Upper Marlboro, MD – October 13, 2010 – The 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show has concluded, with this year’s show honoring some of the best horses and riders in the country. Show managers Oliver Kennedy and Billy Glass were proud to host one of the best competitions in the nation and thank their sponsors, exhibitors, and staff. In its 18th year, the Capital Challenge Horse Show sets itself apart with a distinct and unique focus on preeminent hunter competition.
One of the most successful hunters of the week was the Grand Hunter Champion, Cold Harbor, ridden by Hunt Tosh and owned by Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Wheeler. Cold Harbor won the championship in the First Year Green Working Hunters Section A. They won three over fences classes and were fourth in the remaining class. With a second place in the under saddle, they captured the championship. Cold Harbor also won the reserve championship in the Green Conformation Hunters. They won two over fences classes and were third in another. He won the under saddle class and the model to win the reserve championship.
Cold Harbor and Hunt Tosh
Tosh and Cold Harbor were also awarded the Grand First Year Green Hunter Championship, sponsored by Hap Hansen Stables. They were presented with the Magda and George Z. Lefton Memorial Trophy, donated by Stacey Lefton Glick. Their top points gave them the Grand Green Hunter Championship, sponsored by Kennedy Farm, as well. By earning the highest cumulative numerical point total in a single professional division, Cold Harbor and Hunt Tosh were awarded the Tribute Perpetual Trophy, donated by Scott Stewart.
Tosh and the six-year-old Warmblood gelding have had a fantastic year; they won the championship at the Devon Horse Show, and their Grand Champion ribbon at Capital Challenge sets them up well for the rest of the indoor season. The Wheelers purchased Cold Harbor in November and started in the conformation division.
“We usually just show him in the conformations but we didn’t know how he would go inside so we put him in the first years (at Capital Challenge),” Tosh pointed out. “We did both divisions and he was fabulous. He tried to win every class he went in.”
While Cold Harbor was “quite green” when he first came to Tosh, he quickly proved that he didn’t need the Pre-Green division. “We started schooling him in Florida, getting him ready and everything was so easy. We did one pre show – a schooling show – just to see what he would be like. We did the 3’6″ there just to see what he would do and he went around so nice. He ended up champion at his first practice show. So we decided to bring him out in the first years instead,” Tosh explained. “He just started winning from the beginning.”
Tosh admits that Cold Harbor has exceeded everyone’s expectations “by miles.” He continued, “We actually bought him off a video. Bob Braswell saw him in Europe and sent me a video. I liked him enough that I bought him off the video. Here’s a horse that has never lost a model and has been champion every time he’s shown. When they do that for you, it’s more than you ever could have asked.”
Tosh descibed, “He’s a great hunter. He moves beautifully and has a great canter. He’s very, very careful and has a great style. Sometimes he may jump a little high in the first class, but he wins the hack, he wins the model, he’s a great jumper. He has super scope. But on top of it all he’s just a nice horse. My five-year-old daughter leads him around the barn. He is just a genuinely nice horse.”
Co-Grand Champions and Best Riders, Cold Harbor & Hunt Tosh and Moshi & Sandy Ferrell
Tosh has ridden for the Wheelers for five years, and with an incredible string of horses, he’s a force to be reckoned with at any show. “When you come into a horse show with a barn full of great horses, it’s spectacular be able to be champion.”
Tosh believes that Capital Challenge is “such a great start for the rest of indoors. Capital Challenge is a great horse show. It’s great to have a horse show that puts so much into the hunter industry and who does so much for us. Everyone brings their best horses there. There are huge numbers in the divisions, not to mention the quality of horses in each division is exceptional, so to win as (a Grand Champion) is great. A special horse should win it.”
In addition to his success with Cold Harbor, Tosh was also the reserve champion in the First Year Section B with the Wheelers’ Triton Z and champion in the High Performance Hunters with Dr. Betsee Parker’s Rosalynn. He placed second in the WCHR Professional Finals by just 8/100ths of a point.
Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend Results, presented by Bigeq.com – Saturday and Sunday
The highlight of Saturday’s competition was the North American Flat Equitation Championship, in which 16-year-old Morgan Geller, of Manhattan Beach, CA, rode Fabricio to an exciting win. Reserve champion was Katie Tyler, of North Kingstown, RI, riding her horse Galliard. In addition to their finishes in the flat championship, both riders earned top honors in their respective age divisions earlier in the day. Geller and Fabricio earned the tri-color in the 16-Year-Old Equitation, while Tyler was champion in the 17-Year-Old Equitation with Galliard. Following Geller and Tyler in the North American Flat Equitation Championships were Hayley Barnhill, Lauren Fabiano, Bailey Hughes, and Meredith Darst.
