Spencer Brittan and Unico Ride Fault-Free to Secure $50,000 Grand Prix of Traverse City

Press release GLEF – Week One of the first series of the 2016 Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF) concluded on Sunday with the $50,000 Grand Prix of Traverse City, presented by North Face Farm. Eighteen-year-old Spencer Brittan of Sweet Oak Farm and Unico earned the top prize as the only rider of the class to navigate a fault-free jump-off in his first time competing in the Grand Prix Ring at Flintfields Horse Park.

„I’ve had Unico for three years now,“ said Brittan. „He jumped just awesome in the grand prix. That was the first opportunity I had to just go clean for the win. We were walking down there and were just planning on going all out. When Lacey had that rail down, my trainer, Lorcan [Gallagher], just said, ‚Take about ten breaths – all you have to do is go clean.‘ So that was the plan.“

Germany’s Olaf Petersen designed a large first round track with a tight time allowed. The course consisted of three variations of double combinations – a vertical to oxer, vertical to vertical and an oxer to vertical – tight rollbacks and a triple bar fence. Only four of the 32 horse and rider combinations were able to produce clear rounds over the fences, but none were able to master the course completely fault-free. Each of the four exhibitors collected time faults in their first round course thus allowing for a jump-off to take place between the top three competitors with 1 time fault.

David Jennings was the first to return to take on the short course. He piloted Blue Moon 22, owned by Full Circle Farm, to a 4-fault jump-off finish, setting the pace at 40.121 seconds. Next was 22-year-old Lacey Gilbertson, who trains with Michael DelFiandra and Shane Sweetnam at Sweet Oak Farm, and Seabrook LLC’s Echo D. She followed Jennings 4-fault trend, but was able to catch his time by one second in 39.021 seconds to move into the lead.

„The course was nice,“ said Gilbertson. „I thought it was definitely big enough, but not too big for a $50,000 class, and the time was definitely tight, which made it a little tricky.

„The jump-off round was good,“ continued Gilbertson. „After David had one down, we were just planning to go in and be smooth and clear and then once I had the in of the double down, I knew I had to pick up the pace a little bit because he has so much air time and isn’t as quick across the ground. He was so great though.“

With this year being Gilbertson’s first year competitively riding at the grand prix level, she’s thrilled with Sunday’s second place finish with the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding.

„I’ve had [Echo D] for a year and a half now,“ said Gilbertson. „He’s my first grand prix horse to teach me how to jump big. He’s honestly my favorite; he’s just delightful to ride. He’s easy, brave and he’s the perfect move up horse, and he’s gotten really good results over the past six months.

„This is my first real year,“ continued Gilbertson. „It’s been really good. Last summer was my first summer moving up on him so this summer I have a little more experience and now I can actually go in the jump-off and take risks instead of just trying to go clear and be good.“

It was all left up to the youngest of the jump-off contenders to attempt the only faultless finish of the class and take the win. Brittan and Unico, owned by Paradise Farms, blazed through the jump-off course with ease in 45.452 seconds, but left all the rails up to garner them first place honors.

„I went second to last in the first round so I got a good understanding of the course,“ said Brittan. „[Unico] was really good in the first round. I thought I was under the time allowed but it was very tight. I thought I went clean, but then we just had to pull it together for the jump-off.

„The courses were really good,“ continued Brittan. „With Unico, my plan is to always keep him calm. I walked in there just trying to go slow and tidy in the beginning to keep him relaxed for the rest of the course. Then in the jump-off we just tried to do the same thing.“

Of the fiery 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Brittan said, „He just has so much energy, I feel like he has plenty of years left.“

As the first week of GLEF wraps up, both Brittan and Gilbertson are looking forward to Week Two.

„I was probably doing the ponies last time I was here,“ said Brittan. „This was my first time riding in the grand prix ring – it was a lot of fun. I think we’ll come back next year for sure. Next week is our last week here then we’ll go to Kentucky and do a couple of grand prix up there. Unico’s been going great so we’re just trying to keep him healthy and do as many classes as we can with him.“

„I’ve actually come to this horse show every year since I was 14 except for last year we ended up going to Spruce, but now we’re back because we love it so much,“ said Gilbertson. „I like it; I think it’s really good. I think the footing is really nice and the courses have been good. We’ll be here through next week and I’ll do the grand prix again on Echo D.“

The Great Lakes Equestrian Festival is set on 88 beautiful acres and showcases five world-class competition rings in addition to spacious schooling rings. The property features don’t stop there as the park offers convenient on-site campgrounds and weekly nights of entertainment for a truly unique attendee experience.

Results: $50,000 Grand Prix of Traverse City
1 UNICO SPENCER BRITTAN 1 80.165 0 45.452
2 ECHO D LACEY GILBERTSON 1 80.551 4 39.021
3 BLUE MOON 22 DAVID JENNINGS 1 80.153 4 40.121
4 ZEPHIRE HAYLEY BARNHILL 2 81.927
5 EVERYTHING KELSEY THATCHER 4 72.986
6 CUPID SHUFFLE MICHAEL TOKARUK 4 74.111
7 ESQUILINO BAY CAELINN LEAHY 4 74.925
8 FENOM VAN KLAPSCHEUT ELIZA LEHRMAN 4 75.592
9 BLUF BRETT BURLINGTON 4 75.674
10 CARLOTTA ANDREW BOURNS 4 76.667
11 VENTURO 9 LORCAN GALLAGHER 4 77.161
12 LACAROLUS DEREK BRAUN 4 77.545

For more information, please visit www.greatlakesequestrianfestival.com.

Source: Press release GLEF