Liza Boyd and Fenway. David Mullinex Photography.
September 11th, 2013 – The opening week of the 2013 Aiken Fall Festival came to a close on Sunday. The week was filled with exciting hunter and jumper action and included some of the country’s top riders. The show, in its 6th year took place September 5-8 at Highfields Event Center in horse-centric Aiken, SC. The week was jammed packed with events including a $2,500 National Hunter Derby on Friday evening sponsored by Holley Tractor and the $15,000 Aiken Premiere Jumper Classic on Saturday. Kicking the week off in style was the $5,000 Open Welcome Stake Thursday evening which was won by U-Turn and owner rider Maggie Sjoberg. Attention then shifted to local Aiken eatery The Stables Restaurant at Rose Hill Estate who hosted the official Aiken Fall Festival Welcome Party. Riders, trainers, and sponsors were treated to food, libations, and live music by New Holland Road. Many thanks to The Stables for a fabulous evening. A great time was had by all.
Friday evening featured the popular USHJA National Hunter Derby class sponsored by Holley Tractor and low country boil under the Aiken Fall Festival tent sponsored by the 2103 Aiken Fall Festival Hospitality Sponsors. This year’s hospitality sponsors include: Allison Mills, Beaver River Farm, Booth Parker, Brick Church Farm, Bridlewood Farm, Christison Stables, DFG Stables, Gagne International, Hot To Trot Boutique, Liz Tarumianz, The Willcox, and The Stables Restaurant at Rose Hill. A field of 40 competitors tried their luck against the course designed by Toledo, OH native Joseph Carnicom out on the derby field. The hunter derbies are designed to showcase the hunter horse and rider over an outside course that usually consists of natural obstacles encountered in the hunt field. The top 12 horse rider teams out of the original field are invited to return for a second handy hunter round that includes a shortened more technical route. Camden, SC native and current USHJA International Hunter Derby finals champion rider Liza Boyd and Jennifer Gates’ Fenway took home the top call of the night with scores of 91 and 94. Jennifer is the daughter of Bill Gates and trains with Boyd’s Finally Farm and trainer Jack Towell out of Camden, SC. Local Aiken rider Daniel Geitner and Robin Hughes Living Color took home second place honors, and Alpharetta, GA’s Julie Curtain and Golinski Equine’s Rainbow Row rounded out the top three in this challenging class.
The $15,000 Aiken Premiere Jumper Classic took center stage Saturday evening out on the grass field. Exhibitors, trainers, and sponsors were also treated to a VIP dinner under the AFF tent during the class. Corona Du Domaine Z owned by Mistletoe Farms, LLC and rider Mario Garcia found themselves in the winner’s circle again taking home the blue ribbon and smoking the competition with a speedy jump off time of 42.976. Christina Jason and her Tamino were second with a time of 45.823 and Victor Segovia and The Romeo Group’s Romeo rounded out the top three crossing the markers in 48.414.
Focus shifted back to the hunter ring Sunday morning as the prestigious South Carolina Hunter Jumper Association’s Governors Cup Medal Finals took place as well as a rider’s breakfast sponsored by Equus Events. 16 entries were on hand to compete in the finals. Riders have been competing all year in the Governor’s Cup Medal classes accumulating points to have the opportunity to be invited to compete in the finals at the Aiken Fall Festival. 18 year old Rachel Bethea took home top honors this year aboard her Wakefield. “It was a huge accomplishment to me in more ways than one because I trained my horse myself,” quoted Bethea. “Being able to show her in the medal finals and to do so well felt amazing and I am definitely a proud mom.” Bethea trains with Bruce and Amy Christison of Christison Stables out of Camden, SC. Second place went to Maddy Parker, third place to Jordan Heithold, and fourth place went to Hallie Anderson.
For complete horse show results and more information, please go to www.equusevents.com. Week II of the Aiken Fall Festival kicks off on Thursday with another week packed full of events. Friday will feature the second annual Bridles and Birdies Celebrity Ride and Drive Relay Challenge and Saturday night will host the $15,000 Jumper Classic sponsored by the Willcox along with exhibitor dinner catered by the Willcox and sponsored by DFG Stables, Liz Tarumianz, Booth Parker, and Allison Mills. The Barn Book and Sidelines Magazine are also offering a special treat with their shabby chic riders lounge located under the VIP tent. They along with The Stables restaurant will host an ice cream, lemonade, and cookie party on Saturday afternoon.
Contact:
Equus Events
www.equusevents.com
803-643-5698