Arcadia, California, USA – November 17, 2024 – Santa Anita Park welcomed showjumping competition for the first time since the 1984 Summer Olympics, hosting the Lugano Diamonds Split Rock Jumping Tour’s (SRJT) Los Angeles National in partnership with 1/ST. The first of two weeks saw exciting national competition as it builds towards the CSI5*-W, concluding week one with the $50,000 Lugano Diamonds National Prix, presented by Arthramid Vet. At the conclusion of a twelve-horse jump-off, it was ultimately James Chawke (IRL) who channeled his inner jockey aboard Alison Locke’s Nacara van Berkenbroeck Z (Non Stop x Indoctro), racing through the timers a full two seconds ahead of the rest of the pack for an impressive finish and the win.
Colm Quinn (IRL) designed a 15-effort first-round track that would see twelve combinations advance through to the jump-off. Callie Schott (USA) delivered the first double-clear aboard Ironix with a swift pace of 38.811 seconds.
However, Michelle Parker (USA) and Cross Creek Farms’ Vivalunaika Blue followed immediately after with a new time-to-beat of 38.725 seconds. Chawke on the first of two rides, Daido van’t Ruytershof Z, captured the time as he stopped the clock in 37.266 seconds, but a rail at the penultimate fence would cost him the lead.
Schott returned shortly after on her second ride, Garant (Warrant x Verdi TN), owned by Southern Arches LLC, edging back ahead of Parker with a clear round and the new leading time of 37.279 seconds.
Two trips later, the lead would change hands once more as Chawke set an uncatchable finish of 35.159 seconds, shaving over two seconds off of Schott’s time to earn the week’s feature victory. Schott and Garant would settle for second place while Parker finished third.
“He’s been really consistent,” Chawke commented of the 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding, Nacara van Berkenbroeck Z who will continue into national competition next week for the Santa Anita CSI5*-W. “He had never jumped the 1.40m until January and since then he’s been really good…winning a few Grand Prixs and ranking classes.”
Showjumping competition at Santa Anita Park will resume Wednesday, November 20, with the Santa Anita CSI5*-W set to debut the $400,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Los Angeles CSI5*-W, presented by Lugano Diamonds, on Saturday, November 23.
Final Results – $50,000 Lugano Diamonds National Prix
1) James Chawke (IRL) & Nacara van Berkenbroeck Z – 0 / 0 – 35.159
2) Callie Schott (USA) & Garant – 0 / 0 – 37.279
3) Michelle Parker (USA) & Vivalunaika Blue – 0 / 0 – 38.725
Source: Press Release from Split Rock Jumping Tour
Photos: © SRJT / Winslow Photography
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Categories: CSN, English, Jumper News Ireland
