News

Callan Solem starts off with two top-five finishes

Feb 8, 2013

Callan Solem admits that she feels at home at HITS Ocala and she staged quite the homecoming today when she rode Torlando Group’s VDL Torlando to a winin the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis. Solem and VDL Torlando, of which she is part owner, topped 25 contenders over a course designed by Germany’s Olaf Petersen. Petersen had five go clear in the first round – a perfect result for this level class at this point in the season, according to Solem. Joining her in the jump-off was Megan Wexler with Cadence; Adam Cramer on Luke 54; and Lisa Goldman aboard Centurion B.

Solem and VDL Torlando were second to go in the first round and returned first for the jump-off, setting the eventual winning time at 38.35 seconds. Wexler and Cadence were one of three double clear pairs and finished in second place with a time of 38.89 seconds – just fractions off Solem’s winning time. Cramer and Luke 54 were also double clear and posted a final time of 41.19 seconds for third. After going two-for-two in a break-through performance in last week’s grand prix at HITS Ocala, Goldman and Centurion B were on their way to the blue when a rail at the last fence came down. They finished with four faults in a time of 37.48 seconds for fourth. Solem and VDL Wizard rode to a time of 40.65 seconds, but picked up four faults to finish in fifth.

Source World of Showjumping.