International competition during Desert Circuit III at Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, CA, concluded Sunday as athletes took to the $138,600 Sun Air Jets 1.55m Grand Prix CSI3* to compete for the top prize. Thirty-five elite athletes entered the Grand Prix Arena to contest the track built by Alan Wade (IRL). Though many fell victim to the various challenges presented across the course, a total of 10 pairs navigated the first round clear and took on the jump-off. Ultimately, it was Ireland’s Conor Swail who took the win aboard his own Vital Chance de la Roque.
Wade’s course featured 13 numbered obstacles and 16 total jumping efforts, including a vertical-oxer-vertical triple combination, an oxer-vertical double combination, a wide triple bar oxer and sweeping turns through the expanse of the Grand Prix Arena. Canada’s Ali Ramsay produced the first clear effort riding Bonita VH Keizershof Z as the fourth to tackle Wade’s challenging track. A tie-breaking jump-off would be guaranteed just two rounds later when Sophia Siegel and A-Girl navigated a clear effort. Darrin Dlin (CAN), Karrie Rufer (USA), Keri Potter (USA), Cassio Rivetti (BRA), Lisa Carlsen (CAN), Kaitlin Campbell (USA), Swail (IRL) and Ramsay with her other mount Lutz would all add their names to the jump-off roster by the conclusion of the first round.
The shortened eight-element jump-off set new challenges for competitors. In addition to two new fences not seen in the first round, the track left multiple spaces open for athletes to cut corners and save time on the clock should they choose to take the chance. As the pathfinding duo for the jump-off, Ramsay and Bonita VH Keizershof Z suffered two unfortunate rails, leaving the door open for her fellow competitors. Immediately following, Siegel found her way to the first double-clear effort of the class riding her own A-Girl, crossing through the timers in 43.12 seconds to set the standard for the remaining eight competitors.