Sergio Campos and the Longwood Equestrian Center sum up the Kentucky Summer Classic

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:51:30 -0400

Sergio Campos and the Longwood Equestrian Center Sum up The Kentucky Summer Classic

Sergio Campos and the riders of the Longwood Equestrian Center wrapped up week two of the Kentucky Summer Shows, held at Lexington’s Kentucky Horse Park, with several impressive ribbons and a promising Grand Prix debut.    Campos kicked the week off with a big win in Wednesday’s 1.40 jumper class with Monkey du Parc, a young bay who showcased his careful style and impressive speed.
Owned by Longwood client Diana Rodolpho, Monkey, paired with Campos, bested what appeared to be an unbeatable ride by Angel Karolyi aboard Gallant.   The win urged Rodolpho to enter her horse, an 8-year-old Selle Francais, in Thursday’s $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic. “This was our first real grand prix,” noted Rodolpho, who navigated the course well despite earning several faults. “I was so nervous, but I was glad I did it. And he was just great. I have a very special bond with this horse,” she added, “I always have.”  Campos himself then showed Monkey in Saturday’s $40,000 RV Sales of Broward Grand Prix and was impressed with the results. “He jumped very, very well,” said Campos. These were big! He ran in to some trouble in the triple combination, but he just doesn’t understand yet how to roll back enough—but that’s all part of the learning process. Everything else went really well and we’re very pleased with him.”  In other results this week, Campos collected the red ribbon in Thursday’s 1.40 with Cancun Z, owned by Mariana Savage. Cancun Z was also 6th in YJC 7/8 Year-old Qualifier. “He has barely had a rail the whole meet,” noted Savage of the big gray who won the Level 7 jumpers in week I. “He’s 1st or 2nd in almost every class.”  Aboard Pontitano, owned by Landon Faezell, Campos was 8th in the 1.40 and in the 1.35, he took 4th with Lamira, owned by Robin Swinderman. And new Longwood client Daniel Vasconcelos earned 3rd place in the Low A-O Jumpers with his mare Serena.  All in all, “We had just a wonderful time here is Kentucky,” noted Campos. “Next year, we’d like to come back for the whole season.” Campos and company will now head back to Longwood, FL for a short hiatus before showing again in early fall.
Photo: Diana Rodolpho and Monkey du Parc

Flashpoint Media Services: Our Week in Review

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Sergio Campos of Florida’s Longwood Equestrian Center found himself in the winner’s circle this week, as he wrapped up week II of the Atlanta Summer Classic.
Campos and the Marianna Savage-owned Cancun Z were the victors of the YJC 7/8-Year-Old Division for the second consecutive week. Earlier in the week Cancun also captured 1st place in the Open Jumper Level 7 and scored a 4th place in the Lucky Sevens Welcome Stake.
“I am as happy as I can be with him,” said Campos of the 7-year-old Zangershiede gelding. “This is the first time I have shown him myself and he’s been great.”

Campos added that Cancun Z will next “go to Kentucky where our goal is to win the young jumpers with him.”
Campos also earned Championship honors in the Open Jumpers Level 6 with Robin Schwinderman’s Lamira.
Several Longwood clients were also in the ribbons. Dianna Rodolpho, in only her second Grand Prix pairing with her French-bred gelding Monkey du Parc, went double clear to earn 6th place in Saturday’s Outback Steakhouse-Horses Helping Horses Grand Prix. In the Jr/AO Jumper Classic Rodolpho and Quality Star took 2nd place while Mariana Savage, aboard Cassina, was 6th.

And in Sunday’s exciting $15,000 Child/Adult Jumper Classic, Andrew Koussouris went double clear aboard Melissa Rudershausen’s Cowboy for a 4th place finish.

