Scott Stewart and Catch Me. PC: Sportfot
Wellington, FL – February 18, 2017 – For the second year in a row, Scott Stewart and Catch Me won the WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular, the highlight class of week six on Saturday, February 18, at the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.
Hunters conclude their World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) week in the International Arena at PBIEC
on Sunday, while jumper competition features the $35,000 Hollow Creek Farm U25 Grand Prix, presented by EnTrust Capital, and the $50,000 National Grand Prix on the derby field at Equestrian Village at PBIEC. Events can be viewed live
HERE. The 12-week WEF circuit continues through
April 2, 2017, awarding over $9 million in prize money.
Over the 21-year history of the class, Stewart has been a dedicated participant, but it wasn’t until 2016 that he found himself in the winner’s circle. This year, Stewart piloted not only the stunning ten-year-old grey Holsteiner gelding to a repeat victory, but also a green six-year-old KWPN gelding, Private Life, to the second place position.
The WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular takes place during World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) week at WEF as the feature “Saturday Night Lights” event. The United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) founded WCHR in 1992 to recognize hunter riders and the Hunter Spectacular debuted shortly after. Each year, hunter riders look forward to the chance to compete under the lights in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Stewart took the top two spots, while Elizabeth Boyd and Maraschino finished third, and rounding out the top four was Maggie Jayne and Standing Ovation.
Thirty of the country’s top professionals, juniors, and amateurs tackled the two-round course, which is offered at three heights (3’6″, 3’9″, and 4′) and designed by Patrick Rodes. The top 12 riders returned for the second round. Each of the competitors qualified for the class by winning either champion or reserve in one of the specified hunter divisions during WCHR week at WEF or through another WCHR designation.
|
|
Left to right: Ringmaster Steve Rector, Scott Stewart and Catch Me,
USHJA President Mary Babick, Susan Isaacs of Tailored Sportsman, Chair of the WCHR Committee Caroline Weeden, USHJA Executive Director Kevin Price, and Mimi, Becky, and David Gochman. |
Scores came from three panels of judges, including Rick Fancher and Tammy Provost on panel one, Jim Clapperton and Shane George on panel two, and Chris Wynne and Mary Lisa Leffler on panel three. Overall placings were decided by combining scores from the first and second rounds.
Stewart, of Wellington, FL, and Catch Me topped the first round with a score of 94.00, and while their score of 88.66 wasn’t the highest in the second round, their two round total of 182.60 was enough for the win. Catch Me is owned by Gochman Sport Horses, LLC, and is no stranger to the winner’s circle. The gelding by Casiro was recently named 2016 USEF’s National Horse of the Year and has been champion numerous times during the 2017 winter circuit.
“He’s been really good this whole circuit,” Stewart detailed. “I think he’s an even better horse than last year. He was a blast to ride, and after knowing that last year he was so good, I could relax a bit more this year and just have fun. The course rode nice, and it was inviting for the horses.”
As Becky Gochman, who also rides Catch Me in the Amateur-Owner Hunters, put it, “Everything is icing on the cake at this point. I’m thrilled with past performances, and I look forward to future performances. Whatever happens, I feel relaxed and filled with gratitude. This sport means a lot to myself and my family.”
|
|
| Scott Stewart and Private Life. PC: Sportfot |
Stewart rode Private Life to a second place finish in the gelding’s first Hunter Spectacular. Dr. Betsee Parker owns the 2011 KWPN gelding by Verdi. The gelding was sitting in third place with a score of 88.66 going into the second round, but after topping the second round, earning a 92.33, he finished in second place, tallying 180.99 total points.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” Stewart explained. “He’s always brave and rides like a made-up horse, but he’s only just turning six years old. This was his fourth horse show at 3’6″. I was really thrilled with him. He couldn’t have been any better.”
Earlier in the week, Stewart and Private Life swept the High Performance Working Hunter Division, impressively winning all four classes for the championship title and a coveted spot in the feature Saturday night class. The Hunter Spectacular is limited two entries per rider and although Stewart qualified several more experienced mounts, he opted to compete Private Life as one of his two mounts.
“He went really well this week,” Stewart stated. “Even though he’s the greenest, he’s probably my easiest horse to ride. He just acts really grown up and rides like a junior hunter. Not only does he jump well, but he’s really comfortable to ride.”
|
|
| Elizabeth Boyd and Maraschino. PC: Sportfot |
Elizabeth Boyd knows just what it takes to win the feature event, having won the class on several occasions including the inaugural year. After an unexpected dismount from her first ride, Boyd of Camden, SC, returned to redeem herself. Boyd guided Lily Bennett’s Maraschino to a total score of 176.83 for third place. Maraschino is a ten-year-old Warmblood mare that Boyd has ridden on and off since 2014.
“She’s a great mare,” Boyd praised. “She’s definitely not the typical chestnut mare. She’s super happy and wonderful to be around. The Langmeiers started her; they sort of brought her along as a First Year horse. Then we bought her for a client named Lily Bennett. Now Lily is doing jumpers primarily, and she’s for sale. I’m fortunate enough to get to ride her, and she’s such a trier. I’m really proud of her.”
Describing her plan going into the second round, Boyd said, “[Scott and Maggie] did it so well because [they] went inside to the one big oxer and then around to the third jump. [They] just went forward and flowing. I just tried to copy what they did; they rode forward.”
