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Germantown, Tenn. Saturday, June 10, 2017 – The $25,000 Grand Prix of Germantown is the highlight of the week’s show, and culmination of the hunter/jumper part of the show. Course Designer Phillip DeVita, Jr. of Apopka, Florida sets the course every year and, likewise, Germantown Olympic star Melanie Smith Taylor, along with DeVita, explains the course to the audience prior to start of the competition. Thirteen riders came to compete in theis year’s prestigious class, several veterans of the GCHS Grand Prix.
Phillip DeVita’s course was a tough one and, at the end of round one, there only two clear rounds. Brandon Howard riding Homewood Farms’ Costa Rica had the first clear round, with a time of 77.018 and zero jumping faults. Second clear round was ridden by Michael Tokaruk on Hit Me Van’t Zorgvlie scoring 80.723 plus zero jumping faults. Jorja Rose Jones, on Light Show, had a clear jumping round, but one time fault kept her out of the jump off. Her score was 84.107 plus zero jumping faults plus one time fault.
The jump off was a “nail biter” as Howard had another clear round on HF Costa Rica. His score: 39.322 seconds and zero jumping faults. Entering the arena, Tokaruk had ride another clear round and in a faster time than Howard. Hit Me Van’t Zorgvlie was definitely up to the task, scoring a faster time of 36.814 seconds plus zero jumping faults. Tokaruk had won not only the $25,000 Grand Prix, but also the third class in the GCHS “triple crown.” He won the the $5,000 GCHS Hunter/Jumper Versatility Challenge featuring the Keepsake Perpetual Trophy, the $15,000 Open Jumper Welcome Stake, the $25,000 Grand Prix of Germantown. Hit Me Van’t Zorgvlie was definitely the star of the Germantown Charity Horse Show!
Brandon Howard and HF Costa Rica were reserve champions. Jorja Rose Jones and Light Show were third. Shannon Beyer and Invictus were fourth (score 75.904 + 4 JF). Liza Stockstill and Ultime De Bloye were fifth (score 75.904 + 4 JF). Matt Cyphert and Carat V were sixth (score 81.626 + 4 JF). And Jorja Rose Jones was also seventh with Chris Richards’ Uno Z (score 76.076 + 8 JF). Tokaruk also placed eighth on Cassie Kime’s Tenacious D (score 77.879 + 9 JF). Abigail Sellers and Plaisir Du Laurier were ninth (score 78.212 + 8 JF). And finishing in the top ten, Beth Von Brecht was tenth with Melody (score 78.212 + 8 JF).
Germantown, Tenn. Saturday, June 10, 2017 – The $25,000 Grand Prix of Germantown is the highlight of the week’s show, and culmination of the hunter/jumper part of the show. Course Designer Phillip DeVita, Jr. of Apopka, Florida sets the course every year and, likewise, Germantown Olympic star Melanie Smith Taylor, along with DeVita, explains the course to the audience prior to start of the competition. Thirteen riders came to compete in theis year’s prestigious class, several veterans of the GCHS Grand Prix.
Phillip DeVita’s course was a tough one and, at the end of round one, there only two clear rounds. Brandon Howard riding Homewood Farms’ Costa Rica had the first clear round, with a time of 77.018 and zero jumping faults. Second clear round was ridden by Michael Tokaruk on Hit Me Van’t Zorgvlie scoring 80.723 plus zero jumping faults. Jorja Rose Jones, on Light Show, had a clear jumping round, but one time fault kept her out of the jump off. Her score was 84.107 plus zero jumping faults plus one time fault.
The jump off was a “nail biter” as Howard had another clear round on HF Costa Rica. His score: 39.322 seconds and zero jumping faults. Entering the arena, Tokaruk had ride another clear round and in a faster time than Howard. Hit Me Van’t Zorgvlie was definitely up to the task, scoring a faster time of 36.814 seconds plus zero jumping faults. Tokaruk had won not only the $25,000 Grand Prix, but also the third class in the GCHS “triple crown.” He won the the $5,000 GCHS Hunter/Jumper Versatility Challenge featuring the Keepsake Perpetual Trophy, the $15,000 Open Jumper Welcome Stake, the $25,000 Grand Prix of Germantown. Hit Me Van’t Zorgvlie was definitely the star of the Germantown Charity Horse Show!
Brandon Howard and HF Costa Rica were reserve champions. Jorja Rose Jones and Light Show were third. Shannon Beyer and Invictus were fourth (score 75.904 + 4 JF). Liza Stockstill and Ultime De Bloye were fifth (score 75.904 + 4 JF). Matt Cyphert and Carat V were sixth (score 81.626 + 4 JF). And Jorja Rose Jones was also seventh with Chris Richards’ Uno Z (score 76.076 + 8 JF). Tokaruk also placed eighth on Cassie Kime’s Tenacious D (score 77.879 + 9 JF). Abigail Sellers and Plaisir Du Laurier were ninth (score 78.212 + 8 JF). And finishing in the top ten, Beth Von Brecht was tenth with Melody (score 78.212 + 8 JF).
