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Hannah Selleck gets first GP win at Summer Classic II

Aboard Tosca, 21-year-old rider defeats Lane Clarke on Bay Rose's Nikko in exciting duel

Special to the Horsetrader - September 2nd, 2010 - Show & Event News

Captured Moment Photo

Hannah Selleck and Tosca outdueled Lane Clarke on Nikko for her first career grand prix win at the Summer Classic II on Aug. 21.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — Thirty-three horse-and-rider duos a demanding Leopoldo Palacios-designed course at the $35,000 Summer Classic II Grand Prix, held Aug. 21 at Rancho Mission Viejo Horse Park.

Only the first two on course — Lane Clarke aboard Bay Rose’s Nikko and Hannah Selleck riding the fiery mare, Tosca — were able to do so. After a battle of the sexes in the jump-off, the 21-year-old Selleck won with with a stellar double-clear ride.

The course was technical and demanded a careful, yet gutsy ride. A total of 17 obstacles, including three combinations and a water jump in a keep-up-the-pace allowed time of 87 seconds.

“This was a very tough national grand prix,” admitted Palacios. “I tried to challenge the group as much as possible.”

The first two entries made fault-free rides appear possible. Clarke jumped Bay Rose’s Nikko around the course just a fractioon of a second beneath the allowable time in 86.72 seconds. Then, Selleck brilliantly answered Clarke’s call and forced the jump-off, laying down a clean and aggressive first round ride in 79.98 aboard her chestnut mount, Tosca. “The track suited Tosca,” Selleck said of her 14-year-old Belgium Warmblood. “The opening and shortening between fences is exactly what she likes.”

Selleck appreciated the course, too.

“Leopoldo’s designs are great,” she said. “They make me think about the track — which helps me ride better.”

As the other 31 competitors took to the course, Palacios’ challenge was evident. All remaining exhibitors picked up faults of some kinds – rails fell, time allowed was exceeded, hooves landed in the water, refusals, run-outs and accidental dismounts.

“Leopoldo’s courses are hard, technical and have a tight time allowed,” said Clarke. “He does a great job of getting rails in different places, plus the horses and the riders always learn something.”

As the first to take on the shortened track, Clarke knew his ride had to be strong.

“Hannah is a rocket, and I knew I had to put the pressure on her,” said Clarke, whose horse navigated the shortened track in 48.98 seconds, picking up eight faults at the end.

“I am really happy with my horse,” Clask added of Bay Rose’s Nikko. “He is green at the grand prix level and is coming along fantastically.”
Having the advantage of following Clarke in the jump-off, Selleck and Tosca galloped onto the International Field with an air of determination.
“In the jump-off, the pressure was on.” she said. “I just had to go out there and stick to my plan.”

Selleck presented the crowd with a masterful ride and triumphantly crossed the timers without fault in 45.15 seconds earning her first win in the grand prix arena.

Although close but not clean in round one, some of the remaining prizewinners deserve mention. The fastest four-fault ride was Mexico City’s Jaime Azcarraga aboard his grey partner Selsius, who had just one unlucky rail at the second element of the 5A-B combination in 82.52, for third place honors.

Slightly over half a second behind Azcarraga, Susan Hutchison and El Dorado 29’s Cantano picked up the fourth place prize, with four faults at 13A, the tall black and white striped vertical, the first element in a combination that caused trouble for many. Fifth through seventh went to four fault rides from Mexican riders Eduardo Menezes and his horse Utopia, Otavio Penedo aboard Carando Equisearch, and Eduardo Menezes riding Avargo Mercedes Benz.

RESULTS

$35,000 Summer Classic II Grand Prix
presented by Equ Lifestyle Magazine
      1. Tosca – Hannah Selleck (Descanso Farm) 0/0/45.15
      2. Bay Rose’s Nikko – Lane Clarke (Bay Rose LLC) 0/8/48.98
      3. Selcius – Jaime Azcarraga (Jaime Azcarraga) 4/82.52
      4. Cantano – Susan Hutchison (El Dorado 29) 4/83.14
      5. Utopia – John Perez (John Perez) 4/83.94
      6. Carando Equisearch – Otavio Penedo (Otavio Penedo) 4/85.42
      7. Avargo Mercedes Benz – Eduardo Menezes (Eduardo Menezes) 4/85.97
      8. Socrates De Midos – Michelle Parker (Cross Creek Farms, Inc.) 4/86.92
      9. Percynality Mercedes Benz – Eduardo Menezes (Eduardo Menezes) 8/85.10
    10. McLord’s First John – Lane Clarke (Mickey Hayden) 9/87.62
    11. Bauer – Hannah Selleck (Descanso Farm) 12/79.69
    12. Green Sleeps Vioco – Mark Watring (Horseworks Etc.) 12/83.72

3 comments have been made on “Hannah Selleck gets first GP win at Summer Classic II”

  1. Kathy Dearth R.N. Says:

    Way to go on the horse,Hannah! I rode horses when I was younger. You are an inspiration to all.

  2. Rachel Franck Says:

    My daughter Amber also has a famous father. She had done great things in the dressage world. It is so refreshing to see these girls become famous in their own right because what they do takes a lot of personal talent and an immense amount of dedication and hard work. They are wonderful role models and ” just good people”.

  3. Donagrace Addington Says:

    Well done! Tremendously inspiring and congradulations earned by your obvious dedication to the sport!! Go Girl! Is there a blog or website that will allow us to follow your career?

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