Maggie Jayne of Elgin, IL, rode a new mount, Standing Ovation, to an overall score of 176.49 and fourth place. Standing Ovation is a 2007 stallion by Last Man Standing. The pair earned scores of 87.83 and 88.66 in the first and second rounds, respectively. The stallion was purchased by Pony Lane Farm in December and has only competed in the hunters a handful of times. Jayne qualified her mount for the class by earning the reserve ribbon in the High Performance Conformation Hunter division.
|
|
| Maggie Jayne and Standing Ovation. PC: Sportfot |
“I didn’t know what to expect,” Jayne explained. “After the first round, I knew the second round would be even better, because he normally gets better as he goes. He was sensational. Maddy [Thatcher] rides him in the Amateur-Owners, and I normally do him in the green conformation, but this week I did the Regular Conformation. He’s a stallion and he knows he’s a stallion, but he’s an absolute gentleman to ride.”
Jennifer Bliss finished in fifth place aboard Poker Face, an entry of Harris Hill Farm, LLC, with scores of 87.00 and 88.33 for a 175.33 total. Previous winner of the Hunter Spectacular, Victoria Colvin earned scores of 84.33 and 88.00 for a total of 172.33 aboard Koala for a sixth place finish.
Junior and Amateur Hunter Champions Crowned in International Arena
The Junior Hunters took their turn in the International Arena on Saturday. Augusta Iwasaki of Calabasas, CA, topped both 15 & Under divisions, while Sophie Gochman of Palm Beach, FL, captured the two reserve titles. Iwasaki piloted Lyn Pederson’s Small Affair to the championship award in the Engel & Völkers Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under division. The pair won the handy and an over fences round, as well as placing fourth under saddle and third in the stake.
|
|
| Augusta Iwasaki and Small Affair. PC: Sportfot |
“He was perfect this week,” Iwasaki praised the 2004 Selle Francais gelding by Elf d’Or. “He’s funny because he thinks he can get away with whatever he wants. He’s a great horse though.”
The gelding has a strong track record in the division this year, winning the championship weeks one, two, and three of WEF. Sophie Gochman guided Garfield, an entry of Rose Hill Farm, to a win in the stake round and a second place finish over fences to earn the reserve ribbon. The striking chestnut gelding by Coriano has a long list of accolades collected over the years with numerous junior riders.
In the Small Junior Hunters 15 & Under, Iwasaki and Illusion, owned by Iwasaki & Reilly, were named champions after wins in the stake and handy rounds. Illusion is an 18-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Lord Sinclair. Gochman and Mythical placed second in both the handy and an over fences round, and third under saddle to secure the reserve title. Mythical is a 13-year-old Westphalian gelding by Cornet Obolensky that has been a part of the Gochman family since 2013.
|
|
| Augusta Iwasaki and Illusion. PC: Sportfot |
Iwasaki enjoyed showing her veteran mount in the International Arena. “Riding in the International is a lot of fun,” she said. “You get to gallop more because it’s bigger, which is exciting. [Illusion] felt really good and more excited than normal in the ring today.”
Taylor St. Jacques of Glen Allen, VA, and Emma Kurtz of Wellington, FL, each won a champion and reserve ribbon in the Junior Hunter 16-17 divisions. St. Jacques and Rose Hill Farm’s William Hill found their way to the Staller Small Junior Hunter 16-17 championship. In addition to placing second under saddle, the pair topped two over fences classes with scores of 90 and 91. Kurtz and Wisdom, an entry of Rivers Edge, settled for reserve honors after winning the under saddle and placing second and third over fences.
|
|
| Taylor St. Jacques and William Hill. PC: Sportfot |
“He was absolutely incredible today,” St. Jacques said of the 2010 Bayer gelding by Coronas. “As soon as we walked into that ring and started trotting around, I knew he was ready to win. I could feel it. Being here means a lot to me. Not everyone gets this opportunity, so it’s pretty special.”
Emma Kurtz and Dedication came out on top in the Bruno Delgrange Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division. The pair won the under saddle and stake round and placed third over fences and sixth in the handy. Kurtz has ridden Dr. Betsee Parker’s coming 12-year-old gelding by Casado since last summer. In the over fences portion, St. Jacques and Point Being, owned by Derby Lane, LLC, earned two seconds and a sixth place ribbon to claim the reserve honors.
|
|
| Emma Kurtz and Dedication. PC: Sportfot |
“I thought the ride went really well,” Kurtz detailed. “The course was nice. It was fun and interesting for the horses. Dedication can be grumpy. He’ll wait for a treat with his ears straight back. He’s awesome though, and we love him.”
The Lugano Diamonds Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 division was dominated by Callie Seaman of Greenwich, CT. At just her third show following back surgery, Seaman took the champion and reserve titles aboard her own Chicago and Skorekeeper, respectively. Chicago is a new mount for Seaman.
The nine-year-old Warmblood gelding won two over fences classes and placed second under saddle, while Skorekeeper finished first in the handy, second in the stake, third over fences, and fourth under saddle for the reserve honor.
|
|
| Callie Seaman and Chicago. PC: Sportfot |
“He’s a really special horse,” Seaman said of Chicago. “I didn’t come out expecting to be champion this weekend. I’ve had a few really good rounds with him, but I’m still figuring him out so it was really exciting to be so consistent and solid on him.”
John Ingram of Nashville, TN, narrowly beat out Jane Gaston of The Plains, VA, for the championship award in the Hunt Ltd. Amateur-Owner Hunters Over 35. A difference of half of a point determined who received the championship and reserve awards. Ingram rode his long-time partner Airport 48, owned by John & Stephanie Ingram, LLC, to a win in the stake round and two second place finishes over fences. Gaston rode her own Because to two wins and a fifth place finish over fences, and sixth place under saddle.
|
|
| John Ingram and Airport 48. PC: Sportfot |
“Airport is like a comfortable pair of shoes,” Ingram described of his 2003 Holsteiner gelding. “You know what you’re going to get, and he just likes this week. I’ve been very fortunate to qualify [for the WCHR Peter Wetherill Hunter Spectacular] the last two years so maybe the third time is the charm. Maybe I’ll make it to the second round!”
