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Stewart Sweeps Hunter Championships at 122nd National Horse Show and Family Festival, Cesery Marches to Win in Kilkenny Amateur-Owners
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jennifer Wood and Jenny Ross for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
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Photo Credit: Up to Date and Scott Stewart, champions in the W.B. Redfern Regular Working Hunters at the 122nd National Horse Show. Photo by Randi Muster.
Stewart Sweeps Hunter Championships at 122nd National Horse Show and Family Festival, Cesery Marches to Win in Kilkenny Amateur-Owners
Wellington, FL- December 1, 2005- Championships were decided in the professional hunter divisions today, and one name completely dominated the results at the 122nd National Horse Show and Family Festival. The show runs through Sunday, December 4 at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club.
Scott Stewart, of Flemington, New Jersey had a spectacular day as he entered the ring for the ribbon presentations at the front of the line in nearly every class. The hunters competed today in the elegant, big, grass field of the Internationale Arena. This is a special opportunity for the hunters, and Stewart made the most of it.
“I was a little disappointed to not compete out on the field yesterday because of the weather, but the footing was super in the Rost Arena,” Stewart admitted. Since the horses do not usually have such a wide open field to compete in, there are certain preparations that need to be made before competition. “You have to make sure they’re really quiet and relaxed before they go out on the field,” Stewart explained. “You have to get the edge off of them. I start three days out, working them more a little bit each day. With the one class out there today, the horses just came up to the ring, went in, and were fantastic.”
The horses were also able to compete over a course that used the entire field, rather than confining most of the jumps to one side to save the footing. “It really was one of the first times that we got to use the whole field,” Stewart remarked. “It was such a good course.”
Horses competed in one under saddle class and one over fences class today and had two over fences classes yesterday in the “Rost Arena.” The champions will be honored in special ceremonies tomorrow night at 7 p.m. before the start of the Lexus NHS Jumper Championship, presented by Chesapeake Petroleum.
In the William Barlow Redfern Regular Working Hunters, Stewart rode a relatively new horse, Up to Date. The charming bay mare, nicknamed “Jenny” and owned by Richard Prant, made the transition from the jumper ring this spring and has adapted well to the slower, more graceful hunter classes. Up to Date was first and second over fences yesterday and came back today for the win in both classes. Reserve champion in the Regular Working Hunters were Sequel and Terry Brown of Showcase Ltd.
“I thought she jumped phenomenally,” said Stewart. Up to Date has recently been competing in the Children’s Hunters with Heather Hooker. The move up to the Regular Working Hunters, where the jumps are one foot higher, did not daunt Jenny. “She tries so hard, no matter how high the jumps are,” Stewart revealed.
Stewart also had luck in the Regular Conformation division, where he and Krista Weisman’s Chopard won four out of five classes and were second in the remaining class to pick up the championship.
Reserve champion in the Regular Conformation Hunters was Westcliffe, ridden by Ken Smith of Wellington, Florida, and owned by Christy Russo of Miami, Florida. Westcliffe was second and fourth over fences yesterday and second in the flat. He returned for the last class and needed the win for the reserve championship. The veteran Westcliffe had no problem jumping around the field for the blue ribbon.
“He’s been a great horse for us,” said Smith. “He’s big, scopey, and very reliable. He tries every class, and he’s a real winner.” Smith reiterated that it is quite an honor to win at the National Horse Show. “It’s a very prestigious show and has a lot of history, so it makes a win that much more special,” he expressed. “When you are presented with a trophy, you look at all the famous horses and riders names on the trophies. It’s neat to be a part of that.”
Westcliffe will also compete in the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division with Jack Hardin Towell Jr., since his owner is sidelined with a sprained ankle. Although Towell has never ridden the horse before, trainer Ken Smith was not worried about his performance. “He doesn’t mind who is on him. He’s straightforward and easy to get a feel of,” he described. The win today was especially sweet since it is the final show of the year for Smith. “This is kind of our last hurrah for the year, so it makes this show special,” he said.
In the Green Conformation division, champion went to Granted, owned and ridden by Scott Stewart. “He’s my greenest horse,” Stewart admitted, “but that’s the best he has ever gone.” Granted won the model yesterday and was second and seventh over fences. He returned today for the blue ribbon in both classes. Reserve champion in the division was Eldridge T, ridden by Kelley Farmer and owned by Larry Glefke of Keswick, Virginia.
The Second Year Green Working Hunter division was a sweep for Scott Stewart. He piloted True, owned by Fashion Farm, to the championship. True was second over fences yesterday and returned today to win both classes. Reserve champion went to another Fashion Farm-owned entry, Dynamic.
Once again, it was another run of the championship ribbons for Stewart. In the First Year Green Hunters, he piloted Alexa Weisman’s Music Street to the tricolor and Fellini, owned by Molly Ohrstrom, to the reserve championship. Music Street was a consistent performer, as he placed third and fourth yesterday, won the under saddle class today, and was third in the final over fences class.