Robbert Hunt and his Hunter Lane Farm riders also wrapped up a winning week in Atlanta.
In the jumper arena, Casino Royal, owned by Grace Howard, took 1st place honors in the YJC 6-Year-Old Division. Piloted this week by Daniel Geitner, the young horse was also 3rd in the Open Jumpers level 7.
“He is coming along just great,” said Kimberly Howard, Grace’s Mom. “The icing on the cake is that Casino is such a sweet horse. We’re just so pleased.”
Howard, meanwhile, made her hunter-ring debut with her own CR Galileo, earning two 4th places a 5th place in the Pre Adult Hunters, while daughter Grace captured no less than six ribbons in the pony ring, including a 1st, 2nd, and 4th place in the Children’s Pony Hunters riding her own When In Rome. When in Rome also earned a 3rd and a 5th in the Equitation 11 & Under.
Rounding out the Atlanta results, Daniel Geitner, of the Aiken, S.C.-based DFG Stables, was Champion in the Baby Green Hunters and also Reserve Champion in the Special Hunter 2-foot-9 with Leah Pharr’s Bryant Park.
Congratulations to all!
Flashpoint Media Services, based in Harrodsburg, KY, is a comprehensive public relations firm specializing in the equestrian sports. For additional information contact Robbi Meisel, 859-734 3713, robbi@flashpointmediaservices.com or Cynthia Grisolia, 347-423 7322, cindy@flashpointmediaservices.com.
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Written by Cynthia Grisolia

Sergio Campos Announces New Owners of Shakira do Jacare

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 10:46:27 -0500

Photo: Sarah Owen and Shakira do Jacare ©Flashpoint Photography*
*Photo may be used free of charge only in relation to this press release

Sergio Campos Announces New Owners of Shakira do Jacare

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

Queen of Speed Returns to Win at Altanta Fall Series

Thu, 8 Nov 2007 18:15:21 -0500

Conyers, GA.—November 8, 2007—“A little vacation never hurts anyone,” commented today’s big winner, Sergio Campos of the Florida-based Longwood Equestrian Center. Campos and his Brazilian homebred mare Shakira do Jacare captured the top spot in this afternoon’s Open Welcome Stake sponsored by Classic Equine Equipment after enjoying some down time the past couple of months.

The 10-year-old mare who has been fondly dubbed the “Queen of Speed” made it quite clear to the field of 28 that her mind set was “game on” the moment she blast into the Olympic-sized arena. “She felt great!” Campos said with broad smile, “I believe she’s really just hitting her prime now.”

The first round of the 12-obstacles course appeared, even after walking it, to be pretty straight forward, with lots of flowing lines and the usual double and triple combinations. Ah, but the designer is Pierre Jolicieur this week, and all the “regulars” to his courses know to count on two things: big spreads – today’s averaged 4’9”–and the “surprise mental trip up.” The first 11 fell victim to Jolicieur’s test, the 5B element of the double combination. Most teams nicked the back rail of the oxer just enough to drop it. “That was really smart of Pierre,” Campos said, explaining the “joker” of the first round. “He gave us comfortable long lines in the beginning of the course. Nice relaxed lines with big strides until the double at 5AB. That was really tight, there’s not a lot of room there. Both horse and rider had to react and readjust quickly.” In fact, Campos was the first to go clear with new mount Sun God, owned by Cheryl and Ron Krise, in a very quick 76.08–well below the allowed 84 seconds. Using the Table II.2b format meant their jump off was immediate and the race to beat the 48-second allowance over seven obstacles became Jolicieur’s ultimate challenge. Only four riders would rose to the occasion. “This was very straight forward,” Campos said of the jump-off round, “No real traps. Pierre wanted pure speed, he wanted the fastest horse to win.” Sun God did not disappoint rider or owner in that department with a fast time of 35.575. But two unfortunate rails, one being at the dreaded 5B element, dashed hopes for double clear rounds.

Shakira was 22nd in the first round order and would become the last to go clean, posting a time of 76.69. “She loves Atlanta!” Campos stated. When asked about the number of victories they’ve shared in this arena Campos chuckled and admitted he honestly can’t remember. “She always does well here.” And with the sound of the jump-off buzzer, the mare showed the enthusiastic crowd exactly how she earned the nickname “Queen of Speed” with a clean run and blistering time of 35.226. Afterwards only five remained to challenge, but none succeeded.

Final results placed Pablo Barrios and Tibor, owned by Bonnie Smith, in 2nd with a clear final time of 37.954. Roberto Teran, Jr riding Distant Star 3E for owner King Ridge Stables took 3rd place with a clear time of 37.998. Fourth went to Campos and Sun God in a time of 35.575 with eight faults, and completing the top five was Roberto Teran, Jr with Encore 3E in a final time of 37.671 and 12 faults.