The 16-Year-Old and 17-Year-Old Equitation divisions were both sponsored by Frank Madden Show Stables. Finishing behind Geller, Savannah Jenkins rode Tibantos, owned by C&M Partnership LLC, to the 16-Year-Old Equitation reserve championship. Following Tyler, Allison Fithian rode Blu Hills Johnny Cash, owned by Erin Duffy, to the reserve championship in the 17-Year-Old division. The 15-Year-Old Equitation championship honors going to Geoffrey Hesslink riding Adonis, owned by Natalie Nicodema. The reserve championship was presented to Anna Cardelfe riding Logan, owned by Chelsea Moss. Division winner Geoffrey Hesslink is from Shelburne, VT, and rides with Don Stewart and Bibby Farmer Hill. Hesslink has been riding for five years and this is his third year showing at Capital Challenge.
The 13 & 14-Year-Old Equitation championship, sponsored by Tammy Provost Inc., was awarded to Kristen Mohr riding Mahala Rummell’s Papillon 136. Meredith Darst rode Copyright, owned by Jeanette Collins, to the reserve championship.
Young rider T.J. O’Mara, of Rumson, NJ, earned the 12 & Under division championship riding World Cup Van Het Lindehof, owned by Kestrel Farms. The reserve championship was awarded to Delaney Hamill riding Nelson, owned by Monty Kelly. Hamill also collected the championship in the Taylor Harris Insurance Services warm-up division.
Hayley Barnhill, of Collierville, TN, earned an exciting victory today as she topped the Capital Challenge North American Equitation Championships. Nearly eighty competitors started out the day over fences, but the field was sharply narrowed to only twenty who were invited back for a second round. Riding Cayla Richards’ Asparagus, a 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Hayley Barnhill posted scores of 90.20 and 90.05 for a two-round winning total of 180.25. “I’m very excited!” Barnhill beamed after her win. “It was a last minute thing to get to come here, and I love this horse show. I was second in this class last year; I was so close, so it is nice to win it.”
Yesterday’s flat winner, Morgan Geller, rode her gelding Fabricio to second place. Sarah Milliren and War Eagle, owned by Don Stewart, finished third. Conor Perrin and Nat King Cole earned fourth place honors. Alicia Gasser rode Schubert, owned by KMG Equestrian, to fifth place and Oliva Esse guided Oscany, Inc.’s Fernway Park into the sixth position.In addition to awarding the classes top finishers, several other awards were presented. Barnhill and trainer Tom Wright were presented with the George H. Morris Equitation Championship Trophy, donated by Frank and Stacia Madden and Beacon Hill Show Stables. Wright also received a special award as the Leading Equitation Trainer and Karen Healey and Karen Healey Show Stables presented Barnhill with the Best Equitation Rider Award. Victoria Colvin earned the award for EMO Equitation Trip of the show, sponsored by EMO Insurance Services, for the highest scoring round of 88.5.
Pilar Flournoy, 14, from Topanga, CA, made her first trip east to Capital Challenge a worthwhile one, as she laid down two solids rounds to win the Taylor Harris Insurance Services National Children’s Medal Finals. Riding Reika, a ten-year-old Hanoverian mare, Flournoy didn’t let the pressure get to her as she returned for the second round just behind the leading rider, Destry Spielberg, who led the first round with an 86.90. When Spielberg came in tight to the first jump and posted a 77.4 in her final round Flournoy took the lead and the blue.
Adrienne Dixon, of Hillsborough, CA, piloted Conor Perrin’s Nat King Cole to top honors in the North American Amateur Equitation Championships. Dixon came into this year’s class with determination after finishing second in 2010. Dixon made sure there was no question about her domination as she finished the first round with the high score of an 86 and then returned to secure the win posting an 87.80 on the board. The only one to come close to Dixon’s two-round total was Samantha Senft who rode Lord Loxley to a final score of 165.75.
Professional Hunters – Monday to Wednesday
The hunter and equitation courses for the show were designed by Michael Rheinheimer of Chardon, OH.
