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American Leslie Howard won the $15,000 ATCO Derby held Saturday, August 15, at the National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments in Ottawa, ON.
Photo Credit - Linda Scott Harris |
August 15, 2009 – Ottawa, Ontario – American Leslie Howard knocked out the competition
riding Lennox Lewis 2 to win the $15,000 ATCO Derby held Saturday,
August 15, at the National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments in Ottawa,
ON.
With 18 horse-rider combinations tackling the challenging course set by world renowned course designer Guilherme Jorge of Brazil, which included the devil’s dyke, the stone wall drop and two gallops down the bank, only three horses were eligible to return for a thrilling jump-off. Two of those horses belonged to American Olympic Team Silver Medalist, Leslie Howard.
France’s Marie Hecart and Lucas, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Ashland Stables Inc, were the first pair back in the jump-off. Starting out with a fast gallop and time-saving turns, Hecart stopped the timers in 32.60 seconds and put pressure on Howard, the next rider in the jump-off, to go even quicker in order to win.
With two horses qualified, Howard opted not to jump-off with Raimond W, her 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. With Lennox Lewis 2, Peter Howard’s 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Howard expertly blazed through the shortened course, jumping the fences at incredible angles to save time. Howard left all the fences up and set time of 30.98, shaving almost two seconds of Hecart’s time for the win. By withdrawing Raimono W from the jump-off, Howard also automatically finished in third.
“Both my horses were super today, and I could not have asked for more,” said Howard of Westport, CT. “I watched Marie go and I knew that I could not beat her with Raimond, so I just went with Lenox. He is fast like a Ferrari. I knew I had a shot to win and it worked out.”
Taking fourth place with the fastest four fault first round, in a time of 131.15, was Peter Gisborn of Erin, ON, and Sir R. Fifth place went to Cody Auer of Fairfield, CT, riding Timo, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, to a four fault round in a time of 132.28 seconds.
Following her victory in the $15,000 ATCO Derby, Howard plans to continue her winning ways in Sunday’s featured event, the $25,000 National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments Grand Prix, with three horses, Lennox Lewis 2, Utah and Hip Hop. The Grand Prix is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
The National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments hosts its second week of competition from August 19-23. Sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), week two will feature the $10,000 CompetitiveJumpers.com Open Welcome on Friday, August 21. On Saturday evening, August 22, the $15,000 Modified Grand Prix and a BBQ will be held in support of the United Way City of Ottawa Campaign. The National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments concludes with the $75,000 Brookstreet Grand Prix on Sunday, August 23.
Competition begins each morning at 8 a.m. and is open to the general public. Admission is $5 per person on Thursdays and Fridays, and $10 per person on Saturdays and Sundays, parking included, in support of the United Way City of Ottawa Campaign. Children five and under are admitted free.
For more information on the National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments, please visit www.hayesco.ca, or call (613) 769-7221.
$15,000 ATCO Derby – Ottawa, ON
Rider Hometown Horse Faults Time
1. Leslie Howard Westport, CT Lennox Lewis 2 0:0 30.98
2. Marie Hecart France Lucas 0:0 32.60
3. Leslie Howard Westport, CT Raimono W 0:dns
4. Peter Gisborn Erin, ON Sir R 4 131.15
5. Cody Auer Fairfield, CT Timo 4 132.28
6. Lauren Hayes Orangeville, ON Sweet Leonie 6 143.24
7. Taylor Bland Calgary, AB Tango Las Marismas 8 122.31
8. Ian Millar Perth, ON Dryden 8 122.69
