Wayne, IL – The open jumpers had their first class of competition today during the second week of the Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular horse show held at the beautiful Lamplight Equestrian Center.

Canada’s Beth Underhill and Rhiannon proved last is the best when they sped to the win in the $10,000 Canterbury Farm Open Jumper Welcome Stake. Underhill beat her leading time with Rhiannon and finished second with Magdaline. Chuck Waters and 747, the only other double clear round, were the third place finishers.

The courses in the main grand prix ring at the Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular II this week are designed by Hector Loyola of Puerto Rico. The course today was a Table II, Sec. 2a-b option, where riders could choose to return immediately for their jump-off or at the end of the class. There were ten numbered obstacles in the first round, and seven riders were clear to advance to the jump-off. All seven chose to complete their jump-off at the end of the first round.

Underhill was second in the jump-off on her first mount, Magdaline. Magdaline was smooth and neat. Underhill made the inside turn options to finish clear in a time of 36.656 seconds to take the lead. Underhill was also the last to return on Rhiannon, a horse owned by Beth Underhill Stables. Rhiannon kept a quick pace and was quite careful through the one stride at 3ab. She finished clean in 36.495 seconds to take the lead away from her stablemate, Magdaline.

Thirteen-year-old Magdaline has been in Underhill’s barn for seven years. Magdaline was the pacesetter for today’s class, but Underhill was not necessarily going for the fastest time. “She’ll jump in the grand prix on Saturday, so I wasn’t trying to go as fast as I could possibly go. I was trying to be smooth and efficient,” she explained. “It was fortunate for us that there were horses that were quick, but they just had an unlucky rail, so her time held up. I was happy to have two clean rounds with her.”

Underhill only had herself to beat when she entered the jump-off with Rhiannon. Underhill has owned eight-year-old Rhiannon for a year and a half, and she has just moved up the grand prix level. “My plan was to go smooth and try and be clean. It was one of those times where everything started working out off the pace,” she recounted. “I just kept on the lick, and it worked out. I certainly wasn’t trying to beat Magdaline’s time, but it was really exciting that she did. It was good mileage for her and a super horse show for her to learn at.”

This was Underhill’s first time showing at the Lamplight Equestrian Center. “I’ve always heard such great things about it. This year I really made an effort to make my schedule work so I could come. Everyone is so helpful and friendly. I’m going to tell my friends to come next year!” she said with a smile.

Final Results: $10,000 Canterbury Farm Open Jumper Welcome Stake

1. Rhiannon, Beth Underhill: 0/0/36.495

2. Magdaline, Beth Underhill: 0/0/36.656

3. 747, Chuck Waters: 0/0/37.190

4. Accordion, Robert Kraut: 0/4/36.416

5. Viva, Nick Novak: 0/4/37.235

6. Sampras, Laura Linback: 0/4/37.660

7. Nomograff, Allison Kroff: 0/4/40.031

8. On Line, Kate Reuter: 4

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