Upper Marlboro, MD – October 9, 2010 – Meg O’Mara thought when she had a rail in the jump-off of tonight’s final round for the $15,000 North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Challenge Cup, that would be the end of her day. It turned out that her second and third places in the two rounds of the Challenge Cup left her tied with Kirstie Dobbs and Treesdale Farms’ Eso, and another jump-off would be needed to determine the overall winner of the Challenge Cup, sponsored by ARIAT. With a clear round in the second jump-off, O’Mara and Mianta owned by Quiet Winter Farm and Redfield Farm, sealed their victory. The winner of the $10,000 Final Round, sponsored by The Oken Family, was Hayley Barnhill on Scotch, owned by Boggs Hill.
In yesterday’s $5,000 First Round, sponsored by Kate Considine/Willow Brook Stables, Dobbs and Eso had the fastest speed round for the win. With that win and a fifth in the final round, Dobbs had 45 points, which tied her with O’Mara and Mianta, who finished third in the speed round and second in the final round.
For her Time First Round victory tonight, Barnhill was presented with the Remy Martin Perpetual Trophy, donated by Rolling Acres and Melanie Wright. Seventeen-year-old Barnhill, from Collierville, TN, has only ridden Scotch at one other show, but noted, “The horse is awesome. We don’t know him that well, but he’s so cool. He’s so scopey.”
In the jump-off for the final round, she was the only clear trip. “I didn’t know how he was going to go, but it was really fun. I’d never gone fast on him before, but we decided to just go for the clear round,” she explained.
O’Mara won the Best Junior Jumper Rider Award along with the ARIAT Congressional Cup, while Dobbs was named the Best Amateur Jumper Rider, sponsored by Lyman T. Whitehead and Eight Fences LLC.
Fifteen-year-old O’Mara has only ridden Mianta, a top grand prix horse previously ridden by Callan Solem, for the past three months and has picked up the ride on her and other horses owned by Carol Thompson of Quiet Winter Farm. O’Mara said of Mianta, “She was really hard to get at first. She’s really hot and is very specific. You can’t fight with her. We’ve gotten to a point (now) where we flow together.”
Meg O’Mara and Mianta
When O’Mara found out she had to return for a second jump-off to determine the overall winner, she wanted to redeem herself and Mianta from the rail they had in the jump-off for the final round. She had a plan and knew that Mianta’s quickness would help. “Mianta has a lot of ground speed. We wanted to put the pressure on her [Dobbs], and I just trusted my instincts. Mianta seemed better because she knew where she was going (the second time).”
Regarding her win, O’Mara expressed, “It’s amazing to win here. Last year I watched the High Juniors and thought, ‘I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do this.’ I thought maybe in two years I could start. Now that I’ve been riding Carol’s horses, it’s really stepped me up a level.”
Earlier in the day, it was all pony hunters in the Show Place Arena. The Grand Pony Hunter Championship, sponsored by Lochmoor Stables/Mindy & Greg Darst, went to For the Laughter, ridden by 13-year-old Victoria Colvin and owned by Dr. Betsee Parker. The pair were first, second, and second over fences and they won the under saddle class for the championship in the $9,000 Large Pony Hunters, sponsored by Heritage Farm. The reserve champion in the division was Center Field, ridden and owned by Louise Graves.
For their grand championship, Colvin and For the Laughter were awarded the VanderMoore Designs Trophy, donated by VanderMoore Designs. Colvin won the Best Pony Rider Award, sponsored by Archibald Cox and Brookway Stables, and she was presented with the Kitty Borisoff Memorial Trophy donated by her many friends.
For the Laughter, a nine-year-old Welsh cross gelding, is called “Bubbles” in the barn. Colvin said he was “perfect.” She added, “He’s getting so much better, and he’s so much easier now. He was just a little spooky with blowing things. If a flag was blowing, he’d spook a little bit, but he’s so much better now.”
