FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jenny Ross for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
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Photo Credit: Carol-Lynn Nelms and Stop The Music. Photo by: Al Cook Productions. Photograph may be used only in relation to this PMG press release.
USEF Zone 3 Finals Wrap Up Washington International Horse Show’s Local Weekend at Prince George’s Equestrian Center
Carol-Lynn Nelms and Stop The Music Triumph for Adult Amateur 35 and Older Hunter Championship
Upper Marlboro, MD – October 22, 2006 – Today Washington International Horse Show’s Local Weekend featured the USEF Zone 3 Finals at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. To qualify for this event, the top 20 horses in each division, based on total USEF Zone 3 points for 2006, were invited to compete at Show Place Arena. Local Weekend and the finals were announced by Gerry Briggs, who recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the New England Equitation Championships.
The Adult Amateur Hunter 35 and Over division welcomed Carol-Lynn Nelms and Stop The Music to the winner’s circle. After taking home two second places over fences and a first place under saddle, the pair was awarded the championship tricolor. Stop The Music is owned by Stonegate Stables of Aldie, VA. Reserve champion went to Tenerife and Lara Mcpherson of McLean, VA.
“I was so nervous coming into today!” admitted Nelms enthusiastically. “This is my first Zone Finals and the first time I’ve shown at anything big. I just started working with a new trainer, and she prepared my horse perfectly! This is big for me. I’ve only been showing at rated shows for about two years, and this is the first year I’ve ever gone after points. This is the first cooler I’ve ever won!”
She continued with a smile, “My horse is an eight year old, Hanovarian Thoroughbred that I bought as a four year old out of someone’s back yard. He started the year off a bit green. But, ever since we showed in Lexington and won reserve, he has just gotten better and better.” She added, “I was just a ball of nerves today. I was bursting in there; I’m just so excited!”
In the Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 division, Lissa Bachner of Baltimore, MD, and her horse Maddox topped the leader board in both over fences classes and came away with the championship award. Reserve champion was presented to Little Bita Both and Karen
Watts, who resides in Williamsburg, VA.
The championship for the Children’s Hunter 14 and Under division went to Ultra Glide and Danielle Menker of Ellicott City, MD. Menker’s successful rounds resulted in two blue ribbons over fences and a seventh under saddle. “My horse was really good today and very relaxed,” reported Menker after her awards presentation. “I had a rough start to my weekend, but today made up for it. I love showing indoors. I’ve shown here a lot, with Local Weekend and Maryland Horse and Pony Shows. I always look forward to coming here.” Reserve champion went to Frontier and Alexandra Shaffer from Richmond, VA.
In the Children’s Hunter 15-17 division, Napoleon and Sarah Gorrell prevailed for two wins over fences and the tricolor ribbon. Napoleon is owned by Redfield Farm of Pottersville, NJ. Dance With Me and Kristen Jones of Spotsylvania, VA, earned the reserve championship. “He was really good today,” related Gorrell as she fed her horse a mint. “It was a lot of fun. The ring was a little smaller than I’m used to because we normally show outdoors, but he doesn’t care about stuff like that. He’s a good boy. I’ve had him for about a year now. He actually had about a month off and hasn’t shown for awhile,” she said. “We’re happy to be here because I really like this facility. It’s very horse friendly, and it runs smoothly.”
Cherry On Top and Samantha Gumbin of Potomac, MD, topped the charts in the Small/Medium Children’s Hunter Pony division after a ride-off with Snow Angel and Katie Groomes of Westminster, MD. After the tie breaker, Groomes and Snow Angel finished with the reserve championship. Twelve year old Gumbin commented, “Today was awesome. She [Cherry On Top] feels really good. She was having some front feet problems before, but now she’s happy. She’s a really sweet and quiet pony.”
The Large Children’s Hunter Pony championship went to Woodlands Misty Morning and Emily DuPont of Wilmington, DE. DuPont rode the pony to a first place over fences and a second under saddle. Coming Up Roses and Brooke Cole received the reserve championship after winning two second places over fences. Coming Up Roses is owned by Evy Carroll of Charlottesville, VA.
Local Children’s and Adult Amateur Jumper divisions were also held in the outdoor arena today. In the Children’s Jumpers, Maslys Amat and Hillary finished with championship honors. Amat resides in Potomac, MD, and trains with Alan Lohman. In the Adult Jumper division, Galia Rouge and Wendy Libert came away with the tricolor. Galia Rouge is owned by John Bartko of Hughesville, MD. Both Amat and Libert are now eligible to compete in the WIHS Children’s and Adult Jumper Championships held at the Verizon Center on Wednesday, October 25, 2006. The WIHS Local Weekend was sponsored by The Tack Box, Inc. of Middleburg, VA.
For more information on the Washington International Horse Show, please visit www.wihs.org.
Photo Credit: Carol-Lynn Nelms and Stop The Music. Photo by: Al Cook Productions. Photograph may be used only in relation to this PMG press release.
