Category Archives: Championships

North American Equitation Championship Weekend Presented by Big Eq.com to Begin 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show

Victoria Birdsall won last year's North American Equitation Championships

Upper Marlboro, MD – September 28, 2011 – The 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show kicks off this Saturday, October 1, 2011, with its North American Equitation Championship Weekend presented by BigEq.com. Running through October 9, the 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show will feature many of the nation’s best horses and riders in a week of exceptional equestrian competition held at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. The equitation weekend will host many exciting classes, including the finals for the 2011 Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children’s Medal series.

Bigeq.com is the premier website for buying and selling hunters, jumpers, equitation horses and ponies. The website sponsors the Capital Challenge equitation weekend each year and is proud to support the show and its exhibitors. The North American Equitation Championship Weekend presented by BigEq.com will feature the North American Equitation Championships, THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, and the North American Adult Amateur Equitation Championships.

Also featured over the weekend will be the 17-Year-Old Equitation, 16-Year-Old Equitation, 15-Year-Old Equitation, 13 & 14-Year-Old Equitation, 12 & Under Equitation, and Open Equitation 3’ and 3’6” divisions.

The Prince George’s Equestrian Center is a fantastic facility for both horse and rider, featuring indoor and outdoor rings and excellent stabling. Manager Oliver Kennedy looks forward to welcoming horse show participants and anticipates another fantastic year at the Capital Challenge Horse Show.

Kennedy stated, “Capital Challenge is a great opportunity for riders to show their horses in a fun and welcoming environment. The facility provides the experience of showing both indoors and outdoors, and there is always plenty of space to ride and school. We strive to give horses and riders the best experience available, and there is nothing better than showing at Capital Challenge in the fall.”

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Michael Hughes, Lillie Keenan, and Catherine Tyree Top 2011 ASPCA Maclay Regional Championships

Michael Hughes won the 2011 ASPCA Maclay Region 1 "Northeast" Championship. Photo © 2011 Anne Gittins.

Wellington, FL – September 28, 2011 – This weekend concluded the 2011 ASPCA Maclay Regional Championships with the final competitions held for Regions 1, 2, and 4. Championship honors were awarded to Michael Hughes, Lillie Keenan, and Catherine Tyree for their incredible rides in each of their respective regions. The talented riders also earned an invitation to the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, KY, to compete for the top spot among the nation’s best junior riders with the 2011 ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals presented by C. M. Hadfield’s Saddlery.

The Region 1 “Northeast” Championships were judged by Jimmy Torano and Jimmy Lee at the Grand Fall Classic in Westbrook, CT. Michael Hughes of Morriston, FL, caught their attention with his smooth and precise ride aboard Co Co Pop, winning top honors without entering the ring for additional testing. Hughes showed against 60 of the top juniors in the Northeast states of CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, and VT. Charlotte Jacobs of East Aurora, NY, finished in reserve for the second consecutive year.

“This weekend really went amazing,” said Hughes. “The first round went really well, the course was straightforward, and when it came to the flat phase, I know that Co Co Pop would really excel, so we were able to stay strong.”

Region 2 “East” Championship was held on Saturday, September 24 for the states of NJ, NY, and PA at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. Judged by Rita Timpanaro and Chrystine Tauber, top honors were awarded to Lillie Keenan of New York, NY, aboard Catherine Cowie’s Vidarco. Samantha Schaefer of Westminster, MD rode to the reserve honors.

Continue reading Michael Hughes, Lillie Keenan, and Catherine Tyree Top 2011 ASPCA Maclay Regional Championships

FEI World Jumping Championships for Young Horses 2011 – Lanaken (BEL)

DOUBLE GOLD FOR ZANGERSHEIDE STUDBOOK, BUT BELGIAN WARMBLOOD WINS YOUNGEST CATEGORY by Louise Parkes

Jessica Kuerten steered Ayumi Kotani's Zangersheide stallion, Cor dela Rossa Z, to victory in the 7 Year Old Final at the FEI World Jumping Championships for Young Horses 2011. Photo: FEI/Peter van del Bulck.