Ferrell and Showman won the Second Year Green Hunter championship, but they are no strangers to the winner’s circle at Capital Challenge. Two years ago, they swept the Future Hunter awards with a division tricolor, the North American Championship class victory, and the Grand Future Hunter Championship. Last year he was reserve champion in the First Year Green Hunters.
This week, Ferrell and Showman, a nine-year-old Westphalian gelding by Showstar, won three out of the four over fences classes and were third in the under saddle. The reserve championship went to Taken, ridden by Kelley Farmer for Nancy Amling. They were second in the handy hunter and third, third, and fourth in the other jumping classes.
Like Showman, Rosalynn has seen success at Capital Challenge before. She and Hunt Tosh were reserve champions in the Second Year Green Hunters in 2009 and last year she was champion in the Regular Working Hunters with Kelley Farmer.
Since Dr. Betsee Parker purchased Rosalynn, Tosh picked up the ride again on the talented nine-year-old Oldenburg mare by Lanciano. They were second in both jumping classes yesterday and won the first class today. They added a sixth place in the under saddle class. Reserve champion in the division was Jersey Boy, ridden by Jennifer Alfano for SBS Farms. They placed third in the first three classes and won the handy hunter stake. Jersey Boy is a nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding by White Star.
In the Performance Hunters 3’6″, the championship went to Rumba, ridden by Tara Metzner for Dogwood Hill LLC. The 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Carano placed first over fences and third under saddle. The reserve champion was Winner, ridden by Jimmy Torano and owned by James Pirtle Ent. The eight-year-old Warmblood gelding by Haarlem won an over fences class.
In the Future Hunter 6 & Over division, Safe Haven and John French took the championship. They won two over fences classes and were sixth in the under saddle. Safe Haven, a six-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Crelido, is owned by Gail Morey. The reserve champion was Tristan, ridden and owned by Scott Stewart. They were first, third, and third over fences. Tristan is a six-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Okeanos.
The champion in the Colts & Geldings division was Peron, ridden by Kate Conover for Redfield Farm. The division is sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Tim Goguen & Boggs Hill. Peron, a six-year-old Warmblood gelding, won two over fences classes as well as the under saddle class. Andante, a five-year-old gelding ridden by Tammy Provost and owned by Provost and Wendy Hofmeister, was second and third over fences and third under saddle for the reserve championship.
She’s Cool, ridden and owned by Scott Stewart, won the Future Hunter Mares division, sponsored by Penelope Ayers and Ravens Wood Farm. The Hanoverian mare by Embassy won two classes over fences, was second over fences, and fifth under saddle. Reserve champion in the division was Small Celebration, ridden by John French for Iwasaki & Reilly. Small Celebration, another six-year-old Hanoverian mare by Embassy I, was first and fourth over fences and they won the under saddle class.
As Always, a six-year-old Brandenburg gelding, captured the championship in the Future Hunter 3’3″ division sponsored by Pegasus Show Stable Inc./Christa and Michael Endicott & Mr. and Mrs Hunt Tosh. He was ridden by Jennifer Hannan for owner Jennifer Smith. They placed first, second, and third over fences and were sixth in the under saddle. Northstar, ridden by Havens Schatt for Cece Williamson, was the reserve champion. Schatt and the seven-year-old German Warmblood gelding placed first and fourth over fences and were second under saddle.
The Grand Champion Future Working Hunter, sponsored by Lochmoor Stables Inc./Greg and Mindy Darst, was Bacardi, ridden and owned by Havens Schatt of Georgetown, KY. Bacardi and Havens Schatt won all three over fences classes and placed second in the under saddle class for the championship in the 5 & Under division. For their win, they were awarded the “A Rare Diamond” Perpetual Trophy donated by “The Friends of Mickey.” The reserve champion tricolor went to Enjoy and Scott Stewart, who were second in all three jumping classes. Enjoy is a five-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Cassiano.
The winner of the $25,000 Added Future Hunter North American Championship, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Wheeler/Cismont Manor Farm & Kocher Tack, was She’s Cool, ridden and owned by Scott Stewart of Wellington, FL. Stewart and She’s Cool took the top prize over Bacardi and Havens Schatt by .55 of a point. They qualified for the class by winning the championship in the Mares division. Stewart rode six of the final 12 in the class. For their win, Stewart and She’s Cool won The Beverly Brooks Solter Memorial Trophy donated by Hilary Scheer Gerhardt and Zan Martin Dillon.
