Press release from Split Rock Jumping Tour

The Lugano Diamonds Split Rock Jumping Tour (SRJT) returned to Paso Robles, California for the second year in a row. This year saw a CSI2* rating and featured the $38,700 1.45m Welcome on Friday, September 8th. It was ultimately Brazil’s Cassio Rivetti and Nadale van Dorperheide (Zilverstar T x Winningmood), owned by Ilan Ferder, who took the top spot after navigating Anderson Lima’s (BRA) jump-off track with ease, picking up their second FEI win of the week.

The first round of competition saw 46 athletes from five different countries, 14 jumping efforts, and a tight time-allowed of 74 seconds. The first clear came sixth in the order and was produced by Karrie Rufer (USA) with Stern Dei Folletti, finishing just within the time in 73.54 seconds. Throughout the remainder of the class, many fell victim to fence six’s plank, the skinny vertical, and the second combination: a vertical-oxer on the rail of the VIP tent. Only six pairs emerged fault-free and within the allotted time. 

The tie-breaking round was made of up eight obstacles and included two new fences, the Split Rock oxer and the colorful Dalman horse head oxer as the final effort. Rufer and Morning Star Sporthorses’ Stern Dei Folletti were the first to challenge the shortened course, and were the first to produce a double-clear finish in a time of 37.66 seconds. Savannah Jenkins (USA) and Etalon, owned by Christine Maclean and Brent Therrien, put in a strong challenge, crossing the timers in 37.29 seconds to overtake the lead. Last to go, Rivetti utilized the 10-year-old gelding’s large stride by doing one less in the turn back to fence nine, the C. Jarvis oxer, to blaze through the timers in 36.50 seconds. Friday marked Rivetti’s second consecutive win with Nadale van Dorperheide, after also earning the victory on Thursday in the $10,000 Morning Star Sporthorses Speed CSI2*. Jenkins ended in second place, while Rufer settled for third. 

FEI competition will continue through the weekend, culminated by the $100,000 Lugano Diamonds 1.45m Grand Prix CSI2*, on Sunday September 10th. National competition will feature the $20,000 C. Jarvis Insurance 1.35m National Prix on Saturday and hunters, in their debut year, will feature the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby on Sunday.