June 20, 2014–World Champion Hunter Rider Week continues at the Showplace Productions’ Spring Spectacular III as the professional divisions wrap up. Scarlet armbands could be seen scattered around the show ring as WCHR members wore them to promote awareness of the WCHR program. As scores soared into the 90’s in the hunter rings, it was apparent there were some top hunters competing today.
A highlight of the three weeks of competition was the presentation of the Jeff Katz Grand Hunter Perpetual Challenge Trophy Sponsored by Messenger Hill Farm and Freddie and Jodi Vazquez of Chicago. The trophy is awarded to the hunter accumulating the most points in all hunter divisions during the three-week series. Pony Lane Farm’s Bugsy Malone with both Maggie Jayne and Kelsey Thatcher riding was the recipient of the award. Bugsy was shown in the Regular Conformation Hunters with Jayne and the Amateur-Owner division with Thatcher.
The $2,500 Open Hunter Classic card was open all day through the professional divisions with the prize going to Why, owned by David Glefke and ridden by Evan Coluccio with scores of 87 and 94.
“We definitely came for the WCHR points and the derby,” said Coluccio, who has been working for Lane Change Farm for about seven months now. “Larry [Glefke] and Kelley [Farmer] are great and the horses are amazing. Larry is so good at what he does. He makes all the difference and I don’t often get 94’s but now I’m getting 90’s all week. The horse is quite an animal, he can do anything I ask.”
Coluccio and Why were also champion in the High Performance Working Hunters. Shannon Kelly’s Trust Me with Tina Judge were the reserve champions.
Performance Hunters
Performance 3’6″ Hunters took to the rings happily with the new GGT Footing holding up perfectly against last night’s storms. Champion in the division was Speak Kindly, owned by David Waimon of Winnetka, IL with Ashleen Lee in the tack. Reserve champion was Brego, owned by Hailey Livingston of Springhill, KS, ridden by Sarah Young.
Alexandra Worthington’s Sansibar took the championship in the Performance 3’3″ Hunters with Maria Rasmussen in the irons and Rasmussen also took the reserve in the division on Tell All, owned by Over Fences Farm, LLC. Jessica Stitt and Taken tied for reserve championship with Rasmussen.
Pre-Green Working Hunters
Winning every over fences class in the Pre-Green 3′ Hunters was Tammy Provost riding Asscher, owned by Animal Eye Consultants. Provost also scored an 86 and 87 for the win in the $2,500 Pre-Green Hunter Classic. Provost and Asscher had the same successful performance in week one, winning all the over fences classes, the stake class and the classic. This week was a repeat performance.
“Steve Martines bred the horse,” explained trainer Lynn Jayne. “He’s a Popeye K baby out of Missy Aplin’s Cloud 9. Steve bred eight babies before we got this one. He’s won every over fences class and we’re really pleased. He’s a consistent winner.”
Reserve champion in the Pre-Greens went to Mary Beth Canfields Claas Clever with Molly McAdow aboard.
In the Pre-Green 3’3″ Hunters it was Pony Lane’s Jewel ridden by Haylie Rolfe in the champion-spot and Lanie Bricker’s Charlie Brown was reserve with Molly McAdow.
Green Working Hunters
Champion in the Green Conformation was Scripted, owned by Kensel LLC, and ridden by Kelley Farmer throughout the division. The reserve champion was Pony Lane Farm’s Bugsy Malone ridden by Maggie Jayne.
Champion in the First Year Green Hunters was Ransom, owned by Saddle Ridge LLC and ridden by Tim Goguen of Lexington, KY. Goguen added two more blues to yesterday’s win for the championship. Taking the reserve tricolor home was So To Speak, owned by Kensel LLC and ridden by Kelley Farmer. So To Speak was also the winner of the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on Tuesday.
Winning all four of the over fences classes in the Second Year Green Hunters was Pony Lane Farm’s A Million Reasons with Maggie Jayne, taking home the championship. Quite Chocolate, owned by Kathleen Caya and Maria Rasmussen rode to the reserve.
“I think it’s really nice to have such great riders here,” said Rasmussen. “It really makes for good competition.”
$2,500 Pre-Green Hunter Classic
award entry horse / owner rider
1 322 Asscher Animal Eye Consultants Tamara Provost
2 741 For Adventure Alex McNally Alexis Tantimonico
3 743 Cracker Jack Callie Kennedy Alexis Tantimonico
4 170 Charlie Brown Lanie Bricker Molly McAdow
5 544 Sea Willow John McQueen Sarah Young
6 670 Tortuga Colleen Johnson Mara Kranz
7 519 Duet Susan Schmitt Kathleen Caya
8 168 Claas Clever Mary Beth Canfield Molly McAdow
$2,500 Open Hunter Classic
award entry horse / owner rider
1 504 Why David Glefke Evan Coluccio
2 306 Bugsy Malone Pony Lane Farm Maggie Jayne
3 297 The Answer Pony Lane Farm Haylie Rolfe
4 191 Quite Chocolate Kathleen Caya MARIA Rasmussen
5 330 Trust Me Shannon Kelly Tina Judge
6 301 A Million Reasons Pony Lane Farm Maggie Jayne
7 582 Bon Vivant Lauren Robishaw Ashleen Lee
8 193 Avalon Over Fences Farm LLC MARIA Rasmussen
9 275 Pagani Micaela Kennedy D. Sam Pegg
