Articles: Horse News
Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy Win $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
at the State College Classic
ennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy have taken the USHJA International Hunter
Derbies by storm this year, taking top ribbons in the prestigious
events. They recently won the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at
the State College Classic in Furnace, PA. Photo By: SportFot.
Contact:
Rebecca Walton for
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
at (561) 753-3389 or at pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
Furnace, PA - July 3, 2012 - The 2012 State College Classic saw an
overwhelming victory from SBS Farms, Inc. last week. Jennifer Alfano
dominated the professional divisions with her top mounts, as well as
securing the first place award in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter
Derby with the talented Jersey Boy. Luke Olsen caught the judges' eyes in
the equitation classes, earning the first place prize with Serenade in the
Pessoa USEF Hunter Seat Medal. Jessica Liffin took the Low Junior/Amateur
Hunter Reserve Championship aboard Imparco.
In the Regular Conformation Hunters, Danny Robertshaw's Lions Paw with
Alfano in the irons stole the show. Lions Paw was awarded the blue ribbon
for his beautiful conformation in the Model. Alfano then guided the
thoroughbred to the first and second place ribbons over fences, as well as
the first place award in the under saddle. They eventually secured the
division's reserve championship honors. Alfano also exhibited Dragon, owned
by Redfield Farm, to two second place finishes in the over fences and the
handy round.
Rapunzel's success continued in the Green Working/High Performance
Hunters. The young mare has consistently put in solid rounds, and the State
College Classic was no different. Owned by Karen Macdonald, the chestnut
mare earned the second and third place ribbons in the over fences. Together,
Alfano also guided her to the first place award in the under saddle.
It was the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby that proved the most
exciting for Alfano and Jersey Boy. Taking an early lead in the Derby, the
pair proved unstoppable. They laid down beautiful rounds, including Jersey
Boy's forte, the handy round. At the end of the Derby, it was Alfano and
Jersey Boy leading the victory gallop. Alfano also guided Miss Lucy to the
second place finish, and exhibited Lions Paw in his first derby, riding him
to the fifth place prize.
"I liked the course, I thought they did a nice job," Alfano described. "The
high options were high for sure, and even though it is a smaller show, they
really make it special for everyone. Everyone was really nice, and they did
a good job, it was a lot of fun."
Alfano continued, "Jersey Boy did great as always, and Miss Lucy had great
rounds, too. I was really excited about showing Lions Paw in the derby, and
he did really well for his first time. He is such a neat horse, he really
is, he is so much fun to ride. I knew he would be good in the derby because
he isn't spooky and he is so fun. They were all great and did really well."
The success did not stop there for SBS Farms as Jessica Liffin took the Low
Junior/Amateur Hunter Reserve Championship aboard Imparco, owned by Felice
Drabkin. They nabbed the first, second and third place ribbons in the over
fences, and also took home the third place prize for their efforts in the
under saddle. Imparco also showed in the Pre-Green Hunters with Alfano,
earning the second and third place prizes in the over fences, and also the
third place ribbon in under saddle. Alfano also secured the blue ribbon in
the Pre-Green Hunter over fences with one of her most recent mounts, Looking
Glass.
Luke Olsen showed in numerous equitation classes, earning the first place
awards in the Pessoa USEF Hunter Seat Medal and the Josey Mohler Equitation
with Serenade, owned by SBS Farms' trainer Susie Schoellkopf. Olsen also
earned the red ribbon in the NHSAA/ASPCA Maclay. His success continued in
the WIHS Medal, where aboard Dragon, he took the fourth place award in the
jumper phase, and finished in the top eight of the class.
Olsen also competed in the Mt. Nittany Classic at Kocher Farm on July 2,
2012. He took the first place ribbon with Serenade in both the ASPCA Maclay
and the Pessoa USEF Hunter Seat Medal. His blue ribbon finish in the Medal
earned Olsen a qualifying spot in the USEF Medal Finals.
Based out of Buffalo, NY, SBS Farms' Susie Schoellkopf and Jennifer Alfano
run one of the foremost show hunter training operations in the country, and
travel nationwide to compete in the nation's most prestigious horse
shows. SBS Farms, Inc. continues the proud tradition of the Saddle and
Bridle Club as one of the top show stables in the northeast. Schoellkopf is
also the Executive Director of the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, which
houses both The Buffalo Equestrian Center as well as SBS Farms. Built in
1922, the 160-stall facility is a historical landmark, with its unique
English Tudor and gothic style architecture. For more information on SBS
Farms and the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, please visit
www.thebtrc.org.
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