A Beautiful Weekend Provides A Fitting End To The Deerfield Shows For The Year
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
by Eryn Carter
Every year, the Deerfield Fair is held the last weekend of September. This year was no different. There was a lot of entertainment, a lot of good shopping and a lot of good food. The weather was exceptional during the day, with the cool fall weather setting in during the evening sessions. Classes were well-filled this year, and every division boasted some of the best horses from New England.
Five-Gaited
The five-gaited division was rather small this year, but still featured some very nice horses. Hawkcrest and Geralyn Dexter burst onto the scene in April at the UPHA Chapter 14 Spring Premier. Since then, they've become household names in New England. Dexter and her expressive gelding topped the open gaited championship following a qualifier win earlier in the show. Shamrock's Locomotive and Kristie Cutting knocked on the door for reserve in both championship and qualifier. Showcase's Dream Machine and Kaitlyn Alemian came in for a nice third place finish after winning the amateur class.
The ladies class contained two entries and the winner of this class is another new face on the New England circuit. Party for Two was recently purchased for Alexis Pearson, as her new partner for junior exhibitor five gaited. Trainer Deidre Henry piloted this handsome gelding to a wonderful blue ribbon. Select Fire and Lillian Gilpin took a nice reserve finish behind Party for Two.
Three-Gaited
The Amateur Three-Gaited class saw three entries park trot their way into the ring. Careen DuBuc and her elegant three-gaited mare Strapless took the top honors home in the amateur class and championship and the ladies championship. Dorothy Riley and her big-moving chestnut The Cardiac Kid carried double reserve grand championship honors home to Nicholas Villa Stables. They finished reserve in both the amateur and ladies stakes.
The Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Championship featured three entries, all competing under the High Tail Acres LLC banner. Lexie Quarantiello and her handsome horse Eastwood's Prime Time made a strong show and were named the grand champions after winning the qualifier. Kristina Gioulis and Mr. Rockefeller made a great show to be named the reserve grand champions and reserve champions.
Fine Harness
Robert Beede had his harness horse Its All There in good order for the Fine Harness Championship title after making the blue ribbon drive in the qualifier. Nancy Reed showed her handsome baby Celtic Charmer to two very nice reserve finishes.
Park
Six horses met up for the Three-Gaited Park Championship. Uwharrie’s Street Legal and Lauren Sopel took home the top honors with a beautiful ride. She also won the amateur class. Sagaman and Charmaine Delisle earned the reserve grand championship honors.
In the amateur class, Ellen Kipp and her seasoned campaigner CH M.T. Hopper took the reserve honors back to Phoenix Stables.
Two entries trotted into the ring for the A1 Park Sweepstakes. Undulata’s Super Hero, a very cute young horse, took home the top honors with Robin McGahey riding. Memories of 42nd Street and Barbara Adams-Grasso captured second.
Pleasure
The open pleasure championship welcomed Hurricane's Dream Dancer and Stephanie Verdile to the winner's circle. This handsome chestnut also came out victorious in the qualifier. Foolish Pleasure and Alexandra Carlton followed in the ribbons for the reserve tricolor and Michelotti LLC and Cathy Roger-Holmes were second in the qualifier.
The junior exhibitor class and championship were nicely filled with close to 10 riders all putting forth their best efforts. In the qualifier, Strictly Adventure and Anne Kennedy took the top honors home to Phoenix Stables. They were second in the championship where Melody LaPlante and Bittersweet affair topped the competition after winning the novice rider class. Roman's Will and Ashley Bradbury had a great ride that put them in the reserve position in the qualifier.
The show pleasure driving division was small this year but the quality was there nonetheless. Ki-Ann's Red Pepper and Linda Taylor were named the grand champions in the championship with qualifier winners Roseridge's Big Sky and Tracy Burkhead pairing up for the reserve grand championship finish.
Only one competed in the gaited show pleasure division. Kaitlyn Alemian and her cute mare Tova's Priceless Gem were named the grand champions and champions.
The country pleasure division was also welled-filled this year. Bimi Malahene and Julieanne Demers took home the blue in both the qualifier and championship. Co-Star's Irish Blend and Jo Hight carried out the reserve streamers in both classes.
New Town Classic and Fabian Simon were the champions in the Country Pleasure Western qualifier.
