For Immediate Release
Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Wellington, FL – November 25, 2013 – The South Florida Hunter Jumper Association (SFHJA) hosted their annual charity horse show on November 20-24, 2013, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The show was held as a benefit for the A-T Children’s Project, Equestrian Aid Foundation, Pure Thoughts Horse Rescue, Danny & Ron’s Dog Rescue, and Equine-Assisted Therapies Of South Florida, Inc. Many exciting classes were held for the great cause with top horses and riders competing.
Equestrian Sport Productions will host its Holiday & Horses CSI-W 2* competition this week from November 27-December 1, 2013. Highlights include the $33,000 Nutrena Holiday & Horses Opener on Wednesday, November 27; the $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m FEI class on Friday, November 29; the $50,000 Holiday & Horses CSI 2*-W Grand Prix on Saturday, November 30 (5:30 p.m.); and the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby (12 p.m.) and $10,000 Open Stake 1.40m on Sunday, December 1.
Ken Berkley and Ax-Cent Triumph in $25,000 Spy Coast and Sweet Oak Farms Grand Prix
The $25,000 Spy Coast and Sweet Oak Farms Grand Prix was featured under the lights on Saturday night, November 23, in the International Arena at PBIEC with a win for Ken Berkley and Ax-Cent, owned by Rivers Edge.
Pablo Gamboa set the course for Saturday night with 50 competitors. Only three entries cleared the first round without fault, and Ken Berkley and Ax-Cent had the only double clear round in the jump-off with a time of 40.259 seconds to earn victory. Shane Sweetnam and Sweet Oak Farm’s Solerina were second with four faults in 38.691 seconds. Nicholas Dello Joio guided Ilan Ferder’s Calypso to third place honors with four faults in 39.939 seconds.
Ken Berkley and Ax-Cent
Ken Berkley and Ax-Cent, a ten-year-old KWPN gelding by Burggraaf, finished fourth in the same class last year. The pair has done very well together with wins and top finishes around the country.
“He is a great horse,” Berkley stated. “He is a fast horse. He tries to win. For the most part he goes in there and always tries to jump clean. He jumps a lot of clear rounds.”
“I think he likes the night classes,” Berkley added. “He was really up tonight. He does rise to the occasion at night. He doesn’t look at a thing and has never spooked at anything. I love when there is a water jump because he just attacks at the water. All of those qualities are just so great in a jumper when you are trying to go fast.”
Saturday night’s class had fantastic attendance with 50 entries and a great crowd watching. Berkley enjoyed the class and thought course designer Pablo Gamboa did a great job.
“These numbers are fabulous,” Berkley said. “People want to come here. The footing is amazing. One reason I think the numbers are so big is because it gets the kids in this ring. During (the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival) circuit they don’t get in this ring as much, and it is a really nice ring to ride in.”
“I thought Pablo did an amazing job,” he continued. “A lot of his courses this week had a lot of turns and everything on a roll back. I loved the courses all week. Today you had to have scope.”
Berkley and Ax-Cent will take a vacation next week and then show throughout December the Holiday Show Series as they gear up for the start of another fantastic FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in January.