Champion in the First Year Green Hunters Section B was Come Monday, an eight-year-old Holsteiner mare by Cassini I. Ridden by Christa Endicott of Rancho Santa Fe, CA, and owned by Davlyn Farms, the mare won two over fences classes and was second in another, as well as third under saddle. The reserve champion was Triton Z, ridden by Hunt Tosh for owners Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Wheeler. They were first, second, and fifth over fences.
The Regular Conformation Hunter champion was Sambalino, ridden by Ken Berkley and owned by Becky Gochman. They placed first and second over fences, second in the under saddle, and third in the model. The reserve champion was Ostentacious, ridden by Kelley Farmer for Sheila Motley. They were first and sixth over fences, fourth in the under saddle, and second in the model.
Sandy Ferrell picked up her second championship of the week in the Green Conformation Hunters with Moshi, owned by Stephanie Riggio. They won two over fences classes and were second in the remaining two classes. They added a second place under saddle and third in the model to complete the tricolor. Their top ribbons tied them for the Grand Hunter Championship, and Ferrell tied with Hunt Tosh for the Best Hunter Rider Award.
Moshi, a six-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Quintus, has “that classic hunter look,” Ferrell said, which she believes is what makes him such a successful conformation hunter. “He’s absolutely beautiful. He’s got a beautiful head and neck,” she added. “He’s just a baby, and Hunt’s horse is six years old too, so kudos to the young horses!”
The reserve champion in the First Year Hunters Section A was Parkland, ridden by Patricia Griffith for Catherine Cowie. They placed second, third, and sixth over fences and won the under saddle.
The winner of the Senior World Champion Hunter Under Saddle Class and awarded the Hollywood Challenge Trophy donated by Paula Polk Lillard was Mamba and Jenny Karazissis, who rode for Haven Farms LLC,
Tara Metzner made her first year actively competing in the hunters count as she won the $5,000 WCHR Emerging Pro Challenge. She had the enviable task of competing with Rumba, the winner of the inaugural USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals. Metzner rode the 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Carano to a satisfying win. Second place went to Jamie Taylor on Weatherly, owned by Erin Bland. Christa Endicott and All That, owned by Don Stewart, finished in third.
The 34-year-old rider from Los Angeles, CA, is originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She currently works for Dick Carvin and Susie Schroer, and it has offered her many opportunities to show horses. However, Rumba and a Pre-Green horse are the only two hunters in the barn.
Metzner doesn’t take it lightly. “I’ve had the honor and the privilege to ride Rumba all year and it’s been fantastic. It’s a dream come true for anyone,” she expressed. “He’s been amazing. There’s nothing better. Imagine the best thing possible and that’s it. I don’t know how else to describe it.”
To hear Tara Metzner discuss her victory, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-nhedlqOCU.
The special awards given on Wednesday were:
Best EMO Future Hunter Trip of the Show, sponsored by EMO Agency, Inc.: As Always and Jennifer Hannan for Jennifer Smith (89.25)
Best EMO Professional Trip of the Show, sponsored by EMO Agency, Inc.: Rosalynn and Hunt Tosh for Dr. Betsee Parker (92)
Grey Slipper Perpetual Trophy, donated by Bridget Hallman, is awarded to a horse that has shown excellence in the amateur and professional divisions: In Disguise and Ellen Toon
Special WCHR awards presented today were:
Derby Down Trophy, donated by Louise Serio, awarded to the highest scoring hunter round by a professional rider in the professional hunter divisions: Rosalynn and Hunt Tosh for Dr. Betsee Parker
Jeffery Katz Memorial Trophy, donated by Lisa Cudahy in memory of Jeffery Katz to the horse and rider combination that accumulates the most points in First Year, Second Year, or Green Conformation Hunter sections from their top four WCHR member event shows, plus sections at Capital Challenge: Cold Harbor and Hunt Tosh for Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Wheeler
Rox Dene Perpetual Trophy, donated by Elaine and Chanda Boylen to the owner of the WCHR high score horse ridden by a professional which has accumulated the most points in the High Performance, First Year, Second Year, Green Conformation, and Regular Conformation sections from their top four WCHR member event shows plus their sections at Capital Challenge: Small Affair and John French for Elizabeth Reilly
Alabama Clay Conformation Hunter Award, donated by The Weisman Family in honor of their two horses, Alabama Clay and Tribute, to the horse and owner of the WCHR high score horse that has accumulated the most points in the Green Conformation or Regular Conformation sections from their top four WCHR member event shows plus their sections at Capital Challenge: Empire and Scott Stewart for Becky Gochman
USHJA/WCHR Course Designer Perpetual Trophy: Steve Stephens
Winter’s Run Sportsmanship Award, donated by Patricia Bosley in memory of her mother Sylvia Hechter: Elizabeth “Liza” Boyd
WCHR Professional Challenge
Defending champion John French was the final rider to return for the second round in the WCHR Professional Challenge. He knew Scott Stewart and Declaration, owned by Fashion Farm, had a great trip and led the class with a two-round total of 179.32 that would finish in second place. But French didn’t let the pressure get to him. Instead he and Small Affair posted a 90.33 for a total of 182.66 to win the class for a second consecutive year. Third place went to Parkland and Patricia Griffith riding for Catherine Cowie.
