January 28, 2024, Myakka City, Florida. The Lugano Diamonds Split Rock Jumping Tour’s (SRJT) Sarasota CSI2* at TerraNova Equestrian Center featured the $300,000 Split Rock Championship series with finals at 1.35m, 1.25m, 1.15m and 1.0m. After two days of championship rounds, top prizes were awarded to Rebecca Conway (USA), Rowan Willis (AUS), Alex Granato (USA) and Erin Bownds (USA), respectively.
$100,000 Dutta Corporation 1.35m Championship
Second in the order for round two, Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen (USA) and her own Far West de Hus (Windows VH Costersveld x Blankonette III), a 9-year-old Selle Francais gelding, had the first clear, setting the pace as they crossed the timers in 49.254. Next in the ring, Michael Hutchinson (IRL) attempted to best Vanderveen’s time with Labaomi W (Carambole x Baomi), an 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by JR Show Stables LLC, matching the clear effort but fell short with a time of 52.431. The next two combinations, Abigail McArdle with I&H Boogy Woogy and Alex Granato riding Cupcake, each delivered a winning time but fell victim to the vertical-oxer combination on the rail.
The final pair, Rebecca Conway and Hilington Farm’s 14-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare, Jersey Girl (Careful 28 x Turban Rose), picked up a strong gallop and gave a final push to the last fence. They blazed through the timers in 44.575 and took the win by more than four seconds. Vanderveen took second place, and Hutchinson rounded out the podium as the only other double-clear finisher.
$100,000 Dutta Corporation 1.25m Championship
One of the largest divisions of the day, the $100,000 Dutta Corporation 1.25m Championship had eight combinations go to the second round. Samuel Parot was the first to kick off the class and delivered a fast clear, which he held for the entirety of the first round. Brooke Kemper and Lando van de Oude Molenhoeve, second to go in round two, were the first to produce a double clear in 47.969.
Saturday’s $100,000 Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix CSI2* winner, Rowan Willis and his experienced 16-year-old warmblood stallion, Ashton Dakota (Lupicor x Corofino I), knocked over a second off the newest leading time, crossing the timers in a swift 44.395. Last to go, Samuel Parot and Singulon, were eager for the win and proved that the winning time could be topped, clocking in at 42.806, but a heartbreaking four faults kept Parot off the podium. Willis earned another win to conclude his week with Granato finishing second and Goyoaga Mollet rounding out the top three.
$75,000 Dutta Corporation 1.15m Championship
The $75,000 Dutta Corporation 1.15m Championship and $25,000 Dutta Corporation 1.0m Championship finals were the first events on Sunday and crowned the first two 2024 Split Rock Championship Series winners. Beginning Saturday with qualifiers, both events’ winning combinations delivered three clear rounds across the weekend.
“Derek [Braun] has done a nice job with these shows bringing it along at all different levels,” Granato said. “It’s rare to do this type of class for this much money, so I wanted to bring an experienced horse for each level, and I think this one was ready for it.
$25,000 Dutta Corporation 1.0m Championship
The inaugural $25,000 Dutta Corporation 1.0m Championship crowned Erin Bownds as its first winner aboard Irish (Flamenco de Semilly x Plenty), a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Alexia Honegger. Mallory L Giza with Typhoon Z (Tornedo FCS x Sanchez), a 6-year-old Zangersheide gelding owned by John Giza, had a double-clear round to earn second. Priana Malhotra on VDL It’s Andiamo (Andiamo Z x Estarina), her own 11-year-old KWPN gelding, placed third place after their double-clear round.
The TerraNova Equestrian Center team thanks the riders, trainers, officials, judges, the SRJT team, course designers, ring and facility crews and spectators for joining us at TerraNova for the Split Rock Sarasota CSI2* and Championship Series!