Tag Archives: US Junior Hunter National Championships

Talented Juniors Prepare for 2014 US Junior Hunter National Championships

July 4, 2014 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Lexington, Ky. – The best junior riders from across the country prepare to compete for top honors in the 2014 US Junior Hunter National Championships. The championships will take place on both the East and West Coasts, with the riders separated into 15 & Under and 16-17 divisions, as well as Small Junior Hunter and Large Junior Hunter. This year the new 3’3″ Junior Hunters will also be offered as a combined division. The riders will compete in three phases: Classic Round, Under Saddle, and Handy Hunter. The Under Saddle phase counts for 20% of the rider’s overall score, while both the Classic Round and Handy Hunter count for 40%. Ribbons will be awarded after each phase in the various divisions, and overall winners will be named at the end of the competition. Finally, a Grand Champion and Reserve Champion will be crowned for both coasts.

The festivities kick off with the US Junior Hunter National Championship East Coast in Devon, Pa., July 7-8. Riders will compete over courses designed by Skip Bailey (Wellington, Fla.) in front of judges Leo Conroy (Wellington, Fla.), Christina Schlusemeyer (Ocala, Fla.), and Bill Ellis (Ocala, Fla.). The 2014 USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Equitation Cup Classic will also be held during the US Junior National Hunter Championship East Coast. The competition then moves west to the Del Mar Horsepark in Del Mar, Calif., July 21-22. Scott Hofstetter (Ocala, Fla.), John Roper (Franklin, Tenn.), and Schlusemeyer will judge the West Coast’s riders throughout the US Junior Hunter National Championship West Coast, with courses designed by Bailey.

USEF Network will be live streaming the US Junior Hunter National Championship East Coast July 7-8. Check out the schedule and watch live at http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2014JrHunterChampsEast/.

To find out more information about the US Junior Hunter National Championships, visit https://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/allhunter/JuniorChampionships.aspx.

*Featured/Spotlights, Hunter/Equitation

Colvin Earns Overall Grand Champion Title Once Again at US Junior Hunter National Championships – East

August 2, 2013 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Victoria Colvin and Inclusive, the 2013 US Junior Hunter National Championships – East Overall Grand Champions (ESI Photography)

Lexington, KY – The best junior hunter riders on the east coast travelled to HITS on the Hudson in Saugerties, NY to compete in the 2013 US Junior Hunter National Championships – East, July 29-31. The judging panel consisting of Jeff Ayers (Sellersville, PA), Scott Fitton (Royal Palm Beach, FL), and Hap Hansen (Encinitas, CA) assessed the field of talented riders on the flat and over fences, with courses designed by Rian Beals (Saugerties, NY). After winning the $4,000 Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Classic and $4,000 Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Handy, 15-year-old Victoria Colvin (Loxahatchee, FL) and Dr. Betsee Parker’s Inclusive claimed the Overall Grand Champion title. She and the 10-year-old Warmblood gelding won the same title at last year’s east coast championship.

“I had so much fun,” said Colvin. “Inclusive is a great horse. I am grateful that Dr. Betsee Parker lets me ride him. The courses were amazing. I loved the handy. It lets me show his qualities.”

Colvin also won the Small Junior 15 & Under division with Dr. Betsee Parker’s Ovation. She and the 13-year-old Warmblood gelding won the $4,000 Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under Classic and the $2,000 Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under U/S and finished second in the $4,000 Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under Handy.

“I was most proud of Ovation,” remarked Colvin. “He in the past has not loved the ring at Saugerties, but this year he did. Ken [Berkley] and Scott [Stewart] told me to have fun, which I did.”

The Overall Reserve Grand Champion title went to 16-year-old Lillie Keenan (New York, NY) and Jennifer Gates’ Parkland. With the nine-year-old KWPN gelding, Keenan won the $2,000 Small Junior Hunter 16-17 Under Saddle and the $4,000 Small Junior Hunter 16-17 Handy and finished second in the $4,000 Small Junior Hunter 16-17 Classic.

The War Dress Memorial Trophy awarded to the highest scoring mare in the competition went to Danielle Stacy’s Tiffani, ridden by 14-year-old Lili Hymowitz (New York, NY). With the 10-year-old Holsteiner mare, Hymowitz came in second in the $4,000 Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Classic.