The win was bittersweet for French who choked up when he admitted that the ride might be his last on Small Affair. The partnership between French and Small Affair, an eight-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Elf D’Or, goes back a number of years. “I’ve always loved the horse since he was a Pre-Green horse,” said French. “I thought that he was going to be a great horse. Scott Wilson was the trainer at the time and I told Scott, ‘That’s going to be the best horse one day.’ And a couple of shows later he asked if I wanted to ride him.”
To watch an interview with John French about his second straight win, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pljcS4UNZXU.
WCHR Professional Finals
John French was the picture of consistency as he rode through four rounds with no score lower than 87.33. In his first round, he posted an 87.33 riding Kennzo De Conte, owned by Kristen Abbatiello-Neff. He received the same average score from three panels of six judges in the second round, riding Mamba owned by Haven Farm LLC. His third round score of 88.25, riding Kaile Rudy’s Serendipity, put him in second place going into the final handy round.
French may have had the luck of the draw in the handy round, riding Scott Stewart’s VIP Z. He received his highest score of the night, an 88.66. This gave him a total score of 351.57. VIP Z was named the High Score horse of the night.
“Hunt was definitely in the lead after the first three rounds,” French said. “I was in second place so I just thought, ‘Be safe, make a couple of the turns,’ but there were a few turns that other people did that I didn’t want to try and sort of blow it. I thought the only place to really show off was the hand gallop. Maybe that would be good enough. So that was my plan.”
Hunt Tosh barely missed the win, as French beat him by just 8/100ths of a point. Like French, Tosh had consistently high scores, starting with an 87.83 on Serendipity. His second round received an 87.66 on VIP Z, and he rode Capilin II, owned by Georgie Maskray Segesman, to a score of 89. His final handy round on Ostentacious, owned by Sheila Motley, scored an 87 for a total of 351.49.
To see an interview with John French about his WCHR Professional Finals win, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCsUUb3O03g&feature=channel_video_title.
Hunter and Equitation Results – Thursday through Sunday
Jazz Johnson Merton of Pottersville, NJ, won the Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Championship aboard Kingston. Johnson Merton and Kingston were champions in the Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunters sponsored by The Hallman Family and MerryLegs South. They won two over fences classes and were fifth in another, and they added a fifth in the under saddle class for the top tricolor. The reserve champion was Thoughtful, ridden and owned by Keri Guanciale. They placed second and fourth over fences and won the under saddle class.
Elizabeth Faraci of Annapolis, MD, rode her horse Paramour to the championship in the Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunters despite two fairly big obstacles. “He’s five years old, and we just moved up to the 3’3″ at the Hampton Classic. I’m seven months pregnant too, so the stars really had to align!” she laughed. Faraci and Paramour won two over fences classes and were fifth under saddle. The reserve championship went to Zazou and Darby Toben, who won the under saddle class and were third, third, and fifth over fences.
Heidi Kane of Newport Beach, CA, rode Sin City to the championship in the Amateur-Owner 36 & Over Hunter 3’3″ division, which is sponsored by Wood Run Farm and The Tredennick Family and Woodland Way Inc. Kane and Sin City, a nine-year-old gelding by Libero, were first over fences and second under saddle to capture the championship. Tivoli and Lyn Pedersen finished with third under saddle and second over fences for the reserve championship.
