DEVON, Pa.--It was consistency that won Alexa Elle Lignelli, 18 of New York, N.Y., on XO Zadora the Junior Jumper Championship and the Leading Junior Jumper Rider Award on Saturday, May 24 at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.
Avery Griffin on Oh My Star vsn Strytem (Photo by Kind Media)Lignelli never won a class, but she finished second in all three of the junior jumper classes, and that consistency added up to the Championship.
Avery Griffin of Austin,Texas on Oh My Star van Strytem won the $20,000, 1.45m Junior Jumper Classic Saturday evening in a six horse jump-off.
The Classic was doubly important, as it not only carried by far the largest purse money but also awarded bonus points towards the championship.
Lignelli went first tin the jump-off, finishing clean in 35.045, but Griffin was next in the ring and just beat her, finishing in 34.951.
JJ Torano, who had won the first two junior jumper classes, went last in the jump-off and looked like the sure winner as he was leading on time, but he just rubbed the very last fence and it came down. leaving him fourth as the fastest of the four-faulters in 33.826.
Griffin was also third on her second mount, Bodega Semilly, clean in 35.295.
Lignelli had finished second in the first two classes, and her 12 points added to the 12 points for second in the Classic gave her 24 points and the Championship, and Griffin was Reserve Champion with 15 points for her win in the Classic.
Torano had won the first two classes, but on two different horses, so his first on VitusK and fourth in the Classic only added up to 13 points, not enough even for the Reserve.
"I GOT ZADORA in the middle of the Winter Equestrian Festival," said Lignelli. "I had seen Amanda Derbyshire showing her, and I said to my Mom, `I have to have her.'"
"When I sat on her, we immediately made a connection," said Lignelli. "I call her the model of the barn, she's so beautiful."
Lignelli trains with Lillie Keenan, Diego Perez and Bill Bao.
She attends Pearson High School, and she said she commuted weekends to Florida over the winter.
"I've learned to balance my priorities, education and riding," she said. "I'm going to Columbia University next year."
"My dream is to represent the U.S. in Belgium again this year," said Lignelli. "I'm super patriotic. Avery Griffin, who beat me in the Classic, and I were teammates in Belgium last year under Ann Kursinski's tutelage. Ann was so great."
"I've been competing at Devon since I did ponies, so it was extra exciting to be champion," she said.
Susan Vaill driving Brutus won the Carriage Pleasure Drive Champion Drive-off after winning the Horse Single Harness, four wheel vehicle, class.
Katherine Mercer of Excelsior, Minn., on Colina SN won the $10,000, 1.15m Junior Jumper Classic and was Champion of the division, with Anika Spaeth on Tic Tac de la Pomme Z Reserve Champion.
