Michaela Duffy claimed the ASPCA Maclay win. Photos by AnLi Kelly-Durham/Phelps Media Group.
Halifax, MA – June 21, 2013 – The third day of the Plymouth Rock Hunter/Jumper Classic welcomed back the equitation riders, as they competed for points towards the national Medal Finals. Anne Dotoli’s Tibri Farm riders proved to be a force to be reckoned with, taking wins in both of the medal classes. Winning the ASPCA Maclay was Sunny Drescher, while Michaela Duffy earned the blue in the USEF/Pessoa Hunt Seat Medal.
The courses proved challenging for many horses and riders. Course designer Thomas Hern asked many questions of the riders today with his brightly colored array of fences, which included no ground lines, two bending lines with unrelated distances, a two-stride combination, a short turn out of the corner to a jump in the center, and a six-stride to a one-stride. Riders needed to know their horse well in order to master the subtleties hidden within the design.
Claiming the win in the ASPCA Maclay was Michaela Duffy of Milton, VT. Her confidence was evident as she tackled the lengthy equitation course with poise and decisiveness, and her graceful position on the flat secured her blue ribbon finish. Alexandra Indeglia out of North Kingstown, RI, came out in second, and rounding out the top four were Sadie Smith and Francesca Stufano in third and fourth, respectively.
“He was really fresh this morning, so I had to ride him twice,” Duffy explained. “After that he quieted down and was nice and quiet and listening to me. I thought the course was pretty simple; I did not think it was that hard. The only difficult thing about it was that it was a very long course, and you really needed to be looking and turning.”
“My horse is 10, but he doesn’t quite act his age,” laughed Duffy. “He’s a good boy; he just takes a lot of riding. I got him from Anne and Astor Dotoli. When he’s fresh, he’s perfect, but if he is tired he takes a good amount of leg and hand. We are off to the Vermont Summer Festival next, and I plan on showing at all of the Medal Finals in the fall.”
In the USEF/Pessoa Hunt Seat Medal, it was Sunny Drescher of Hinesburg, VT who ultimately ended up on top. After a challenging first round, she sat in second going into the test. Her trust in her mount going into the second round was evident, resulting in a bold ride, good enough to move her into first. Right behind Drescher was barnmate Michaela Duffy, who moved up from fifth before the test to second place overall in addition to her win in the ASPCA Maclay. Hannah Janson of Berkley, MA took third after testing in fifth, and Katherine Johnson received the fourth award.
“I went in knowing I would have to do well in order to qualify for the Final in Harrisburg this fall,” commented Drescher. “My horse has been so good this entire week so I was just hoping that I wouldn’t mess up. Luckily, it went really well and I found most of my jumps. He was a really good boy. I thought it was a little bit challenging to go from the combination 4(a)(b) to the fifth jump because it is hard to keep a right bend on my horse, but he was really good, and made it easier for me.”
Drescher continued, “My plan for the test was to just ride forward to the jumps and let my horse use his extended stride to our advantage so we could show off a bit. He likes a forward ride and he likes to be ridden a little bit deep and soft to the base of the jump. If you do that, he will jump up, and he jumps really high, but he does it well. We are going to Manchester, Vermont, in two weeks for the Vermont Summer Festival.”
Other medal class winners today included Tegan Tracey in the THIS Children’s Medal with a score of 83, Alexandra 465 in the Marshall and Sterling Junior Medal, and Rhian Murphy in the New England Horseman’s Council Junior Medal.
Earlier this morning, the Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions concluded in the Main Hunter Ring. Earning the championship honor for the second time this year in the Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunters at the Fieldstone Show Park was Lisa Foster and Castleguard, of Born Free Farm in Dover, MA. The duo won three of the over fences classes, including the handy, in addition to a win in the under saddle and a second over fences. Taking reserve championship honors with a win over fences and three seconds was Melissa Jacobs of East Aurora, NY, and So You Say. In the Amateur-Owner 3’6″ Hunters, it was Elysium with Danielle Franchi in the irons out of Islip, NY, who took home the tricolor. They placed second in three of the over fences classes and won the under saddle. Anna Rea of Ponte Verda, FL and her own Pacino received the reserve championship with two thirds, as well as two fourths over fences.
