Photo credit Al Cook
As the first in the class of 21 entries to go clear in the FEI CSI3* $134,000 Grand Prix de Penn National, Beezie Madden set a scorching time to beat of 34.93 seconds aboard Abigail Wexner's Coach. The following three riders outpaced Madden, but only barely. The top four finishing places were separated by a mere 0.87 seconds.
Molly Ashe Cawley, one of six in the jump off, and Louisburg Farm's Adamo were quick in the turns to finish in 34.06 seconds. Cawley's lead held as reigning champion Beat Mändli aboard Galan S and Amy Millar with Truman produced similar rounds, stopping the clock at 34.15 and 34.61 respectively, for reserve and third.
"At the last part of the jump-off, I threw style right on out the window and went for the 'Hail Mary' pony-kicking," said Cawley, who had watched Madden's round and was determined to beat it. "It was a little terrifying from where I was sitting, I'm not going to lie, but he (Adamo) was right there with me. He was good."
Cawley took home the winner's share of $44,220. She was also the Open Jumper Reserve Champion and tied for the Leading Lady Rider Jumper Award with Madden with 28 points earned throughout the show. For his exceptional care of Adamo, Ezekiel Barcena accepted the Caretaker Award.
Reserve Champion in the Grand Prix, Mändli also walked away with the Open Jumper Championship after earning 19 total points aboard Galan S in the Open Jumper classes. With his horses earning 33 total points overall, Mändli earned the Leading Rider Award for Open Jumper.
Keystone Classic
Very rarely do competitors tie in a one-round speed class, but Canada's Erynn Ballard and Israel's Sydney Shulman did just that in the $36,000 Keystone Classic Speed Stake Friday night. Both went clear during their rounds and stopped the clock at an unbeatable 52.59 seconds.
Riding ninth in a field of 25, Ballard quickly surpassed early pacesetters aboard Skymaster LLC's Judge Hof Ter Zeedycke. Eighteenth in the order of go, Sydney Shulman and Azilis Du Mesnil, owned by Jill Shulman, equaled the time.
Earning a total of 15 points from their classes this week, Ballard and "Judge" tied with Beezie Madden and Jiva for the Open Jumper Speed Reserve Championship. Taking the top honor was Shulman with Azilis Du Mesnil, who earned a total of 21 points.
After a thrilling jump-off in Thursday's $60,000 Pennsylvania Big Jump, Switzerland's Beat Mändli won with Grant Road Partners LLC's Galan S. Just five out of 24 starters moved on to the second round. Mändli earned top honors with the only clear round in the jump-off.
Marilyn Little and Karen O'Connor's Clearwater, the final pair to jump off, had the fastest time (34.32 seconds), but a jumping penalty placed them second.
Returning to defend their 2018 title in the $36,000 1.45m Harrisburg Sprint, Beezie Madden and Abigail Wexner's Jiva successfully outpaced their competitors with no jumping faults in a time of 50.79. Ali Ramsay of Canada and Casino placed second with no faults and a time of 51.79.
Open jumper classes began with Wednesday night’s 1.40m Speed Challenge and the 1.45m Dash for the Cash. Piloting Karen O'Connor's Clearwater in their first outing since June, Marilyn Little bested a field of 33 riders in the $10,000 1.40m Speed Challenge, a single-round class with an 11-fence course designed by Michel Vaillancourt. Their faultless time of 54.15 seconds beat the time of 56.58 seconds from early pace-setters Laura Chapot and Calafornia.
Returning to the ring in the $15,000 1.45m Dash for the Cash, Chapot topped a field of 18 riders with Mary Chapot's Chandon Blue. With a speedy trip of 51.88 seconds, the pair beat second-place Sydney Shulman and Azilis Du Mesnil by just three-hundredths of a second.
Hunt Night
Members from eight registered Hunts from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia came together with their horses for friendly competition Monday night, October 14. The members and hounds of the Kimberton Hunt entertained the crowd with a demonstration of how foxhounds work together as a pack.
Thirteen teams competed for the Hunt Teams title in a class where three riders from the hunt follow each other over a course of obstacles and then jump in unison over the last fence. Emerging victorious was Elkridge Harford Hunt Team 1, made up of Ashton Williams' Champagne Chic and Peace Party, along with Lambert Boyce's Respectful Ed.
The Field Hunters - Riders 35 & Under class was won by Samantha Schiff aboard Try It Again of the Bull Run Hunt. The Field Hunters - Riders 36 & Over class was won by Bull Run’s s Billy Frederik and Chasin Charlie.
In the Gentleman's Hunter Under Saddle, John Wilkowski and Westwood of Mr. Stewart's Cheshire Foxhounds earned the blue. Elizabeth Rock of the Bull Run Hunt won the Ladies' Hunter Under Saddle aboard Newsroom and received the "Polly" Gingrich Caswell Perpetual Trophy as the Leading Lady Rider.
Hunt Night culminated with the awarding of the Ralph A. Alfano Memorial Perpetual Trophy, which is given to the hunt that acquired the most points throughout the night. This year, the trophy was presented to Bull Run Hunt, earning ribbons in every class for a total of 32 points.
The Ladies Hunter Sidesaddle Championship was won by Ashleigh Glorioso and her 20-year-old Thoroughbred Epilogue. The pair won both the Ladies Hunter Sidesaddle Over Fences class, which is a course of eight fences set at three feet, and the Ladies Hunter Sidesaddle Hack. , which is a flat class that also incorporates two fences set at 2'6". It was Glorioso's third consecutive win in the Ladies Hunter Sidesaddle Championship. Reserve Champion was Pamela Cibula and Brenda Madison's Tortuga, who also won the Ladies Hunter Sidesaddle Under Saddle class.