Asked if the spectators could look forward to seeing him again in the weekend’s main attraction, the $25,000 Grand Prix, Campos flashed his trademark thumbs up with a huge smile. “Oh yes!” His plans include showing both Shakira and Sun God in this weekend’s event and to possibly debut two other new mounts, Cooper and Sante, at next week’s Welcome Stake. “They are coming along, but I don’t want to rush,” said Campos. “I’ve only been riding this group [including Sun God] for about a month and I’m taking my time to make us a good combination,” he added, referring to his recent 10-horse acquisition from Ron and Cheryl Krise’s Split Creek Farm. Others in the group include Grand Prix Champion Curioso Z and young jumper Baloume Z.

Campos credits much of his success to friend and in-house Natural Horseman Paulo Miranda, “Anything he touches becomes gold!” he said referencing the change is Shakira’s winning consistency since working with Paulo. “I’m such a believer now…he’s working with all my horses now.” Campos also expressed a deep gratitude to Ron and Cheryl Krise for “the faith they’re placing in me and all the amazing support. They’ve got somegreat horses and I feel lucky–blessed to be riding them. I really feel we can soon look towards World Cup and beyond.”

The Atlanta Fall Classics continue through November 18th with showing taking place Wednesday through Sunday. Classes begin daily at 8am until approximately 4:30pm and the public is invited. Admission is free and each Sunday will host an exciting $25,000 Grand Prix jumper classic at 2pm. For more information or results on the Fall Classics visit www.classiccompany.com or call the show office at 770-602-2510.

Flashpoint Media Services, based in Harrodsburg, KY, is a comprehensive public relations firm specializing in the equestrian sports. For additional information contact Robbi Meisel, 859-734 3713, robbi@flashpointmediaservices.com or Cynthia Grisolia,
347-423 7322, cindy@flashpointmediaservices.com

Sergio Campos Acquires Top Grand Prix contenders from Ron Krise's Split Creek Farm

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:06:55 -0400

LONGWOOD, FLORIDA—SEPTEMBER 24, 2007— Leading Grand Prix competitor Sergio Campos, of Florida’s Longwood Equestrian Center, is pleased to announce a new partnership with owner Ron Krise of the Delray Beach-based Split Creek Farm LLC. The affiliation includes the acquisition of 10 horses from Split Creek, including the 12-year-old German bred Sun God and the 8-year-old Argentine bred Curioso Z, both of which have been showing at the international level (see complete list below).

Krise, a principal in the horse-show industry for the last 10 years, has been in discussions with Campos over the last few weeks about transferring the Grand Prix contenders and several young jumpers to Longwood. Most recently the horses had been training and competing with Venezuelan rider Pablo Barrios. “ I’ve been watching Sergio for the last four years, and I really like him,” said Krise during a telephone interview. “He’s very honest, he’s so articulate, and he’s very disciplined.”

Krise stressed that he was attracted to Longwood’s “tremendous training program and the “different practices” used to train horses. “Sergio is just a really, really nice kid, “ he added, “and he’s a great rider. I just felt like the time was right to make a change.”

“Ron called me and was very direct,” commented Campos. “He told me he wanted me to ride his Grand Prix horses and also his youngsters, and train his granddaughter [14-year-old Blake Cooper] as she transitions from the Hunters to Jumper classes.”

Campos added that he and Krise met at his farm outside of Orlando and made some clear decisions about all of the horses’ training. “Our plan is for me to ride Sun God and Curios Z in international Grand Prixs and I will train the young jumpers Sante and Baloume Z up to the Grand Prix level.”

“My plan is to let Sergio decide where they will show and when they are ready to show,” added Krise. “He knows best the conditions of the shows, the footing, what level each horse is at, and my plan is to let him make those decisions.”

Campos is a third generation horseman who hails from Campo Grande, a small city in the southwest of Brazil. After a brilliant career as a junior—including training with the legendary Nelson Pessoa—and a stint as a rodeo star, Campos began a professional show-jumping career and, not long after, opened the doors of his Florida-based Longwood Equestrian Center. Since January, he has captured five Grand Prixs with this 10-year-old homebred mare Shakira do Jacare, including the $50,000 Iron Springs Farm Grand Prix in Ocala and the $25,000 Outback Steakhouse/Horses Helping Horses GP at the Atlanta Summer Classic where he was the only clean round of 33 contenders. He’s garnered numerous other blue ribbons in 2007 aboard other Longwood mounts, including the 7-year-old Oldenburg stallion Mill Creek Sancho, owned by Mill Creek Stables. In addition to competing, he is dedicated to producing and selling quality horses and maintaining a group of talented students capable of Grand Prix competition in the U.S.

