Langley, BC — First to go in an eight-horse jump-off for the MarBill Hill U25 Grand Prix 1.40m, Stella Chernoff (CAN) and Fay decided to play a game of ‘Catch Me If You Can.’
They put the pressure on their competitors with a strong clear effort, crossing the timers of Joey Rycroft’s (CAN) short course in 37.66 seconds.
The wait through seven combinations was lengthy, but Chernoff watched as rider after rider incurred faults—including Sloane Betker (CAN) and Emmeline Adamick, who were on pace to catch her time. Ultimately, no other rider could execute a clear jump-off.
“I definitely did not think the jump-off was as technical as it seemed to ride,” Chernoff shared. “I think with my mare, she’s just so adjustable, [and that] gives me a lot more options. Walking [the course], I thought it seemed like a nice, fun jump-off; I thought everyone was going to be double-clear. Honestly, the fact that I was the only double-clear was very shocking.”
Chernoff’s winning time was 37.66 seconds. Betker and Adamick each finished the jump-off with four faults, finishing second (4/36.14s) and third (4/37.59s), respectively.
“My number one priority [going first] was to [jump] clear, and I honestly just wanted to have a nice round and go out there and set the pace,” Chernoff said.
Chernoff, 19, has been paired with her 14-year-old KWPN mare for the better part of six years, but the partnership hasn’t always been a match made in heaven. Chernoff had to learn to tailor her ride specifically to Fay, riding with a longer rein to keep the sensitive mare working with her. Over the years, the duo has claimed numerous victories in Langley at the U25 level, but getting back in sync with the grey can be challenging when Chernoff returns to competition in the summer from university, which takes her away from horse shows for eight months of the year.
“Going into a class like this, usually I never get nervous with her because I know she has my back all the time, but today it was slightly different. In the U25 speed [class on Friday], we actually stopped at a jump, which was my fault but very uncharacteristic. I feel like I’ve been figuring out the ride with her [again], because she is very different from my other horses, and after being at school for eight months, it’s tricky to re-learn and re-trust with her,” Chernoff shared.
“But today, I feel like everything came together, and it felt like how it used to be and how it should be with her.
“After the first three jumps in the jump-off, I was like, ‘Yeah, I can really go for it,'” Chernoff added. “[I thought], ‘I know she’s not going to touch a rail. [Fay’s] got this.'”
$15,000 MarBill Hill U25 Grand Prix 1.40m
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time
1. Fay / Stella Chernoff / CAN / Stump Lake Ranch & Cattle Co Ltd / 0/0 37.66
2. Canberre 59 / Sloane Betker / CAN / Sloane Betker / 0/4 6.14
3. C’Diam de Ste Anne / Emmeline Adamick / USA / Hawk Hollow Farm / 0/4 37.59
4. Chaccalanda / Olivia Stephenson / CAN / Olivia Stephenson / 0/4 39.2
5. Indy / Georgia Knight / CAN / Georgia Knight / 0/4 40.29
6. Cincinnati Kid 7 / Sierra Geisler / CAN / Sierra Geisler / 0/4 41.83
7. Ielinea JTL / Jayden Stettner / CAN / Jayden Stettner / 0/4 41.88
8. Cassandro B / Locklyn Williamson / CAN / Graham Williamson / 0/4 42.84
9. Indiana II / Sloane Betker / CAN / Samantha Vanderwoude / 4 76.4
10. Fair Play d’Esquelmes / Nyah Chernoff / CAN / Stump Lake Ranch & Cattle Co Ltd / 4 77.25
