Press release from Split Rock Jumping Tour

The Lugano Diamonds Split Rock Jumping Tour (SRJT) returned to TerraNova Equestrian Center in Sarasota, Florida, featuring a CSI2* rating and the second year of the $300,000 Championship Series. Thursday’s competition was highlighted by the $35,000 C. Jarvis Insurance 1.45m FEI Welcome. In the end, it was Ireland’s Paul O’Shea and Squirt Gun (Diarado x Quick Star), owned by O’Shea and Eye Candy Jumpers, who took the top spot. 

The first round of competition saw 38 horse-and-rider combinations tackle Peter Holmes (CAN) 14-effort track. A total of 18 pairs were able to navigate the course fault-free to advance to the second round. The tie-breaking round was made up of eight fences and included a change in material, as the C. Jarvis Insurance vertical was added as fence 14.

O’Shea and Squirt Gun were the first to challenge the shortened course and set the pace for the remaining 17 challengers with a time of 35.87 seconds, utilizing the 13-year-old gelding’s fast footspeed across the track. Caitlin Boyle and Navaar, winners of Wednesday’s $10,000 1.40m FEI Speed, again proved their knack for speed, besting O’Shea’s time by nearly a second but unfortunately falling victim to a rail on course that would keep them off the podium. While the following nine combinations would collectively attempt to overturn O’Shea’s long standing lead, many would find difficulty at the last fence, an oxer set off of a tight rollback turn. Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen (USA) entered as 14th to go in the jump-off aboard her own Mochito v/d Mishagen and utilized her mount’s big stride to cross the timers clear in 38.26 seconds to slide into second place. With two left, Luis Fernando Larrazabal (VEN) and San Francisco Stable’s Abril Kontendra produced a quick clear but were unable to catch O’Shea’s pace, finishing in 39.23 seconds to claim third place on the podium

“Squirt Gun jumped super, it's his first class this year, and he felt in great form after a six-week break. I think he really enjoyed himself,” commented O’Shea. “This is my first time here [at TerraNova Equestrian Center], and it’s a fantastic facility. I've done many Split Rock shows, Derek and his team always do a super job.”

FEI competition will continue through the weekend, featuring the $100,000 Lugano Diamonds 1.45m Grand Prix CSI2* on Saturday, January 27th. The $300,000 Split Rock Championship Series, supported by Dutta Corp, is set to begin on Saturday afternoon, and the final rounds will take place on Sunday, January 28th.