“This partnership means so much to me,” said Campos. “It will not only give me a different caliber of horse with which to compete but it will also provide a great support system. Ron and his wife Cheryl are very knowledgeable about good horses. They have been at all the best shows all over the world, and that kind of experience, I believe, will be very important in allowing me to reach the international level.”

“My goal with Sergio,” said Krise, “is to try help him earn his dual citizenship in the United States, and to help him earn a place on the U.S. equestrian team. That’s an objective that if we all work at it, we can get it done.”

The 10 horses now residing at Longwood are: Sun God, Curioso Z, Baloume Z, Sante, Wild Cat, Legato, Cooper, Cappuccino, Cathargo, and Stockbridge.

Flashpoint Media Services, based in Harrodsburg, KY., is a comprehensive public relations firm specializing in the equestrian sports. For additional information contact Robbi Meisel, 859-734 3713, robbi@flashpointmediaservices.com or Cynthia Grisolia, 347-423 7322, cindy@flashpointmediaservices.com.

Flashpoint Media Services: Our Week in Review

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:02:07 -0400

JULY 16, 2007—This week, Friday the 13th was anything but unlucky for Sergio Campos of Florida’s Longwood Equestrian Center. On this superstitious day the Brazilian-born Campos piloted his homebred mare, Shakira do Jacare, to yet another victory, this time at HITS Culpepper’s Showday National week.

Facing off against such horse and rider teams as Debbie Stephens and Calloway 4 (who came 4th) and 2nd place finisher Mike McCormick and MTM Remington, Campos and his mare captured the $15,000 Footing Authority Prix in the Grand Prix arena at Culpepper’s Commonwealth Park. Longwood client Melissa Rudershausen also did well in the class, earning 8th place aboard her horse Prins.

Earlier in the week, Campos secured the blue ribbon in the YJC 7&8 Year-old Division aboard Mill Creek Sandhya, and also 6th place with the stallion Mill Creek Sancho, both owned by Canada’s Mill Creek Stable.

In the YJC 6-year-Old Division, Campos also had impressive standings, taking 7th and 8th place aboard Mill Creek Early Morning and Mill Creek Downtown, respectively.

At the Tryon 5th Annual July Riding & Hunt Club Show, top rider and trainer Daniel Geitner, of Aiken, S.C.’s DFG Stables, also scored another success, coming in 1st in the $15,000 EMO Agency Grand Prix, held Saturday July 14 and closing out the week of showing.

Geitner lead the victory gallop with top mount Trading Places, owned by DFG client Kyle Register. He also secured 3rd place aboard the Sara Stumberg-owned Snook and was 7th with Sympa, owned by Mrs. Charles Bostwick.

Earlier in the week Geitner and Trading Places were 2nd in the Welcome stake.

Over in the Hunter ring, Geitner earned the Tri Colors in the Green Working Hunters with Catherine Stumberg’s Ringo and also the Morris Schooling Hunters with the Kira Epstein-owned Astronomical. Geitner was also top dog in the Level 7 Jumpers again riding Sympa.

Also at Tryon, Finally Farm’s Elizabeth Towell-Boyd swept the Pre Green Hunters 3’-3” earning the Tricolors aboard At First Glance, owned by Jennifer Smith, and Reserve champ honors with Amy Wilson’s Charmed. Boyd was also Champion in the Schooling Hunters with the Claire Lee-owned Hamilton.

Look for more exciting results next week as Flashpoint client compete at the Biltmore Estate Summer Classic Horse Show, in Ashville, N.C. beginning July 18.

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

Sergio Campos Leads the Victory Gallop at the $25,000 Outback Steakhouse-Horses Helping Horses Grand Prix

