Chapter 1 is Eight For Eight!
Monday, May 24, 2010
by Leeann Mione
WOODSIDE, Calif. – The eighth annual UPHA Chapter 1 Horse Show knocked it out of the park for the eighth year in a row. Saddlebreds, Morgans, Hackneys, Friesians and roadsters came together to compete at the Horse Park at Woodside May 13-16.
Lisa Waller made the trip from Tennessee to judge all the classes. Announcer Peyton Hamilton, ringmaster Terry Brennan and photographer Rick Osteen joined her in center ring.
Peter Fenton returned as show manager and other officials included USEF steward Meredith Kistler, paddock master Doug Cason, farrier David Bevins and videographers Classic Video. Peninsula Equine, from nearby Menlo Park, was the show veterinarian.
Fenton once again worked in collaboration with UPHA Chapter 1 president Jennifer Dixon, vice president David Blevins, treasurer Mary K. Hartman and secretary Leslie Blevins and a big group of hardworking and dedicated volunteers from the chapter.
Heather Buhr, Jim Cherry, Royalee Cleveland, Michael Craghead, Jacque Jarve, Helen Roy, Brigitte Scholl, Lynn Silva and Lissa Sivara, all members of the show committee, put in many hours of work to make this year’s show another unqualified success. From the great hospitality to the great facility to the wonderful camaraderie this show always seems to evoke, it was evident once again that the minute last year’s show ended, everyone got hard at work to make this one even bigger and better.
In addition to the show committee, the pink ribbon committee came up with fun and creative ways to make the weekend a financial success in the effort to raise money. Royalee Cleveland, Beth Davis, Jennifer Dixon, Lissa Sivara and Sue Valley joined event chair Michelle Ganci to turn the show pink with a weekend of "Pink Ribbon Festivities".
Thursday afternoon shortly after the last class of the day, the "Best Pink Drink" contest was held. Ganci was joined by the Professional Drink Judging Team from Rainwater Farms to pick the first, second and third prizewinners. Participants were asked to bring a snack to share and the event turned into an exhibitor’s party. No doubt it will become an annual tradition.
The Jod Dropper from Deardorff Stables was named the best pink drink. The Monarch Butterfly, from Brigitte Scholl’s Monarch Stables took the reserve and the Raspberry Margarita from Garn Walker Stables finished in the top three. Rancho Del Mar’s non-alcoholic strawberry smoothie earned an honorable mention from the judges. Monarch Stables got the win for best presentation.
Barns once again got their creative juices flowing and competed to win the Pink Tack Room Contest and be the "Most Pink Barn". That award went to Bill and Debbie Tomin’s Rockridge Farm. Teddi Estes’ Golden Ridge Stables finished in second place.
Grace Arnold, as well as being part of a long list of generous sponsors, was named the "Most Pink Exhibitor". It would prove to be just one of several wins for her at the show. Boettcher Stables as a group claimed the red ribbon in the most pink exhibitor category and Natalie Robinson, from Rancho Del Mar, was third.
In addition to the pink ribbon festivities, the trainers had their own dinner party Wednesday evening at the home of John and Jacque Jarve which gave them a chance to get the weekend kicked off with some fun, food and relaxation.
Friday evening’s traditional reception was again held at the Stanford Park Hotel and was again sponsored by Grace Arnold. The Stanford Park Hotel has been an important partner and host hotel for the show for all eight years and this year’s reception was once again elegant and charming. Officials from the hotel attend the show every year and it is obvious that the five star Stanford Park cares very much about its relationship with the Chapter 1 show and horse show community.
The fantastic hospitality continued Saturday with the trainer’s barbecue. Hotdogs and hamburgers were grilled to order by David Blevins, Jim Cherry and Bill Tomin and they went quickly. This annual event always seems to keep the crowd around long after the last class of the day.
Chef Eric Colodny prepared crepes each afternoon once again this year and for the newbies to the show who didn’t know that they had to get in line early, they missed out on his culinary treasures. The crepes just aren’t to be missed.
Julie Barrow, Brigitte Scholl and Julie Streitfeld formed the awards committee and gift bags for exhibitors were provided by Dana Leavitt and Lisa Silva.
Saturday afternoon a live auction was held with numerous great items available for bidding. Patti DeVault was the high bidder for the jods, vest and tie from Becker Brothers Clothiers which raised $950 dollars.
