A field of 74 competitors took to the International Arena on Sunday in the $5,000 Peggy Cone WCHR Adult Hunter Classic to wrap up the much-anticipated World Championship Rider Hunter week at the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival. Due to its size, the class featured a California split and pinned two different sections of winners. Tracy Scheriff-Muser, aboard Shoreline, and Samantha Karp, aboard Zentina B, prevailed.
Tracy Scheriff-Muser aboard Shoreline. Photo by Sportfot Photography
In today’s classic, the winners were determined based on the combined scores of two separate rounds. The top 24 exhibitors were selected to return for a second tour around the challenging arena, and the class came to a close mid-afternoon.
Scheriff-Muser and her veteran mount, Shoreline, topped the field in section A with two top scores of 88 and a total of 176. Scheriff-Muser is no stranger to this particular classic and expressed her enthusiasm to finally walk out of the International Arena with the blue.
“I have never won that class before,” said Scheriff-Muser. “I have done it a bunch of times before, and this time I was excited just to go back, but then we ended up doing so well!”
Tracy Scheriff-Muser and Shoreline with Carol Cone and Marla Holt of the USHJA. Photo by Sportfot Photography
Zentina B, guided by Samantha Karp, received the highest score in the division of a 90 in the first round and came back to get an 84 in the second with a total of 174 to secure the section B win.
“She is easily my horse of a lifetime,” said Karp of her mount of four years, also known as Tina. “I am in college now, so it has become more difficult to get over here and ride. For me to be able to come back and have her be exactly the way I left her is amazing. This [win] is really exciting for me because it has been such a long journey with her, and I love that I am able to still have riding as part of my life and still be able to have a good time doing it while moving on and growing in other areas too.”
Karp, a student of the University of Miami, added that she is happy doing this division with the 14-year-old mare for as long as she wants to do it.
Samantha Karp and Zentina B. Photo by Sportfot Photography
“You go in the ring knowing she is going to try her 100% every single time,” said Karp. “I don’t know where I would be right now if it wasn’t for her!”
Allison Cederberg and Zero Tolerance claimed second place with combined scores of 84.50 and 87 for a total of 171.50. Terri Irrer and Café Noir were just two points short and took third place with an 84 in the first round and an 85 in the second for a combined 169.50. In section B, Jeanine Cash and Tristram 7 scored 83 and 87 for a total of 170 for second place, while Caroline Gibson and Gia were third with scores of 82.5 and 85 for a 167.50 total.
Final Results: $5,000 Peggy Cone WCHR Adult Hunter Classic Section A
1 SHORELINE, TRACY SCHERIFF-MUSER
2 ZERO TOLERANCE, ALLISON CEDERBERG
3 CAFE’ NOIR, TERRI IRRER
4 STATEMENT, LINDSEY TOMEU
5 DREAMBOY, JULIE HOGAN
6 EMERSON, SHAWNA STOUT
7 CZECHMATE, LINDSAY MUTSCHLER
8 RUMZU, LAURA LEE MONTROSS
9 BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY, TRICIA BARR
10 COOLIDGE, NANCY HOOKER
11 KENNEDY, BLANCHE STRUNK
12 GRIFFIN, LESLIE KOPP
Final Results: $5,000 Peggy Cone WCHR Adult Hunter Classic Section B
1 ZENTINA B, SAMANTHA KARP
2 TRISTRAM 7, JEANINE CASH
3 GIA, CAROLINE GIBSON
4 WAGNER PARK, TRACEY GORIN-BYRNE
5 LALIQUE, REBECCA PATTERSON
6 COCOMO, DANA BRAWLEY.
7 VALHALLA, KATE ELLIS
8 SUGAR RAY, BRIGITTE LEROUX
9 SHOWGIRL, ALEXIS JOEL
10 REGARD, LEAH PATIPA
11 DENMARK, MICHAEL BAUM
12 TRENDING, ABBIE TAYLOR