To find out more information about the US Junior Hunter National Championships, visit http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/allhunter/JuniorChampionships.aspx.

By Kathleen Landwehr

*Featured/Spotlights, Hunter/Equitation

Sommers Claims Overall Grand and Reserve Champion Titles at 2013 US Junior Hunter National Championships – West

July 25, 2013 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Overall Grand Champion Samantha Sommers and Small Affair at the 2013 US Junior Hunter National Championships – West (Captured Moment Photography)

Lexington, KY – The top junior hunter riders on the west coast met at Showpark Facility in Del Mar, CA, July 22-23 for the 2013 US Junior Hunter National Championships – West. The riders were separated into 15 & Under and 16-17 divisions, as well as Small Junior Hunter and Large Junior Hunter, and competed in three phases: Classic Round, Under Saddle, and Handy Hunter. The Under Saddle phase counted for 20% of the rider’s overall score while both the Classic Round and Handy Hunter counted for 40%.

After two days of tough competition, 18-year-old Samantha Sommers (Malibu, CA) dominated by claiming the Overall Grand Champion and Overall Reserve Champion titles. In her final year of eligibility, Sommers was looking to have a good experience and hoped for the best, possibly winning the elusive Overall Grand Champion title.

“I wanted to do well, but going into the competition I didn’t put pressure on myself to ultimately be Grand Champion. The second day I was a little anxious only because I was leading both Large Junior and Small Junior sections, but I channeled my energy and was able to finish strong. Realizing I was not only champion in both sections, but also Overall Grand and Reserve Grand Champion was one of the greatest feelings of my riding career. I feel so honored to have won those prestigious awards. It really meant a lot to have the support from John French, Tara Metzner, and Elizabeth Reilly. I would not have been able to accomplish any of this if it weren’t for them and all they do on a daily basis.”

The judging panel made up of William Ellis (Ocala, FL), Irving Evans (Fremont, NH), and Walter Timmy Kees (Nowalk, CT) named Sommers and Elizabeth Reilly and Chris Iwasaki’s Small Affair, a 10-year-old Selle Francias gelding, the Overall Grand Champions, winning the Overall Grand Champion Junior Hunter trophy. The pair also won the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 section, receiving The Magic Word Perpetual Trophy. With Oscany, Inc.’s Illusion, Sommers rode to Overall Reserve Champion honors. She and the 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding were also the winners of the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 section, claiming The River Edge Farm Perpetual Trophy.

“Both Illusion and Small Affair are two of the most incredible horses I have ever ridden and feel so blessed and lucky to have had the chance to show them at US Junior Hunter National Championships. They made me feel confident throughout all three phases of the competition, which helped to keep me focused.

“Illusion was on his game and lit up every time we entered the Grand Prix field. He is extremely trustworthy, which he showed as we hand galloped to the last fence in the Handy [Hunter phase]. Illusion has the most amazing canter, and I can feel him underneath me every stride to the next jump.

“Small Affair is a one-of-a-kind horse and amazing to ride; I felt confident with him every time I entered the arena where he jumped his heart out. I wanted to just stay smooth, and he worked with me throughout the competition over every course.”

Two other top junior riders claimed overall honors in the remaining sections. The Overall Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under title went to Kaitlyn Van Konynenburg (Pacific Palisades, CA) and Triton Z, her own eight-year-old Warmblood gelding. Mikayla Stuart (Ranco Santa Fe, CA) and her own eight-year-old Holsteiner mare Verdana were the Overall Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under title winners. A new award on the west coast for the highest scoring overall mare went to the eight-year-old Hanoverian mare Small Celebration, owned by Oscany Inc. and ridden by Lillie Keenan (New York, NY).

The competition now moves east to HITS on the Hudson in Saugerties, NY, July 29-31. Jeff Ayers (Sellersville, PA), Scott Fitton (Royal Palm Beach, FL), and Hap Hansen (Encinitas, CA) will judge the east coast’s riders throughout the competition, with courses designed by Rian Beals (Saugerties, NY). The 2013 USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Equitation Cup Classic will also be held during the US Junior National Hunter Championships – East.