James Chawke brought a fresh string to the CSI3* Summer Fort Welcome, the first of back-to-back weeks of international jumping at Thunderbird Show Park this month. The question was how fresh?
The Irish rider tested the waters on Wednesday, jumping a few fences in the CSI3* Happy Welcome 1.40m with both Daido Van’t Ruytershof Z and Nacara Van Berkenroeck Z. Later that evening, he tested the gears in the $31,100 CSI3* tbird Speed 1.45m.
“Neither of my horses have shown since [we were] here in May. So that’s why I jumped the 1.40m and just did a couple of jumps on both of them to see where they’re at,” explained Chawke.
Fourth of 24 in the ring for the day’s feature class, he set a speedy standard on Daido Van’t Ruytershof Z on Peter Holmes’ 13-effort track, stopping the clock at 57 seconds flat.
“She’s naturally quick. So I was just trying to do all the steps and I figured it’s going to be up there or thereabouts.”
“Thereabouts” proved to be three seconds fastest. Kassidy Keith (CAN) and Havana, national Grand Prix winners at tbird in June, were the closest runners up in 60.12. Vanessa Mannix (CAN) and Carmela Z took third in 63.05.
“When she goes in the ring, she’s very game. You just point to the jumps and she goes,” continued Chawke.
Daido Van’t Ruytershof Z is a newer acquisition for the Irishman. The 10-year-old Zangersheide mare jumped internationally under four riders prior, most recently Italy’s Linda Bratomi, and is something of a 1.45m specialist.
Chawke took over the ride earlier this year.
“I originally went to try her for someone else. We liked her, but we just decided she maybe wasn’t the one for them. I didn’t know exactly how much jump she had, but I thought she would be a useful ranking horse—she [has blood] and is quick—so I bought her.”
In their four shows together since April, she’s proved his hunch correct. The pair has jumped to four podium finishes in ranking classes—and counting.
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CSI3* tbird Speed 1.40m
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time
1. Daido Van’t Ruytershof Z / James Chawke / IRL / James Chawke / 0 57
2. Havana / Kassidy Keith / CAN / Kassidy Keith / 0 60.12
3. Carmela Z / Vanessa Mannix / CAN / Vanessa Mannix / 0 63.05
4. CMS Garadice / Karianne Boyce-Lockhart / USA / Karianne Boyce-Lockhart / 0 66.12
4. Grandeur WP / Bretton Chad / CAN / Stone Ridge Farms LLC / 0 66.12
5. Iowa B / Travis Root / USA / Lindsay Wendt / 0 69.8
6. Cera Caruso / Katie Laurie / AUS / Carissa McCall / 4 57.86
7. SIG Chiari / Kyle King / USA / The Chi Group / 4 59.07
8. Kristalic / Charlie Jones / GBR / Morning Star Sporthorses LLC / 4 60.8
9. Gallup / Shauna Cook / CAN / Gallup Syndicate / 4 61.09
10. Rhapsody / Sarah Lottis / CAN / Kevin Lottis / 4 64.56
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