Reaching its penultimate stop of the 2021 calender year, the Split Rock Jumping Tour returned to Bruce's Field for the second year of the Aiken International, this time with an upgraded CSI3* rating. Highlighting Thursday's competition was the $50,000 Restylane FEI Welcome, where forty-one horse-and-rider combinations represented seven nations across Peter Holmes' track.
It was Ultimately the United States' Aaron Vale with Don Stewart and Sleepy P Ranch's Major who were victorious, following an exciting jump-off competition.
A total od 15 athletes successfully answered all of the questions asked on course, making the jump-off portion a competitive race against the clock.
Vale was last to go, drawing the most sought-after position in a jump-off. Having watched the rounds of all the competitors before him, Vale knew the exact track to take and relied on his horse's naturally quick pace to cross the timers at 39.65, saving the best for last. Tracy Fenny would settle for second place with MTM Appe and fifth with MTM Dolce Vita while Will Simpson finished third, followed by Brooke Kemper in fourth. Vale returns to the Aiken international having dominated the tour stop in 2020, taking a total of 10 wins throughout the week of competition including last year's FEI Welcome with Elusive.
Source: Press release Split Rock Jumping Tour
Photo: © Four Oaks Creative for SRJT