the $10,000 Robert Mondavi
Winery International Welcome Class won Thursday afternoon by Eric
Hasbrouck on Sitah; and the $35,000 Budweiser International Speed
Derby set for Saturday afternoon.
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 Saturday and Sunday is $15 per day. 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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