HJAM Equitation Finals Take Over Grand Prix Ring at Horse Shows by the Bay
Traverse City, MI – July 30, 2011 – Traverse City granted exhibitors and spectators another beautiful, sunny summer day at Horse Shows by the Bay today. The Hunter Jumper Association of Michigan Equitation Finals illuminated the Grand Prix Ring with skills and style. The Hunter/Jumper Association of Michigan (HJAM) Finals drew quite a crowd, eager to watch and enjoy the festivities of all three sections of the finals. Courtney Trott, Gabrielle Thornton, and Katie Nowak all earning the top call in the three prestigious medal classes offered today. In addition, the Adult Amateur Hunters and Amateur-Owner Hunters had their first day of competition in the R. L. Polk Main Hunter Ring.
The HJAM Equitation Medal Finals each consisted of at least two rounds. The riders had to complete an equitation-style course of no less than 8 fences, either 3′ or 3’3″ in height. The riders who were able to complete the first over fences phase without any major faults were invited back for a second round to be done on the flat. During the flat phase, riders were asked to show at the walk, trot, and canter going both directions, and were also asked to perform a sitting trot, lengthening of the stride, and other tests of their equestrian skills. After the flat round, the top 8 riders were required to perform a specific test given by the judges. Ribbons were awarded through eighth place, with trophies going to the winners and awards given to the winners’ trainers and grooms. “If you have a facility like this,” noted Karin Flint, owner of Flintfields Horse Park, “we’d love to have more events for our local kids. In the future we would like to be able to open it up, and to do some more things for Michigan. International, national, and Michigan, bringing it all together.”
The first of the HJAM finals to compete was the HJAM Limit Junior Medal Final, with fence heights of 3′. The competition was stiff with a total of 15 riders participating in the first round. Following a lively flat phase, the discerning judge chose the top eight riders to ride a test. Riders had to canter straight from the line up to the first jump, make some tighter turns, trot a jump, halt, and counter canter back to line. Riders were invited to complete the test in order from lowest score to highest. The fantastic test round efforts concluded with Savannah Mannes earning the fourth place ribbon, Jackie Wood earning third place, Kristen Raue took home second place, and Courtney Trott earned the top honors in the class. Trott’s trainer, Greg Crolick, was also given the trainer award. “I just counted and had a really good horse under me that I could trust,” said Trott after her winning ride. “She was a really good girl and I got her in Ocala two winters ago, so I know her really well. I just needed to be as slick and as pretty as I could be, and make it look as easy as I could,” Trott said of her ride and her horse.
After award presentations for the Limited Junior Medal top eight, the Adult Medal Finals got underway. The fences stayed at the 3′ height with a total of 10 adult riders. These riders completed the same first round course and brought back quite a few for the flat phase. After the flat phase was competed, the top 9 riders were asked to remain in the ring in order to complete a test. Though the first course remained the same, the test was changed. The riders only had 3 fences to jump in the test, but that included a long approach to the first fence, a tight turn to a trot jump and a sitting trot back to the line up. Madeline Cooley took home fourth place in the Adult Medal, after her confident round in the test. Preceding Cooley was Elizabeth Perry in third place and Abigail Wujek in second place. Taking home the first place title was Gabrielle Thornton, who has been very successful in various other adult equitation classes held here at Horse Shows by the Bay. Thornton’s trainer, Polly Howard-Coberley, was honored with the trainer award for the Adult Medal. “We normally just go in the hunter ring, so this was just his second time in here and he definitely kind of turns into a different horse,” Thornton commented after her ride. “In here he takes me to the jumps and it made it a lot smoother and we connected a little better, it was great. I was glad that there was a trot jump in there, because we are really good at those. I really liked doing the flat part too because I love doing flat work, especially in equitation.”
The HJAM Open Junior Medal Final was the last of the finals to proceed in the Grand Prix Ring, which was followed by eventful the $30,000 D-BRAIDER Cherry Capital Classic Grand Prix. For this group of junior equitation riders, the fences were raised to 3’3″ and the course was altered, adding in a few more turns. After the 12 competitors finished the first round and those who made it through with only minor faults rode on the flat, the top 9 riders were once again invited to ride the test. The competition was tight after the test with Emma Wujek riding into fourth place and Maggie Ridenour into third place. Meehan Shirey earned second place in the class and Katie Nowak earned the top honors. Tara Golaszewski, Nowak’s trainer, received the trainer award for the Open Junior Medal as well.
Jovanna Haddad and her Veron not only had a successful day in the HJAM Medal, but also took home the blue ribbons in both Amateur-Owner Hunter over fences classes. In the first class, Kelsey Wickham and Wait and See Farms’ Just Because earned second place and also earned a third in the second class. Benchmark, an entry of Shawna Yeihey, jumped into third place in the first class and second place in the second class. Lindsay Lyden and Fox Meadow Farm’s Copperfield had another very impressive day in the 18-35 Adult Amateur Hunters, taking top honors in both over fences classes. In second place was Ramazotti and owner/rider Samantha Perry, followed by Elizabeth Perry and Conelly, owned by Pennington Farms, in third place. Jessie Malson and her Notable took home the red ribbon in the second class in the 18-35 Adult Amateurs while Kendall Meijer and her Tundra earned the yellow ribbon. In the 36-49 Adult Amateurs, Susan Calka and her Happy Sport, who were champion last week, earned first place in the first class. Sherri Werner and Ebb Tide, owned by Werner, followed with the red ribbon and Cyndi Stone and her Gemstone with third place. In the second class Terri Irrer and Rhythmicon, owned by Debra Gross, took home the blue ribbon. Gemstone and Stone jumped up a spot in the second class, earning second place, and Susannah Ross and her Olive received the yellow ribbon. Finally, in the 50+ Adult Amateurs, Kenneth Wexler and Redfield Farm’s Vaughn earned the blue ribbon in the first class and the red in the second class. Last week’s champion, Something’s Cookin’ and owner Sue Hehl took home second place in the first class and first place in the second class. Showing her consistency, Nancy Wanty and her Picolo Grande took home the third place honors in both over fences classes.
On Sunday, July 31, the final day of competition at Horse Shows by the Bay 2011, notable events the $10,000 Children’s/Adult Jumper Prix and VIP Sponsor Luncheon, as well as the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix. There will also be a $5,000 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic and a $2,500 Modified Child/Adult Jumper Classic. In the hunter ring, there will be a $2,000 Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic and a $1,000 Adult Hunter Classic. Over half a million dollars in prize money will be awarded by the conclusion of this month-long celebration of equestrian athletes.
For more information or to view schedules, please visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com or call 231-267-3700.
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