Devon Pennsylvania, USA – May 31, 2023 – The night cap of Wednesday’s jumper competition was another FEI class, the $38,700 Main Line Challenge CSI 4*. Forty-seven horse and rider combinations, representing five different countries, prepared to enter the Dixon Oval and test the limits on the Anderson Lima (BRA) designed course. As the biggest class of the 2023 Devon Horse Show to date, the fans filled the grandstands to witness a world class show jumping event.
Lima, a well known course designer within FEI show jumping, presented the riders with a 12-obstacle, 14-effort track that featured seven oxers and two double combinations in total. However, the class was split into two phases so the time would start over after jumps 1-6. The entries first round counted for the first phase which included the first six jumps, while their second round focused second phase of the track and calculated the time over fences from jumps 7-12.
The class proved to be unfazed by the pressure-filled atmosphere as a total of 20 entries boasted double clear efforts on both phases of the track. Leading the pack was McLain Ward (USA) aboard First Lady, followed by Jessica Mendoza (GBR) and Changing Tatum in second, and Laura Chapot (USA) and Chandon Blue in third.
Ward on The Devon Horse Show:
“It’s always great to be here. It’s a very special place to me, and I think to many people. It has so much tradition, probably more than any other show in the United States.”
Ward on First Lady:
“She’s a young horse and we’ve been developing her, and now she’s stepping up to the bigger classes.”
Final Results – $38,700 Main Line Challenge CSI 4*
1) Mclain Ward (USA) & First Lady – 0 / 0 – 30.69
2) Jessca Mendoza (USA) & Changing Tatum – 0 / 0 – 30.73
3) Laura Chapot (USA) & Chandon Blue – 0 / 0 – 31.09
Source: Press Release by Sydney Jones / Phelps Media Group for The Devon Horse Show & Country Fair
Photo: © Phelps Sports / Hannah Kinlaw
Categories: CSI 4*, English, Jumper News USA
