David Oliynyk and Generous claimed the Performance Working Hunters Championship during the Fieldstone Spring Festival. Photo By: AnLi Kelly-Duram/Phelps Media Group.
Halifax, MA – May 16, 2013 – Blue skies welcomed competitors back into the Main Hunter Ring on the second day of the Fieldstone Spring Festival. The professional hunter divisions wrapped up this morning with a strong finish by David Oliynyk, who claimed the Performance Working Hunter Championship and Reserve Championship aboard his two mounts, while Thomas Hern and Picture Me were awarded the championship title in the Pre-Green Hunters. The Amateur-Owner Hunter division got off to a great start this afternoon with Lisa Foster and Castleguard taking blues in both over fences classes.
The Performance Working Hunters were up first in the Main Hunter Ring. Many competitors laid down solid trips, but it was ultimately David Oliynyk who claimed both the championship and reserve championship for the division aboard his mounts Generous and Cascor’s Splendor.
Oliynyk and Generous rode to the top of both classes in today’s competition, taking a clean sweep over fences. His two first place wins today, in addition to his two firsts and one second from yesterday, secured him the title of champion. Generous is owned by Lori Gaudet of Lexington, MA, and when he is not winning Performance Working Hunter classes with trainer Oliynyk, he can be seen in the Adult Hunters showing his owner the ropes of competition.
“Generous just has the mentality to do that; it’s taken a number of years for that to happen but now that he is 10 years old, he is much better about going in and doing the Adult Hunters,” smiled Oliynyk. “I think he is more experienced now; when he was younger he was not as tolerant. I will take Generous in the 3’3″ Fieldstone Derby. He feels great, but jumping out on the field is a whole different ball game so anything can happen. He has been out on the field before, so I am looking forward to repeating that experience.”
Not far behind was Oliynyk’s second mount, Cascor’s Splendor, an entry owned by Maria Moalli of Groton, CT. The pair received a second and third place over fences this morning, good enough for the reserve championship.
Oliynyk was pleased by the improvements he saw in both horses, noting, “I though they both felt even better today, even more relaxed. I thought they both jumped very well and rode very easily. I think they both improved today, just by going around again. The weather was very nice today; there was no wind; it was a nice environment for them to kind of just go in and comfortably go around. I wanted to get some consistency out of both of them so they are prepared for the weekend, whether that’s jumping in the derby classes or jumping for their owner. Whatever it is they are going to do, I want them to feel comfortable in the ring and happy about what they are doing.”
Next, the Amateur-Owner Hunters took their turn in front of the judges. Lisa Foster and Castleguard were on top of their game today; their solid performance in the first over fences class and brilliance displayed in the handy put them on top in both. Other ribbon winners included Upper Ten and Laura Kadane, taking home a second and a fourth, and Rain King with Nora Keefe in the irons, claiming the third.
“I was very happy with my horse because we haven’t shown since Week 12 of WEF, so I was glad that he went around and did what I asked in all of my trips. I love doing handy classes with him, because despite his large size, he is very agile and great at turning,” explained Foster. “We were able to create a couple of sharper turn options, and then really step it up and do a bold hand gallop to the last jump in the handy. Doing the handy class is a lot of fun with him.”
Foster continued, “I bought Castleguard as a 3-year-old, so I’ve had him for about 10 years. I ride with Tommy Serio, so way back when Tommy did him in the Pre-Greens, and then I’ve been doing him in the Amateurs. We had a great winter; he was Reserve Circuit Champion at WEF so he had a well-deserved vacation after that. This is his first show back, so we are just getting the rust off and getting going again. Tomorrow, I want to make sure he gets in the ring in the morning and is quiet, and then hopefully he will do his part and I will do my part.”
Rounding out the hunter action today was the Pre-Green Hunter division, where Picture Me was named division champion with Thomas Hern in the irons. The pair added a first and a second over fences to their first and third from yesterday. Picture Me is owned by Jennifer O’Donnell of Somerville, MA. Garnering reserve championship honors with a first, second, and third was Kristen Bumpus and Chiquita, a Louisa Kania entry out of Peterborough, NH.
The Fieldstone Spring Festival will continue tomorrow with the week’s highlight events – the $2,500 2’9″ Hunter Derby and the $10,000 3’3″ Hunter Derby, both featured on the Grand Prix-turned-Hunter Derby Field. For more information on Stadium Jumping and the approaching Fieldstone Spring Festival, please visit www.showfieldstone.com. You can also follow the Fieldstone Horse Shows on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/fieldstone.equestrian.
AnLi Kelly-Duram for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
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