$500 NAL/WIHS Adult Hunter Classic Victory Goes to Bridget Mahoney and Utopia at Brandywine Valley Summer Series

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Bridget Mahoney and Utopia won the $500 NAL/WIHS Adult Hunter Classic at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. Photos By: Rebecca Walton/PMG.

Devon, PA – July 6, 2011 – It was warm and sunny as exhibitors returned to the Devon Show Grounds for the second week of the Brandywine Valley Summer Series, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services. The Adult Amateurs took center stage in the Dixon Oval as they competed in their respective divisions, as well as the $500 NAL/WIHS Adult Hunter Classic and the Ariat Adult Medal. Bridget Mahoney claimed the top prize in the Classic, while Shane Mackey scored the winning title in the Medal. In the Gold Ring, the jumper riders showcased their skills during the 1.20m Open Jumper class and the Child/Adult Jumper class.

Washington College Senior Bridget Mahoney had an excellent day on her talented mount Utopia, owned by Rob Coluccio of Wellington, FL. The duo entered the second round of the $500 NAL/WIHS Adult Hunter Classic in the second place position with a score of 81. They laid down a beautiful trip during the final round and the judges awarded them a score of 78, bringing their total to 159, which would be good enough for the first place prize.

“The first round was good, I rode it well and I had a score of an 81, so I knew I had a good chance of coming back and being at the top,” commented Mahoney. “The second trip, I just wanted to go in and ride well and think about all my turns. I was most worried about the bending because people were doing a 9 or 10, so I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I jumped in well though and it came up nicely.”

Utopia is an 11-year-old Hanoverian mare that Mahoney is leasing from Coluccio for the summer. “I just got Utopia three weeks ago and did two weeks of Saratoga before coming here,” she explained. “She just needs a confident ride; she’s very fun and easy to get along with. After Brandywine we will go to Vermont before I return to school in August.”

Laura Yoworsky and Marvelous, owned by Jennifer Shinners of Harleysville, PA, won both of last week’s Classics and had a slight lead after the first round with a score of 81.5. They received a score of 76 during their return trip for a 157.5 total and the second place honors overall. Leslie Schillat of Wayne, PA, and Colorful were tied for sixth after the first round, but a beautiful second round garnered them a score of 83 for a total of 148 and the third place award.

One of today’s other highlight events was the Ariat Adult Medal in the Dixon Oval, where Shane Mackey of West Chester, PA, claimed the top call for her ride aboard Fitzwilliam. After scoring an 80 during the first round and returning for the test in the second place position the due laid down a flawless test to win the blue ribbon prize.

“During the first round, we wanted to keep him a little forward, because it’s hot out and he’s kind of tired, so it was just a matter of keeping him in front of my leg, but also keeping him collected and focused,” explained Mackey. “I wanted to make sure were very handy and that the tight turns were clean. The test flowed very nicely because he’s fairly handy and he had some dressage training, so he is great about his leads.”

Mackey added, “It depends on the day, but Fitzwilliam is a typical warmblood, so he’s a little bit more of a push ride. He flows really nicely, he’s very adjustable, and he listens well, so we seem to be a pretty good team.”

For today’s test, riders had to canter two fences in rollback, halt, counter canter a two-stride, and show the sit trot to the gait. Placing second was Jeannette Pettit of Southampton, NJ, and Unsung Hero. They scored a 74 during the first round, but quickly climbed the rankings with a solid test. Rounding out the top three was Lauren Hogan aboard Olivia, owned by Christina Vozza of Bloomfield Hills, MI. The duo held the lead after the first round with a score of 82, but difficulties with the counter canter during the test resulted in the third place honors.

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Jennifer Bauersachs and Chessner won the 1.20m Open Jumper class at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series.

In the Gold Ring, the jumper riders started out the day with the 1.20m Open Jumper class, where all four of the top entries completed double clear efforts.  Jennifer Bauersachs was the fastest of the group, clocking in at 37.061 seconds aboard Chessner, owned by Spring Hill Farm of Frenchtown, NJ.

“I haven’t done the jumpers in a long time, so my plan for the first round was just to remember the course,” laughed Bauersachs. “This is an amazing horse that is very brave and has a big stride, so I just stayed out of his way and tried to make the time allowed and advance to the jump-off, because he is very fast and very careful.”

Bauersachs continued, “I made up some time during the jump-off leaving out a stride in one of the lines. Chessner is pretty smart and he knows what he’s doing, so I just keep leg, keep him together, and let him know where to go.”

The talented rider attended the first week of the Brandywine Valley Summer Series and is thrilled to be back. “I love this show, I think it’s going to become very popular and be a major stop of the summer circuit,” expressed Bauersachs. “The management could not be more accommodating, the footing is great, and the courses are beautiful. I can’t say enough good things about this show!”

Joe Fargis showed over the short course just prior to Bauersachs with last week’s winner, Mariposa owned by Sharon Simpson of Newtown Square, PA. They left each of the fences standing in a time of 39.022 seconds for the second place prize. The third place honors went to Kenny Krome and Mystic Joe, owned by Kathleen Fisher of West Chester, PA, after they completed a fault free effort in 40.360 seconds. Patricia Griffith and Occra, owned by Audrey Keller of Bedford, NY, had the slowest of the double clear rounds, stopping the clock at 40.503 seconds for the fourth place ribbon.

The final class of the day in the Gold Ring was the Child/Adult Jumpers where Patrick McGinnis galloped to victory aboard Conn, owned by Jet Show Stables of South West Ranches, FL with a double clear effort. The second place prize went to Olivia Fry Weeks of Southport, CT, and H. J. El Divino after they mastered both tracks without fault. Amanda Hood of Washington, DC, received the third place honors aboard Boy-O-Boy for their quick and clear short course.

The second week of the Brandywine Valley Summer Series will continue tomorrow with the conclusion of the professional hunter divisions, where championship and reserve championship honors will be presented to the top horse and rider combinations. Thursday will also feature the $2,000 Pre Green Hunter Classic and the $1,500 NAL Child/Adult Classic. This week’s main events will include Friday’s $10,000 Canine Partners for Life Mini Prix and Saturday’s $3,000 Johnson Horse Transportation USHJA National Hunter Derby.

For more information about the Brandywine Valley Summer Series, please visit http://brandywinevalleysummerseries.com.

Media Contact: Mason Phelps
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389  fax 561.753.3386
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com

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