August 21, 2012 ~ The second annual Atlanta Summerfest I came to a close on Sunday. The show is the first of a two week series hosted by Equus Events that takes place at the Chattahoochee Hills Equestrian Center in Fairburn, GA. “It is one of our favorite venues,” quoted show organizer J. P. Godard. “The footing and stabling is exceptional and the facility itself is one of the most scenic around.”
One of the week’s highly anticipated events was the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby which took place Friday evening in the main hunter ring which was opened up to include the schooling area allowing riders to gallop along the open and flowing course designed by J. P. Godard. Exhibitors and spectators were also treated to a “Derby Pizza Party” sponsored by Gagne International and J. F. Gagne along with Carsten Peters in the hospitality area.
A strong field of 24 horse/rider teams competed in classic round with the top 12 graduating on to the second handy round which featured a more technical track with several inside options. New Vintage Farm and trainer Julie Curtain of Woodstock, GA had a banner evening with several rides and students. She took home top honors for the second year in a row on Donna Basinger’s Miramax. The pair garnered the top scores of the evening from judges Joey Darby and William Sparks bringing in a two round total score of 170. Along with the blue, they also took home a fabulous Centaur Turbo Dry Dress Sheet from English Riding Supply. Curtain also took home the second place ribbon with Davis Equine, LLC’s Blackmail and the sixth place with Viaggio owned by Pembroke Pointe, LLC while New Vintage Farm student Morgan Connely and her Hanover On The Rocks came home with an impressive tenth place finish. Earlier in the day New Vintage also picked up a couple of tri-colors in the performance 3’6″ hunters with Blackmail bringing home the championship and Hanover On The Rocks taking the reserve championship with Curtain up for both rides.
Saturday night featured the $10,000 Atlanta Summerfest Jumper Classic along with exhibitor’s party sponsored by the 2012 Atlanta Summerfest hospitality sponsors which includes: Brad Spragg and The Atlanta Hunt Club, Christina Jason and Cn’C Stables, Elizabeth Warmington and Brooksgate Stable, Inc., The Friedman Family, J. F. Gagne and Carsten Peters/Gagne International, Julie Curtain and New Vintage Farm, Lauren Marcinkoski and Swamp Fox Farm, Matt Martin and Raffi Kechejian/Windy Oaks Farm, Sunny Stevens and Stevehaven Stables, and the Tack Room of Camden, SC. Kelci Crenshaw and Fit To Print Farm’s Camera Ready captured the win with the fastest and only fault free jump off finishing up with a time of 35.212. The pair also took home a Centaur Turbo Dry Dress Sheet and a $50 gift certificate from Free Rein Designs. Junior rider Alexa Bogio and her Straight Guy finished strong bringing home second place honors with just 4 faults and a time of 37.053.
Sunday brought many tri-colors and classic wins being awarded in both the hunter and jumper rings. Brittany and Aleece Jarman of Aubry Hill Farm from Pace, FL came to Chatt Hills off of a very successful 2012 Pony Hunter finals in Lexington, KY and made their presence known in the pony hunter ring. Brittany took home the children’s pony hunter champion on her Casanova and the small pony hunter champion on the Michael Newman owned entry of Macgyver while Aleece and Nicole Guthrie’s Hudson were awarded the large pony hunter championship as well as the win in the pony hunter classic.
Janet Salem and Lauren Kissel’s Patchwork Farm found themselves in the winner’s circle several times throughout the week. Lauren started off the week with a clean sweep of the green working hunter division bringing home championship honors aboard Doreen Toben’s Zazou and in the performance hunter 3’3” on Well Wishes owned by Savannah Cohen. Kissel dominated the pre-green hunter division capturing the championship on Caroline Cronin’s Slow Dance and the reserve championship aboard Fernando for owner Stephanie Zimmerman and trainer Brad Spragg. In the small junior hunter division Patchwork Farm students stole the show adding the champion and reserve champion ribbons to the tack room wall. Bonnie St. Charles’s Davinci took home the tri-color with Lindsay Farrel aboard while Nestledown Services LLC’s Concerige ended up in reserve with Quinn Larmier.
In the jumper ring, Aiken, SC trainer Daniel Geitner coached students to several classic wins. Nico Gamboa rode Juan and Jennifer Gamboa’s Coco Chanel Z to the victory in the low children’s adult jumper classic and in the $1,500 junior amateur owner jumper classic it was Tum Tum and owner rider McKenzie Kasper who took home the blue. Page Flouronoy made her presence known in the amateur divisions by capturing the fifth place ribbon in the junior amateur owner jumper classic as well as the championship and reserve championship in the amateur owner hunter division with her own Costello and Oliver Du Upatoi.
More information and complete horse show results can be found at www.equusevents.com. The Atlanta Summerfest II kicks off on Thursday, August 23rd and will feature the $10,000 Chattahoochee Hills Jumper Classic on Saturday evening. Hospitality offerings include daily breakfast and snacks under the hospitality tent, an exhibitor’s breakfast Saturday morning sponsored by Foxhall Resort and Sporting Club, ice cream social Saturday afternoon, and exhibitor’s party Saturday evening catered by Show Day Cafe and sponsored by the 2012 Atlanta Summerfest hospitality sponsors.
Contact: Equus Events, Inc.
803-643-5698
www.equusevents.com