Spencer Smith on MarkiesWashington, D.C. – OCTOBER 21, 2009 – The 2009 Washington International Horse Show continued today with the best horses and riders in the country competing in jumper championships. There were three jumper classes in total, and the first class victory went to Spencer Smith and Markies in the $10,000 Children’s Jumper Championship.
Today was just the beginning of a week full of exciting jumper competition. The courses are designed by Guilherme Jorge of Brazil. In the $10,000 Children’s Jumper Championship, 13 horse and rider combinations were clear from the first round to advance to the jump-off. The early lead was held by Lauren Tyree on Eurocommerce Rome, who was clear in the jump-off in 28.123 seconds. The lead changed hands when Rachel Brodsky and Elliot 92 lowered the winning time to 27.671 seconds.
But it was eventually Spencer Smith and Markies, who went second to last in the jump-off, that would find the winning ride in 25.935 seconds. For their win, they were awarded the H. Fenwick kollock Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by Friends of Fen.
Smith and Markies, a 24-year-old veteran show jumper, were quick in the jump-off and left out strides where possible. Twelve-year-old Smith of Wellington, FL, trains with his parents, Emily and Ken Smith. He has been riding Markies for two years and said that the seasoned horse has taught him everything he knows about the jumpers.
“He is different. He switches his leads a lot and swaps a lot, but he is really good. At first I didn’t like him, but now I do a lot,” Smith said of Markies. “He has taught me speed, and he taught me how to ride really.”
“I love going fast and I like the bigger jumps,” he continued. “I think I made up time at (fence) nine, that turn back to the oxer.”
This was Smith’s first time competing at the WIHS and he said of his win, “This is probably one of the best that we have done together.”
For more information and full results, please visit www.wihs.org.
Jennifer Wood for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
