Barbara Ann Merryman and El Paso. Photos by Randi Muster.
Jacksonville, FL – September 21, 2013 – The third day of the 2013 Southeast Medal Finals was another busy day at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. Highlights included the Children’s Adult Jumper Championship, the Phelps Media Group Junior Medal with an astounding number of entries in its second year – over 60 entries, and the Southeast Adult Medal Final.
For the second year in a row, Dr. Juan Gamboa and his incredible horse, Partizan, captured the lead of the World Cup format competition. Gamboa had much to celebrate as it was also the anniversary of his wedding to his wife, Jennifer.
Gamboa bested the tough competition by carrying only 2.5 faults throughout the three rounds. Round three was open to the top 15 riders in rounds one and two and included two trips around the course. Faults were added throughout the rounds. Barri Platt and Vicky were second with only 3.5 points out of the three rounds and Meghan Flanagan and Revelation were third, carrying only 5 points over the course of the three rounds.
“He’s a magician; he’s unbelievable,” said Gamboa. “He’s 23; he’s the oldest horse here and I am the oldest rider! He liked it; he enjoyed himself.”
To keep Partizan sound and happy, Gamboa says he gives him lots a love, good food and three months off in the summer. “Last time I showed him was in June. He was ready to come here. He knows his job. He wants to go clean and he wants to go fast. He’s a good boy.”
Gamboa trains with Daniel Geitner in Aiken, SC and Derek Peterson is schooling him here at Southeast Medal Finals. “I have a lot support. I cannot believe I beat all these kids!”
For the Southeast Adult Medal Finals, and the Phelps Media Group Junior Medal Finals, there was a panel of four judges, which included Tony Sgarlatti, Linda Andrisani, Jennifer Drahan and Molly Flaherty. The four judges scores were averaged for each round, then the two round scores were averaged to determine the final score.
For both classes, Allen Rheinheimer built a course that provided many options for the horse and rider pairs. There were opportunities to take an inside track and make tight rollbacks or to go around and for easier approaches. A forward five going away from the in gate kicked off the first round of both classes and required that a good pace be established to begin the course.
Ten riders competed in the Southeast Adult Medal first round. Four were asked to return for a second round. Lindsay Tomeu aboard Siboney Ranch’s Take Note earned an average score of 76.99, which landed the pair in second place. Samantha Senft and Whisper VDL, owned by Pursuit Farms LLC, scored a 69.16 for fourth place. Audrey Gallagher and Alexander Worthington’s Romina 58 were third with a score of 75.66. Emily Jones piloted Califernia, owned by Donald Stewart, around the course, putting in a smooth and flawless performance earning them an average score of 78.33 and the victory gallop.
“I grew up with Jen (Miller) riding as a junior,” said Jones. “After I graduated college, I kind of stopped riding a little bit and have just been riding every now and then. I hadn’t ridden in six months until this week. We called Don (Stewart) and we said, ‘Don, we want to go to this horse show.’ So he said, ‘Sure, take this horse; he’s awesome.’ I rode him, took him, I’ve been practicing all week. Showed up and he has been amazing, to say the least. He is a good, good horse. He has taken good care of me and I have had a blast. I’m going to keep riding and showing as much as possible. Hopefully, one day I’ll get back to more consistently riding and showing.”
Bob Bell and James Lala added a new class that provided some good fun and comedic relief in between rounds of the Southeast Medal Finals – the Parent Lead Line Class.
Junior riders were encouraged to have a little fun and embarrass their parents for a good cause. All proceeds from the entry fees went to the show charity partner, Unbridled Warriors, equine assisted programs for military and first-responders.
“A member of our PR team, Mary Adelaide Brakenridge, came up with the concept,” said Lala. “We all loved the idea and ran with it. Everyone gathered around to watch the class. We laughed so hard we cried, especially when it came to awarding the creative categories. Don Stewart is such a great sport and his sense of humor is infectious!”
The Phelps Media Group SEMF Junior Medal had 63 entries, a significant increase over last year. Rheinheimer’s course provided the riders with options to showcase their strengths. Twelve junior horse and rider combinations were asked back for the second round.
Meghan Flanagan, riding Fairfield Farm’s Thrift Shop, was the first rider to break the 80 mark in the second round, with an average score of 82.56. Her score would stand as the leader until Brett Burlington and Sunman had their second to last round. The pair scored an average score of 82.68 for their two rounds.
Then, last to go, Barbara Ann Merryman and Don Stewart’s El Paso edged Burlington out of the top spot with an average score of 85.68.
Merryman, who is studying at Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, lives in the Baltimore area and trains with Kimberly Stewart. They contacted Don Stewart (no relation) to help them find a horse to ride in the Regionals on Sunday. They tried two horses.
“I rode El Paso and he was fabulous,” said Merryman.
“He’s young but he’s nice; he never looks at anything,” added Stewart. “He just goes right around. I thought the courses were awesome. You had options but he has a big stride so we had a lot of choices we could make. Thank you to Don because he’s been a huge supporter with equitation horses.”
“And congratulations to Don for his win in the Lead Lines,” joked Merryman.
On Sunday the Southeast Medal Finals continues at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center with Children’s Hunters, Adult Hunters the SEMF Adult Hunter Classic and the highlight of the day, the highly-anticipated ASPCA Maclay Regionals.
Special thanks to Dressage Collection with fine handbags and accessories for sponsoring the Southeast Medal Final. Each piece from Dressage Collection is meticulously hand made in Italy and uniquely designed to incorporate classic equestrian style. Please visit them online at http://www.DressageCollection.com.
Southeast Medal Finals Fast Facts:
WHAT: The Southeast Medal Finals is a USEF A-Rated indoor hunter, jumper and equitation horse show. USEF Rated Jumper Level 3
WEBSITE: www.southeastmedalfinals.com
WHEN: September 19-22, 2013
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:
- Phelps Media Group Southeast Junior Medal Finals
- Southeast Adult Medal Finals
- ASPCA Maclay Regionals
- $25,000 Land Rover Grand Prix of Jacksonville
- $5,000 Welcome Stake
- $7,500 Child/Adult Jumper Finals
- New European Style Developing Sport Horse Division
- New Southeast Children’s Hunter Final
- New Southeast Adult Hunter Final
- EMO Cup Championship
Click here for the prize list, entry forms, schedules and more.
HUNTER & EQUITATION JUDGES: Linda Andrisani & Molly Flaherty (Hunter, Maclay & SEMF), Tony Sgarlatta (Hunter, Equitation & SEMF), Jennifer Drahan (SEMF)
JUMPER JUDGES: Allen Rheinheimer & Fred Brown
STEWARD: Janet McCarroll
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Susan Rindal – 904-655-5497 – rindal@bellsouth.net
James Lala – 561-906-6668 – jdlala@aol.com
Bob Bell – 843-768-5503 – bbell@earthlink.net
DIRECTIONS: For map and address information, visit http://www.southeastmedalfinals.com/Location.aspx.
Carrie Wirth 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