Cesery Triumphs in Kilkenny Insurance Amateur-Owner Hunters
After yesterday’s cloud cover, exhibitors welcomed today’s morning sun into the 122nd National Horse Show and Family Festival’s Rost Arena. The day began with the Kilkenny Insurance Amateur-Owner Working Hunter divisions, sponsored by Kilkenny co-owners Michael and Laura Whitlow.
Laura Whitlow, who manages the paperwork operations, marketing and advertising, and sponsorships of Kilkenny Insurance, presented awards in the arena and stood ringside to take photographs of customers for company advertisements.
“We started sponsoring the Amateur-Owner division during the Winter Equestrian Festival Circuit eleven years ago,” explained Whitlow. “When the National came down to the Wellington show grounds, we decided to follow up and continue sponsoring the same division. We have a lot of customers and clients in all of the divisions at the horse shows, but we chose to specifically contribute to the Amateur-Owner division at the National as a follow up to the circuit.”
“Part of the reason we started to sponsor the Amateur-Owners and some of the other hunter divisions is because we wanted to give the amateur-owners a little more recognition,” added Whitlow. “The professionals get a lot of coverage. I feel like the amateur-owners have come up from the ranks. I wanted to give them some of the same recognition that the jumpers were getting.”
An established equestrian herself, Whitlow understands the dedication and talent involved in the show arena. “I have been riding and showing since I was a teenager,” she reported. “I grew up outside of Cleveland, Ohio and went on the road and showed. I also showed while in school at Lake Erie College.” Her husband, Michael Whitlow, also rides and shows jumpers. “Right now he’s not showing because the insurance business takes up a lot of our time,” she asserted. “During circuit we’re really busy for the four or five months that we’re down here doing sponsorship, and we spend a lot of time at the show grounds every day so that we can stay in touch with customers and their horses. It’s a little hectic, so we do ride every day when we can fit it in.”
In the Kilkenny Amateur-Owner Working Hunter 36 and Older division, Lee Cesery of Jacksonville, Florida and her mount What D’Ya Know earned the top spot in the first class and received third place in the second round. With scores of 88 and 87, Cesery was presented the “Automation-Model Cadet” Memorial Perpetual Trophy. This high point honor was donated by Mrs. Stephen C. Clark, Jr. and the late Mr. Clark, Jr. and is awarded to the horse and rider with the best overall performance out of the younger and older Amateur-Owner Working Hunters.
“I was really relaxed today,” said Cesery of her performance. “There were a lot of nice trips, and I just figured I was going to go out there and try to do my best. He just felt awesome today. He felt really relaxed and happy.” Cesery trains with Bill Schaub of Over the Hill Farm, located in Sanford, Fla.
“The ring rode better than yesterday,” commented Schaub. “Yesterday [the ring] was a little jammed in, and today it was nice and open. They could show at the gallop, which I like for them to do. The first time around, I think a hunter should gallop and jump, and I thought the course was nice that way.”
Out of a field of sixteen entries, Krista Weisman of Sherborne, Mass., triumphed in both Kilkenny Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunter classes with her mount Chopard, taking home two blue ribbons and a crystal trophy. Scott Stewart of Flemington, NJ trains Weisman and piloted Chopard to victory in the William Barlow Redfern Regular Working Hunters division. The Amateur-Owner Hunters will conclude tomorrow with a third round and an under saddle class.
The Small Junior Working Hunter 16-17 division started the Junior Working Hunter classes in the Rost Arena. Stephanie Danhakl and Milan, owned by Hannah Hale, took top honors in the first round with a score of 86. Mona Lisa and Rachel Kummer finished in second place with an average of 84.840. In the second Small Junior 16-17 class, High Cotton and Jack Hardin Towell, Jr. earned the blue with an 88.84 for owner Christy Russo. Milan and Danhakl ranked second.
In the Small Junior 15 and Under classes, Nicoletta Heidegger dominated both rounds with her mount Breckenridge, owned by Monarch International. In addition to Breckenridge’s two first place finishes, Heidegger rode Missy Clark’s Sienna to two consecutive second place ribbons.
Christy Russo’s two Large Junior 16-17 Hunters had consistent one-two finishes in both classes today with Hardin Towell, Jr. in the irons. Miracle earned two blue ribbons with scores of 89 and 88, while Westcliffe ranked second in both rounds.
The Large Junior 15 and Under division concluded with Small Town, owned by Monarch International, and Nicoletta Heidegger winning the blue in the first round. Quidam and Tatiana Dzaviak, owned by Sarah Willeman, followed in second place. In the second class, Small Town and Heidegger ranked first ahead of red ribbon winner Saloon with Jennifer Waxman in the irons.
The National Horse Show and Family Festival continues through Sunday, December 4, with intense competition, stellar shopping, and activities for the entire family. The Junior Working Hunter divisions conclude tomorrow in the Internationale Arena and will determine the division championship and reserve championship winners.
Photo Credit: Up to Date and Scott Stewart, champions in the W.B. Redfern Regular Working Hunters at the 122nd National Horse Show. Photo by Randi Muster.
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