Traverse City, Mich. – Sept. 8, 2021 – Making its return to Traverse City, Michigan for the second time, the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament, presented by the Davis McCullough Foundation, got underway Wednesday, September 8. Founded nine years ago by Jeff Papows, the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament is a registered 501(c)(3) charity. The event’s support of animal rescue efforts have been a mainstay of its mission, as well as The Davis McCullough Foundation, the longtime presenting sponsors. Athletes were hopeful to kick it off with a win as they took to the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring for the $5,000 Rood & Riddle 1.40m. Topping a field of 14 talented international athletes, it was the United States’ Cathleen Driscoll and Elli Yeager’s Iceman de Muze who emerged victorious to start the week off strong.
Course designer Anderson De Moura Lima set forth a welcoming track for the immediate jump-off format class. Setting the pace early on, David Oberkircher and Upper produced the first double-clear effort as the second pair to tackle the course. They crossed through the timers in 38.510 seconds to challenge those to follow. Just three rounds later, Nikko Ritter aboard Zohra M Z, owned by Wendy Dixon, slipped into a strong leading position, slicing and dicing his way around the arena during the jump-off to shave over five seconds off of Oberkircher’s time, stopping the clocks in 33.907 seconds.
Three more rounds would follow until a new leader emerged. Coming off of a win in both the Equiline 1.30m Jumper and the 1.35m Jumper earlier in the day, Driscoll entered the arena with confidence aboard Iceman de Muze. Typically ridden by Yeager, Driscoll took the reins on the 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion to prepare him for Yeager who is in her first year of college. Driscoll’s catch riding skills paid off as she made her way into the leading position, completing the jump-off just seven-tenths of a second quicker than Ritter in 33.294 seconds.
Immediately following, fellow Plain Bay Farm athlete Dominic Gibbs took to the arena riding Amazing II, owned by Mountain King Ranch, LLC, attempting to unseat Driscoll. Gibbs and Amazing II fell short of the lead, finishing their jump-off round in 33.441 seconds to seat the pair in the second place position. The remaining athletes were unsuccessful in taking the lead for themselves, ultimately lending Driscoll the top spot. Gibbs and Amazing II would finish the class in second place, with Ritter and Zohra M Z rounding out the top three.
The Silver Oak Jumper Tournament, presented by The Davis McCullough Foundation, will continue Thursday, September 9, running concurrently with the Traverse City Tournament of Champions. Thursday’s competition will highlight the $36,600 Malvern Bank 1.45m Two-Phase CSI3*. The Silver Oak Jumper Tournament will culminate Sunday, September 12, with the $137,00 Agero Grand Prix CSI3*.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Cathleen Driscoll – $5,000 Rood & Riddle 1.40m winner
On Iceman de Muze:
“Elli Yeager started college so I’m showing him this week to get him ready for her. She is going to come and do the CSI2* classes. I am so excited to have the ride on him this week, he’s a fabulous horse. This was the first class I’ve done on him and I went in and just jumped a nice first round and I thought I would see where I was. He has a humongous stride so in the jump-off my plan was just to be as smooth as possible. I did leave out strides down the first line and the last line as well, he covers the ground so nicely I really honestly wasn’t expecting to win. It was a nice surprise! He might do one more class this week and then he’ll be ready for Elli to come and hop on him next week.”
On Traverse City Horse Shows:
“We love Traverse City. It’s a staple on our show schedule throughout the whole year. It’s fabulous to have these wonderful showgrounds and Traverse City is such a beautiful town to spend the summer in. I’ve been very excited to be here and I’m thankful to the sponsors behind the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament.”
RESULTS
$5,000 Rood & Riddle 1.40m Jumper
Place / Horse / Rider / Country / Owner / Faults | Time
1. Iceman de Muze / Cathleen Driscoll / USA / Elli Yeager / 0 | 33.294
2. Amazing II / Dominic Gibbs / USA / Mountain King Ranch LLC / 0 | 33.441
3. Zohra M Z / Nikko Ritter / USA / Wendy Dixon / 0 | 33.907
4. Glen / Jonathan McCrea / USA / Windsor Show Stables / 0 | 33.995
5. Favoriet U / Jonathon Millar / CAN / Millar Equine Sales / 0 | 34.023
6. Coronado Blue NF / Eric Navet / FRA / Signe Ostby / 0 | 34.044
7. Valmont de Vizy / Kelly Arani / USA / Marigot Bay Farm LLC / 0 | 34.740
8. Upper / David Oberkircher / USA / Southfields Farm LLC / 0 | 38.510
9. Kirschwasser SCF / Freddie Vazquez / PUR / Freddi Vazquez / 0 | 38.540
10. Chadina / McKayla Langmeier / Linda Langmeier / 4 / 34.200
11. Finch Farm Clifford / Kristen Vanderveen / USA / Kristen Vanderveen / 13 | 50.159
12. Dontez / Freddie Vazquez / PUR / Freddie Vazquez / Withdr