Tomorrow, all eyes will be on the jumpers as the Grand Prix horses and riders take to the field to compete in the $25,000 Fieldstone Grand Prix. The week will conclude on Sunday with the highlight hunter event, the $10,000 Fieldstone 3’3″ Hunter Derby, in addition to the $1,500 Adult Hunter Classic and the $1,500 Children’s Hunter Classic, all to be seen on the derby field. For more information on Stadium Jumping and the Plymouth Rock Hunter/Jumper Classic, please visit www.showfieldstone.com. You can also follow the Fieldstone Horse Shows on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/fieldstone.equestrian.
Plymouth Rock Hunter/Jumper Classic 2013 Horse Show Fast Facts
Events: 2013 Plymouth Rock Hunter/Jumper Classic
What:
The Plymouth Rock Hunter/Jumper Classic includes five days of top hunter/jumper competitions during the month of May. The Plymouth Rock Hunter/Jumper Classic is host to the $25,000 Fieldstone Grand Prix, $7,500 Welcome Stake, $7,500 Open Speed Derby and the all-new $10,000 3’3″ Hunter Derby and $2,500 2’9″ Hunter Derby.
Where:
Fieldstone Show Park
21 Plymouth St.
Halifax, MA, 02338
When:
PLYMOUTH ROCK HUNTER/JUMPER CLASSIC – June 19-23, 2013
$25,000 Fieldstone Grand Prix
$7,500 Welcome Stake
$7,500 Open Speed Derby
$10,000 3’3″ Hunter Derby
$2,500 2’9″ Hunter Derby
$2,500 Pony Classic
Hours:
8am – 5pm daily
Animals:
No dogs or other pets are allowed on the grounds unless they are leashed and under control. Unrestrained pets will be impounded and released only upon payment of fine.
Directions:
From Route 3: Heading south or north take Exit 9(Rte. 3A, Kingston, Plymouth). Top of the ramp turn right on Rte 3A (towards Kingston). Through two sets of lights to a blinking light, bear left on to Rte 27-106. Travel about one mile to set of lights and fork. Take left at fork onto Rte 106. Fieldstone Farm is approximately 5 miles on the right in Halifax, MA.
From the West: Rte 495 to Rte 24 North. First exit Rte 104 and head east. Rte 104 merges with Rte 106. Cross over Rte 58 in Halifax Center. Fieldstone Farm is 1.2 miles on the left.
Information:
Before Show – (941) 527-6602, susiemorr@aol.com
During Show – Telephone: (781) 422-7978, Fax: (781) 679-0739
Stabling – Call (781) 422-7978
Stabling office – (781) 422-7978
Shownet – www.shownet.biz
Website: www.showfieldstone.com
Ring Dimensions/Specs:
The Grand Prix Field is grass. The Jumper Ring 5, Hunter Ring 1, Equitation Ring 2, Hunter Ring 4, Jumper Schooling areas and other schooling areas have Sand Euro Felt footing. The lunging area has a sand surface. The dimensions of the competition areas are as follows:
Grand Prix Field: 350′ x 400′, Jumper Ring 5: 200’x 250′, Hunter Ring 1: 175′ x 240′, Equitation Ring 2: 175′ x 250′, Hunter Ring 4: 100′ x 210′
Management:
Stadium Jumping
1301 Sixth Avenue West Suite 406
Bradenton, FL 34205
(941) 527-6602 (phone)
(941) 744-0874 (fax)
e-mail: susiemorr@aol.com
website: www.stadiumjumping.com
AnLi Kelly-Duram for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
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