It’s a Sizzling Finale for Sergio Campos at the Atlanta Summer Classics-
Sergio Campos Announces New Owners of Shakira do Jacare
- Atlanta Fall Classics Series
- Jumping the Moon from Equussource Magazine
It’s a Sizzling Finale for Sergio Campos at the Atlanta Summer Classics
Sergio Campos and Shakira do Jacare ©Flashpoint PhotographyConyers, GA - The finale of the Atlanta Summer Classics proved to be a hot week for Brazilian born Sergio Campos. Beginning with Thursday evening’s victory for the Longwood, FL based pro in the Classic Equine Equipment sponsored Lucky Sevens Welcome Jumper Stake.
Longwood Equestrian Center’s owner Campos partnered with the Millcreek Stables’ entry Millcreek Early Morning bested 21 first round horses on a snaky 12 obstacle –79 second allowed layout by renowned course designer Michel Vaillancourt. “He [Michel] set two lines with a half stride, but this was a riders course. You had to make quick decisions and unfortunately the ones who didn’t had a rail or other troubles.” Campos said. Given their clear round time of 71.497, it’s safe to say Campos was both thinking and quick. Campos’ assessment of the tracks was a plausible explanation as to why only 4 horses returned for the jump off.
Campos also gives a lot of credit for the win to the 8 year-old mare, “I’ve been working with her since she was a 4 year-old and basically I was the first one to ever show her. It’s a pleasure to bring her to this point-this far. She’s a thinker too.” he said. But in the final round questions switched to which of the four horses could combine speed with agility and stop the clock cleanly first. With a time allowance of 52 seconds, rider Blythe Marano aboard the Riverview Farm, LLC owned Urban had the added pressure of returning first, but a cool head and quick hoof landed the pair clean in a time of 44.408. Next in was the Renee White owned Arnado with rider Karim Ghaibi, who started well but had an unfortunate rail near the end of the course, leaving them with 4 faults in 45.044. “It was a pretty straight forward course, only one inside turn, so it was a little bit of a horse race.” chuckled Campos. A race he and Early Morning won by 3 seconds with clear time of 41.010. “Can’t wait for the prix this weekend!” exclaimed the happy winner on his walk back to the barn.
Friday evening was dedicated to fun, food, and funding with the annual Outback Steakhouse Charity dinner and silent auction to benefit Hope Clinic, a local organization that provides affordable health care to area residents in need. But what’s dinner without a floorshow? Well a dozen brave individuals who entered the Trainers Equitation Medal class guaranteed that. After a traditional round over fences came the light hearted under saddle -keep in mind these poor judges had already spent a majority of their day outside in the heat, so they were more than ready to develop some creative judging. Riders endured a stirrupless sitting trot, rising trot, and canter only to then be asked to dismount and remount, again without the aid of stirrups. There was some inventive methods used, such as standing on top of a roll top jump or climbing the fence rail and leaping. From here the group was narrowed down to 4 survivors for testing, the kicker came when the judges required the riders to swap mounts. After a few moments of horse introductions the shifts occurred and clucking over the jumps began. When the dust and laughter settled it was Florida’s Clair Kellner as the ultimate survivor of the night. 2nd place went to Selby Merritt, 3rd place to Britiani Brown, and 4th place to Jennifer Ramsey.
The Outback Steakhouse $25,000 Grand Prix was the main attraction on Saturday evening. While the thrills of show jumping always puts spectators on the edge of their seats, this evening would turn into an emotional roller coaster for 16 year-old Sarah Owen of Hendersonville, NC. Owen held her breath when Shakira do Jacare, the 12 year-old Brazilian bred mare dubbed The Queen of Speed, reunited with former owner-rider Sergio Campos entered the Olympic Grand Prix arena with the intention of reclaiming her title. The pair were 21st out of 23 on the initial order of go and only 7 had succeeded in going clean at that point, among them last week’s heroes Daniel Geitner and Trading Places. Designer Vaillancourt spared no punches on his 13 obstacle [16 efforts] with a conservative time allowance of 86 seconds. “I actually felt confident when I walked the first round and really thought this was a course for Shakira, just because the combinations were so tight and she’s so quick. She knows that really well.” Campos said of their scorching time of 77.393 that assured a face off round. Meanwhile Owen sat shaking in a golf cart over looking the field. “She was phenomenal. Better than ever.” an emotion choked Owen whispered.
Among those joining Campos for the finale was last week’s champ Daniel Geitner aboard Kyle Register’s Trading Places, Hardin Towell with the entry from Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare- Copado, and recent Youth Olympic Festival (held in Australia) Gold Medal winner Taylor Land with her partner Canaille. With an allowed time of 52 seconds to traverse cleanly over 7 obstacles that twist and turned all the competitors would have to work for a shot at victory. The first clear ride went to owner-rider Leo Paoli aboard Remonta Escaupil who set the bar at 45.951 seconds. Next in was Daniel Geitner and Trading Places with a flawlessly fast 42.502 to take the lead. The next two faulted, then junior rider Taylor Land brought Canaille home clear in 43.197. Two more before Shakira enters the ring and owner Sarah Owen couldn’t decide what was worse watching or not watching. Everyone around is cheering for her [Owen], even veteran greats like Derek Petersen and then the chatter stops as the blazing chestnut mare gallops in. 40.688 seconds later Owen is overcome with emotion as the crowd erupts in celebration of the “Queen’s” return. “It was pretty much a speed test. Just gallop after gallop and only one rollback, but when it comes to speed, well she [Shakira] is the best.” a smiling Campos said as he hugged Owen. Walking out to receive the awards with tears still pricking Owen’s eyes, second place finisher Daniel Geitner smiled and said, “How can anyone feel bad about losing when they see that kind of happiness?”