The Amateur-Owner 36 & Over Hunter division championship, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Oare, went to Rock Steady, ridden by Katie Robinson for KJ Robinson LLC. They won the handy hunter class, were second in the under saddle, and placed fourth over fences. Reserve champions Ellen Toon and Invincible were first, second, and fifth over fences. For her score of 90, Toon won the EMO Amateur Trip of the Show sponsored by EMO Agency Inc.
Toon and Invincible also picked up the win in the $2,500 WCHR Amateur-Owner 3’6″ Challenge, sponsored by Greener Pastures Equine and Randy Johnson. Second place in the class went to Lumiere and Jane Gaston, due to a tiebreak when they both received scores of 86. Jessica Zienkievicz and Optimized were third.
Victory in the $2,500 WCHR Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Challenge went to Daryl Portela and Winner. Wind Dancer, ridden by Laura Lee Montross, was second. Sarah Sturges and One Shot finished third.
The In Disguise WCHR Amateur-Owner Trainer Award, donated by Jim and Ellen Toon/JT Farm, was presented to Larry Glefke as the trainer of the WCHR Amateur-Owner 3’6″ National Champion, Jane Gaston. It was their second win in a row.
Lindsey Evans Thomas of Annapolis, MD, makes a point of showing at Capital Challenge each year and when she does, she makes it count. Riding Krista Weisman’s Music Street, Thomas repeated their 2011 performance collecting the championship in the 36-50 Adult Amateur division as well as the Grand Champion honors and the leading rider award. Evans Thomas and Music Street won both over fences classes and were third in the under saddle class. The reserve champion in the division was Tripoli, ridden by Robin Swinderman for Cismont Manor Farm. They placed third over fences and won the under saddle.
With the hopes of just simply having a good round, Chelsea Samuels, 21, traveled from her home in La Canada, CA, with trainer Archie Cox to compete in the 18-35 Adult Amateur Hunter division sponsored by Lainie Wimberly and Brigadoon Show Stables. Samuels did more than just that, she rode her 11-year-old Brandenburg gelding Brooklyn to the championship. Out of a field of 39 riders Samuels collected a fifth and a first over fences and a fourth under saddle to earn the tricolor. The reserve champion was Taken, ridden and owned by Nancy Amling. They won an over fences class.
In the Adult Amateur 51 and over division Margaret Taylor rode Quality Control to a first over fences and a first in the under saddle, earning enough points to be pinned champion. Quality Control is an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood that was also shown by trainer Tommy Serio in the Regular Conformation Hunter division. Exposure and Alexandra Zell were the reserve champions by placing first over fences and sixth in the under saddle.
Kristi Siam of Chatsworth, CA, came away with the win in the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals after a three-round battle with Mahala Rummel on Papillon 136. The two riders went head to head in a work-off when they were less than two points separated after round two. The judges asked for various questions in the test, including counter cantering the first jump, a trot jump, and hand galloping the final fence.
Siam went first and put down a smooth, correct test and the judges rewarded her with an average score of 86.20 for a three round total of 257.40. Rummell followed and while she had no big mistakes, the judges gave her a slightly lower score of 83.85 for a total of 256.80 and a second-place finish. Miranda Scarpone on Rosso Rossini finished third.
Dawn Fogel was victorious in the WCHR Adult Amateur Finals on her horse Royal Oak. Paris North and Chiara Parlagreco finished second, while Lindsey Evans Thomas rode Music Street to third place.
Other WCHR awards presented on Friday night were:
Charles Johnson Memorial Perpetual Trophy: Meredith Darst
WCHR David Peterson Perpetual Trophy: David Seymour Clark
WCHR Old Springhouse Perpetual Trophy: Geoff Teall WCHR Daniel P. Lenehan Award: Linda Andrisani
The Grand Pony Hunter Championship sponsored by Lochmoor Stables/Mindy and Greg Darst was awarded to Meredith Darst and Dr. Betsee Parker’s For the Laughter, who picked up the championship in the Large Pony Hunters sponsored by Heritage Farm. They won all four over fences classes and were second in the under saddle. The reserve championship went to West Side and Barbara Ann Merryman, who rode for Scott Stewart. They placed second and third over fences and were third in the under saddle.
For their win, Darst and For the Laughter were awarded the VanderMoore Designs Trophy donated by Vandermoore Designs. Darst was named the Best Pony Rider, an award sponsored by Archibald Cox and Brookway Stables. They were presented with the Kitty Borisoff Memorial Trophy donated by her many friends. They also won the EMO Trip of the Show with a score of 89.5.
