hunter/jumper
Maclay regional Medals Awarded to Final Four Before Alltech® National Show It was a full weekend for junior riders as the final four regions concluded their asPCa Maclay regionals on september 22 and 23. the anticipation was tangible as the nation’s top riders competed for the chance to attend the prestigious asPCa alfred B. Maclay finals during the alltech national Horse show this fall. Michael Hughes captured the first place honors for region 1, with lillie keenan riding to the top of the ranks for region 2. Meg o’Mara took the championship in the asPCa Maclay regionals for region 3, while taylor schmidt claimed the top spot for region 4. the Grand fall Classic in westbrook, Ct, saw great competition from riders, but it was Michael Hughes who stood out above the rest for the second consecutive year. Hughes laid down a beautiful round, and rode to the top of the leaderboard and the chance to battle the best at the asPCa alfred B. Maclay finals. abby Bertelson earned the second place position, while sydney schulman rounded out the top three. region 2 was alive with excitement at old salem farm when lillie keenan repeated her victory from 2011, taking home the blue ribbon prize for her
round over fences and efforts in the flat phase. the 2011 Pessoa/ usef Hunter seat equitation Medal winner, schaefer raposa, followed on keenan’s heels to take the second place award, while elizabeth Benson rode to the third place honors. It was a fantastic finish to the southeast Medal finals in Jacksonville, fl, for Meg o’Mara as she successfully won the region 3 asPCa Maclay regionals during her final junior year. thirty-seven skilled riders navigated the equitation course, and the top six riders were asked to return to the ring for a test. o’Mara claimed first with a confident performance aboard elevstar farm’s Vancouver, capturing the coveted prize. liza fisness took the second place honors, with Hasbrouck donovan securing third place. the kentucky national welcomed junior riders to the kentucky Horse Park, and inside the prestigious alltech arena, riders competed for pole position. It was an astounding event for uphill farm, as two of their riders landed the first and second place posi-
downeast Medal finals Deemed Over the Top Fun
Top phoTo: anne giTTins; boTTom phoTo: unbridled phoTography
tHIs Year’s downeast Medal finals drew over 100 qualifiers to the skowhegan fairgrounds on september 14-16, 2012 in skowhegan, Me. this was the fourth year for the Maine finals, and according to the exhibitors, spectators, and parents, it was “over the top fun and enjoyable.” with a new committee in place and new show management, the event received great reviews. IdeXX laboratories, located in westbrook, Me, was the presenting sponsor for the event, and shaine’s of Maine provided dinner saturday afternoon while spectators watched the team Challenge. Butterfly wings, dragonheads, cowboys, and more from the youngest exhibitors were walking and trotting poles alongside their partners, who jumped at higher levels.
sunday’s Medal classes were met with great expectations and culminated with a victory gallop for each of the divisions. the courses, designed by well-known rider and trainer Mark Jungherr, offered the right amount of challenge for each level. two scholarships were handed out this year as well—one from downeast Medal finals and the other from the Maine Hunter Jumper association (MeHJa). katherine kirkwin, who was also the winner of the adult Medal, was the recipient of the downeast Medal finals scholarship, and emma aerosmith received the MeHJa scholarship.
Michael Hughes was crowned the winner of the Region 1 ASPCA Maclay Regionals.
tions. taylor schmidt was the victor, while Meredith darst pinned second. lizzie Van der walde was awarded the third place ribbon. the top qualified riders from each region will now travel to the 129th alltech national Horse show, to be held october 30 through november 4, 2012, at the picturesque kentucky Horse Park in lexington, kY, for the finals. the anticipation is high as the riders and their talented mounts compete for the coveted title. Michael Albert, Ginger Klingenstein Albert, Kate McDonald, and Stephanie Plasited with Amateur Adult Medal winner Katherine Kirkwin and Instant Karma.
all in all, the weekend was a huge success. regarding the 2013 event, Ginger klingenstein albert was quick to say, “next year will be our fifth year and we will be even bigger and better.” for more information, visit downeastmedalfinals.com. November 2012
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