Jumper competition at the 2019 National Horse Show continued Friday afternoon with the $36,000 EquiJet Accumulator CSI4* class, one of the more unique contests of the week. Under the spotlights of the Alltech Arena, 24 contenders were seen in the unique class format, all hoping to place their name atop the leaderboard. Garnering the most points the quickest out of the competitive field, Daniel Coyle (IRL) and CHS Krooze logged their second victory in two days, proudly earning the blue ribbon and the Whitney Stone Memorial Trophy.
One of the most fun and creative classes of the event, the $36,000 EquiJet Accumulator CSI4* featured ten obstacles of increasing difficulty, where points accrued for each fence cleared. Obstacle one jumped without fault earned one point, while obstacle two jumped without fault earned two points and so on. At the final fence, exhibitors could choose to jump the number ten obstacle and earn the associated ten points, or they could take the harder ‘Joker’ fence, worth 20 points. Successfully clearing the ‘Joker’ jump earned 20 points, but knocking it down would result in deducting 20 points from the total tally.
As the third combination to tackle the track, Rowan Willis (AUS) and his own Wellington Grandorie became the first successful pathfinders, stopping the timers in 49.55 seconds with the first perfect 65-point score. Just two trips later, Sloane Coles (USA) and Calisto 26, also owned by Willis, amazingly tripped the timers in the exact same time, finishing on 65 points in 49.55 seconds to tie the early leaders. Halfway through the pack, the lead changed hands for the first time thanks to Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) and Louisburg Farm’s Balous Day Date, who managed to edge out the leading duos with a swift time of 49.22 seconds without lowering any fences. Upping the speed further still, Lillie Keenan (USA) piloted Chansonette Farm LLC’s Agana Van Het Gerendal Z to a brisk 65-point round in 48.40 seconds, but soon thereafter Coyle and his own CHS Krooze took to the ring determined to add another first prize to their growing list, crossing the finish line with all the rails still in their cups in a blazing 46.16 seconds to capture victory.
Throughout the class, a total of 12 of the 24 entries ultimately rode to perfect scores over the 10-fence course designed by Ken Krome (USA). The second-best of the afternoon, Keenan and Agana Van Het Gerendal Z clinched the runner-up spot, while Conor Swail (IRL) and Gamble, owned by Asta Torokvei, rounded out the podium with a 65-point score in 48.63 seconds.
Coyle and the 9-year-old mare CHS Krooze are rookies to the National Horse Show, but their first visit has proved fruitful as the partnership has earned first place in Thursday’s $36,000 International Open Jumper Speed CSI4* as well as Friday’s $36,000 EquiJet Accumulator CSI4*. On Wednesday, the combination sped to second position in the $36,000 Free x Rein International Jumper Welcome Speed CSI4* costume class, as well. Just weeks ago, Coyle and CHS Krooze topped the $36,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI3* at Tryon International Equestrian Center and the pair led the victory gallop in the $36,500 Friends of Tbird CSI2* at Thunderbird Show Park in May of 2019, making for a winning year.
The 2019 National Horse Show will return Saturday, with juniors and amateurs highlighted in the afternoon in the $50,000 Hollow Brook Wealth Management Show Jumping Hall of Fame Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper Grand Prix, and the $225,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Lexington CSI4*-W will bring top show jumping competitors to the ring Saturday evening.
FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE
Daniel Coyle - $36,000 EquiJet Accumulator CSI4* winner
On CHS Krooze:
“She is actually my own horse and she has been incredibly consistent all year, but every show I show her in she gets better, as she has proven here. She has been second once and first twice and only jumped three classes, so that is pretty incredible! She still impresses me every time I go in the ring so I am delighted with her.”
On his partnership with CHS Krooze:
“I got her at the start of the Florida season last year and started riding her myself. She has been great from the word ‘go’. It has been a little bit of me getting to know her, more than her getting to know me, but I think now both of us have clicked and know each other really well. That is probably why we have become so consistent.”
On doing the Accumulator class format:
“The accumulator class is hard actually because every jump is a little bigger and then they sneak the ‘Joker’ in at the end, plus it is a speed class so it takes a clever horse to realize that the jump goes up. She is very clever, though, and it just all kind of went my way. She is always going to be fast, so it is more just getting her used to this height, but I knew she could handle it.”
