San Juan Capistrano, CA — July 25, 2021 — The first of three festival weeks kicked off with newcomer Charlie Jones jumping to the top of the leaderboard taking both first and third on Gerko III Van De Zeilhoek and Charismo Z respectively in the $25,000 Markel Insurance 1.45m Grand Prix during the Blenheim Summer Festival.
The Markel Insurance Jumper Series has been growing in popularity enticing many new competitors, like Jones, to see if they could add their name to the list of twenty-five individuals who will be invited to take part in the finale at the Las Vegas National Horse Show in November.
Similar to the popularity with riders, spectators packed the stands and the surrounding grass area to watch as a starting field of 16 horse-and-rider combinations contested the course designed by Andrew Lima and experience the highly regarded Olympic Sand Arena. Ultimately, six horse and rider pairings would advance to the shortened track.
Jones set the pace in the jump-off as he had the first clear ride on Charismo Z, an 8-year-old Zangersheide gelding. From there, he bested his own time, shaving off two seconds with 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood Gerko III Van De Zeilhoek. Jeffery Fields and Sherlina Ale, a 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Sahana Ganesan, tried their hand at the track falling just short of taking that top spot by two-tenths of a second, ending up second overall.
With two horses in the jump-off, Jones set a goal of going for the top two spots, “I definitely went in trying to beat my other horse. I really wanted first and second, but we didn’t get that today. The other horse, Charismo, is a bit greener than Gerko and I felt like I pushed him as hard as I wanted to, and Gerko I can push a bit more.”
Jones knew Gerko was able to rise to the occasion as he has been a part of Gerko’s career since before Lindsay Maxwell purchased him. “I have known him since he was five, but I didn’t actually get to ride him until he was eight and then Lindsay bought him. I started riding him again about four months ago and I have always liked him, he is a real character.”
The British native is related to equestrian phenom Nick Skelton and has been riding since he was a kid. The 22-year-old has only been competing in the US for just under six months and this is his first major win stateside. Jones credits his success to the support and generosity of Maxwell and her team at Lindsay Maxwell Equestrian.
For the win, Jones was presented with a gift bag from ShadyLady Sun Protection while Maxwell, as the owner, received a gift certificate and frame from Topline Design Ribbon Wreaths.
The 15-class series culminates this November at the Las Vegas National Horse Show, where the top 25 riders are invited to compete in the finale event. To view the series specifications and the full leaderboard to date, click here.
$25,000 Markel Insurance 1.45M Grand Prix Classic Results Place – Entry # – Horse – Rider – Faults/Time1. 415 – Gerko III Van De Zeilhoek – Charlie Jones – 0/0/37.2412. 174 – Sherlina Ale – Jeffrey Fields – 0/0/37.481
3. 416 – Charismo Z – Charlie Jones – 0/0/39.803
4. 344 – Mr. Incredible – Jason McArdle – 0/4/42.024
5. 478 – Citoki – Skylar Wireman – 0/8/38.188
6. 340 – Calvara 13 – Catherine Nolan – 0/8/46.221
7. 322 – Elicole – Jason McArcle – 4/73.832
8. 670 – Adele XIII – Bruno Diniz Das Neves – 4/74.796
9. 233 – Chazino – Alexandra Biederman – 4/76.128
10. 258 – Limbossini RC –Mark Watring – 4/76.526
11. 319 – Cabacento – Jason McArdle – 4/77.538
12. 173 – La Vita Bella Z – Sahana Ganesan – 5/80.96
All Photos: McCool Photography
