Temecula, Calif. – May 18, 2019 – The penultimate day of the Temecula Valley National Horse Show I, run by Nilforushan Equisport Events, captured the crowd and some of show jumping’s most talented competitors Saturday afternoon for the $40,000 Jet Pets National Grand Prix held in the Audi Grand Prix Arena, presented by Evergate Stables. With only six horse-and-rider combinations earning a slot over the short course, the times were tight among the best-performing pairs, but Kaitlin Campbell (USA) and Sweet Oak Farm’s Belize D’Ive Z pulled away from the pack thanks to the mare’s quick footspeed and Campbell’s precise riding to capture the lead spot in the victory gallop. The only pilot with more than one mount in the jump-off, Campbell also earned fifth place with SWS Training’s Interline H.

With course designer extraordinaire Alan Wade (IRL) at the helm, the 16-effort track was masterfully coordinated around the arena with a time-allowed of 84 seconds, which proved to be an obstacle for a number of the afternoon’s challengers. Statistically, Bjorn Ikast (DEN), Kaitlin Campbell (USA), Lindsay Archer (USA) and Will Simpson (USA) each possessed the greatest odds of winning with two horses apiece in the class.

Bjorn Ikast (DEN) started strong with the reins on Classini as the second entry to ride and the first to successfully finish the course. He later logged another penalty-free round over the jumps, but unfortunately incurred one time fault aboard Castino to keep his second mount out of contention for the top honors. Chenoa McElvain (USA) and Wallstreet RC soon added their names to the short list, and Campbell produced double clear efforts in the saddle aboard both Belize D’Ive Z and Interline H. Already multiple-time winners for the week, John Pearce (CAN) with Firestone S and Will Simpson (USA) in the irons on Chacco P were two of the final partnerships to qualify for the second round, putting the total number of returning jump-off pairs at six.

Serving as the pathfinders over the abridged 9-fence course, Bjorn Ikast (DEN) and Classini laid down the first double clear of the afternoon in 46.293 seconds to set the early pace.

Kaitlin Campbell (USA) & Belize D’Ive Z

Moving up in the order to accommodate her second ride later, Kaitlin Campbell (USA) came back first with Belize D’Ive Z, and the duo proceeded to smash the frontrunners’ time by more than four seconds, tripping the timers in 41.922 seconds with all the fences intact to take over the lead. Fourth to go, John Pearce (CAN) and Firestone S were the third team to log a fault-free trip, but a time of 43.520 seconds kept them out of the winner’s circle.

Will Simpson (USA) & Chacco P

Generously moving up in the order to allocate more preparation time for Campbell and her final mount, Simpson skipped ahead by one ride as the fifth to return. Aboard Chacco P, the Olympic champion sliced across the course without accruing any penalties and looked to be on pace to eclipse the leading pair, but ultimately broke the beam just over one second too slow in a time of 43.021 seconds.

Last to go and with the pressure off having already secured first prize in the $40,000 Jet Pets National Grand Prix, Campbell rounded out the list of jump-off participants with Interline H, whom she navigated to a conservative clear time of 49.482 seconds, adding another top five place to her collection. Will Simpson (USA) and Coxe Horses, LLC’s Chacco P finished the night in second position, followed by John Pearce (CAN) and Firestone S, owned by Nicole Teague, in third place overall.

Kaitlin Campbell (USA) & Belize D’Ive Z during the awards ceremony

Winner’s Circle

Kaitlin Campbell – $40,000 Jet Pets National Grand Prix Winner

On her reaction to having two horses in the top five:
“I haven’t really had a grand prix horse in a while. I had a really good horse and he is older now, so it’s nice to be back and have something competitive and be able to go in there and take a chance and win.”

On her horses, Belize D’Ive Z and Interline H:
“Belize D’Ive Z is owned by Sweet Oak Farm, that’s Shane and Ali Sweetnam. They are really good about sending me horses to show and to sell, so I’m really thankful for them to give me this horse to ride. She is a really good horse. She is super fast and I just ran her as fast as she could go today, and she kept all the jumps. Interline is a 17-year-old horse and we kind of keep him for special occasions. We have to really pump him up and he gets excited, and he jumped fantastic today. At Del Mar he jumped really well, but here with the crowd and the ring he jumped probably as well as he has jumped all year.”

On Alan Wade’s course:
“Alan Wade is my favorite course designer. I won my first grand prix with him, so every time he is building I try to jump as many horses as I can because he never build too tall, and you can walk the course and sometimes think it is a little sleepy and not too difficult, but then you really have to ride. There is no place that is a trick, but the rails always fall.”

On showing at the Temecula Valley National Horse Show:
“I ride with SWS Training and Sales and Alex Wilson, it’s literally right down the road so it’s great to be in Temecula. We live just three minutes down the road, so most of our horses actually stay at home and can trail ride over here. It’s really great that we can all stay at home. We have a lot of young horses that are doing the young horse classes, and it is just great experience for all of them.”

For more information, please visit www.jump-nee.com.

Results – $40,000 Jet Pets National Grand Prix

Place / Horse / Rider / R1 Faults/ R2 Faults / Time

1. Katilin Campbell (USA) & Belize D’Ive Z – 0 / 0 / 41.922

2. Will Simpson (USA) & Chacco P – 0 / 0 / 43.021

3. John Pearce (CAN) & Firestone S – 0 / 0 / 43.520

4. Bjorn Ikast (DEN) & Classini – 0 / 0 / 46.293

5. Katilin Campbell (USA) & Interline H – 0 / 0 / 49.482

6. Chenoa Mcelvain (USA) & Wallstreet RC –  0 / 7 / 57.857

7. Bjorn Ikast (DEN) & Castino – 1 / 84.675

8. Lindsay Archer (USA) & Eta Beta Di San Patrignano – 2 / 85.425

9. Lindsay Archer (USA) & Jarpur – 4 / 76.294

10. Everardo Hegewisch (MEX) & Ircos IV – 4 / 77.389

11. Will Simpson (USA) & Whoop De Doo – 4 / 80.928

12. Eddy Sepul (BEL) & Edesa’s Dylan – 4 / 81.862

Source: Press release by Elaine Wessel / Phelps Media Group for Nilforushan EquiSport Events

Photos: © Phelps Sports / Emma Miller