Ken Berkley and Ax-Cent Grand Prix Presentation
Final Results: $25,000 Spy Coast and Sweet Oak Farms Grand Prix
1. AX-CENT KENNETH BERKLEY RIVERS EDGE: 0/0/40.259
2. SOLERINA SHANE SWEETNAM SWEET OARK FARM: 0/4/38.691
3. CALYPSO NICHOLAS DELLO JOIO ILAN FERDER: 0/4/39.939
4. Z CANTA CATHERINE PASMORE PASMORE STABLES LLC: 1/85.285
5. HOT WHEELS DARRAGH KERINS SARAH KERINS: 4/77.965
6. VANDAVID CATHERINE PASMORE PASMORE STABLES LLC: 4/79.499
7. BULL RUN’S HOLY SMOKES KRISTEN VANDERVEEN BULL RUN JUMPERS INC: 4/79.791
8. BUGATTI SHARN WORDLEY ASHLAND STABLES: 4/80.234
9. CONTINO 14 JONATHON MILLAR MILLAR BROOKE FARM: 4/80.858
10. MULLAGHDRIN RADO ALEX GRANATO PAIGE TREDENNICK: 4/81.423
11. HH WILCO QUENTIN JUDGE DOUBLE H FARM: 4/83.689
12. G&C CARLA MARK BLUMAN ILAN BLUMAN: 5/85.713
Jumper Highlights
Kicking off the open jumper competition on Friday, Kristen Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Eternal won the $10,000 Open Welcome Stake, sponsored by Paul Tracy Farrier Services, out of 54 competitors with 20 in the jump-off and 12 double clear rounds. Ramiro Quintana finished second and third in the class with Ziedento and Whitney, owned by St. Bride’s Farm.
The $10,000 Child/Adult Jumper Classic, sponsored by John & Monika Preston, saw a one-two finish for Lilli Hymowitz with Rose Hill Farm’s Belle Bleu S and Little Lady d’Elle. Evi Smith and No Limits placed third.
The $7,500 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, sponsored by Nikki Carr & SCNC Investments, was won by Wilton Porter and Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Punch. Porter’s younger brother Lucas finished second riding Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Mill’s Georgia. Cloe Hymowitz and Rose Hill Farm’s VDL Wardorette placed third.
In the $5,000 Low Junior Jumper Classic sponsored by DJ Johnson Horse Transportation, Cloe Hymowitz took top honors with Rose Hill Farm’s Bon Vivant. Chelsea Babcock and Empire State Equine Stales LLC’s Bull Run’s Guardian placed second. Hymowitz also finished third with Rose Hill Farm’s Ruby.
The $5,000 Low Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, also sponsored by DJ Johnson Horse Transportation, saw a win for Meg O’Mara and Walstib Stables LLC’s Aborillo. Clotilde Lewis and Armando placed second, and Allyson Blais and Jumlord Z were third.
The $1,500 Low Children’s Jumper Classic, sponsored by the James B & Mary Katherine Pirtle Charitable Foundation, was won by Hayley Iannotti and Carriage Hill Farm’s Black Label with Olivia Woodson and Montoga Inc.’s Darnit in second. The $1,500 Low Adult Jumper Classic, sponsored by Annette Friend, saw a win for Julia Jenkins and Charina with Elizabeth Craven and Silverado in second.
Hunter and Equitation Highlights
A $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby in recognition of the Equestrian Aid Foundation was held during the week with a win for Olivia, owned by McLain Ward and ridden by Jimmy Torano, with a 373 point total. The pair finished third in round one and moved up to first in the handy round to take top honors.
Entourage and Ashley Hotz finished second overall on a score of 369 with consistent second place performances in both rounds. Kristy Herrera and Autumn Janesky’s Temptation placed third overall with a 357 point total, moving up from sixth in round one to place third in the second round.
The class was judged by Sue Ashe and Rob Bielefeld on panel 1 and Scott Williamson and Scott Hoffstetter on Panel 2.
Jimmy Torano and Olivia
Jimmy Torano and Olivia International Hunter Derby Presentation
Final Results: $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
1. Olivia/Jimmy Torano – 373
2. Entourage/Ashley Hotz – 369
3. Temptation/Kristy Herrera – 357
4. On Q/Kelley Farmer – 336
5. Extraordinary/Jennifer Bliss – 333
6. Skorekeeper/ Kelly Farmer – 323
7. Pim/Brittany Sutton – 332
8. Quotable/Kelley Farmer – 298
9. Chrystalle/Gabriella Hurtado – 255
10. Taken/Kelley Farmer – 214
The $5,000 Summerfield Farm USHJA National Hunter Derby, sponsored by Summerfield Equine LLC and Monique and Anders Keitz, was won by Kristy Herrera and Meredith Lipke’s Fifty Shades after two rounds of exciting competition. Helen Voss and John Muldoon’s Love Struck finished second and Tiffany Morrissey and East Wind Farms LLC’s Clim Bim placed third.
