Wayne, IL – September 13, 2013 –The Showplace Fall Classic Championship Horse Show continued today at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL. Named the 2012 USEF Zone V “A” Horse Show of the Year, Showplace Productions continued it’s tradition of excellence heading into a weekend of championships and finals with today’s highlight being the $5,000 Junior/Amateur Owner Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Season Final, sponsored by Wisconsin Equine Clinic and Hospital.

The Grand Prix ring also featured the $1,500 Modified Child/Adult Jumper Classic and the $1,500 Low Children’s/Adult Classic sponsored by Bill Jacobs BMW of Naperville, IL.

Seventeen Junior/Amateur Owner riders competed to earn the blue ribbon in the $5,000 High Junior/Amateur Owner Hall of Fame Jumper Classic in the newly remodeled Grand Prix Ring.  The Hector Loyola designed course was a galloping course flowing across the entire ring. The designer used a triple combination near the end of the course and an end jump away from the gate as the final jump. Bold oxers and multiple approach options to the verticals led to an interesting and fast jump off.

The battle for the lead changed hands several times throughout the class. Setting the pace from the start was Kelsey Thatcher and Balougris SL Z with a double clear round and a time of 42.282 seconds. A few trips later, Lillie Ross and Pako took over the lead with a double clear and a time of 40.990 seconds.

Two trips later it was the younger Thatcher sister, Madeline, and Splendor who took the lead in 40.573 seconds. Four trips later the lead went back to Kelsey Thatcher and her mount, Everything, making sure she gave her little sister a run for their money.

Then the ball was back in Madeline Thatcher’s court with her horse, Licapo. The pair galloped and jumped the verticals at hard angles to save time but fell just short of the time at 39.855 seconds.

Breaking up the family party was Stephan Foran, EAP winner, and Etienne B, again pulling out all the tricks in the bag to leave the sisters in the dust. Again falling short of Kelsey Thatcher’s blazing time, Foran had 38.843 seconds, which just wasn’t fast enough for the lead.

After all the dust settled and the boxing gloves were put away, it was Kelsey Thatcher and Everything at the top, Stephen Foran and Etienne B took second and Madeline Thatcher walked away with both third and fourth on Licapo and Splendor respectively. Lillie Ross and Pako won the fifth spot and Stonestreet with Madison Billings swept up sixth.

“Showing against Kelsey has its pluses and minuses,” said Madeline Thatcher. “I love the challenge it gives us. Both of us want to win and we love to push each other, but we’re both very supportive. And if I don’t win, there’s nobody else I’d rather see at the top!”

Older sister, Kelsey, flew in from University of Georgia on Thursday night to show today. She is a Senior studying Early Childhood Education and loves not having classes on Fridays as it allows her to show more easily.

“Showing against Maddy is like showing against myself. We both have nice horses and we both want to win. Most people confuse us anyway,” laughed Kelsey.

The class was sponsored by Wisconsin Equine Clinic and Hospital who has supported the Junior/Amateur Jumper division since this spring at the Showplace Spring Spectacular Shows. The equine clinic has been available at the Chicago area shows to help educate and support the riders and trainers in competition.

“The doctors and staff want to thank Showplace Productions, Lamplight Equestrian Center and the exhibitors for the opportunity to support and provide care to the local horse community through the help of its industry partners,” stated Dr. Chuck Johnson of Wisconsin Equine.

Another sponsor in the Grand Prix Ring today was Bill Jacobs BMW of Naperville, IL. The top dealer had several models of BMW’s displayed on the show grounds for spectators to see.  Client Advisor, Nancy Schmitz explained that her daughter rides and she thought it was a great opportunity to match four-legged horsepower to the horsepower of the Ultimate Driving Machine, BMW. The dealership sponsored the $1,500 Low Children’s Adult Jumper Classic and the $1,500 Modified Children’s Adult Jumper Classic.

Riders tackled the lengthy course and a speedy jump off in order to claim a prize. For twelve-year-old Celia Bresch of Barrington Hills, IL, Friday the 13^th was nothing but luck for her as she took the blue ribbon in both classics today. Riding the veteran 19-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Keepen Posted owned by Mint Hill Farm, Bresch set the fastest times of the day. Bresch has been riding the horse about a year in the jumpers and has another mount, Intrepid, she rides in the Novice Children’s hunter division.

“I was nervous about the tight turns in the jump off in the first class,” admitted Bresch. “In the second class the bigger jumps were scary but I was more sure of myself in the jump off since I already rode it once.”

Bresch rides with Perfecta Farm in Elgin and will be competing in the Illinois Hunter Jumper Association Children’s Medal Finals on Sunday.

Finishing second in the Low Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic was Caelinn Leahy and Steve Scheafer’s Joseph Phelps. Leahy is no stranger to the top ribbons in the Children’s Jumpers. She was Champion in Colorado this summer and won the Low Child/Adult Speed Derby there.

Taking the well deserved third place ribbon home was Molly Struve and Blackrock, owned by well known local Amateur rider Donna Struve, who finished clean and quick.

Following the winner, Bresch, in the Modified Child/Adult Jumper Classic was Heather Concklin of Hinsdale, IL and her Savoy. Savoy is a 14-year-old warmblood mare. Concklin, an adult rider, kept up with the youngsters as she blazed around the course with the second fastest time of 33.036.

Another fast time of 36.586 was set by Rebecca Lannoye and Mercedes Bay, earning them the third place ribbon.

Showplace Fall Class Championship Horse Show continues Saturday with the $30,000 WeatherTec.com Grand Prix. Running Sept.10-15, 2013, the acclaimed horse show features the USEF Zone V Golden Spur Finals, the IHJA “A” Medal Finals, the Marshall & Sterling Finals and much more.