Jacob Pope and Courtney Lenkart Ride to Performance Hunter Top Honors at Great Lakes Equestrian Festival

Traverse City, Mich. – July 31, 2020 – Divisional competition for the Performance Hunters classes came to a close during the first half of Week Five at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors LLC, with champions crowned throughout the day Thursday. No strangers to the winner’s circle in Traverse City, Jacob Pope and Courtney Lenkart both piloted mounts to tricolors in their respective divisions. Pope and Summit Farms LLC’s Ravello topped the overall scorecard in the Performance 3’6” Hunters, while Wesley Clingman’s Deluxe carried Lenkart to the leading honors in the Performance 3’3” Hunter division.

Jacob Pope and Ravello. Photo: Andrew Ryback Photography

The Performance 3’6” Hunter division hosted a field of competitive exhibitors over its two days of competition, but it ultimately became a battle between Pope on Ravello and owner-rider David Beisel on The Boy Friend. Wednesday debuted the division for the week, with Beisel and The Boy Friend claiming the early lead after two blue ribbons in the under saddle and over fences classes, in addition to a fourth-place finish in the hand. Pope and Ravello were hot on their heels, though, having performed consistently to earn three second-place finishes. Returning to the ring Thursday, Pope and Ravello upped their game and concluded the day with first-place and fifth-place results over fences that would help them to edge out the early frontrunners and claim the championship honors. With day-two results of second place and sixth place over the jumps, Beisel and The Boy Friend were awarded the overall runner-up title.

Thanks to Pope and Ravello’s high score in the division, they were also awarded the distinction of Grand Reserve Performance Hunter behind Lenkart and La Primera Hacienda L P’s Glorieus, the Grand Champion Performance Hunter winners.

Courtney Lenkart and Deluxe. Photo: Andrew Ryback Photography

Another of Lenkart’s mounts for the week, Deluxe proved his worth in the Performance 3’3” Hunters after earning points in all five of the division’s classes. Lenkart and Deluxe impressed the judges Wednesday in the under saddle to earn first place, and added to their success with second place and sixth place in the handy and over fences classes, respectively. Thursday saw more top results as the final two efforts by the duo in over fences classes garnered them rankings of second place and fifth place, which would prove enough to keep them at the top of the division’s leaderboard. Michael Desiderio and Cromwell, owned by Debbie Bianco, were rewarded with the reserve championship after two placings of first and fourth over fences.

Week Five of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors LLC, still has two days remaining. The hunters will take centerstage Sunday for the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby and Platinum Performance Hunter Horse of the Week.

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