Fifty Shades and Kristy Herrera National Hunter Derby Presentation
In the hunter divisions, the April Muncie-sponsored Performance Working Hunter 3’6” champion was Olivia, owned by McLain Ward and ridden by Jimmy Torano. Entourage and Ashley Hotz finished in reserve. The Performance Working Hunter 3’3” champion was Susan Stanley’s Everest, ridden by Shawn Casady with Jessamy Rouson’s Casino and Winn Alden in reserve.
The Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 champion was Samba, owned and ridden by Jessica Ungerer, with Castlewood Farm’s Don Perignon and Berri Platt in reserve. The Adult Amateur Hunter 36 and Over championship, sponsored by the Rose Family, was awarded to Sweet Oak Farm’s Cassidy, ridden by Donald Graves, with Kingsbury Lane and Page Tredennick in reserve.
The Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” and 3’6” divisions were combined and sponsored by Fallen Oak Farm with a championship win for All the Best ridden by Christina Fisher with Isalou Inc.’s Winner and Daryl Portela in reserve.
Donald Stewart’s On Top and Spencer Smith topped the Large Junior Hunter division, sponsored by The Balancing Tonic and Hadfield’s Saddlery, with Redfield Farm’s Adonis and Helen Voss in reserve. The Small Junior Hunter division, sponsored by Equine Tack and Nutritionals and Left Bank Equine, was swept by rider Sydney Shulman. Shulman earned the championship with Fairfield Farm’s O’Ryan and reserve honors with Isabelle Mann’s Einstein.
In the $5,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic, sponsored by The Wight Family, the winners were Shulman and O’Ryan. Ashton Alexander and Amanda Foard’s Julian placed second with Spencer Smith and On Top in third.
In the pony divisions, the Charles Moorcroft Inc. Large Pony Hunter champion was Dreamland, owned by Linda Evans and ridden by Katie Jones. Back Country Farm’s Love and Logic was reserve with Alexandra Pielet. The Marshall & Sterling Insurance Medium Pony Hunter champion was Happily Ever After with Phoebe Alwine in the irons. Zoe Ganek’s Chaconne and Alexandra Pielet finished in reserve. The Olivia Sweetnam sponsored Small Pony Hunter championship had a tie for top honors between John Skinner’s Silver Wishes and Hana Bieling and Back Country Farm’s Secret Love ridden by Alexandra Pielet. Reserve honors went to Peacock Ridge LLC’s First Edition and Zayna Rizvi.
The $5,000 Sweet Oak Farm Pony Hunter Classic, sponsored by Sweet Oak Farm & Ali & Shane Sweetnam, saw a victory for Katie Jones and Dreamland. Bieling and Silver Wishes finished second, and Peielet and Chaconne were third.
In the equitation classes, Katie Jones won the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal, sponsored by Castlewood Farm and presented by Randolph College. Brett Burlington finished second in that class and went on to win the ASPCA Maclay class, also sponsored by Castlewood Farm, with Sophie Simpson finishing in second.
The WIHS Equitation Classic, sponsored by The Balancing Tonic, was won overall by Ashton Alexander with Spencer Smith in second. Smith also finished second in the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search class, sponsored by Michael DelFiandra, with the win going to Jordyn Katz.
The SFHJA Adult Amateur Hunt Seat Medal Final, sponsored by Fox Stone Farm, was held on Sunday with a win for Missy Yoder. Lindsey Tomeu placed second. In the SFHJA Junior Hunt Seat Medal Final, sponsored by Carriage Hill, Olivia Woodson was the winner with Brett Burlington in second. The SFHJA Pony Hunter Seat Medal Final, sponsored by Hunters View Inc., was won by Hana Bieling with Margot Hirsch placing second.
For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.