Victoria Colvin and For the Laughter
It has been a banner year for Colvin and Bubbles; they won the Grand Championship at the USEF Pony Finals as well. “It feels really good to win here too,” Colvin said.
Colvin was also victorious in the $9,000 Medium Pony Hunters. She and Ever Luvin, owned by Scott Stewart, were the champions after they placed first and second over fences. The reserve champion was Macy Grey, ridden by Meredith Darst for Wild Sky Farm.
Ever Luvin, who is just six years old and called Norris in the barn, is one that despite his age, has been easy for Colvin to ride. “He has a great canter to find the jumps. It’s very smooth. He’s really sweet at the barn too,” she said. “He’s really easy; we barely even jumped him before we came here.”
Meredith Darst received the top tricolor in the $9,000 Small Pony Hunters with Elation for Dr. Betsee Parker. They placed in every class, with two firsts, a second, and a fifth over fences, as well as fifth under saddle. The reserve championship went to Ballou, ridden by Daisy Farish for Victoria Colvin. Ballou and Farish won the EMO Pony Hunter Trip of the Show when they scored a 91.
The Stewart Warner Cup for a pony rider went to Emma Kennedy, given in memory of Laurie Gilbert Stewart and Mary Warner Brown, by Donald E. Stewart, Jr. and Louise W. Serio. This award is given to up-and-coming junior riders who, in the opinion of the panel of judges, exhibit the best hunter style and show potential as a young hunter rider.
The Older Junior Hunters completed their divisions today outside. In the Small Junior 16-17 Hunters, Hannah Goodson-Cutt and Caretano finished as champions. They won both over fences yesterday in the Show Place Arena and finished third under saddle. The reserve champion was Fern Gully, ridden by Taylor Ann Adams and owned by Don Stewart and Meg O’Mara.
Poetic and Maggie Boylan scored a first and fifth over fences for the championship in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunters. Gabbi Langston and Azlan, owned by Fastball Farm, were the reserve champions.
In the abundant sunshine, Children’s Hunter ponies wrapped up the outside schedule on Saturday afternoon. Earning the championship with 18 points was Chelsea Cohn on Crimson Sky. Cohn, 14, placed first and third over fences and earned a third under saddle.
Chelsea Cohn and Crimson Sky
Cohn bought “Sammy,” an experienced hunter, three years ago. He was the first pony she tried and Cohn “fell in love.” Cohn’s trainer, Cynthia Williams, said, “They bonded immediately.”
Cohn has ridden at the Capital Challenge Horse Show before but never with Sammy. She said of her win, “It is a very big honor and I’m really excited about it.”
“This is a career high for her,” said Williams proudly.
The reserve championship was awarded to Bernadette Louise Chungunco on Ramblin’ N’ Gamblin’ but the pair had to work for it. Chungunco was tied in points with The Patriot and rider Ariana Morales. The two riders hacked off for the tricolor but it was Ramblin’ N’ Gamblin’ who ultimately received the ribbon.
Tomorrow’s competition wraps up the 2010 Capital Challenge Horse Show, and the highlight classes are the WCHR Pony Challenge, the WCHR Junior Challenge, the World Champion Junior Hunter Under Saddle, and the WCHR Children’s Hunter Finals. The Grand Junior Hunter Champion will be determined after championships in the younger small and large junior hunters. The Children’s Hunters will also wrap up the day in the outdoor ring.
For full results and more information, please visit www.capitalchallenge.org . If you can’t attend the Capital Challenge Horse Show, remember you can log on to www.equestriansport.tv to see all the action live.
In its 17th 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 2-10. 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: Victoria Colvin and For the Laughter were the Grand Pony Hunter Champions. Crimson Sky and Chelsea Cohn were the Children’s Hunter Pony champions. Photo © JL Parker Photography. Meg O’Mara and Mianta were fastest in a jump-off to win the North American Junior/A-O Jumper Challenge Cup. Photos © Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. These photos may only be used in relation to this press release and with full photo credit.