Norway's Endresen Wins Gambler's Choice; Team LaBarge Takes Syracuse Corporate Challenge 

Syracuse, NY:  Team LaBarge was victorious for the second year in a row in the popular Syracuse Corporate Team Challenge. Twenty-nine international division riders were divided into six teams, each representing a different sponsor. The competition is designed to combine the best elements of the sport: speed, skill and teamwork and entertainment.

First to go was one of the leading rookie riders in North America, Hillary Dobbs, riding for Team Pyramid. Dobbs set the pace to beat for the entire class. She galloped a blazing fast, clear round on her capable jumper Marengo, flying through the timers in 49.91 seconds. The Team results were based on the three best scores from teams of four or five riders. Only six other riders were able to jump a clear round in under 50 seconds with Team Swift's McLain Ward ending up with the second fastest clean round, 44.42, of the class.

There were two "bogey" fences that caused a multitude of problems for the riders: 8 riders had a rail at the liverpool, and fence 4 caused problems for riders if they attempted a tight turn back to shave speed off their round. Ultimately

Team LaBarge riders ended up with a score of 0 faults after the drop scores.  Team Pyramid was a close second with a total of 4 faults and only .04 seconds shy of the winning team's time. As individuals, the first rider to go in the competition, Hillary Dobbs, held onto first place with Olympic riders McLain Ward (2nd), Margie Engle (3rd) Geir Gulliksen in 4th followed by Olympians Laura Kraut (5th), Peter Wylde (6th).

The night's competition concluded with the CN Gambler's Choice, a crowd favorite. Riders plan their own course with each jump being assigned a point value and the goal is to jump as many high-value jumps as possible within the time allowed of 50 seconds. At that time the rider is given the option of earning a bonus of 200 points by jumping the "joker" fence however if the jump rails fail to stay up then 200 points are lost form the total score. 

The added "fun" element of the class is the riders must wear a costume of their choice. The riders have a lot of fun with this and express their creativity and humor with their costumes that often include the horses. The lightheartedness outfits did not diminish the competitive drive of the riders.  The fourth rider on the course, Jimmy Torano, set the standard with a score of 1010 after the first round – he then took the gamble and jumped the "joker" for the bonus of 200 points.

It took another eights rides, when Norwegian Stein Endresen went all out and accumulated a base of 1040 and added the joker to take the lead with 1240.  That score stood even when challengers McLain ward and Margie ward put in stellar fast rounds to finish in second and third place respectively.

PHOTO CREDITS: Norway's Stein Endresen won the Gambler's Choice at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament Friday night.
Beezie Madden was the anchor rider for the victorious Team LaBarge in Friday night's Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament.
Credit:  Reflections, Inc.