Articles: Horse News
Jane Gaston and Lumiere Triumph in $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
at the Buffalo International Horse Show
ane Gaston and Lumiere earned their first hunter derby win at the 2010
Buffalo International Horse Show, topping the $10,000 USHJA International
Hunter Derby.
Photos © Lauren Fisher/PMG.
Contact:
Lauren Fisher for
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
at (561) 753-3389 or at pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
Buffalo, NY - September 19, 2010 - Sunday was the final day of competition
for the 2010 Buffalo International Horse Show (BIHS) and featured a full day
of exciting events to conclude the week. For the first time in the 64-year
history of the BIHS, the horse show hosted a USHJA International Hunter
Derby in its large indoor arena in downtown Buffalo, NY. The class was a
huge success with a beautiful course set by Phil DeVita and a big win for
Jane Gaston and her nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding Lumiere.
The hunter derby class was judged by two panels, including Jim Clapperton
and Carleton Brooks on panel one and Phil DeVita and Tony Sgarlata on panel
two. Riders showed over the first round course and then returned for a
second round handy course. Tonight's class saw some experienced riders with
seasoned derby horses competing alongside young horses and riders new to the
class. Both rounds of competition were excellent and in the end it was Jane
Gaston and Lumiere who led the way with scores of 174 and 188 for a two
round total of 362 points to earn top prize.
Jennifer Alfano finished in second and third place riding Miss Lucy and The
Specialist. Alfano and Miss Lucy, owned by Helen Lenahan, earned a 164 in
the first round and then wowed the judges in the handy to earn a 195 in
round two. The pair's two round total of 359 finished in second place.
Riding The Specialist, owned by Meredith Lipke, Alfano finished in third
place with a score of 356.
Class winner Jane Gaston has a huge list of accomplishments throughout her
riding career and has ridden Lumiere to wins all over the country since
starting him as a four-year-old. Usually showing in the Amateur-Owner
Hunters during the year, this is just the third hunter derby class that
Gaston and Lumiere have shown in, and the entry definitely paid off.
"Even though there were not a lot of entries there were obviously some very
high quality horses in the class, so it was an exciting win for me," Gaston
stated. "I have shown Lumiere in derbies in Palm Beach and Lexington, but
this is definitely the best he has done."
"I thought the course rode well and I thought that Lumiere was fantastic for
a horse that is kind of green to this," she said. "The oxers were a little
airy and I was afraid to just hammer him at those right away, so I just
wanted to get around and he was so great in the first round. He just focused
and was good, and then in the handy I thought he jumped even better. I
wouldn't say I picked a safe route, but I didn't want to take a wild route
either. I did the lower options, but he has just done everything we have
asked him to do and he has done it cheerfully and well, and so I was
thrilled with him."
Gaston was a professional for many years and began showing Lumiere after
getting her amateur card back several years ago. "Coming back and having a
horse that I sort of made myself is very gratifying," she acknowledged.
Commenting on the course, Gaston said, "I think Philip has just done a great
job in this ring. It is a narrow ring but it is so long that it gives a
flow, so he managed to get a lot in there without cluttering the ring. I
think he has done a really masterful job."
Coming to Buffalo to visit friends and school Lumiere for the indoor horse
show circuit this fall, Gaston has definitely made her trip worthwhile after
winning the Amateur-Owner Hunter Grand Championship earlier in the week and
now her first hunter derby. "It was worthwhile coming to see my friends and
getting to see Niagara Falls, and this is just really icing on the cake and
tops off a great week," she smiled.
Other top derby finishers included junior rider Olivia Weaver and her horse
Yes Indeed! who finished in fourth place with an overall score of 330.
Alfano rode Fantabulous to fifth place with a 318 and also finished in sixth
place with Jersey Boy. Alfano and Jersey Boy had an unfortunate rail in the
first round to receive a score of 98, but then scored big in the handy round
with a 201 to end the night with a total of 299 points. Lydia Ulrich and
Late Night placed seventh with 298 points, and Sarah Mechlin and On Tour
scored a 241 to finish in eighth.
Prior to the derby, the Junior Hunter divisions concluded their second day
of competition on Sunday and presented championship honors at the Buffalo
Therapeutic Riding Center. The Grand Junior Hunter Championship was awarded
to Kelly Bauernschmidt riding Ramazotti. The pair was presented with the
Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division championship with Wingman and Meghan
Kaupp in reserve. Bauernschmidt also earned the division tricolors in the
Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division, riding Mein Schatz to the championship
and Lariat to the reserve championship. Bauernschmidt and Mein Schatz then
won the $1,000 "Up the Creek" Junior Hunter Classic with the highest score
of 170. Olivia Weaver and Yes Indeed! finished in second place in the Junior
Hunter Classic with a score of 166. They were also presented with the
championship tricolor in the Large Junior Hunter 15 and Under division with
Julia Acierno and Cruise in reserve.
Eighteen-year-old Kelly Bauernschmidt is from Cleveland, OH, and trains with
Mike Rheinheimer and Amanda Lyerly. Mein Schatz is a nine-year-old
Holsteiner gelding they call Duckie in the barn. Bauernschmidt purchased the
gelding in Florida two years ago and explained that she immediately fell in
love with him.
"He is pretty perfect," she smiled. "I was very happy with my rounds
today. Last year when we came here he was a little nervous and this year
going into it he was much more relaxed, so I was really happy. This is
definitely a good practice for indoors and I am just happy that we came."
Bauernschmidt will start college at Rollins University in the spring, but
until then she plans to compete at the indoor finals this fall and will then
show in Wellington, FL, this winter.
Later in the day the Pony Hunters concluded their divisions and awarded
championship honors. Morgan Ward rode True Sport to the Pony Hunter Grand
Championship after sweeping the Small Pony division and earning the
championship tricolor over I'm Totally Royal and Abigail Brayman in
reserve. Caroline Kellogg rode Cosmic to the division championship in the
Medium Ponies over Morgan Ward and April Rose in reserve. In the Large Pony
division, Ashton Alexander guided Blue Ridge Sunset to the championship
tricolor with Morgan Ward and Madam Alexander in reserve.
Concluding the afternoon's competition, the Children's Hunter divisions
completed their second day of competition and showed in the $500 "Say Hey"
Children's Hunter Classic. It was a fantastic day for Bella Cramer and her
mount Mactier as the pair earned the Children's Hunter Grand Championship,
topped the Children's Hunter 15-17 division championship, and also won the
Children's Classic with the highest score of 164. Cramer and Mactier swept
the 15-17 division, winning the blue ribbon in every class. Whitney Reynolds
rode Montana Magic to the reserve position.
The Children's Hunter 14 & Under also presented championship honors with
Jenna Petrie Moran riding One Hundred One to the top tricolor. Lilly Ulrich
and Athena earned the reserve championship and also finished second in the
Classic with a score of 162.
Sunday's competition concluded the 2010 Buffalo International Horse Show for
its 64th annual competition. The BIHS is held each year as a benefit for the
Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center and had another fantastic week of
competition thanks to the many exhibitors and all those involved. For more
information regarding the 64th Annual Buffalo International Horse Show and
the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, please visit www.thebtrc.org or call
(716) 877-9295.
$10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Results
1 Lumiere Jane Gaston 174 188 362
2 Miss Lucy Jen Alfano 164 195 359
3 The Specialist Jen Alfano 170 186 356
4 Yes Indeed! Olivia Weaver 173 157 330
5 Fantabulous Jen Alfano 163 155 318
6 Jersey Boy Jen Alfano 98 201 299
7 Late Night Lydia Ulrich 152 146 298
8 On Tour Sarah Mechlin 83 158 241
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