McKayla Langmeier was honored with the Stewart-Warner Cup for pony riders, given in memory of Laurie Gilbert Stewart and Mary Warner Brown by Donald E. Stewart Jr. and Louise W. Serio.
The Small Pony Hunter champion was Shine, ridden by Daisy Farish of Versailles, KY, for Lanes End Farm. They won two over fences classes, were third and fourth in remaining jumping classes, and fifth in the under saddle. The reserve champion was Rolling Stone, ridden by Isabel Ryan for Sophie Michaels, who placed first, first, and second over fences.
The Medium Pony Hunter championship sponsored by Jeff and Keeley Gogul/Flagship Ltd. went to Sassafras Creek, ridden by Ashton Alexander for Bibby Farmer-Hill. The 13-year-old rider from Ocala, FL, and the 12-year-old Welsh Pony Cross mare finished second, third, and fifth over fences and first in the under saddle. The reserve champion was Happily Ever After, ridden by McKayla Langmeier for Kristina Muse. They won two over fences classes and were sixth in the under saddle.
Olivia Esse (17) of Los Angeles, CA, had a banner day in the junior hunters. She swept the championships in the Junior Hunter 16-17 divisions. She rode Clooney, a seven-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Carpaccio, for Oscany Inc. to the championship in the Small Junior 16-17 Hunters sponsored by RC Stables. On Small Affair, owned by Iwasaki & Reilly, she was champion in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunters. They were also named the High Point Junior Hunter 16-17 sponsored by The Clothes Horse.
Esse piloted Small Affair to the win in the handy hunter class. They won another jumping class, and were third in the under saddle. The reserve champion in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunters was Swingtime, ridden by Taylor Ann Adams for Avery Hellman. They placed first and second over fences.
Riding Clooney, she took the Small Junior 16-17 Hunter championship with a blue ribbon in the stake class as well as second and sixth places in the other over fences classes. The reserve champion was Huntington, ridden by Kristen Lutz for Stratford Stables. They were first and fifth over fences and third in the under saddle.
In the Children’s Hunter Pony division sponsored by Back Country Farm, Blythe Ruppel of Greenwich Village, NY, rode Brighton’s Sketch to the championship with a first under saddle and a second over fences. Ruppel leases the 16-year-old mare from owner Erica Polle and has been successful since being paired up almost a year. The reserve champion was Patriot, ridden by Lena Rae Reeb for Leslie Kogos.
The winner of the $5,000 WCHR Handy Hunter Challenge sponsored by Johnson Horse Transportation Inc. was Stars Go Blue, ridden by Shawn Casady for Marigot Bay Farms LLC. Hope Glynn and Avery Hellman’s Roccoco were second, while Meredith Darst and Copyright, owned by Jeanette Collins, were third.
Victoria Colvin swept the junior hunter awards on Sunday by winning all four tricolors. She and Scott Stewart’s Ovation were awarded the Grand Junior Hunter Championship sponsored by Lochmoor Stables/Mindy and Greg Darst, while the Grand Children’s Hunter Championship went to Rosebud and Audrey Layman.
Colvin and Ovation won through their championship performance in the Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under division. They were also the High Point Junior Hunter 15 & Under, sponsored by Susie and Weatherly Stroh. Colvin swept the Small Junior Working Hunter 15 & Under division sponsored by Cynthia Williams/New England Farm; she was also reserve champion on Sanzibar, owned by Karen Long Dwight and Barbara Ridder Irwin. Ovation jumped to two blue ribbons and a fourth place, and he won the under saddle class. Sanzibar finished second, third, and fifth over fences and was sixth under saddle.
For their win, Colvin and Ovation were presented with The Spontaneous Perpetual Trophy donated by the Listrani Family. Colvin was named the Best Junior Rider, an award sponsored by Karen Healey and Karen Healey Stables. The EMO Junior Trip of the show went to Small Affair and Olivia Esse, who were champions in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunter division yesterday.
The champion in the Large Junior Working Hunter 15 & Under division sponsored by Oscany Inc, was Dr. Betsee Parker’s Way Cool, a nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Embassy. They placed first, first, and second over fences. Inclusive, owned by Scott Stewart, was second, second, and third for the reserve championship.