"Hank The Wonder Horse", aka Attache’s Chaminade, returned to once again do his part to help raise money for the show. Horse Poop Bingo, organized by Debbie Tomin, is always and hit and when "Hank" selected the winning square, the winner picked up $680.
The daytime only schedule is one of the things that makes this such an enjoyable show each year and allows time to schedule all the fun events that keep people coming back and opening their wallets to help raise money. The show’s beneficiary, the B.O.K. Ranch Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program provides riding lessons to adults and children with special needs and their partnership with the show has been tremendously successful.
Peter Fenton and show chairmen Judy and Lexie Castaillac had this to say about why Chapter 1 keeps owners, trainers and exhibitors coming back to northern California each year in May.
"The atmosphere is fun and relaxed, the venue is beautiful and this show is a show that people should attend," said Fenton. "The Stanford Park has been part of this for eight years and as one of the Bay Area’s finest hotels, they provide not only fantastic lodging for their guests but much appreciated financial support to the show." He continued by saying, "We have such great hospitality and really want people to feel welcome when they come to this show."
Castaillac added, "Helen Roy was in charge of hospitality this year for the first time and she did such a great job. Lisa and Dean Sivara and her brother chef Eric Colodny added so much to the atmosphere of the show with the fantastic crepes every day. Michelle Ganci and Beth Davis and the pink ribbon committee did a great job of creating fun ways of getting everyone involved and raising money for breast cancer research. Debbie Tomin’s hard work again this year organizing the Horse Poop Bingo was also so appreciated."
She added, "The barbecue Saturday afternoon is so popular and so much thanks is due gracious sponsors the Tomin, Blevins and Cherry families. My daughter Lexie did a great job as usual organizing the shavings for participating barns and Lee Anderson generously provided the ice. With the warm weather all weekend, it took a lot of ice to keep things cool."
Sponsorships this year were so forthcoming they literally went to the dogs. Anyone who’s been to a show in California where JL Dixon Stable has participated, knows their mascots The Brown and Karma Jean. New mascot DJ the beagle joined the group this year and all three dogs sponsored the snacks which were put on every round table under the tent each day. It was not clear at press time which dog actually wrote the check.
The show always attracts a top group of Saddlebreds, Morgans, Hackneys and Friesians and in fact last year The River’s Edge, led by Mary Cockriel and Bob Kellert, had such a great time they returned again this year and brought even more of their world class Morgans. The group had a fantastic show with numerous blues and tricolors on the tack room wall by show’s end but their most special highlight was the presentation of the second Bruce Dixon Memorial Trainer’s Trophy to a very surprised Mary Cockriel (see separate sidebar this issue.
Last year, the show was moved to the ring up on the hill which gave the barns that were stabled up top a ringside seat from their tack rooms. This year the show moved back down to the original ring and the big ring allowed plenty of room to showcase the great competition and show ring stars.
One of those stars was arguably Catalytic who went four for four at the show as the Fine Harness Grand Champion and open champion with Mary Cockriel and also swept both the amateur championship and qualifier with Elaine Galatz of Vegas Valley Morgans driving for owner Martin Cockriel.
Galatz also had a great show again this year with her Morgans, directed by trainer Harold Angell, and she won the Morgan Park Harness Championship and ladies/amateur qualifier with Queen’s Guardian in addition to more than one blue for her group.
Like the Saddlebreds, the Morgan western pleasure division often features fierce battles between some of the country’s best and owner Virginia Adams had the distinction of being able to claim five wins for her horse Star Of Midnight. Adams rode to the wins in the ladies class, amateur championship and amateur qualifier. Trainer Garn Walker rode to the victories in the open championship and open qualifier.
Gerry Rushton Stables also returned this year with a big group of top Morgans and they came away with lots of winning ribbons including the Morgan English Pleasure and Morgan Pleasure Driving Championships.
Another highlight was the Saddle Seat Equitation Championship which hosted eight riders and was one of the biggest classes of the show. California shows consistently feature big, competitive equitation championships even when the division is often faltering at other shows around the country.
The championship at Chapter 1 was terrific and all eight riders were asked by Waller to perform the workout. When they lined up again, it was 13 and under winner Caroline Cherry named as the grand champion riding Bill and Debbie Tomin’s CH Picante. Amelia Coomber, from Rancho Del Mar, had a great week in Woodside and she exited as the reserve grand champion with Ariana Corrigan’s Morgan Festival Troubador. Coomber had already won the 17 and Under UPHA Challenge Cup.
