Articles: Press Release
Bright Stars Sirius 127 and Tim Hooker
Win $40,000 North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Challenge Cup
Grand Pony Hunter Championship Awarded to Franklin's Tower and Taylor
Ann Adams, Lyle and O'Mara Win $5,000 Handy Hunter Challenge
Sirius 127 and Tim Hooker won the NA Junior/A-O Challenge Cup. Hayley
Barnhill and Toucan Tango won the final round of the NA Junior/A-O Challenge
Cup. © 2009 Jennifer Wood/PMG.
Contact:
Jennifer Wood of
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
at (561) 753-3389 or at pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
Upper Marlboro, MD - October 3, 2009 - It was another day filled with
exciting competition at the Capital Challenge Horse Show, held at the Show
Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD. The evening session consisted of the
final round of the North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Challenge Cup, and
early leader Tim Hooker on Sirius 127 was able to retain that lead for the
series win. Hayley Barnhill and Toucan Tango won the $25,000 final
class. The pony hunters finished their divisions and the Grand Pony Hunter
Championship was awarded to Franklin's Tower and Taylor Ann Adams. Two
junior hunter championships were also named.
In tonight's final round of the $40,000 North American Junior/Amateur-Owner
Challenge Cup, 15-year-old Hayley Barnhill from Memphis, TN, rode Toucan
Tango (left), a seven-year-old Holsteiner/Selle Francais gelding, to the
win. The Time First Jump-off course was designed by Conrad Homfeld, and the
class was presented by the Oken family and Hi Hopes Farm.
Out of 24 entries in the class, there were eight clear rounds. Barnhill
returned fourth in the order and put in a quick, clear round in 38.669
seconds. Every rider after her had faults, which gave Barnhill the win.
"I was a little nervous about it, but I knew he would be good and he'd be
there for me," she said afterwards. "It looked a little hard. We thought to
go for it, but not be too crazy because we're trying to get ready for
Harrisburg."
Barnhill and Toucan Tango will compete next in the Prix des States team
competition.
For Hooker, his plan of taking the early lead in Thursday night's speed
class came to fruition. Hooker and Sirius 127, a 14-year-old Hanoverian
gelding, won the first two speed phases of the Challenge Cup. In tonight's
class, they had four faults and placed ninth. Hooker had to wait and see how
Tracey Weinberg did in the jump-off to determine whether he would lead the
victory gallop. If Weinberg had won, she would have repeated her victory
from last year. If she was second, she would have had to jump-off against
Hooker. When Weinberg had a rail on her final mount, it gave the win to
Hooker.
"I'm very glad to win the Cup here. I was aiming for it from the time I got
here," Hooker said. "I tried to take the lead early because I felt it would
be necessary to give me a shot at keeping Tracey from winning. Fortunately
my plan worked."
Hooker was also thrilled to compete against his daughter Heather, who made
it to the jump-off tonight and placed fourth. "It was a lot of fun to ride
with Heather in this class," he said. "I hope to be doing that for years to
come."
Along with winning the Ariat Congressional Cup, Hooker (below right) was
named the Best Amateur Jumper Rider. Barnhill was named Best Junior Jumper
Rider.
This year's Grand Pony Hunter Championship went to the winner in the Large
Pony Hunter division, Franklin's Tower, ridden by Taylor Ann Adams for Meg
O'Mara. They won three over fences classes and also placed third over
fences. The reserve champion in the Large Pony Hunters was For the Laughter,
ridden by Victoria Colvin for Scott Stewart. They won an over fences class
and the under saddle.
Adams was also named the Best Pony Rider and they won the EMO Pony Trip of
the Show with a score of 90.Sirius 127 and Tim Hooker
Adams has been riding Franklin's Tower for over a year and after a
disappointing Capital Challenge last year, they returned with a vengeance in
2009. She explained, "Instead of trying to do it myself, I let him help
me. I listened to him instead of being a know-it-all and trying to do it
without him when I know he's smarter than me. I just believed in him this
year."
This win was very meaningful to Adams. She expressed, "It is really
important because he holds a special place in my heart. It would be
different if it was just a random pony but he's special to me. And the
O'Maras are really great people so I'm glad I won it on their pony."
Parker Wright was the recipient of the Stewart Warner Cup. The Cup is given
to an up-and-coming junior rider who exhibits the best hunter style and show
potential.
The Small Pony Hunter championship went to Elation and rider Meredith
Darst. Elation is owned by Dr. Betsee Parker of Middleburg, VA, and trained
by Rob Coluccio and Richard Cunkle of Wellington, FL. Today, Elation and
Darst won the first over fences class and the handy hunter class.
The reserve championship in the Small division went to Prince Monticello,
ridden by Kirklen Petersen for owner Ashley Delgado. They were second and
third over fences yesterday, and finished sixth in the handy hunter class
today.
Elation, an eight-year-old full Welsh pony, has been in training for two
years with Cunkle and Coluccio. Victoria Colvin showed Elation this year and
qualified her for the indoor shows, but when Colvin could only show three
ponies, Darst was given the ride.
"It was a real baptism of fire at this show, but she was great," Dr. Parker
said with a smile. "They really get along well. Everybody gets along well
and works really well together. It works well because it's a team. It takes
a village to win a ribbon, and we have a really great village!"
Cunkle said of Elation, "She's definitely a show pony. She's a great mover,
she jumps great; she has all of the qualities."
Dr. Parker agreed, "She's a great pony. She'll stand still and let the Jack
Russels sleep under her. You could put a little child on her and she would
still go around the same."
