Mark Kinsella Wins $50K Restylane® Grand Prix at Split Rock Jumping Tour’s Sonoma International

Mark Kinsella rode Stern Dei Folletti to victory in the $50,000 Restylane® Grand Prix to culminate the Split Rock Jumping Tour’s (SRJT) Sonoma International. The Grand Prix closed a successful week operating under COVID-19 protocols and guidelines. Strong cooperation by the event’s participants, officials and staff made for an outstanding week at the Sonoma Horse Park.

Mark Kinsella on Stern Dei Folletti. Photo by Winslow Photography LLC.

Split Rock Jumping Tour Founder and CEO Derek Braun appreciated everyone’s cooperation in helping the event to proceed successfully. “This turned out to be a great week here at the Sonoma Horse Park and I want to thank our exhibitors, our sponsors and everyone for their support,” Braun said. “Those who were here had a great week and I very much appreciate the effort everyone put in to help us have a horse show that was fun and safe for all!”

Mark Kinsella on Stern Dei Folletti. Photo by Winslow Photography LLC.

Out of a starting field of 31 horses in the Grand Prix, Kinsella was one of ten to reach the tiebreaking jump-off by riding without penalty over the 16-jump, first-round course designed by 2016 Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge. Four entries then turned in another clean round over the 7-jump, jump-off course with Kinsella claiming the win with the fastest time of 33.945 seconds. Placing second was Kaitlin Campbell with zero faults in 34.832 seconds on Doraindo with third going to Alessandra Volpi who finished with zero faults in 35.236 seconds on Foster 39. Volpi was also named winner of the Restylane® Leading Rider Award.

Left to right: Founder and CEO Derek Braun, Alessandra Volpi, Mark Kinsella, Kaitlin Campbell in their awards ceremony. Photo by Winslow Photography LLC.

In addition to the $50,000 Restylane® Grand Prix, Sunday also featured the $5,000 Horseflight 1.40m Junior/Amateur Final which was won by Tali Dejong on Heavenly Star and the $2,500 Morning Star 1.25m Mini Prix which was won by Leylan Gleeson on Vertige Du Temple.

Misti Cassar, winner of the Horseflight Fist Pump Award. Photo by Winslow Photography LLC.

Continuing a Split Rock Jumping Tour tradition, $500 was awarded to Misti Cassar as winner of the Horseflight Fist Pump Award.

The Split Rock Jumping Tour schedule for the remainder of 2020 is as follows:

  1. New!  September 23-27: Columbus International I CSI2* (Brave Horse Show Park – Johnstown, OH)
  2. September 30 – October 4: Columbus International II CSI2* (Brave Horse Show Park – Johnstown, OH)
  3. November 4-8: Aiken International CSI2* (Aiken Horse Park – Aiken, SC)

About Split Rock Jumping Tour

Now in its sixth year, the SRJT has been revolutionizing the way the sport of show jumping is presented in the U.S. and has been creating a truly “unparalleled show jumping experience” for competitors, sponsors and spectators alike. Competing in the SRJT is unlike any other American horse show experience. SRJT competitions offer top prize money, extravagant awards, and numerous first-class amenities not typically found at any other horse show. In 2020, SRJT has adopted Green is the New Blue operating standards to prioritize green practices at all Split Rock Jumping Tour events. For more information about SRJT, click here.