Kaely Tomeu and Fidalgo Van Het Leliehof. Photo: Randi Muster.
South Florida Dominates the First Day of SEMF
Jacksonville, FL – September 19, 2014 – Youngsters Kaely Tomeu and Fidalgo Van Het Leliehof are a new force to be reckoned with, and they proved it Thursday night by winning the $5,000 1.40 Welcome Stake at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center during the first night of the Southeast Medal Finals. Tomeu, just 18 years old, and her new equine partner, who goes by the name of “Phil,” is just 9 years old.
Tomeu just purchased Phil and competed on him for the first time at the Country Heir Horse Show in Kentucky. The new duo started in the Low Junior Jumpers and quickly moved up to the High Junior Jumpers at Horse Shows by the Bay in Traverse City, Michigan, where they won almost every class Tomeu entered.
“He’s so wonderful. He’s so easy; I have won more classes on him than any other horse I have ever owned,” Tomeu said. She and Phil will try to continue their winning streak on Friday in the $25,000 SEMF Grand Prix with hopes of having the opportunity to ride Phil on the Prix De States team this October at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Tomeu trains with Ali Sweetnam of Sweet Oak Farm in Wellington, FL.
Staying true to its name, Southeast Medal Finals offers a variety of equitation divisions, including the Wild Card Phelps Media Group Southeast Medal Final, a promising new class won by Main Street’s Liberation, owned and ridden by Taylor Masters. Second in the class went to Taking Chances, owned and ridden by Zoe Stewart. Riders navigated a challenging course while demonstrating the fundamental basics of riding in a stylish, controlled manner.
Megan Eisenfelder also displayed her fine riding yesterday, going first in the order-of-go and besting a field of 13 junior and amateur jumpers in the $500 1.25m Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers on her Irish Sport Horse, Killard Horizon.
“We imported him about 3 years ago. He was riding really great today, and we are really in sync right now,” said Eisenfelder of her gorgeous grey gelding.
“My ride was great, and I am really happy about it. I am going to continue to show him in some small shows for practice in preparation for [the Winter Equestrian Festival] 2015,” she concluded. Eisenfelder is a student of Tiffany Morrissey of East Wind Farms in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Runner-up in the $500 1.25m Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers was Abbey Soffer on her Swedish Warmblood, Lundback T Hastak, trained by Shane Sweetnam and Michael DelFiandra of Sweet Oak Farm in Wellington, FL.
After a full day of showing on Thursday, horses and riders return to the Jacksonville Equestrian Center for Friday’s classes. Junior and Amateur-Owner Hunters will strut their stuff out on the grass arena, finishing with the $1,000 SEMF Junior/A-O 3’3″ and 3’6″ Hunter Classics. The day will conclude in the covered arena with the $25,000 Land Rover Jacksonville Grand Prix at 7:00 pm.
The final day of the 2014 Southeast Medal Finals on Sunday will be streaming live on the web. Join us live from the Jacksonville Equestrian Center on September 21, 2014 beginning at 8 a.m.
TUNE IN AND WATCH:
The $500 GGT/Eastwest Arena Construction SE Medal Children’s Hunter 3′ Final
The $500 SE Medal Adult Hunter 3′ Final and
The Region 3 ASPCA/NHSAA Maclay Championship
JOIN US by clicking on either of the links below:
www.southeastmedalfinals.com
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/national-sports-broadcasting
Southeast Medal Finals Fast Facts:
WHAT: The Southeast Medal Finals is an indoor and outdoor hunter, jumper and equitation horse show attracting the top riders.
WEBSITE: www.southeastmedalfinals.com
WHEN: September 18-21, 2014
WHERE:
The Jacksonville Equestrian Center, Jacksonville, FL, featuring a large indoor coliseum with 3,000 seats, two outdoor rings and 500 permanent stalls.
13611 Normandy Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32221
FEATURES
- 4-Day “A”/Jumper Level 3 USEF-Rated Horse Show
- The Phelps Media Group Southeast Junior Medal Finals
- $500 Southeast Adult Hunter 3′ Final
- Southeast Adult Medal Finals 3′ – 3’3″
- $25,000 Jacksonville Grand Prix
- Geddaway Farms $5,000 Welcome Stake
- Region 3 ASPCA/NHSAA Maclay Championship
- HorseGym $1,500 NAL/WIHS Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic
- GGT & Eastwest Arena Construction $500 Southeast Children’s Hunter 3′ Final
- Tenney’s Custom Saddlery Southeast Children’s/Adult Medal 2’6″ Finals
- $500 Southeast Child/Adult Hunter 2’6″ Final
- North Run $2,500 Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic
Managers:
James Lala (561) 906-6668
jdlala@aol.com
Michael Morrissey (941) 915-3449
michael.morrrissey@stadiumjumping.com
Secretary:
Susie Morrissey (941) 527-6602
susiemorr@aol.com
Sponsorship and Advertising:
Christian Palmer (612) 618-8216
clpalmer287@gmail.com
Media and Public Relations:
Carrie Wirth, Phelps Media Group (561) 753-3389
cw@phelpsmediagroup.com
Catherine Zachariadis for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com