There were so many great show ring moments in various divisions and amongst all the breeds that this show invites to participate and if the past eight years is any indication, competition in year nine will be even bigger and better.
Grace Arnold had a great week and her Ciao For Now was expertly piloted by Jim Cherry to the Five-Gaited Stake and open wins. She’s Quite A Honey, with veteran trainer Don Deardorff on board made a great show to take the reserve tricolor for owner Emily Swanson.
Fellow Deardorff Stable team All About It and Britt Frome won both the Amateur Five-Gaited Stake and the UPHA Pink Ribbon Ladies/Amateur Five-Gaited class which provided a great ending to the Friday afternoon session. Callaway’s Editor’s Note and Lexie Castaillac turned in the reserve grand championship effort from JL Dixon Stable.
For the ladies the day had been all about celebrating "riding for a cure" and each lady rider that won a blue ribbon in any class Friday received a pink rose.
Nicole Sidebotham and Katie Jarve battled it out in the junior exhibitor division and at the end of the championship class Sunday afternoon, Sidebotham rode to center ring to pick up her tricolor with Lisa Lesch’s Miss Bellagio to make it a clean sweep. Jarve and her many times World’s Champion of Champions CH Walterway’s Remember Me exited with the reserve tricolor after a great team effort. This marks the first season together for Jarve and Walter and they’re getting more and more comfortable together under Jennifer Dixon’s tutelage.
Junior horse winner Most Outrageous and UPHA Five-Gaited Classic winner Blues And Wine were both shown by David Blevins for Jennifer Sandefur Foster of Crown Valley Farm.
The amateurs had the biggest classes in the three-gaited division and I’m High And Mighty took both wins with Julie DeVault riding for Crown Valley Farm. CH Like Sunshine performed with the mother and daughter team of Sue Valley and Julia Chen and Chen had the reserve grand championship performance with the mare.
Victoria Lynn, now teamed with Caroline Cherry in the junior exhibitor division, carried Cherry to both the championship and qualifier victories for Cherry Stables.
The Robinson girls, Natalie and Samantha, had a successful week for their Bradley’s Stables under the direction of Anne Speck at Rancho Del Mar. Natalie rode Winnepeg Parks to the Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Reserve Grand Championship.
The remaining ribbons in the three-gaited division went to junior horse winner Shooting Star Of Silver Oaks with Lisa Lesch for Susan Swango and Elle’s Belle in the three-year-old class. Eduardo Castillo, of Dick Boettcher Stables, rode for Tom McClellan.
Lesch went back to the winner’s circle twice more, this time in the park division. She piloted Kourageous Kat Of Silver Oaks to the championship and open class victories for Gary Gustafson. First French Kiss and Larry Witter were right there for the reserve ribbon in the stake under the direction of David Blevins. They also won the junior horse class. Blevins also directed Jennifer Foster to her blue ribbon in the amateur class with Too Much Talk.
Owner Carolyn Melka and trainer Eric Antman, of Majestic Farms, teamed up for a good show. Antman drove Roselane’s Ready To Jet to the Fine Harness Reserve Grand Championship. CH No Jacket Required and Sally Spalding put together the amateur reserve grand championship effort under the direction of Michael Craghead.
Teamed up last year as a two-year-old, Military Secret took the blue in the UPHA Fine Harness Classic with Jim Cherry to add another win to Grace Arnold’s list.
Forever And A Day and Lady Juliet traded places between the Hackney Pleasure Driving Stake and qualifier. Debbie Tomin drove Forever And A Day to win the championship and Shari Rainwater drove her pony to the win in the open class for Rainwater Saddlebreds.
CH Callaway’s Capitol Reporter and Katie Jarve were in sync both times to win the Five-Gaited Pleasure Championship and qualifier. Global Scene and Royalee Cleveland continued their successful season so far by taking the reserve in the championship.
Eduardo Castillo teamed Pinnacles Midnight Event to the top spot in both the Park Pleasure Stake and open class and he had Unchained right on his heels with David Becker up to take the reserve tricolor. Castillo rode for owner Jill Anthony and Becker rode for Bergstrom and Overstreet.
