June 25, 2013 – Salem, Virginia – 16-year-old Emanuel Andrade of Venezuela scored the first grand prix victory of his young career by winning the $50,000 Grand Prix of Roanoke on Saturday, June 22, at the Roanoke Valley Horse Show in Salem, VA.

Andrade’s win in the $50,000 Grand Prix of Roanoke marked his first major grand prix victory in the United States.  Andrade rode three horses in the $50,000 Grand Prix of Roanoke with two, Walter 61 and ZZ Top VH Schaarbroek Z, producing clear rounds to advance to the jump-off.  Andrade’s third horse, Crossfire 10, placed ninth in the final standings.

Andrade was joined in the jump-off by Colombia’s Fernando Cardenas riding Quincy Car, Christoph Schroeder aboard Diamant de Revel, and U.S. Equestrian Team veteran Aaron Vale with two mounts, Spirit of Alena and Palm Sunday.  Competition was fierce with Vale attempting to earn his fourth consecutive victory in the Grand Prix of Roanoke.

First to return to the ring, Andrade and Walter 61, a 12-year-old Sachsen-Anhaltiner gelding owned by Hollow Creek Farm, put in a quick and flawless round in a time of 34.73 seconds, setting the bar high for those who followed.  Although both Cardenas and Schroeder were again clear in the jump-off, they weren’t fast enough to knock Andrade from the top of the leaderboard.  Vale and Palm Sunday had the final rail down to incur four faults while Andrade and ZZ Top VH Schaarbroek Z, a 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding also owned by Hollow Creek Farm, also had a rail down to eventually finish sixth.  As the final competitors on course, Vale riding Sprit of Alena left all the rails in place but their time of 35.29 seconds fell short of Andrade’s, giving the young Venezuelan the first grand prix win of his career.

“I am super excited,” said Andrade of his first grand prix win.  “I am so grateful to my horses, to my family for their support, and to the entire team at Hollow Creek Farm.”

In addition to his first grand prix victory, Andrade took home no fewer than eight additional blue ribbons, earning wins in the $5,000 Open Jumper Speed with Costa; the $2,500 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic and the $1,000 1.30m Open Jumper and with Black Pearl; the Seven- and Eight-Year-Old Young Jumper with Reve du Paradis; the $5,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic with Wilkina Lithya; the $1,500 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper with La Fe Forli; another $1,500 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper class with Tiny Tim and a Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper class with Mikos.

For his consistent performances in the High Junior/Amateur-Owner division, Andrade was awarded both the Champion and Reserve Champion titles with La Fe Forli and Tiny Tim, respectively.  He also rode away with the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Championship title with Mikos.  In total, Andrade competed with 17 different mounts over the course of the competition, earning 43 top 10 placings across 15 separate classes.

A student in his hometown of Caracas, Andrade divides his time between competing in Venezuela and the United States.  He trains with Angel Karolyi, a member of the Venezuelan gold medal team at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games, and renowned horsewoman Andrea King, at Hollow Creek Farm in Aiken, South Carolina.

Hollow Creek Farm has the unique distinction of winning three prestigious titles at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.  At only 16 years of age, Andrade was named the Leading Jumper Rider, King was named the Leading Jumper Trainer, and Hollow Creek Farm was named the Leading Jumper Owner.

For more information on Hollow Creek Farm, a large training business focusing on both horses and riders, please visit www.hollowcreekfarms.com.