Lausanne (SUI), 26 September 2011 – Horses from the Zangersheide Studbook claimed two of the three gold medals on offer at the 2011 FEI World Jumping Championships for Young Horses staged in Lanaken, Belgium over the weekend.  This event is long-established as the shop window for up-and-coming champions, and for the many breeding organisations who annually compare their merit throughout four days of tough competition.

It was a particularly satisfying result for the host venue at Zangersheide Stud, home to the highly influential and extremely successful Zangersheide Studbook which dates back to its earliest origins in 1992 when Leon Melchior first began to apply a scientific approach to the traditional methods of producing top-class Jumping horses.  And ensuring that all the main honours remained with the host nation, it was the Belgian Warmblood Studbook that reigned supreme in the youngest category for 5 Year Olds.

The event, staged in warm and sunny weather conditions, attracted a phenomenal 80,000 visitors who came to see over 800 jumpers in action.  A total of 206 started in the 5 Year Old category, a massive 265 in the 6 Year Olds and 240 in the 7 Year Old division.  And with €220,000 up for grabs, along with the enormous prestige that is automatically attributed to every medal-winner, the competition was razor-sharp.

FEROCIOUS BATTLE
A total of 58 qualified for Sunday’s 5 Year Old Final, and 35 of these went clear in the first round, so it was a ferocious battle for the medal placings as these youngsters raced against the clock.  The quality of the talent on show however was demonstrated when 15 managed to complete with double-clear performances, but the best of all was the Belgian Warmblood mare Gladys – Wandor v Mispelaere x Toulon – who scorched home quickest for Belgium’s Yves Vanderhasselt.

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Team and Individual Bronze for Pony Team USA at the FEI Pony World Driving Championships

The U.S. Pony Drivers defended their third-place marathon finish – driving a confident cones phase to secure a Team Bronze medal at the 2011 FEI Pony World Driving Championships in Lipica, Slovenia. Their three-phase total of 402.3 guaranteed Bronze behind driving powerhouse nations, Germany, who won on 359.4, and The Netherlands on 375.4. Additionally, Suzy Stafford – driving as an Individual for Team USA – drove an impeccable cones phase to move from fourth to third and secured her second consecutive Individual Bronze medal.

Single Pony Championship

Finishing just two places behind Stafford (Wilmington, DE) and Josephine, Randy Cadwell (Southern Pines, NC) drove Kabam to sixth in the division, adding just 1.88 penalties in the final phase. Shelly Temple (Windsor, SC) finished just outside the top 10 with LR Ami B-Line, ending up 11th on 130.97.

Pair Pony Championship

Jennifer Matheson (Aiken, SC) drove determinedly all weekend, and finished 10th to lead the U.S. effort in the Pairs division. Wendy O’Brien (Aiken, SC) put in a valiant effort in her first Team appearance, finishing 22nd overall.

“I thought it was great,” said Matheson. “We all worked really really hard. Some of us had personal bests, I was in that category. Wendy and Lisa had outstanding weekends, everyone worked hard. The team worked well together which was really nice and everyone helped everyone out. We worked really hard, at the beginning of the year we thought we had a chance for bronze, we knew that the Germans and the Dutch were really, really strong but we worked really really hard and we succeeded.”

Continue reading Team and Individual Bronze for Pony Team USA at the FEI Pony World Driving Championships

Three New World Champions in Pony Driving

18-year-old Bram Chardon (NED) won the four-in-hand category at the FEI World Driving Championships for Combined Ponies 2011. Photo © Rinaldo de Craen.

Lipica (SLO), 21-25 September 2011 – Three new world champions were crowned at the end of four wonderful days of competition at the FEI World Driving Championships for Combined Ponies in Lipica, Slovenia. Bram Chardon from The Netherlands won gold in the four-in-hand pony class, Dieter Baackmann from Germany was declared world champion in the pony pairs class and Kristina Klindt from Denmark is the new world champion in the pony singles class. Germany was untouchable from the very beginning and took the team gold.

New generation
Young drivers took the medals this weekend just as was the case a month ago at the FEI World Pairs Driving Championships in Conty (FRA). A new generation of drivers has successfully entered combined pony Driving at the highest level. With 18-year-old Bram Chardon and 23-year-old Kristina Klindt winning the gold medals and many other young drivers taking the top placings, the future of pony Driving is looking bright indeed.

