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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Traverse City, MI – Sept. 6, 2025
The Silver Oak Jumper Tournament, benefitting the Kevin Babington Foundation, delivered ESPN-level drama on opening day as the GGT-Footing CSI 3* Welcome Grand Prix came down to the very last horse. Hunter HOLLOWAY (USA) and PEPITA CON SPITA snatched victory by less than six-hundredths of a second over Callie SCHOTT (USA) with URICAS V/D KATTEVENNEN, while Paige MATTHIES (USA) and CALLMEBACK PONTONS sealed third to complete a U.S. sweep of the podium.
The class brought 10 clear riders back for a high-octane jump-off that started quick and unforgiving. Rails and time kept early pairs off a double-clear—no one could stop the clock clean until the third-to-last combination finally posted the mark to beat. That breakthrough came from Schott and Uricas V/D Kattevennen, who threw down a slick, efficient round that looked like the winning ride. But with the arena holding its breath, Holloway—last to go—found another gear, slicing turns and leaving out strides to edge the lead by a margin under 0.06 seconds.
“That was edge-of-your-seat sport,” said Cynthia Keating, representative of GGT Footing, the evening’s presenting sponsor. “You could feel the electricity build as round after round chased the first double clear. To see it decided by just hundredths of a second is exactly why we love this game. We’re thrilled to be part of such a great horse show and proud to support footing that lets riders and horses perform at their best.”
Tournament Chairman Jeff Papows praised the athletes and the days’s sponsor:
“This is classic Silver Oak—elite horses, world-class riders, and a finish you talk about all week. Our thanks to GGT Footing for elevating the sport and to every rider who left it all out there. Moments like these also spotlight the mission we share with the Kevin Babington Foundation: supporting riders and advancing safety across our sport.”
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