(Washington, DC) ‘ October 9, 2007 ‘ The Washington
International Horse Show (WIHS), a 501 (c)(3) charitable
organization benefiting local and national charities,
began today at the Verizon Center in downtown Washington,
D.C. The show kicked-off with the Regular Hunter Model
class and the Green Conformation Hunter Model class. Throughout the day, horses and riders competed in seven hunter divisions including Regular Conformation Hunter, Green Conformation Hunter, First Year Green Hunter, Second Year Green Hunter, Regular Working Hunter, Amateur-Owner Hunter (35 & Under), sponsored by Lynn Ellen Rice and Last Name Left Productions, and Amateur-Owner Hunter (Over 35), sponsored by Chateau Ste. Michelle. The riders from today’s afternoon portion of the show will return to the ring again on Wednesday, October 10, to participate in the final classes of their respective divisions. The points for each division will be tallied tomorrow and the Champions and Reserve Champions of each division will be announced.
Standouts during the day in the Regular Conformation Hunter classes were Highland Park, ridden by Scott Stewart, and Mac Arthur Park, ridden by Peter Pletcher. Boulveard Deir, ridden by Tim Goguen, Perfectionist, ridden by Scott Stewart, and Sting, ridden by Jennifer Alfano, were some of the top contenders in the Green Conformation Hunter classes.
Allejandro, ridden by Tim Goguen, and Scout, ridden by John French, were the point leaders after two classes in the First Year Green Working Hunter classes. During the Second Year Green Working Hunter classes, Castle, ridden by Addison Phillips, and Rock Star, ridden by Jennifer Alfano, both placed first, leading their respective divisions in the points standings.
The top 10 riders from the Amateur Owner Hunter (35 and Under) and Amateur Owner Hunter (Over 35) classes
qualified to compete in the division’s final class, taking
place Wednesday, October 10. The top three horses in
today’s Amateur Owner Hunter (35 & Under) over fences
class were Aeropostale, ridden by Rachel Geiger, Saving
Grace, ridden by Grace Stuntz, and Sion, ridden by Lily
Hahn. Mombo, ridden by Maria L. Takocs, Godiva, ridden by
Becky Gochman, and Once and Again, ridden by Meredith
Lipke Bartolone, were the top three placings in the
Amateur Owner Hunter (Over 35) over fences class.
The evening portion of the show began at 7 p.m. with a
performance of the National Anthem by Dime a Dozen, an
acapella group from American University. Following the
opening ceremonies, the Children’s Hunter Championships
and Adult Hunter Championships took place.
After two rounds of competition, O.C., ridden by Kaitlin
Porath, earned top honors in the Children’s Hunter
Championships. Reserve Champion was Lindsay Portela ridding Jack. The final class of the evening showcased The Patriot,
ridden by Kara Douglass, as the Adult Hunter Champion.
Receiving Reserve Championship honors was Damascus, ridden
by Lynley Reilly.
To view complete results from today’s competition, please
visit:
https://wihs.showjumping.tv/results/resultResponse.php?
show_id=2
About The Washington International Horse Show
(www.wihs.org):
The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), a 501 (c)
(3) charitable organization benefiting local and national
charities, is a world-class championship event, drawing
leading equestrian riders from around the nation and the
world. Each year riders participate in qualifying shows
to earn the honor of riding at the WIHS. The WIHS welcomes more than 600 horse and rider duos to compete to win some of the most coveted and prestigious awards in the world, including more than $400,000 in prize money. The show takes place every October in Washington, DC, attracting the attention of the equestrian world, non-equestrian world, celebrities and politicos alike with events such as show jumping, dressage, barrel racing and terrier races. October 2008 will mark the 50th anniversary of the WIHS.
The Washington International Horse Show is supported by
the following 2007 sponsors: Salamander Hospitality, LLC,
Hidden Trail Farm, LLC, FTI Consulting, Inc., Merial, LTD
(UlcerGard), Monica & Hermen Greenberg, Canadian National
Railway Company (CN), Monarch International, Gotham North,
St. Michelle Wine Estates, Lynn Ellen Rice & Last Name
Left Productions, Pat Carleton & The Cottonwood, Ltd.,
Pedigree/Masterfoods, Crawford Communications, Shalanno
Farm, Tara Management, Tad Coffin Performance Saddles,
Halstrum, LLC/Lubrisyn, Brooke Carmichael McMurray-Fowler
& Pam Carmichael Keenan, JPC Equestrian, Betty & Ernie
Oare, Berkley Underwriting Partners, LLC & EMO Insurance
Agency, Inc., The Reid Family, Hillary Stiff & Chris &
Nalini Rogers, Platinum Performance, Far Niente Stables,
LLC and Cornell University.
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