Sat, 30 Jun 2007 18:08:31 -0400

At Saturday’s $25,000 Outback Steakhouse Grand Prix, the highlight of week II of the Atlanta Summer Classic, it all came down to the queen of speed.
In a starting field of 31, not one of the first 23 contenders managed to score a clear round on the thorny 14-fence field designed by Allen Rheinheimer for the Georgia International Horse Park‘s Grand Prix Arena. That is until Sergio Campos, aboard his 10-year-old homebred mare Shakira do Jacare, took the field. The horse and rider team navigated the course perfectly to score the only clean round of the night and an automatic win of the Outback-sponsored class that benefits the charity “Horses Helping Horses.”
The field, characterized by an impressive lineup of international riders--many headed to July‘s Pan Am Games--did yield several excellent four-fault rounds, including second place finishers Rodrigo Bermeo and Kilombo and 3rd place finishers Pablo Barrios and Curioso Z. In the 4th spot was Pablo Andrade on Hanz while Carolos Ramierz landed the 5th place ribbon aboard Amazonas. But as one rider noted: “The course really won tonight.”
“Some of the riders were talking and felt this was the toughest Grand Prix here in Atlanta since the Olympics,” noted Campos, adding that everyone was nevertheless “impressed with Rheinheimer’s challenging course.”
Shakira was one of three mounts for Campos, and not the horse Campos expected to succeed. “When I walked the course, I thought for sure this was the course for Sancho,” said the Brazilian-born rider of his 2nd mount of the night, Mill Creek Sancho, owned by Mill Creek Stables, and winner of Thurday’s Welcome Stake. And indeed the 7-year-old stallion did jump superbly but in the end had two rails down. “But Shakira…she’s really funny,“ he continued of his impressive mare known for her speed and turn-of-foot, “when it matters, when it’s really hard, sometimes something just snaps in her.” Campos also rode Monkey Du Parc, owned by Dianna Rodolpho, who captured the YJC 7-year-Old division earlier in the week.
The Grand Prix was the final event in a full weekend of equestrians giving back. Earlier, riders, trainers and locally based spectators shopped a chock-a-block silent auction and then gathered at the tent perched ringside to enjoy the Outback Steakhouse-sponsored buffet dinner. Proceeds from both events will benefit Old Friends, a Thoroughbred Retirement Facility based in Georgetown, Kentucky. “This is the third year of Horses Helping Horses and it’s just getting bigger and better every year,” said Bob Bell, President of the Classic Company, who conceived the charity with Robbi Meisel, President of Flashpoint Photography and Flashpoint Media Services, and also donates a portion the entry fees from tonight’s GP as well as last week’s Hunter Classic.
“It’s a great organization,” added winning rider Campos, “and I’m always happy to participate when it‘s supporting horses.”
For Meisel, the highlight of the evening had to be the introduction of Mick, her 8-year-old T’bred and Old Friends rescue who was part of a special presentation here in Atlanta. “Mick was 400 pounds under weight, had no heels, and was found living in…an abusive situation,” Meisel touchingly told the crowd. “I wanted you to see what your generosity has done. It literally saved this handsome guy.” Hunter rider Michele Allison and Over the Hill Farm’s Bill Schaub, both of whom have volunteered their time to retrain the former racehorse escorted Mick. Allison has T’breds, several bred and raised at her Florida farm, many of which have become successful show horses so volunteering to work with Mick “just felt right.” She added, “he’s been a willing student from day one and we’re all so proud of him.” Schaub, a renown trainer in his own rite, invited Mick to Over The Hill for the 2 months before tonight’s big event, “I wanted him to not only look like these show horses, but feel good about the environment he was about to be sprung into.” Mick seemed happy enough to bask in all the attention this evening.
And on Friday evening it was another crowd favorite, the Trainer’s Equitation Medal Class, where coaches swap roles with their students and end up being tested by judges on not only their riding skills, but also their singing voices. The class was gamely won by Stephen Heinecke of Hunters Lane Farm while Luke Tokaruk of the Tokaruk Show Stables took 2nd.
The Atlanta Summer Classics continues through Sunday July 1st For more information about Old Friends, see their website at www.oldfriendsequine.org

Photo credit: Sergio Campos and Shakira do Jacare ©Flashpoint Photography Flashpoint Media Services, based in Harrodsburg, KY., is a comprehensive public relations firm specializing in the equestrian sports. For additional information contact Robbi Meisel, 859-734 3713, robbi@flashpointmediaservices.com or Cynthia Grisolia, 347-423 7322, cindy@flashpointmediaservices.com.