On competing at the National Horse Show:
“This is my first time here and the show has been great. It is a good atmosphere and a real indoor-type atmosphere that you don’t get in too many places over here [in the United States]. I really like the show and I will definitely come back!”
One of the most fun and creative classes of the event, the $36,000 EquiJet Accumulator CSI4* featured ten obstacles of increasing difficulty, where points accrued for each fence cleared. Obstacle one jumped without fault earned one point, while obstacle two jumped without fault earned two points and so on. At the final fence, exhibitors could choose to jump the number ten obstacle and earn the associated ten points, or they could take the harder ‘Joker’ fence, worth 20 points. Successfully clearing the ‘Joker’ jump earned 20 points, but knocking it down would result in deducting 20 points from the total tally.
As the third combination to tackle the track, Rowan Willis (AUS) and his own Wellington Grandorie became the first successful pathfinders, stopping the timers in 49.55 seconds with the first perfect 65-point score. Just two trips later, Sloane Coles (USA) and Calisto 26, also owned by Willis, amazingly tripped the timers in the exact same time, finishing on 65 points in 49.55 seconds to tie the early leaders. Halfway through the pack, the lead changed hands for the first time thanks to Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) and Louisburg Farm’s Balous Day Date, who managed to edge out the leading duos with a swift time of 49.22 seconds without lowering any fences. Upping the speed further still, Lillie Keenan (USA) piloted Chansonette Farm LLC’s Agana Van Het Gerendal Z to a brisk 65-point round in 48.40 seconds, but soon thereafter Coyle and his own CHS Krooze took to the ring determined to add another first prize to their growing list, crossing the finish line with all the rails still in their cups in a blazing 46.16 seconds to capture victory.
Throughout the class, a total of 12 of the 24 entries ultimately rode to perfect scores over the 10-fence course designed by Ken Krome (USA). The second-best of the afternoon, Keenan and Agana Van Het Gerendal Z clinched the runner-up spot, while Conor Swail (IRL) and Gamble, owned by Asta Torokvei, rounded out the podium with a 65-point score in 48.63 seconds.
Coyle and the 9-year-old mare CHS Krooze are rookies to the National Horse Show, but their first visit has proved fruitful as the partnership has earned first place in Thursday’s $36,000 International Open Jumper Speed CSI4* as well as Friday’s $36,000 EquiJet Accumulator CSI4*. On Wednesday, the combination sped to second position in the $36,000 Free x Rein International Jumper Welcome Speed CSI4* costume class, as well. Just weeks ago, Coyle and CHS Krooze topped the $36,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI3* at Tryon International Equestrian Center and the pair led the victory gallop in the $36,500 Friends of Tbird CSI2* at Thunderbird Show Park in May of 2019, making for a winning year.
The 2019 National Horse Show will return Saturday, with juniors and amateurs highlighted in the afternoon in the $50,000 Hollow Brook Wealth Management Show Jumping Hall of Fame Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper Grand Prix, and the $225,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Lexington CSI4*-W will bring top show jumping competitors to the ring Saturday evening.
FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE
Daniel Coyle - $36,000 EquiJet Accumulator CSI4* winner
On CHS Krooze:
“She is actually my own horse and she has been incredibly consistent all year, but every show I show her in she gets better, as she has proven here. She has been second once and first twice and only jumped three classes, so that is pretty incredible! She still impresses me every time I go in the ring so I am delighted with her.”
On his partnership with CHS Krooze:
“I got her at the start of the Florida season last year and started riding her myself. She has been great from the word ‘go’. It has been a little bit of me getting to know her, more than her getting to know me, but I think now both of us have clicked and know each other really well. That is probably why we have become so consistent.”
On doing the Accumulator class format:
“The accumulator class is hard actually because every jump is a little bigger and then they sneak the ‘Joker’ in at the end, plus it is a speed class so it takes a clever horse to realize that the jump goes up. She is very clever, though, and it just all kind of went my way. She is always going to be fast, so it is more just getting her used to this height, but I knew she could handle it.”
On competing at the National Horse Show:
“This is my first time here and the show has been great. It is a good atmosphere and a real indoor-type atmosphere that you don’t get in too many places over here [in the United States]. I really like the show and I will definitely come back!”