Kassidy Keith (CAN) has had her eyes on the CSIU25-A MarBill Hill U25 League Final for quite some time. A previous winner of the series with former mount Crackerjack, she dreamed of reclaiming the title with Havana, a 9-year-old mare she has developed since she was just four years old.
Mission accomplished.
Keith secured the Series with a Sunday morning victory at Thunderbird Show Park, topping a four-horse jump-off aboard her longtime mount. Her winning time over Peter Holmes’ (CAN) short course was 34.13 seconds. Reid Pankewicz (CAN) finished second with Barack (36.88 seconds), with Nyah Chernoff (CAN) and Causality Z third (4/36.78).
“This series win for me with Havana means a lot, because I brought her up from such a young age,” said Keith, 23. “She’s really near and dear to my heart, and I think she’s just going to get better. Today she tried really, really hard. She knows when it’s a special day, and she tried her heart out for me.”
Keith and Havana made their CSI3* debut in August, taking a win in the U25 division at tbird’s Summer Fort Classic CSI3*. Returning to the U25 League for its international designation at the Harvest Celebration, the pair had been knocking on the door all week long, finishing second in both the opening speed and jump-off classes. Those victories went to Nyah and Stella Chernoff, respectively.
“I’ve been fighting it out with Stella all year and, for me, I normally win the speed portion, so I actually haven’t done a ton of jump offs, and I’ve been doing [the U25 division] for a while,” Keith said. “Last year, I got a ton of practice, and the more I ask of her, the better she is.”
Competition at Thunderbird Show Park resumes with the BCHJA Fall Finale CSI2*, Sept. 28–Oct. 3, 2021.
All classes from the Thunderbird Jumper Arena will be live streamed on tbird TV.
$25,000 CSIU25-A MarBill Hill U25 League Final Powered by Grant Productions
Place / Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time
1. Havana / Kassidy Keith / CAN / Kassidy Keith / 0/0 34.13
2. Barack / Reid Pankewicz / CAN / Reid Pankewic / 0/0 36.88
3. Casuality Z / Nyah Chernoff / CAN / Stump Lake Ranch & Cattle Co. / 0/4 36.78
4. Fay / Stella Chernoff / CAN / Stump Lake Ranch & Cattle Co. / 0/8 31.75
5. Crown Royal / Hayley Mercer / CAN / Hayley Mercer / 4 78.19
6. Chinell / Stella Chernoff / CAN / Stump Lake Ranch & Cattle Co. / 4 78.74
7. Lestat OLD / Ashley Arnoldt CAN / Jennifer Arnoldt / 4 79.78
8. Fiventum Kieni / Nyah Chernoff / CAN / Stump Lake Ranch & Cattle Co. / 8 77.88
9. Ilana / Halle Duke / CAN / Halle Duke / 12 75.66
10. Lux la Loi / Cassie Gorsline / CAN / Lisa Carlsen / 12 82.85
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