Sergio Campos Triumphs for the Second Consecutive Week in NHJL Lucky Sevens Welcome Stakes at Atlanta Summer

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 17:49:42 -0400

CONYERS, GA. JUNE 28, 2007 — At the Atlanta Summer Classics’ Lucky Sevens Welcome Stake, it wasn’t the humidity, but the heat that got the crowd. The heat, that is, coming off the Grand Prix Arena at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers as winner Sergio Campos smoked the competition in, literally, the final scorching stride of a 14-player jump off. Aboard Mill Creek Sancho, a 7-year-old Oldenburg stallion owned by Ontario’s Mill Creek Stables, Campos seemed to amble through the twisty “S” turns of the first few obstacles of the course designed by Allen Rheinheimer before gunning it to the final fence for a final time of 33.335, shaving 3 tenths of a second off of Pablo Barrios’ already blistering time of 33.643. “I had a chance to watch a lot of the other competitors,” said Campos who went 12th of 14 in the jump off, “ and knowing Sancho well, I knew that the first few roll backs--well, he’s too green for that. But he has a really big stride and I thought I could make up time and take strides off the last line.” Which he did, two strides to be exact. “He’s the real deal,” added Campos, who also captured last week’s Welcome aboard his 10-year-old homebred mare Shakira do Jacare. “He’s probably the best horse I’ve ever ridden.” Campos and Shakira also had a speedy round of 33.972, but had an unfortunate 2nd rail down and ended up in 6th place. Pablo Barrios, in second place, had two dazzling rounds on the Anna Lisa Smith-owned Tibor. The team went 4th in the jump off and set the time to beat at 33.642--a time no one came close to until Campos entered the ring aboard Shakira. “He’s a super careful horse,” said Barrios of Tibor, the 11-year-old Belgian-bred gelding with whom he won the $25,000 EMO Grand Prix just last Saturday. “He really has a lot of heart, he’s a winner” Of the staring field of 31 riders, 14 made the jump off, including Rodrigo Bermeo on his horse Kilombo, who ended in 3rd place with a final time of 34.030, Daniel Geitner on the Sherry Cooke-owned Miraj, who came 4th with a time of 34.648, and owner-rider Deborah Connor aboard Hiberia Rouge, who took 5th with a time of 35.838. The Atlanta Summer Classics continue with more hunter/jumper and Grand Prix action through July 1st. Week II is highlighted by the “Horses Helping Horses” charity event on Saturday June 30th, featuring a Silent Auction (10AM until 4PM in the Carriage Room), the Outback Steakhouse ringside dinner (6 pm at the dinner tent adjacent to the GP arena), and the $25,000 Outback Steakhouse “Horse Helping Horses” Grand Prix at 7 pm. All proceeds from both the auction and dinner go to Old Friends, a Thoroughbred Retirement facility in Georgetown, KY. Admission is free to the public (with the exception of Outback dinner-tickets, which can be purchased by calling Becky Miles at 404-791-5963 or at the show grounds).  Photo credit: Sergio Campos and Mill Creek Sancho ©Flashpoint Photography Flashpoint Media Services, based in Harrodsburg, KY., is a comprehensive public relations firm specializing in the equestrian sports. For additional information contact Robbi Meisel, 859-734 3713, robbi@flashpointmediaservices.com or Cynthia Grisolia, 347-423 7322, cindy@flashpointmediaservices.com.