In the Children’s Hunter 15-17 Audrey Layman walked out of the ring with a pile of ribbons and medals. The 17-year-old rider from Chagrin Falls, OH, cleaned up riding Rachel Spencer’s Rosebud, winning the championship in the 15-17 division, as well as the Grand Champion, sponsored by Mary Jane King, and the Leading Rider award, sponsored by Wild Sky Farm and The Nelson Family.
Layman and Rosebud won the championship by finishing first and fifth over fences and winning the under saddle. Nicole, ridden by Sydney Reed for Melissa Ott, won an over fences class and was third under saddle for the reserve championship.
Champion in the younger division of the Children’s Hunters, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Gary Duffy and Little Brook Farm Inc., went to Bases Loaded and Madison Free. Free, 13, of St. Petersburg, FL, rode the warmblood gelding to the EMO Trip of the Show, scoring an 87 to win the first class. Free also collected a second in the second over fences class. The reserve champion was Glass Castle, ridden and owned by Kylie Geddes. They won the second over fences class.
The winner of the $1,500 Children’s Finals sponsored by Stephanie Riggio and MeadowView was October Road, ridden by Julian Currey. Glass Castle and Kylie Geddes were second, while Lilli Power rode Uptown Girl to third.
Olivia Bruyn was named the winner of the Stewart-Warner Cup for Children’s Hunter riders. The Stewart-Warner Cup for Junior riders was given to Barbara Ann Merryman.
The winner of the $2,500 WCHR Pony Challenge was Ringo Star, ridden by Mackenzie Graves and they were awarded the Foxlair Poker Perpetual Trophy. Beau Rivage and Victoria Press placed second, while Cleverist and Ashton Alexander finished third.
Way Cool and Victoria Colvin won the $2,500 WCHR Junior Challenge sponsored by The Caldwell and Graves Families. Chloe Reid rode Pavarotti to second, while Taylor Sutton with MTM Braggin Rights was third.
Rumba and Destry Spielberg hacked their way to the win in the $1,000 Junior World Champion Hunter Under Saddle Class.
Jumper Results – Thursday through Saturday
The winner of the $10,000 Children’s/Adult Jumper Challenge was Kaley Pratt of Gainesville, FL, with Shane, owned by Hillary Simpson. Out of a class of 63 entries and 18 in the jump-off, Pratt and Shane were able to fly through the jump-off course with no faults in a time of 33.159 seconds for the win. Katherine Edgell and Miss Kitty finished second in 33.663 seconds. Melissa Woodson rode Who’s My Girl? to third in 36.150 seconds.
Round 1 of the North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Challenge Cup sponsored by Kate Considine/Willow Brook Stables kicked off on Friday afternoon and birthday girl Kaitlin Campbell was able to speed to victory. She and Rocky W set the fastest time with no faults in this speed phase, with a time of 62.063 seconds. Victoria Colvin and Waminka were second in 63.316 seconds. Alicia Gasser rode Don Francisco to third place in 66.651 seconds. The jumper courses were designed by Ken Krome of Westminster, MD.
The $10,000 North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Challenge Cup Final Round, presented by The Oken Family, highlighted the evening session on Saturday. Kaitlin Campbell (20) of Washington, D.C., and Rocky W jumped to the win.
There were 29 entries in the final round, which was held in jump-off format. There were eight clear rounds, and they went for speed over the shortened course, designed by Ken Krome. The fastest time was set by winners Campbell and Rocky W with no faults in 35.830 seconds. Victoria Colvin rode Waminka for Rivers Edge to second place in 36.917 seconds. Tracey Weinberg and Larone placed third in 38.267 seconds.
For full results, please visit www.capitalchallenge.org and for live scoring please visit www.equestrianlive.com. If you can’t attend the Capital Challenge Horse Show, remember you can log on to www.equestriansport.tv to see all the action.
In its 18th year, the Capital Challenge Horse Show sets itself apart with a distinct and unique focus on preeminent hunter competition. Held each autumn at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, this year’s show takes place on October 1-9.
Top competitions include the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals and the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, along with the Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. In addition to these prestigious equitation events, the Capital Challenge Horse Show will once again host the World Champion Hunter Rider Finals and will assemble the country’s best horses and riders to compete in junior, amateur, and professional hunter classes.
For more information, please visit www.capitalchallenge.org or visit the Capital Challenge Horse Show page on Facebook!
Photo Credit: Photos © Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. These photos may only be used in relation to this press release and with full photo credit.