Medal Finals
After a year of qualifying, 239 riders vied for top honors in the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final. In her final qualifying year, 17-year-old Emma Fletcher, (Buzzards Bay, MA) rode away with the win on Bournedale, the 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by her mom and trainer, Kathryn Fletcher. After the preliminary round, 25 hopefuls were invited back to test over an abbreviated second course requiring a hand gallop, counter canter, and a demonstration of a sitting trot. The top six then returned for one final test where they had to transition to walk between lines, canter fences in the opposite direction, and demonstrate a turn on the haunches.
Jordan Allen (West Bloomfield, MI) was Reserve Champion with Ashland Farms' Quite Cassini, a 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding who was presented the PNHS Best Equitation Horse Award. Sam Walker (Nobleton, Ontario) took third aboard Waldo, the 12-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by North Run Farm.
Prix de States
Zone 2 took home team gold in the 2019 Neue Schule/USEF Prix des States Team Championship. Winning an unprecedented 13th time, the Zone 2 team consisted of Ned Cunniffe, South Salem, NY, riding Buckle Up; Mimi Gochman, of New York, NY, aboard Street Hassle BH; Sophie Gochman, of New York, NY, riding Carola BH; Sophee Steckbeck, of Clarksburg, NJ riding Alaina; and Madison Rauschenback, of Newburg, NY riding Gillette B. The team rode under the guidance of Ralph Caristo as their Chef d'Equipe.
One rider from Zone 7 and one from Zone 5 were chosen for the jump-off after tying for second place with 12 faults. In the end, Zone 7 won the silver medal with a clear jump-off round ending on a team score of 12 faults. Zone 5 took home the bronze after pulling a rail in the jump-off.
The William C. Steinkraus Style Award was given to Madison Goetzmann for best exemplifying the American style of equitation and sportsmanship in the 2019 Neue Schule/USEF Prix des States.
Earlier in the week, Kyle Perkovich and Hit Me Van't Zorgvliet won Phase I of the Junior Jumper Championships with a bold round with a time of 51.289 seconds. Alexandra Pielet and Helene VE, owned by the Co-Pielet LLC, came in reserve with a time of 51.796 seconds. Maggie Kehring and Cole Haan, owned by the Kehring Family, rounded out the top three with 55.321 seconds.
On Saturday, 17-year-old Reichow (Menlo Park, CA), ended the year and her Junior career as the 2019 Neue Schule/USEF National Junior Jumper Individual Champion. The winner of the 2019 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals - West in September, she rode Forever Alve, her nine-year-old KWPN mare. Battling for the Silver medal in a jump-off was Zone 2 USEF Prix de States Team Champions Ned Cunniff and Mimi Gochman. Cunniffe and Buckle Up rode first in the jump-off producing a quick clear round for a final score of nine penalty points. Teammate Gochman and Street Hassle BH pulled an unlucky rail early in the jump-off for third.
Hunters
Riding to the win with a score of 92 in the $25,000 Champion of Champions Winners' Stake was Jeff Gogul and Roberts Stables LLC's Just Ask. The pair also had several blue ribbons and the tri-color in the High Performance Conformation Hunter division.
Taking home top honors in the $25,000 Green 3' & 3'3" Winners' Stake was Maria Rasmussen aboard Maya Grove's Business Time, earning a score of 91. Rasmussen and the 7-year-old Swedish Warmblood also won Tuesday's Green Hunter 3'3" Over Fences and Green Hunter 3'3" Under Saddle classes. Stephanie Bulger's Moonshot was awarded the PNHS Grand Hunter Championship.
Nine-year-old JJ Torano, son of Jimmy Torano, piloted H.G. Mud Puddles with a score of 87.00 to secure the Small Pony Hunter Championship. Stella Wasserman accepted the High Point Small 3'6" Junior Hunter award for her performances in the 15 & Under division with Boss. which earned them the Huntland Derby Perpetual Cup with a total of 27 points.
Maggie Hill and Cassanto received honors as both the High Point Large 3'6" Junior Hunter and Grand 3'6" Junior Hunter Champion. Alberto Riverez accepted the Grand 3'6" Junior Hunter Champion Groom's Award. The Grand Junior Hunter Trainer's Award went to Hill's trainer, Jack Towell.
Tanner Korotkin was named the Best Junior Hunter Rider on a Horse. Caroline Passarelli walked away with the Sunnyside Up Challenge Trophy as the Best Junior Rider on a Pony.
Riding the green Baroness of Locheil, Maddie Tosh earned her second Championship at the PNHS this year in the Medium Pony Hunter division. Caroline Passarelli and So Dapper were awarded the Large Pony Hunter Championship with a total of 24 points.
Therapeutic
Therapeutic Championship riders competed at the walk and trot. They were judged for their horsemanship and equitation by returning judge Renee Poff with assistance from World Equestrian Games Canadian team rider Erynn Ballard and Pan American Games double gold medalist Marilyn Little.
Leyna Ribner won the Unassisted Championship, Ava Little was named Reserve Champion, and Emily Estilow placed third. In the Assisted division, returning champion Charles Turnbaugh once again took home the Championship. Alexis Wanner earned Reserve Champion, and Fiona O'Rourke placed third.
The 2019 PNHS Foundation "Therapy Horse of the Year" was Bulletproof, a 14-year-old American Quarter Horse. Always the first choice of riders at EquiTeam, "Bullet" is also an integral part of the Equine Assisted Psychotherapy program, giving support to veterans working through combat trauma as well as helping parents and children learn and build appropriate relationships