Sergio Campos Gives “Hotlanta” New Meaning At Atlanta Summer Opener

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 18:22:31 -0400

Conyers, GA—June 21, 2007— You hear it every year among those who exhibit at the summer series here, “we’re showing in Hotlanta”, generally a reference to the high temperatures, but for two months now it’s been Sergio Campos of the Florida-based Longwood Equestrian Center creating the real heat with his 10 year old homebred mare Shakira do Jacare. Campos captured the top placing over a field of 30 international riders in the opening Welcome Show Jumping Stake presented by Classic Equine Equipment.
The starting field showcased riders from 6 countries outside the US including a team from Ecuador as well as professionals from Puerto Rico, Columbia, Venezuela, Canada, and the winner’s home country of Brazil. Campos and Shakira do Jacare, whom he owns and trains, bested six jump-off contenders with a clear go in the seven-obstacle final round (the course today designed by Michel Vaillancourt) that challenged riders with a hairpin turn or two and a swift pace. The “Queen of Speed” as she [Shakira] is known around the circuits earned the title with a blazing final time of 33.068, far below the allotted 44-second limit.
Campos piloted three rides in the class, held in the Olympic Grand Prix arena of the Georgia International Horse Park. Of the three, two made the jump off. “I actually thought all my horses jumped well,” said Campos following his victory. “I thought Michel put together a really challenging course for the start of the series,” he added. “It was really tough. Only 6 clean out of 30! This could be an indicator of what’s to come in Saturday’s Grand Prix.”
Campos, who has captured a total of 27 career GPs, attributed his success with Shakira to their experience in the show ring and her natural speed. The most troublesome spot on today’s course seemed to be the 6AB combination, where 80% of the field accumulated downed rails. Course designer Michel Vaillancourt commented riders didn’t seem to be finding their distances in the approach to it. Campos admitted it was a “scopey line”. To make that particularly difficult line work, Campos noted: “Shakira is not too scopey but I know her so well now that I can make adjustments to make it easier for her,” he continued. “Sancho [Campos’ first mount] is very scopey, so it was easy for him and Monkey [his third mount] was good until the triple. I think with the sun beginning to cast shadows in front of the box oxer of the last line he was caught off guard,” Campos laughed, “he tried to jump the shadow AND the oxer.” Sergio has no disappointment in Monkey du Parc given that the young horse recently won the High Amateur Jumper Classic with owner Dianna Rudolpho in the irons.
In a close 2nd place finish was rider-owner Carlos Ramierz aboard Amazonas with a time of 33.359, following 3rd was Geoff Case aboard the ADBF, Inc owned Mashaallah in a time of 37.007, 4th went to Pablo Barrios riding Tibor for owner Anna Lisa Smith in 32.541 seconds with 4 faults, and rounding out the top five was Pablo Barrios with Harlow de Presle for owner Giancarlo Gelleni finishing with 4 faults in a time of 35.523.
Sergio and the Mill Creek Stables owned 7-year-old gelding Sancho had a great start to the youngster’s summer series placing 5th earlier in the 7 & 8 year-old Young Jumper Qualifying class and a well-earned 6th in the afternoon’s Welcome Stake. Mill Creek Sandhya and Campos took the top honors in the same 7 & 8 year-old Young Jumper Qualifier class while in the 6 year-old Young Jumper division he placed 3rd and 6th with Mill Creek Stables’ Early Morning and Downtown respectively.
Campos will give his Grand Prix competitors a day off to relax before they head into Saturday evening’s main attraction, the $25,000 EMO sponsored show jumping event. “I’ll still be working,’ he mused, “they’ll get to lounge and walk about while I’m working with young jumpers all day.”
The action continues throughout the weekend starting at 7PM Friday evening with the 2nd Horses Helping Horses $25,000 Hunter Classic presented by AME Financial. An estimated 30 plus of the nation’s top hunter competitors are anticipated, including last years defending champion Elizabeth Towell Boyd. New for the event this year will be the fun and creative “Golf Cart Tail Gating Contest”, complete with special awards in categories such as “Best Use for Martini Glass”. Saturday evening at 7PM will showcase an International level of riders all vying for the $25,000 top spot in the EMO Grand Prix.
The Atlanta Summer Classics continues with more hunter/jumper and Grand Prix action through July 1st. Week II will include with the “Horses Helping Horses” Silent Auction on Saturday June 30th beginning at 10AM until 4PM in the horse park’s Carriage Room (located behind the covered arena) with an array of tack, 5A Baker Blankets, Racing Memorabilia, Jewelry, and much more. At 5PM the dinner tent located on the Grand Prix field will open with dinner from Outback Steakhouse being served at 6PM. All proceeds from both the auction and dinner go to Old Friends Equine Retirement facility. Also at 6PM in the Grand Prix ring, visitors will be introduced to “Mick”, the special guest horse representing Old Friends, benefactor of proceeds from the weekend of giving back. And at 7PM the thrilling $25,000 Outback Steakhouse Horses Helping Horses Grand Prix. Admission is free to the public (with the exception of the charity dinner-tickets can be purchased by calling Becky Miles at 404-791-5963 or at the show grounds).
Photo credit: Sergio Campos and Shakira do Jacare ©Flashpoint Photography Flashpoint Media Services, based in Harrodsburg, KY., is a comprehensive public relations firm specializing in the equestrian sports. For additional information contact Robbi Meisel, 859-734 3713, robbi@flashpointmediaservices.com or Cynthia Grisolia, 347-423 7322, cindy@flashpointmediaservices.com.

Flashpoint Media Services: The Week in Review

Mon, 21 May 2007 17:54:42 -0400

ATLANTA—MAY 21, 2007—After a break from showing in April, Sergio Campos, of the Florida-based Longwood Equestrian Center, returned with a flourish this week, winning Saturday’s $25,000 Grand Prix at the Atlanta Premiere Horse Show at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers. With his 10-year-old homebred mare Shakira do Jacare in top form; Campos captured the prix over 20 riders, including 2nd place finisher Christian Curry and Flashpoint Media client Daniel Geitner, who placed 3rd.