All the emotion behind this evening’s victory stems from Shakira taking a year and half away from the prix level when Owen purchased the mare so that they could learn one another better. “I think she’s better than ever, because she’s had the lighter work and time to grow bonded to Sarah.” Campos said. The mare was taken all the way back to level 1, given a new diet, and plenty of time off to “simply be a horse”. Times were difficult for Owen and the mare in the beginning, Shakira didn’t always like working at lower levels, which caused frictions that made both Owen and Shakira question themselves at times. However, Sarah and mom, Christine Vanneck, “never stopped believing.” When asked for her thoughts at the moment victory was certain, Sarah reflected and said, “What a struggle we’ve had and…just…finally! We’re ready now.” While Campos heads to Tennessee to compete, Sarah and “The Queen” plan to make their own Grand Prix debut in just 2 weeks at the Tryon, NC summer event.
Back to TopJanuary 28, 2008
*LONGWOOD, FL. JANUARY 28, 2008* Sergio Campos of Florida's Longwood Equestrian Center is pleased to announce today that his long-time Grand Prix partner, Shakira do Jacare, has a proud new owner, Sarah Owen of Hendersonville, N.C. The 15-year-old rider will launch her junior career in
2008 and point her new mount toward Grand Prix competition.
"I am absolutely dumbfounded right now," said Owen, ringside at HITS in Ocala, FL where she and her new mare are making their debut. "I can't believe that she's really mine." Owen's horse, She Can Dance (a.k.a. Sammy), was part of a trade agreement with Longwood in securing Shakira, but other terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"They were really a perfect match," says Campos. "Shakira and She Can Dance are very similar—both are pretty 'hot', and Sarah was clearly very good at handling that kind of horse—they don't intimidate her."
Owen's mother, Christine, confirms: "The horses are the same and Sergio really saw that," she notes. "So, when we were in Atlanta in the fall I said: 'Wouldn't it be funny if Sarah got on Shakira?' That was Thursday, by Friday morning she was showing her in the Level 3s and did great."
Shakira do Jacare, an 11-year-old Sport Horse mare (MM Primo x Gran Harmonia), was bred by Campos at his family's ranch in Campo Grande, Brazil. She is the offspring of his champion stallion Primo, who died tragically in a barn accident in 1997. A handy mare, known for her speed and turn-of-foot, Shakira helped Campos lead the victory gallop in four Grand Prixs in 2007 as well as numerous mini prixs and Welcome Stakes throughout the Southeast.
Naturally, for Campos, the decision to sell was an emotional one. "She has been wonderful horse, and she definitely won a lot for me," said the 31-year-old rider. "But the time was right. At this point in my career I'm a little more focused on finding a prospect for the World Cup/Nations Cup/Olympic level. Shakira is a super grand prix horse, and a great speed horse," he continues "but for the international level—I knew she couldn't take me there. She's a bit nervous. I have asked her to jump international courses for me, and she's done it, but I never felt it was fair to her to do such a hard job all the time."
Campos recently acquired 10 horses from Ron and Cheryl Krise's Split Creek Farm, including the international contenders Sun God and Curioso Z. He will also be competing this spring on his 9-year-old Zangersheide gelding Cognac do Jacare.
Marking their arrival on the circuit with style, Owen and Shakira won their first class together: the Modified Junior/Amateur Jumper LV4, on Jan. 24 in Ocala. "They went 1st and held the lead the whole way," reports Christine. Owen will now be coached by Campos while traveling and continue to work with
long-time trainer Betsy Pack while at home in North Carolina. Their goal is to show Shakira at the Grand Prix level this summer.
Campos' Longwood Equestrian Center, located outside of Orlando, has more than 50 horses in training, including 20 horses in the United States and 30 more in a breeding program in the athlete's native Brazil. He will be showing his young jumpers as well as his exciting new Grand Prix contenders at HITS Ocala through mid March before moving to the Winter Equestrian Festival in Tampa, FL.
*Flashpoint Media Services, based in Harrodsburg, KY, is a comprehensive public relations firm specializing in the equestrian sports. For additional information contact Cynthia Grisolia, 347-423-7322,
cindy@flashpointmediaservices.com or Robbi Meisel, 859-734-3713, robbi@flashpointmediaservices.com*
Back to Top Atlanta Fall Classics Series
A Week of Moments
Conyers, GA - November 13, 2005 – Take Zone Four Finals, National Classic Equitation Finals, the $25,000 Barry Lane Memorial Grand Prix, the $25,000 Rio Vista Products Grand Prix and you get the first
of two big weeks of showing at the Georgia International Horse Park.
