May 16, 2017 – Del Mar, CA – Showpark Ranch & Coast welcomed some of California’s finest hunters to compete for World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) points and a host of special awards. With glistening coats, graceful gaits, and breathtaking jumps, they took to the rings for a chance to win SmartPak Awards for high scores and high points.
Taxi Boy and Olivia Welsh. PC: Captured Moments
Overall SmartPak Winners Took Top Honors
Olivia Welsh and Taxi Boy had a standout week with a clean sweep of the 3’3″ 16-17 Junior Hunter division that landed them the Overall SmartPak Grand Champion Hunter Award, presented by Jamie Amezquita of SmartPak. Welsh also earned a $100 SmartPak gift certificate for her success.
She and her parents received the Balmoral Farm, Inc. Winning Owner Award, along with a picture frame and photo gift certificate. Representing Elvenstar, Lexi Shaw earned the Blue Ribbon Blankets Winning Trainer Award and coolerette.
Seaside and Brooke Morin. PC: Captured Moments
Three spectacular horses tied for the Overall SmartPak High Score Award, each emerging with an impressive score of 90. Brooke Morin and Strasburg Morin, Inc.’s Seaside scored theirs in the 3’6″ 15 & Under Large Junior Hunter division.
Morin split her overall honors with John French, who piloted Greg Schmandt’s Captain and Mountain View Farm West’s Farao to the three-way tie. Both of French’s rides earned their high scores in the 3’3″ Green Hunter division.
Professionals Scored Awards in the Green, Performance, and Conformation Hunter Divisions
The SmartPak Grand Green Hunter Champion Award went to two successful pairs who each earned 40 points in their respective Green Hunter divisions. Jenny Karazissis and Michelle Cobb’s Really won their title for their success in the 3’9″ Green Hunters, and John French and Alexander Miller’s Wow The Crowd won theirs in the 3′ Green Hunters.
For his excellence in the 3’3″ Green Hunter division, French also took home the SmartPak High Score Green Hunter Award for 90s with Captain and Farao, his two overall award-winning mounts.
It was also French who earned the SmartPak Grand Performance Hunter Champion Award with 42 points riding Hiller Farms LLC’s Center Court. This unstoppable duo were champions in the High Performance Hunter division and won the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on Friday in addition to taking home the SmartPak Award.
The SmartPak High Score Performance Hunter Award went to two horses: Karazissis rode Hope Town Farms’ Undeniable to a score of 88 in the 3’6″ Performance Hunters and French piloted Lynn Pederson’s Small Affair to a matching 88 in a different round of the same division.
Center Court and John French. PC: Captured Moments
Lexi Wedemeyer and Balmoral Farm’s Virtue earned numerous titles for their top honors in the Green/High Performance Conformation Hunter division. The duo won the SmartPak Grand Conformation Hunter Champion Award and the SmartPak High Score Conformation Hunter Award with an 88.
Virtue and Lexi Wedemeyer. PC: Captured Moments
Star Amateur Owners and Adult Amateurs Collected Special Awards
Montana Coady and Ranger sported tri-colored ribbons as they took champion in their division with 36 points and received the SmartPak Grand 3’6″ Amateur Owner Hunter Champion Award. For an outstanding score of 87, Kaitlyn Van Konynenburg and Parlay won the SmartPak High Score 3’6″ Amateur Owner Hunter Award.
Of the two age sections in the 3’3″ Amateur Owner Hunters, Chelsea Samuels and Adele earned the most points, landing them the SmartPak Grand 3’3″ Amateur Owner Hunter Champion Award. Virginia Fout rode Carma to a score of 88 in the 3’3″ 36+ Amateur Owner Handy Hunter, and along with the blue ribbon for the round, they earned the SmartPak High Score 3’3″ Amateur Owner Hunter Award.
In the Adult Hunters, it was Margarite Errico and Million Dollar Baby who won the SmartPak Grand Adult Hunter Champion Awards with 32 points. The SmartPak High Score Adult Hunter Award went to Milissa Summers and Top Shelf, who scored an 88 in the second over fences class of the A/A 36-50 section.
Junior and Children’s Hunters Showcased Their Talents
Earning a total of 42 points, Augusta Iwasaki and Vlock Show Stables’ Boris were crowned SmartPak Grand 3’6″ Junior Hunter Champions. Their success in the Small Junior Hunter division earned them the most points out of all three Junior Hunter sections.
Brooke Morin and Seaside’s dazzling score of 90 in the 15 & Under Large Junior Hunters that earned them overall recognition also won them the SmartPak High Score 3’6″ Junior Hunter Award. The dynamic duo championed their division with 34 points and also won the classic.
Boris and Augusta Iwasaki. PC: Captured Moments
Overall SmartPak winner Olivia Welsh dominated the 3’3″ 16-17 Junior Hunter division. Their total of 50 points earned the unbeatable pair the division championship and the SmartPak Grand 3’3″ Junior Hunter Champion Award. They also tied with Stella Wasserman and Skyhawk for the SmartPak High Score 3’3″ Junior Hunter Award. Both Welsh and Wasserman earned scores of 87 over fences.
Siri and Bailey Rose. PC: Captured Moments
Bailey Rose rode Jenni McAllister’s Siri to two firsts, two seconds, and a sixth in the Children’s Hunter 13 & Under division for a total of 32.5 points, which scored them the SmartPak Grand Children’s Hunter Champion Award. It was Savannah Pike and Grady Lyman’s Cansas who earned the SmartPak High Score Children’s Hunter Award with a score of 87 in their first over fences class. Pike and Cansas also finished as Reserve Champions of their section with 21.5 points.
Pony Riders Rode for Recognition and Prizes
The SmartPak Grand Pony Hunter Champion Award went to Katalina Rickard and Elite Hollywood Smoke for their 42 points in the Medium Pony Hunter Division. Shiloh Roseboom rode Enchantment Farm’s Heavenly Patch of Blue to a score of 86 and won the SmartPak High Score Pony Hunter Award. This winning pair also emerged champions of the Small Pony Hunter division.
Tessa Buchanan and Rose Gold earned the SmartPak Grand Children’s Pony Hunter Champion Award with a final tally of 32 points, which included two wins over fences in the Small/Medium Children’s Pony Hunter division. After scoring an 85, Issy Tone and Ladies Love Lamar took home the SmartPak High Score Children’s Pony Hunter Award, along with the reserve championship in their division with 30.5 points.
WCHR week at Showpark Ranch & Coast wrapped with smiles from riders who earned top recognition. Blenheim EquiSports would like to congratulate all the winners.
Join us for the next WCHR week at the Blenheim June Classic I, beginning on June 7, 2017. The USHJA will hold the $25,000 World Championship Hunter Rider West Coast Hunter Spectacular on Sunday, June 11, 2017, at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano, California. Spectators are invited to the WCHR West Coast Hunter Spectacular “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” Sunday Brunch Gala to support the WCHR Program, which in part benefits the USHJA Foundation Horseman’s Assistance Fund. Ringside tables are now available to purchase online at ushja.org/WCHRWestCoast.
[adrotatebanner=”18″]