Saturday night at the Salem Civic Center perennial champion horseman Aaron Vale left no doubt he’s still the rider to beat.
Vale rode through two fault-free rounds to dispatch a talented group of competitors in winning his record 13th blue ribbon to capture the Grand Prix of Roanoke and the $15,000 first place purse.
While things were still tight after the opening round jumps, Vale put the title to rest in the second jump-off with a blistering time of 28.543 seconds that left the rest of the field in his dust.
His horse, Spirit of Alena, looked as comfortable in the Civic Center arena as Vale himself.
Putting an exclamation point on the grand finale evening, Vale also rode the reserve champion Honeywell Douglaston and grabbed ninth place aboard Zippo II. In all, Vale pocketed $ 27, 500 for the elite class alone.
There was little doubt among the large equestrian fan base in attendance that Vale had his hands full from the first-round jumps. Several riders posted impressive times, despite more than one knocking off a rail, thus encompassing a timing penalty.
None was more dramatic than Emily Sheveland, a 2014 high school graduate and student of Vale, who rode to a fault-free 63.662 in the first jumps in her first-ever Grand Prix event. After the ride, Sheveland was mobbed by supporters, fans and fellow competitors as she went into the stands to prepare for the final jump. Her mount, Lula, kicked off a rail in the final jump as moans went up from the crowd, Sheveland, despite the misstep, still finished eighth.
Fernando Cardenas on Quincy Car finished second overall, while Kama Godek on Air Force One finished third, with both on Vale’s hooves through both jumps.
Other winners among championship classes included Whitney Shiflet (Sure She Can) in the Park Pleasure Class, Kim Cowart (Last Tango) in the Park Horse Stake, Andreas Athanasuleas (Honey Badger) in the Five-Gaited Amateur, Miriam Honaker (Exotic Stone) in the Three-Gaited Stakes, Whitney Shiflet (Vegas Baby) in the Five-Gaited Open, Jennifer Joiner (Snowman) in the Three-Gaited Show Pleasure Adult, Frankie Snider (Lulu Guinness) in the Three-Gaited Junior, Bobby Burgess (Starstruck Media) in the Roadster Horse to Bike, Carol Reedy (Unchaperoned-S) in the Three-Gaited Amateur, Alley Morghan (A Starless Night) in the Three-Gaited Amateur Juniors and Carol Reedy (Take Me Home Tonight) in the Fine Harness.
Bill Turner
