Ellen Whitaker of Great Britain Continues Her Winning Streak as the Charlotte Jumper Classic Kicks Off in North Carolina

Charlotte, NC – April 8, 2005 – Picking up right where they left off in Tampa, Florida a week ago, Great Britain’s Ellen Whitaker and her amazing speed horse, AK Kanselier, opened the 2005 Charlotte Jumper Classic with another dominating performance. The $300,000 Charlotte Jumper Classic, in its second year, runs through Sunday, April 10, 2005 at the Charlotte Coliseum, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The name of the game during the opening day matinee was speed. The three classes for juniors, amateurs and the top international competitors were scored under FEI Art. 238.2.1. Time First Round, or as it’s sometimes called, “fastest clear round.” The course designer for the 2005 Charlotte Jumper Classic is Steve Stephens of Palmetto, Florida.

Fifty starters went to the post in the $15,000 Lowes International Jumpers.

The early pacesetter was McLain Ward and the Double H Farm’s Goldika 559. Ward was quick, touring the speed course fault free and putting up what appeared to be a top time of 47.57 seconds. Callen Solem put in a challenge with Mianta, owned by the Quiet Winter Farm, but could only move into second place as she cruised through the timers in 49.86 seconds, 2.29 seconds off the pace set by Ward.

Riding twenty-second in the order, Great Britain’s Ellen Whitaker, once again put in an amazing speed performance. Aboard Whitaker Sporthorse’s AK Kanselier, the 19 year old Whitaker mirrored her dominating performances displayed during the recently completed Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida. Galloping through the start and never taking back, Whitaker knocked Ward off the top spot on the leader board by over three seconds, flying through the finish line in 44.53 seconds to take the lead.

Ward returned on his mount, Galant, thirteen horses later and gave Whitaker a real run, but pulled a rail down three quarters of the way through the course and then coasted home with four faults in 46.98 seconds.

The fortieth horse and rider combination in the order was Merva Des Hayettes and Gregory Wathelet of Belgium. Wathelet, unable to come close to Whitaker’s top time, was able to just get by Ward for second place, finishing in 46.71 seconds.

“I love this arena,” said a smiling Ellen Whitaker following her opening day win. “This is my first time here in Charlotte and I’m very impressed. I actually thought it would ride a little tighter than it did, so in the end, it was all a little easier today.”

“He’s really got a huge stride, so he’s a very deceptive horse to watch,” Whitaker explained. “He doesn’t nearly look as fast as he truly is.”

Whitaker posted her third consecutive speed win going back to the final weeks of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Tampa.

The $30,000 Charlotte Welcome Stake Qualifier wraps up the Friday schedule, getting underway at 7pm.

Results of Class 1 International Table A 238.2.1 CSI -04-08-05 – Charlotte Coliseum

• 1 - Ellen Whitaker-GB-Ak Kanselier - 0.00/44.53
• 2 - Gregory Wathelet- Bel-Merva Des Hayettes -0.00/46.71
• 3 - Mclain Ward-USA-Goldika 559 - 0.00/47.57
• 4 - Callan Solem-USA-Mianta - 0.00/49.86
• 5 - Robin Sweely-USA-Latinus - 0.00/50.64
• 6 - Judy Garafalo-USA-Cindy - 0.00/54.13
• 7 - Vicky Young-GB-Rroyal Dane - 0.00/54.90
• 8 - Candice King-USA-Caliskan - 0.00/54.91
• 9 - Aaron Vale-USA-Artur 28 - 0.00/55.44
• 10 - Cayce Harrison-USA-Coeur - 0.00/56.60
• 11 - Paige Johnson-USA-Kadena R - 0.00/57.62
• 12 - Candice King-USA-Coco Cabana - 1.00/59.20

PHOTO CREDIT: AK Kanselier and Ellen Whitaker Race to Win on Opening Day in Charlotte. Photo by Chris Keane.