Four-in-hands
Bram Chardon (NED) is following in his father’s footsteps. This was the championship debut for the son of four-time world four-in-hand champion IJsbrand Chardon. It did not come easy for Bram though. After placing fifth in Dressage, he won the marathon by driving his team of grey Welsh ponies fast and smooth through the eight spectacular marathon obstacles. Bram took over the lead from Germany’s defending world champion Tobias Bücker who had won the Dressage. Bram had one ball in hand going into the final obstacle driving competition but proved to be a true champion and drove a magnificent double clear round, securing his first ever gold medal. Bram’s fellow team member and 2007 world champion Jan de Boer won individual silver and the 2009 world pony pair champion Daniel Schneiders (GER) made an excellent debut in the four-in-hand category by winning the bronze.

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Day Three: FEI World Pony Driving Championships – U.S. Maintains Bronze Medal Position

Shelly Temple and LR Ami B-Line (Photos: Marie de Ronde)

The U.S. Pony Drivers had another successful day in Lipica, Slovenia at the 2011 FEI World Pony Driving Championships. As a team they forged through difficult marathon conditions to lie third in the standings heading into Sunday’s finale. Germany leads comfortably with a combined score of 345.01, with The Netherlands sitting the Silver medal position on 360.39. On 382.08, the U.S has a wide margin over the fourth-placed British team.

Single Pony Championship

Less than 10 points separate the top nine ponies in the Single Pony Championship, three of which are Americans. Individual driver Suzy Stafford (Wilmington, DE) was the Individual Bronze medalist in 2009, will attempt to drive her way back in to the individual medals again on Sunday. She currently is fourth with Josephine. Shelly Temple, who drives LR Ami B-Line (Windsor, SC), and Miranda Cadwell, who drives Kabam (Southern Pines, NC), are in eighth and ninth respectively, with less than half a point separating the two American drivers.

Continue reading Day Three: FEI World Pony Driving Championships – U.S. Maintains Bronze Medal Position

Milliren, Pettet, Cameron, and Geller Top 2011 ASPCA Maclay Regional Championships

Sarah Milliren and Terrapin win the ASPCA Maclay "Central" Regional Finals. Photo © 2011 CJM Photography

Wellington, FL – September 22, 2011 – The 2011 ASPCA Maclay Regional Championships continued this past weekend with competitors for Regions 5, 6, 7 and 8 vying for the top honors in their respective regional competitions. On September 18, 2011, talented horse and rider combinations began competing to place in the top 60% of their classes, earning the top combinations an invitation to the prestigious finals held in Lexington, KY for the Alltech National Horse Show. Taking home the blue ribbon prize and winning title for their regions were Sarah Milliren, Brooke Pettet, Madison Cameron and Morgan Geller.

Competing at the St. Louis National Charity Horse Show in Lake St. Louis, MO, the Region 5 “Central” Championships were judged by Linda Andrisani and Alex Jayne. The “Central” Championships were one of the few finals that did not ask for additional testing from the judges. The riders were only judged on the course and the flat phase. The Central Region includes top competitors from AR, IA, KS, LA, MO, MN, ND, NE, OK, SD, TX, and WI. It was Sarah Milliren who rode Terrapin, owned by Walstib Stables LLC of Rumson, NJ, to the top honors, claiming the championship award. Megan Bifano and Urco, owned by Gabby Slome of Riverdale, NY, claimed the reserve championship honors.

Milliren was extremely pleased with the results, especially since this was her first time showing Terrapin. “Going to Regionals, I had no idea what horse I was going to compete with,” Milliren explained. “I had a couple to choose from, but I really liked Terrapin and his ride. He’s an awesome horse, pretty straightforward, although he does get a little crabby.”

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U.S. Drivers Look Strong in Slovenia as Temple and Matheson Cruise to Top Placings

The U.S. Team ready for competition in Lipica. Photo by Marie de Ronde

Lexington, KY – The U.S. drivers put in incredible performances on the first day of competition at the FEI World Pony Driving Championships. Competition got underway in Lipica, Slovenia, with the Pony Pair Championship and the first section of the Pony Singles Championship completing the driven dressage. The U.S. drivers are poised for top individual honors as they occupy first and third places in these two championship divisions.

