HorsesDaily: USET - Showjumping: Garson Wins $100,000 Jaguar Gold Coast Grand Prix

Nona Garson Wins $100,000 Jaguar Gold Coast Grand Prix

Wellington, Florida
March 15,1999:
United States Equestrian Team (USET) veteran Nona Garson of Lebanon, NJ, was in the winner's circle aboard the 11-year-old Russian-bred, Loro Piana Rythmical, in the $100,000 Jaguar Gold Coast Grand Prix. The competition was held March 14 at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club during the seventh and culminating week of the Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival's stay in Wellington, FL.

Garson was one of four qualifiers to advance to the tiebreaker round where she cleared the eight jump track in 37.81 seconds, edging three-time Olympian, Anne Kursinski of Flemington, NJ, aboard the Australian-bred, Eros. Kursinski finished a clear jump-off round in 38.40 seconds, followed in third place by Alison Firestone of Upperville, VA, and Arnica De La Barre who clocked in at 38.29 seconds, but had one knockdown for a penalty score of four faults.

Going first out of the four in the jump-off, Garson's strategy was to go fast, but not too fast. "I wanted to give them something to shoot at," she said, winning by .593 seconds over Kursinski and her 1996 Olympic mount, Eros.

Garson's victory was her second of the season aboard Rhythmical. "If I could have my choice of any horse in the world, it would be Rhythmical," said Garson. "He's got great speed and he's naturally quicker than 99 percent of the other horses."

In other action, 1996 Olympic show jumping team Silver Medalist Leslie Burr Howard of Westport, CT, won the $25,000 Ariat WEF Challenge Cup Series - Round V. Howard was one of eight out of a starting field of 71 starters to clear the 13 fence course without penalty. She finished clean aboard After Eight in 77.40 seconds. Rookie Marley Goodman of Palm Beach, FL, and her mount, Degas 5, finished close behind Howard in 80.42 seconds, followed by Alice Debany Clero, who clocked in at 81.16 aboard Larico.

Earlier in the week, Ken Berkley of Flemington, NJ, captured the $10,000 Talent Stake aboard the 12 year-old Dutchbred gelding, King's Ransom, owned by Gina Day of Boulder, CO. Berkley bested a field of 35 starters, turning in a clean ride in 43.11 seconds. Rookie Elizabeth Towell of Camden, SC, turned in the second fastest, fault-free round in 43.52 seconds up on Kargita. Third place went to McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, aboard Rio, jumping the course clean in 44.66 seconds.

USET veteran Tim Grubb of Pottersville, NJ, was in the winner's circle aboard Elan Florestan in the Open Speed Challenge. Grubb cleared the course in a blistering time of 89.10 seconds, edging Chris Kappler of Pittstown, NJ, up on Cottage Norman. Kappler stopped the timers in 89.81 seconds, followed by Amanda Gumberg and Mont Blanc who finished in third with 89.97 seconds.

Results


$100,000 Jaguar Gold Coast Grand Prix
Wellington, Florida  - March 14, 1999
Course Designer: Avelino Rodriguez de Mirabelles, Gijon, Spain

Place / Horse 		 Rider		  Faults-Time	Purse     
1. Loro Piana Rythmical	 Nona Garson 	  0-0-37.81 	$30,000
2. Eros			 Anne Kursinski   0-0-38.40 	$22,000
3. Arnica De La Barre 	 Alison Firestone 0-4-38.29 	$13,000
4. Lovely Girl 		 Lynne Little 	  0-8-38.54 	$8,000
5.  Aiglefin 		 Laura Bowery 	        .25 	$6,000
6.  Abel A		 Eliza Shuford 	        .75 	$5,000
7(t). Lancier 4 	 Jimmy Torano 	 	4 	$2,000
7(t). Crown Royal Legato Peter Leone 		4 	$2,000
7(t). Truman 		 Andre Dignelli 	4 	$2,000
7(t). Capital S 	 Nona Garson 		4 	$2,000
7(t). Macanudo Deniro 	 Peter Wylde 		4 	$2,000
7(t). Concerto		 Leslie Howard 		4 	$2,000
7(t). Belladonna 	 Katie Prudent 		4 	$2,000
7(t). Ivanhoe 		 Brian Sweeney 	 	4 	$2,000