Hackney Ponies
The Hackney division was small again this year. The open class and championship welcomed two entries to the ring. Megabucks, still looking wonderful in his new division, was named the champion in both classes. This division suits the spirited pony very well. Our Sweet Inspiration and Brenda Billings were reserve in both classes.
The Hackney Pleasure Driving Championship featured four entries. Heartland Capital Hill and Tim Lydon were victorious as they trotted out with the tricolor ribbon after winning the qualifier. Dawn DelTorchio and her handsome pony Model of Excellence were reserve in both.
Courtney Cahill and her adorable pony Rhythm King L.F. swept the roadster pony division.
Equitation
The saddle seat equitation championship welcomed five entries into the ring. Jenny Cramer was named the grand champion after a beautiful ride. Connor Moriarty was the reserve grand champion. Cramer also won the 15-17 qualifier, while Moriarty won the NEHC Saddle seat medal class.
The talented Chelsea Riberio was named the champion of the 12-14 qualifier while Alexis Pearson polished off the 11 and under equitation win.
The pleasure equitation division also had decent numbers. Six entries entered the gate for the championship where Sarah Nerz collected the top prize. This graceful rider also won the qualifier. Christie Millbury took a nice reserve ribbon back to Phoenix Stables. Meghan Morey was reserve in the qualifier.
Eight young riders entered the ring for the walk and trot equitation 9 & 10 year old championship. The mature riding Giovanna Leone rode her new mount Starmaker's Winning Colors to the grand championship victory pass and the qualifier victory pass. Alicia Allen was the reserve grand champion, and Kate Owen was named the reserve champion in the qualifier.
Three riders competed in the eight and under championship. Little Kaitlyn Powers rode hard to receive the top honors for Rocking Horse Farms. Making her own mark on the division, Margaret McCool had two nice rides for reserve.
The leadline division welcomed 11 young riders into the ring. Alice Rowland has made a name for herself in this division. Riding her mother's beautiful mare, she took the champion honors in this large class of young riders. Erin Immonen took a nice reserve in this class.
Morgans
The Morgan English Pleasure Championship was impressive in terms of numbers as 10 teams competed in the busy class. Whispering Maximillian and Lillian Gilpin were named the grand champions, with Winterhill Classic Command and Lynda Demeritt taking the reserve honors. Whispering Maximillian also won the English Pleasure Novice Horse class.
RN Champagne Summer and Lynn Plourde won the English Pleasure Amateur Championship. Reserve went to DRF Immortal Mae and Judith Cherry. RN Champagne Summer was also victorious in the Morgan English Pleasure Over 15 Hands, the Morgan English Pleasure Ladies and the Morgan English Pleasure Amateur. DRF Immortal Mae was reserve in the Morgan English Pleasure Amateur class.
The large Junior Exhibitor Morgan English Pleasure Championship hosted 20 entries. MEM Virtual Insanity and Lauren Booth were named the grand champions of the large championship. This versatile horse also won the Morgan Hunter Pleasure class. Burkland Taurie Adora and Caleb Noble were named the reserve grand champions in this large class (Morgan English Pleasure Championship) after winning their split in the qualifier. Willowick Neon Lights and Cassandra LeDonne earned the blue in the first split.
The Silver Brook Surprise and Tim Lydon enjoyed double victories in the park saddle division. Mountain Laurel Sunday Memory and Michelle Vallee capped of their week as the Park Saddle Reserve Grand Champions and RAM Mighty Impact and Kaitlyn Nye were reserve in the qualifier.
The Morgan Pleasure Driving Championship hosted nine entries. FSM The Promise Keeper and Shawn Amazeen were named the grand champions after a very nice drive. They were also the champions of the Morgan Pleasure Driving Novice Horse qualifier. DRF How Suite It Is and Nancy Collier were reserve in the championship and the open pleasure driving class. Sydney Dawson and Richard Pitman bested the field in the Morgan Pleasure Driving Open class.
Miscellaneous
Walk and trot pleasure classes have become very popular among the young riders. The eight and under championship was won by Oak Crest Centennial Miss and Katharine McCaughey. In her first season out of leadline, this young rider and her pinto pony have become quite the team. They were reserve in their qualifier. Echee Bon and the small but mighty Alexis Walther were reserve in the championship and won the qualifier.
The 9 and 10 year old championship was won by Danforth St Patrick's Bay and Alicia Allen. She took a nice reserve in the qualifier. Reserve grand champion honors were awarded to Absolut Appeal and Mariel Wiles-Haffner, who won the qualifier.
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