The junior park pleasure horses had two classes to compete in and The Ring Of Roses was victorious in both with owner/trainer Lisa Lesch on board. Pinnacles So Lovely and Allison Deardorff followed in the ribbon count for Pullen and Lake.
A nice group of six took on the challenge of trying to earn the tricolor in the Adult Three-Gaited Pleasure Stake and they provided an entertaining class for the crowd Sunday afternoon. CH French Silk Stockings just couldn’t be denied and with owner Debbie Tomin riding, took the championship victory pass after having won the qualifier earlier in the week. Dana Paparo brought the Far Niente group back to Chapter 1 from Oregon after having been gone from the show a couple of years and she met Tempesta and owner Karen McConnell at the out gate after they put together the reserve grand championship effort.
Caroline Cherry had another winning catch ride, but this time for owners Chris and Steve Kling. Cherry teamed Tuffy’s Gunslinger to the win in the junior exhibitor stake. Samantha Robinson and CH So Audacious exited with the reserve tricolor under the Rancho Del Mar banner.
Other winners in the show pleasure division included 10 and under walk and trot champion CH X’s and O’s with Ethan Feiber and Show Pleasure Driving Grand Champion and champion A Day On The Town BH with Nan Chapman for Bob Facciola of Woodhaven.
The junior exhibitors had their own qualifier in the country pleasure division but showed back in the championship with the adults. Allison Gann and her new teammate this season, Callaway’s Party Time, won the junior exhibitor class and returned to take the victory in the championship as well under the direction of Rockridge Farm.
Shamrock’s Jessica and Julie Streitfeld, directed by Brigitte Scholl, added the title of reserve grand champions to their long list of career wins together with their strong team effort. Shari Rainwater handled the blue ribbon ride with CH Grande Dam, under the direction of David Becker, Jr. to win the adult qualifier for owner Virginia Bergstrom.
Rainwater wasn’t done winning yet in the division. She also drove I’m Havin’ A Party to a sweep of the Country Pleasure Driving Championship and qualifier for Rainwater Saddlebreds. Sultan’s Sarah Mariah, owned by Cathrine Cartwright and shown by Jason Williams, followed in the championship ribbon count directed by Robb Wallen of Wallen West.
Paasche of Silver Oaks and owner Lynn Silva teamed up to win both the Five-Gaited Country Pleasure Stake and qualifier to add two more winning ribbons to the Monarch Stables tack room wall.
The battle in the western pleasure division on the west coast has been quite fierce for some time now and that doesn’t seem to be changing any time soon with some of the best western horses in the country residing in California and Oregon.
The Western Country Pleasure Stake and qualifier as well as the Shatner class hosted a great group of contenders and many of them traded great passes down the rail more than once, but when the classes were lined up, it was Toreador and Dr. Catherine Gallo named as the grand champions and champions to make it two for two at the show under the direction of Arcuri Stables. Buttoned Down and Grace Arnold were right there to take the reserve in the championship from Cherry Stables. Caroline Cherry teamed Mr. Freckle Face to the blue in the Shatner class for owner Gary Hayden from Dick Boettcher Stables.
Other winners in the equitation division included 14-17 champion Taylor Walters and 10 and under challenge cup winner Ethan Feiber.
Stacy Hennessy drove Boxford Bravura to the second place finish in the Morgan Park Harness Stake for Ted and Elaine. She also added a blue to the count with junior horse winner Baccarat’s Wild Thyme for owner Gerry Rushton and her win in the Morgan English Pleasure Championship with Monnington’s Titian was for owner Arcola Farm.
Mary Cockriel, showing for Debra Hurst Walters, rode Never Surrender to the winner’s circle and blue ribbon in the Open English Pleasure class and Leslie Hurst rode to win the amateur class. Walters herself was in the irons to add to her terrific show. She rode Man In Command to the tricolor in the Amateur/Ladies/Junior Exhibitor Morgan English Pleasure Championship after having already won the ladies qualifier. Goldencrest Nobelle and owner Carmen McBurney, showing from Boettcher Stables, were named the reserve grand champions.
Lila Tatar not only successfully debuted her new Saddlebred Heir’s Encore in the saddle seat equitation division, but she had a great week with her various Morgans under the direction of Glyn-Rae Stables. Tatar and Sardee’s Sinful were the Morgan English Pleasure Reserve Grand Champions and she also rode to the blue with QVM Rocket Man in the Junior Exhibitor English Pleasure class.
