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Ashton Alexander Claims Title of Region 3 Maclay Champion at Southeast Medal Finals

Ashton Alexander and Fernway Park.

Jacksonville, FL – September 21, 2014 – Qualifying for the ASPCA Maclay Championship is a very big deal, and all of the riders at today’s competition knew that. As the final day of the 2014 Southeast Medal Finals took place, the anticipated Region 3 ASPCA/NHSAA Maclay Championship was the class to watch. Even viewers not in the stands were able to stream the class from the comfort of their homes and watch as Ashton Alexander impressed the judges and claimed the title of Region 3 Maclay Champion.

Many of the riders were competing on veteran show horses, but judges were focusing their search on the riders themselves and how they connected with their mounts. The ability to practice good horsemanship and to display strong equitation can be vital to success in the industry, and a number of the nation’s top riders have either won or placed high in the Maclay finals themselves.

“The Maclay has created and developed a lot of top riders in our country for many years. Winners have gone on to be top professionals in the industry, and it’s an important class,” said today’s course designer Philip DeVita. “The big key is you have to have excellent flatwork. You have to be well rounded and have the ability to beat the group over fences but then come back and be able to do flatwork and have a strong base and show the judges that you’ve done your homework.”

DeVita continued: “Coming into the class, I don’t say: ‘I’m going to build a hard and challenging course,’ because I think coming into the ring is challenging enough. My style is a lot of bending and serpentining. I make them set their eyes on the jumps and make them shorten and lengthen, because when the riders use their eyes and make adjustments on their own, it separates the good from the best.”

44 horses went through the DeVita designed course and the top 33 were asked back in three groups of 11 for flat work. After the flat phase, the top four were asked back for further testing to determine the final order.

Olivia Woodson and Victor VD Sent
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Olivia Woodson and Victor VD Sent

Alexander earned the winning title on Fernway Park, owned by Don Stewart, after flawlessly completing the test. Second place went to Olivia Woodson, who rode Victor VD Sent from Heels Down LLC. Aboard Dexter, Jordyn Katz, who trains with Tiffany Morrissey from Davie, FL, grabbed the third place on the podium.

“It’s a big important class, especially since it’s a horsemanship class. It’s based on your horsemanship and the passion you have with your horse, and I think it shows that you care for the horse and not just care about the ribbons. It’s a talent search for riders,” described Alexander. “We had a good day, but some other kids might be stronger when it comes to finals. It can go any way for anyone. You’re dealing with a wild animal so you just have to be confident going into it.”

Confidence seemed to go a long way for Alexander as she had no problem this weekend at the Southeast Medal Finals. In addition to her Maclay win Sunday afternoon, she also won Saturday’s Phelps Media Group Southeast Junior Medal Finals. Assurance and conviction seemed to be the words of the day as Brook Geddes of Jacksonville, Florida completed her courses with ease in the $500 Southeast Children’s Hunter 3′ Final.

The hometown winner who trains with Andrew Lustig out of Gedday Farm mesmerized the judges on Radius H. At the end of the two rounds, the pair ended the day with 321 points, almost 100 points ahead of their closest competitor.

“Radius H was my sister’s equitation horse before we retired him. Now my mom and I are riding him in the hunter ring,” Geddes said. “I just want to say thank you to Andrew, since I wouldn’t have been able to do it without him.”

Finishing the Children’s Hunter 3′ Final in second place was Sage Morris aboard Darwin. Morris trains with Danica Pryce out of Weston, Florida. Morris completed the finals with 263 points. Right on her heels, to claim the third place prize, was Siena Vasan on Cherche from Palm Ponies, who trains with Jane Fennessy.

Completing the day was the $500 Southeast Adult Hunter 3′ Finals, where Charity Durgin, from Fit To Print Farm in Woodstock, Georgia, claimed another win. With only two and a half years of competing under her belt, Durgin and Lead Story are cleaning up in the Adult Hunters.

“Today was wonderful, and the course was user-friendly and flowy with the jumps coming up nicely. [Lead Story] was excellent as always, and we had a perfect trip. He sealed the deal for me. Now we’re ready for Indoors,” laughed Durgin. “I’m very grateful for my horse. He’s truly a special one. He had done the first and second year [green hunters] and the junior medals with his previous owner, and now he’s doing the adults and equitation with me.”

For the second day in a row, Durgin and Lead Story nabbed the blue ribbon, finishing today with 319 points. Second place with 304 points went to Sherri Geddes on Geddaway who is owned by Geddaway Farm in Jacksonville, Florida. Taking the third place ribbon was Alexis Martin on Budweisczar.

Go to www.southeastmedalfinals.com for more information.

Southeast Medal Finals Fast Facts:

WHAT: The Southeast Medal Finals is an indoor and outdoor hunter, jumper and equitation horse show attracting the top riders.

WEBSITE: www.southeastmedalfinals.com

WHEN: September 18-21, 2014

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

  • 4-Day “A”/Jumper Level 3 USEF-Rated Horse Show
  • The Phelps Media Group Southeast Junior Medal Finals
  • $500 Southeast Adult Hunter 3′ Final
  • Southeast Adult Medal Finals 3′ – 3’3″
  • $25,000 Jacksonville Grand Prix
  • Geddaway Farms $5,000 Welcome Stake
  • Region 3 ASPCA/NHSAA Maclay Championship
  • HorseGym $1,500 NAL/WIHS Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic
  • GGT & Eastwest Arena Construction $500 Southeast Children’s Hunter 3′ Final
  • Tenney’s Custom Saddlery Southeast Children’s/Adult Medal 2’6″ Finals
  • $500 Southeast Child/Adult Hunter 2’6″ Final
  • North Run $2,500 Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic

Managers:

James Lala (561) 906-6668
jdlala@aol.com

Michael Morrissey (941) 915-3449
michael.morrrissey@stadiumjumping.com

Secretary:
Susie Morrissey (941) 527-6602
susiemorr@aol.com

Sponsorship and Advertising:
Christian Palmer (612) 618-8216
clpalmer287@gmail.com

Media and Public Relations:
Carrie Wirth, Phelps Media Group (561) 753-3389
cw@phelpsmediagroup.com

Arianna Delin 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

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