In the Medium Pony division, Allison Toffolon aboard Heart's Desire, owned
by Stone Ridge, took home the championship. Toffolon and Heart's Desire
finished first and third over fences, first under saddle, second in the
handy hunter and fifth in the conformation class. Reserve champion Meredith
Darst and Chloe Hirtenstein's Champlain Treasure Me collected a first in the
handy hunter, a second over fences and a second in the conformation class.
Toffolon said of Heart's Desire, "She's very soft and flowy. I just have to
sit there and help her find the distance. She is an amazing mover. I love
her trot and canter. She's really perky and has a great expression, but she
doesn't like it when you touch her stomach."
Laura King and Heartfelt rode away with the Small Junior Hunter 16-17
Championship. Heartfelt is owned by Blantyre Farm of Irvington, NY. The
pair finished with a first and two seconds over fences. Their top finishes
also gave them the Grand Older Junior Hunter Championship.
Alexandra Arute and Red Rooster secured the reserve championship with a
first and sixth over fences and a first under saddle. Red Rooster is owned
by Old Oak Farm of Los Angeles, CA.
The Large Junior Hunter 16-17 champion was Sarah Sturges and her horse Sweet
Addiction. The duo won twice over fences and took fifth under saddle.
Reserve champion was Laura King and Pharrell, who had a second, sixth and
third over fences and a first under saddle. Pharrell is owned by Blantyre
Farm, of Irvington, NY.
King, who is 16 years old, has been showing Heartfelt, a nine-year-old
Hanoverian gelding, for three years. This is the first championship at
Capital Challenge for King. "It feels pretty cool to be champion here," King
said with a smile.
Trainer Brian Walker added, "The horse really went flawless. It makes us
feel pretty confident going into indoors to win here."
King has been showing Pharrell, an 11-year-old gelding, longer than
Heartfelt and described him as "much more straightforward, and he knows what
to do."
Seventeen-year-old Sarah Sturges of Columbus, OH, has been paired with Sweet
Addiction, an 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding, for three and a half
years. This is their first time showing at Capital Challenge and it ranks as
their best performance.
"It feels like I'm living the dream. He was perfect; I couldn't have asked
him to be better," Sturges said.
In the $5,000 Handy Hunter Challenge, 13 competitors took on a course full
of turns, a trot jump, hand gallop, and an option that included opening and
riding through a gate. The first horse in the ring was Lyle (left), ridden
by 17-year-old Abby O'Mara of Rumson, NJ, and they laid down a fabulous trip
that no one could come near for a score of 88.66.
O'Mara has been riding the venerable Lyle since January, and although they
do not compete in hunter derbies, O'Mara says that Lyle's experience makes
him great in the handy hunter classes. "He's really good at turning if you
just tell him where he's going. He's always the best jumper; he jumps
anything beautifully," she noted. "I try not to let my nerves get
overwhelming, but then I just remember that he's done all this before and
knows what to do. I just try to relax. He's probably my favorite horse that
I've ever ridden."
O'Mara thanked owner Stephanie Keen for the chance to ride Lyle. "She's the
nicest woman I know, and she loves her horse. She's really supportive of
me," O'Mara said.
To finish the day in the outdoor ring, the Children's Hunter Pony division
gave out their championship ribbons. Madelyn Keck rode Porter Allen's Tango
to the champion tricolor, while Taylor Willever on Chase the Rain, owned by
Kimber-view Stables, was the reserve champion.
Tomorrow is the final day of competition for the 2009 Capital Challenge
Horse Show. The younger divisions of the junior hunters will wrap up and
award the Grand Junior Hunter Championship, and the Children's Hunters will
also compete outside. Highlight classes include the WCHR Children's Hunter
Finals outside and the WCHR Pony Challenge, WCHR Junior Challenge, and the
World Champion Hunter Under Saddle Junior class in the indoor arena.
For more information about the show including photos, news, and results,
visit the official web site at www.capitalchallenge.org. To watch live
footage of this year's horse show, please visit www.equestriansport.tv. This
year's Capital Challenge Horse Show ends tomorrow, Sunday, October 4 at the
Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. The horse show is
conveniently located off of Route 4, just seven miles east of the Capital
Beltway.
Final Results: $25,000 North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Challenge Cup
Round Three
1. Toucan Tango, Hayley Barnhill, 0/0/38.669
2. Eso Kirstie Dobbs, 0/0/39.145
3. Larone, Tracey Weinberg, 0/0/41.129
4. Perle, Heather Hooker, 0/4/38.748
5. Cromwell, Tracey Weinberg, 0/4/39.288
6. The Real Deal, Rachel Cline, 0/4/39.768
7. Linda Z/ Tracey Weinberg, 0/4/41.122
8. Kolette, Kirstie Dobbs, 0/Elim
9. Sirius 127, Tim Hooker, 4/ 60.073
10. Sugar Ray, Samantha Schaefer, 4/ 60.794
$5,000 Handy Hunter Challenge
1. Lyle, Abby O'Mara 88.66
2. Burberry, Samantha Schaefer 82.33
3. Shiraz, Megan Davis 79.00
4. Enjoy, Tammy Provost 76.33
5. Costar, Shelley Campf 69.33
6. North Country, Patricia Griffith 54.66
7. Santiago, Taylor Ann Adams 53.33
8. Azlan, Gabbi Langston 47.66
9. Ovation, Victoria Colvin 39.33
10. Joy Ride, Taylor Brown 38.66
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