“The course tricked everybody in the simplicity of it,” said Campos of the Doug Russell design. “It was simple enough that you could get confused by that. There was a lot of room between fences, and a lot of horses got distracted by that.” Not Shakira, who went clear in both rounds, including the rapid-fire jump-off. “She always does well after a break,” added Campos. “If she keeps going too much, she gets nervous.”

And the Grand Prix wasn’t Campos’s only win this week. He was also the blue ribbon victor in the Young Jumper Championships in both the 6-year-old and 7/8-year-old divisions aboard Nuts de Foret (owned by Paulo Miranda) and Mill Creek Sancho (owned by Mill Creek Stables), respectively. Campos and Sancho were also 2nd in Friday’s Open Jumper Welcome Classic. “Sancho is coming along very well,” said Campos of the 7-year-old gelding. “We’re slowly bringing him to the bigger jumps and he should be ready by summer to start showing in the Grand Prixs.”

Campos noted that Longwood clients also had a stellar week in Atlanta. Dianna Rodolpho was 4th aboard her horse Monkey du Parc in the YJC 7/8-year-old division. And in the Amateur Owner Classic the pair also took 3rd Place while Marianna Savage, aboard her horse Val d’Amour, took 2nd.

The Longwood team will take another short hiatus before competing again in Atlanta for the Summer Classic, then it’s on to Saugerties, NY and Culpepper, VA. And speaking of the summer shows, Campos happily reports that Cognac do Jacare, his Grand Prix jumper who was sidelined with an injury in March, has returned to training and should be on the circuit again by summer.

In addition to Campos, the Atlanta Spring Premiere yielded favorable results for all of the Flashpoint Media clients showing there. Division winners include:

DANIEL GEITNER, OF THE AIKEN, S.C.-BASED DFG STABLES
Champion:
--Classic Hunter, 2’6” aboard Swami’s Point, owned by Anne Cheatham

STEPHEN HEINECKE, OF THE MONROE, N.C.-BASED HUNTERS LANE FARM
Champion
--Green Conformation Hunter aboard Executive Decision, owned by Sandra Thomas
Reserve Champion:
--Green Working Hunter-Second Year aboard Southern Style, owned by Kiara Barnett

ALISE OKEN, HUNTERS LANE FARM
Reserve Champion
--Small Junior Hunter, aboard her horse Alisette

LUCILLE OKEN, HUNTER LANE FARM
Champion
--Small Pony Hunter, aboard her pony Hi Lite

ELIZABETH TOWELL BOYD OF THE CAMDEN, N.C. BASED FINALLY FARM
Champion:
--Green Working Hunter-Second Year, aboard Brunello, owned by Caroline Clark Morrison.
--Baby Green Hunter, aboard Daybreak, owned by Jennifer Smith
Reserve Champion:
--Green Working Hunter-First Year, aboard Ursula, also owned by Morrison
--Green Conformation Hunter, aboard Lee Cesery’s Couverture
--Classic Hunter Division 2’9”, aboard Entourage, owned by Molly Crosland

Boyd also swept the Pre-Green Hunter, 3-Foot earning the Tri colors with Helen Scot Milner’s Enticer and Reserve Champ honors with Jennifer Smith’s At First Glance.

JACK HARDIN TOWELL, JR., FINALLY FARM
Reserve Champion:
--Pre-Green Hunter 3-foot-3”, aboard Saint Patrick, owned by Sarah Ward
--Open Jumper Level 5, with Nokhu, owned by Ele Piche

MICHAEL TOKARUK, OF THE AIKEN, S.C-BASED TOKARUK SHOW STABLE
Reserve Champion
--Open Jumper Level 5, aboard his horse Lord Byron (in a tie with Hardin Towell)

And in the Pre-Green Hunter Classic, the Towell siblings swept the top spots, with Liza earning 1st place aboard Enticer and Hardin taking 2nd with Saint Patrick. Liza was also 4th with Amy Wilson’s Charmed.

Once again, congratulations to all!

Flashpoint Media Services, based in Harrodsburg, KY, is a comprehensive public relations firm specializing in the equestrian sports. For additional information about any Flashpoint clients or for exclusive photographs, contact Robbi Meisel, 859-734 3713, robbi@flashpointmediaservices.com or Cynthia Grisolia, 347-423 7322, cindy@flashpointmediaservices.com.