The 3rd Annual $25,000 Barry Lane Memorial Grand Prix continued it's growing success with 98 competitors in the qualifying round on Saturday, November 12th from which a field of 61 moved on to the challenging course designed by Jeff Smiley for Sunday's championship rounds. A mere 12 riders made into the final jump off.
Sarah Owen of South Carolina with her partner Arko, a 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding not only won but made a little history in the Memorial Prix. After a clear first round time of 76.172, Sarah's clean jump off time of 37.269 made her the youngest rider at age 13 to win this event. She commented, "It was a big well laid out course. The only jump I worried about was the big Liverpool, but Arko had no problems!" Sarah went on to share "this was our 5th show together and our first big money class ever." When
asked what was next for her and the big bay guy who jumps in a Hackamore she smiled and replied "We're going to try this at the National Horse Show now."
Kimberly Jungherr and Roscoe took second place with a jump off time of 37.336, following in third was Esme Melchior and Bienvenido with a jump off time of 38.074, fourth went to Tovah Goldfarb on board Gaby Do Anjo with a jump off of 40.432, and rounding out the fifth spot was Natalie Solyomvari and Galileo 36 with a finishing time of 43.041. Classic Company president and sponsor of the Barry Lane Memorial Prix, Bob Bell stated, "Barry is surely smiling down today! She would love seeing someone so young do such a great ride." He went on to say, "This event was created to remember a wonderful trainer-rider that we lost far too soon and she would just be so proud of this young lady's big win."
Back to Top Jumping the Moon from Equussource Magazine
By Meredith L. Mills & Rachel Cook
Jumping a horse is like nothing else. Gathering speed, tensing muscles, lining up with the jump and then you're airborne. That one moment is all about the trust between you and your horse. For that small amount of time, you feel as if you could soar into and above the clouds. As the saying goes, aim for the moon because you'll always land in the stars.
Imagine being 13 years old and at the top of your game. Sarah Owen and her 17-hand Dutch Warmblood gelding, Arko, know all about stars. They hung theirs at the Barry Lane Memorial Grand Prix in Atlanta last fall. In fact, they out-jumped 98 competitors to make Sarah the youngest rider ever to win the $25,000 grand prize.
"It was a big, well laid out course," said Sarah of the course designed by Jeff Smiley. "The only jump I worried about was the big Liverpool, but Arko had no problems!"
"Barry is certainly smiling down today!" said Bob Bell, president of the Barry Lane Memorial sponsor. "She would love seeing someone so young do such a great ride," he said of Sarah's clear first round time of 76.172 and clean final jump-off time of 37.269.
"It was nerve-wracking at first, but I was okay after I got around," Sarah said. This eighth-grader has a great love of the sport to be competing at this level at her age. When asked what she wants to do now, her reply is simple: "keep riding."
To meet and talk to her, you would never know Sarah is a national jumping star. She enjoys competing at shows with a lot of friends her own age, and the modest teenager says they take turns winning. And yet, she competes and wins against riders much her elder. In fact, she goes head-to-head with some
of the veterinarians who look after Arko and other horses at her home farm, Muny Sunk Stables (www.munysunkstables.com).
It helps that Sarah comes from a long line of horse jumpers. Sarah's mother, Christine Vanneck, has been riding, reining and jumping since she was 6 years old. Christine's grandfather was also an experienced horseman, who instilled an "old school" theory of riding in Christine. Christine has worked hard helping Sarah follow in her footsteps.
It's also not bad that Sarah's life revolves around riding. She is home-schooled to allow time for traveling to more than 30 shows throughout the year, not to mention training in between. Her trainer, Judy Young says
of Sarah, "she likes riding and has time to devote to it, but even more, she has natural talent." Judy doesn't fail to mention that Sarah has a great horse in Arko and he certainly helps bring the ribbons home.
When Sarah and her mother are not on the road, they reside in Hendersonville, NC, at their recently acquired 20-stall full-board facility. Muny Sunk Stables is a great place to train and ride performance show horses in the beautiful shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains. To walk out your front door to a beautiful ring atop a hill with views for miles and then have your horses in the barn at walking distance behind your house is a great way for a 13-year-old girl to spend her time.
When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, Sarah's reply is "I don't really know yet, but I would like to stay involved in horses in some way. I know I don't want to be a vet, though, because I don't like needles!"
You can see Sarah and Arko compete in horse shows along the East Coast this year, in USEF (United States Equestrian Federation) Zone 3 shows. Throughout the past several years, she has qualified and competed in many national and final Hunter and Jumper associated events in the Pony Hunters and Pony
Jumpers as well as the Equitation finals and Children's Hunters finals. And now she's added competing with adults on her 16-year-old Warmblood. It's safe to say there's a lot to look forward to during the rest of Sarah's junior riding career and beyond. The future is promising for this young star and we can't wait to keep watching her jump ahead!
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