The Final Matinee
Saturday, August 26, 2017
There have been a handful of junior exhibitors who have absolutely ruled this week and their reign continued on this, the final matinee session of 2017.
DesMar Stables’ Victoria Walz was one of those riders. The Senior Saddle Seat Equitation World’s Champion of Champions came back this morning to add the World’s Champion of Champions Junior Three-Gaited Show Pleasure 14-17 honors to her collection. She was aboard Jett Rink. Alex Rudder kept pouring it on as she took the Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Park Championship with her newest partner, Futurette, for Kalarama Farm and then in a catch ride for Diamond View stables, guided Kiss Goodnight to a second victory pass of the week, the Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Show Pleasure Championship.
Riding or driving, Rose Marie Wheeler comes to the ring with great skill and instincts. The versatile young horsewoman was in the winner’s circle with Doug Mesker’s CH Stat to deliver the 14-17 Road Pony Championship to Majestic Oaks. It was their second victory pass of the week.
Ryan Visser’s week continued to rock as she piloted Heartland Party Time to the Road Pony Under Saddle Championship. When she wakes up Monday morning she’s going to wonder if this was all a dream and it was indeed a dream come true!
For Mercer Springs, Kate Smith and CH Redesigned earned their second victory pass of the week and third world’s title in two years with the 13 & Under Show Pleasure Championship this morning. Also among the top junior exhibitors, lasts year’s World’s Champion of Champions Senior Saddle Seat Equitation rider Molly Codeanne was just as successful in performance. She was catch riding Ashlee Wheaton’s CH Extremely Fortunut to give Cater Stables yet another blanket of roses in the Junior Exhibitor 14-17 Country Pleasure Championship.
Speaking of Cater Stables, the Adult Show Pleasure Driving Championship belonged to them as well. It was the second consecutive year for Cathy Rogers-Holmes and CH Who to win that prize.
There were two championships for adult country pleasure horses held. For Paul and Betsy Boone, Laura Cedrone won her first blanket of roses with her new partner Amarula Sunrise in the driving division. Carissa Marshall and CH Nuttin To Lose added to Royal Winds Farm’s great week with the saddle championship.
Helen Rich will look back fondly on this week and part of that success belongs to Heartland Jamin, the Junior Hackney Pony World’s Champion of Champions. It was their second victory pass of the week.
Also repeat visitors to the winner’s circle, Susan Swope and GRS Street Legal finished this week as the Roadster Under Saddle World’s Champion of Champions. It was the last time Gerhardt Roos put this titleholder in the ring before he joins Swope’s stars at West Wind Stables.
The professionals had a few classes today. My Royale Prince gave us a little unexpected entertainment as his blanket of roses slid off the side and startled him at the start of his victory pass in the Three-Gaited Park Championship. Steve Wheeler dusted himself off and was right back on to make a crowd-pleasing victory pass for Carol Hillenbrand, their second of the week.
Keith Harger has also enjoyed a good week. His latest success was the Junior Park Pleasure Championship with Edward Leonard’s Far Away Tom Horn, moving up two notches from the qualifying round.
World’s champions were crowned in the three-year-old harness division to round out today’s competition. Faydelle Schott’s Ashlyn’s Elegant Lady was just that to continue her undefeated season with Jim Taylor in the buggy for the mare honors. Bret Day made the last victory pass of the session taking Rocket Man to the winner’s circle in the stallion/gelding section for Mary Krentz.
One more to go. Seven world’s grand champions and four world’s champion of champions will be crowned this evening. It all starts with the Ladies Three-Gaited Championship.
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