The Bumb-Carlino family and trainer Cathy Grimes, from Silver Creek teamed up for numerous wins for their group of Morgans. Susan Carlino and CFF Personal Advantage won the Morgan English Pleasure Junior Horse class and Grimes drove to the win in the Three-Year-Old Pleasure Driving class.
Total Request won the Morgan Pleasure Driving class with Bob Kellert and both the amateur pleasure driving championship and amateur qualifier with Debra Hurst Walters. GLB Bell Of The Ball exited with the reserve tricolor from the amateur driving championship with Anne Marie Bumb showing for Lorraine Bumb.
Queen’s Johnny Angel kept the wins coming for The River’s Edge with owner Monty Kugeler and they took the tricolor in the Ladies Pleasure Driving Championship and ladies class. VVM Dreamkeeper, another home bred star for Vegas Valley Morgans won the Junior Horse Morgan Pleasure Driving class with Elaine Galatz.
Lila Tatar was back on top yet again when she rode CPM Man Oh Man to the winner’s circle amongst a really nice group to win the Classic Pleasure Saddle Championship. Hannah Francis handled the catch ride with McCartney to follow in second place for owner Cathrine Cartwright after topping the classic pleasure qualifier.
Other winners in the classic pleasure saddle division included ladies champion Dream Master Jst Outrajus with Kate Aldinger riding for Stewart and Aldinger, and junior exhibitor champion VVM Mark My Words with Tatar in the saddle.
Ray and Alison Bendele brought their Morgans and went home with more than one winning ribbon including Ray’s tricolor drive with Beau Rivage in the Morgan Classic Pleasure Driving Championship. VVM Electra and Elaine Galatz claimed the reserve in the nice group. They came into the championship having taken the victory pass in the ladies class. Miss Voodoo and owner Mona Skager were directed by trainer David Torrey to their blue ribbon in the open qualifier.
Susan Carlino teamed the Carlino Family Farm bred CFF Strictly Byzness to the Morgan Western Pleasure Reserve Grand Championship. Silver Creek stable mate GLB Musical Legacy, in his first show ring appearances ever and only a three-year-old, won the limit horse and junior horse western pleasure classes with Cathy Grimes riding for Lorraine Bumb.
Garn and Melissa Walker teamed up to capture four wins between them in the Morgan hunter pleasure division and in the process added two more titles to Anne Marie Bumb’s list. Garn rode Cap N Jack Sparrow to the Morgan Hunter Pleasure Championship and open class wins for Bumb and Melissa rode The Ziegfield Girl to the wins in the amateur championship and qualifier for Garn and Melissa Walker.
Sequoia Sparkle of Zin and owner/trainer Jacquelyn Haws earned the blue in the limit/junior horse class and both hunter pleasure reserve grand championships.
Alison Bendele claimed the final tricolor and blue in the Morgan division with her winning drives in the Morgan Roadster To Bike Stake and open class with MEM No Inhabitions. GLB Bella Mia and Cathy Grimes finished out as the reserve grand champions for Lorraine Bumb.
Glor Van De Bist and Dana Leavitt won both the Friesian Walk and Trot Pleasure Championship and qualifier to add two more wins to the Monarch Stables count and sweep the Friesian division.
Ribbons and Love, with Michelle Ganci and The Georgia Peach, with Stephanie Wangler, scored the one-two punch in the English Pleasure Stake which was open to any breed. Ganci was directed to her win by Michael Craghead and Wangler won the qualifier before finishing with the championship reserve streamers under the direction of Brigitte Scholl. Elle Fire closed out the English pleasure under saddle division with the blue ribbon effort in the amateur class. Owner Rashall Johnson rode from Dick Boettcher Stables.
Bon Atticus and Bonnie Sublett, showing under the direction of trainer Destyn Sublett, won the Pleasure Driving Stake and open class as well as the amateur class to make it a three-for-three team effort.
CSA Approved By Command won the open western pleasure class with Garn Walker up for owner Kathy Gomer and Melissa Walker rode The Ziegfield Girl to the tricolor in the Open Hunter Pleasure Stake.
Amateur owner and trainer Dean MacCracken closed out the division by taking the blue in the hunter pleasure qualifier before finishing his weekend with the reserve grand championship.
This highlights the UPHA Chapter 1 Horse Show which has been going strong for eight years and seems poised to continue that trend as one of California’s best.
|