Jennifer Matheson (Aiken, SC) led off the American effort on Thursday in the Pair Pony Championship and did not disappoint. Matheson and her pair, owned by her mother-in-law Katrina Becker, drove to a solid score of 46.08 to stand in third place heading into Saturday’s marathon.

Matheson is driving under the U.S. flag for the first time in Lipica after having represented her native Canada in the 2005 World Pony Driving Championships.

“I’m thrilled to be driving here, and I have worked hard to get to these championships. I drove for Canada in 2005 and was the alternate in 2007 and the alternate in 2009,” Matheson said. “My dressage was good. There were a few things that could have gone better, but I was really happy.”

Wendy O’Brien is making her World Championship debut this week and had a credible performance in the first phase driving her own pony pair to joint 21st place on a score of 61.82. O’Brien, who also hails from Aiken, SC, was the winner of the Southern Pines CDE in April.

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This Week in International Disciplines, September 20, 2011

Wentz and NTEC Richter Scale. Photo by Lindsay Yosay McCall.

Para-Equestrian

The USEF National Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships took center stage at the NEDA Fall Festival in Saugerties, NY. WEG veteran and Southern Methodist University student, Jonathan Wentz put in three calculated efforts to sweep his three Grade 1b tests and score his first national championship. Riding NTEC Richter Scale, Wentz tallied an overall championship score of 71.531% giving him the edge over Dale Dedrick and Bonifatus. A first-time National Championship competitor had a three test combined score of 71.223%.

The U.S. took a step forward in qualifying for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London by winning the FEI Team Competition at the Saugerties CPEDI3* (which ran concurrently with the National Championship). The U.S. team composed of Wentz, Hart, Mary Jordan riding Sebastian, and Wendy Fryke and Lateran, topped Canada.

Competition in the five Para-Equestrian Grades was held in the CPEDI3*. In Grade 1a competition, Donna Ponessa has topped both the team and freestyle tests. In the team test, she scored 66.765% on Otto and topped the freestyle on Western Rose with a 68.5%. Canada’s Jody Schloss and Inspector Rebus scored 68.417% in the individual test on the final day of competition. Dedrick won the team and individual tests scoring 70.079% and 72.063% respectively in Grade II. Hart and Dedrick rode to an equal score of 71.833%, Hart claimed the victory as her collective marks were higher.

Continue reading This Week in International Disciplines, September 20, 2011

U.S. Drivers Ready for FEI World Driving Championships in Slovenia

Lexington, KY – The U.S. brings a wealth of championship experience to Lipica, Slovenia, this week for the FEI World Driving Championships. The seven drivers that will represent the U.S. have competed in a total of 13 World Driving Championships and have claimed 14 USEF National Championships as a group. Miranda Cadwell, Shelly Temple, Laurie Astegiano, Lisa Stroud, and Suzy Stafford were all members of the Bronze medal-winning U.S. team in Dorthelyst, Denmark, in 2005 and look to add to their extensive resumes in Lipica. In 2011, they will be under the veteran guidance of Chester Weber as Chef d’Equipe and Michael Freund as coach.

The team will be composed of Astegiano, Cadwell, Stroud, Temple, Jennifer Matheson, and Wendy O’Brien. While Stafford will drive her own Morgan mare, Josephine, as an individual.

The U.S. will have three chances to earn an individual medal in the Single Pony Championship with Cadwell, Temple, and Stafford. Cadwell will aiming for her first World Championship medal in the Single Pony division after winning Gold with her Pony Pair in 2007. The Southern Pines, NC, native brings her 2009 World Pony Driving Championships partner, Kaboom, to Lipica.

Often recognized for her proficiency in the dressage phase, Temple is a three-time (and reigning) USEF National Champion having won in 2006, 2010, and 2011. She brings LR Ami B-Line to the World Championships (the Morgan gelding that helped her win the 2011 National Championship).

Stafford won the Individual Bronze medal at the 2009 World Pony Driving Championships with longtime partner Courage to Lead. Josephine is poised for a strong performance under the guidance of Stafford after collecting three second-place finishes, including being Reserve USEF National Champion in 2011.

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