Citrus Cup Enjoys Another Record Turnout
Thursday, May 2, 2002
by Diana Davidson NEWBERRY, Fla., - The Citrus Cup Regional Morgan Horse Show hosted a sellout crowd on April 17-20. The show featured records for both entries and temperatures with 149 horses competing with daytime temperatures around 90. The show was well supported by stables from throughout Florida as well as the neighboring states of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Citrus Cup once again opened the season as the first of ten AMHA Regional Championships. Citrus Cup has been the AMHA Region 4 Championship since 1996 and has called the Canterbury Equestrian Show Place its home since 1993.
While the show ring competition was receiving praise with some top champions and impressive youngsters demonstrating their talents, Citrus Cup maintained its well known relaxed atmosphere. The show always offers its exhibitors and spectators plenty of chances to gather during and after the show beginning with daily morning hospitality sponsored by Kenton and Katrina Wood of Graywood Stables.
A large crowd took part in the progressive barn party on Thursday evening after the show with flags signifying the many participating barns. Following the conclusion of Friday's daytime session, a well attended FMHA meeting led by president Jane Brown and an AMHA/USAE Rules Forum under the direction of AMHA Director C.A. "Tony" Lee, III took place. The Citrus Cup exhibitor's party, held in a large ringside tent, was the center of Friday night's entertainment. Everyone gathered for the show’s grand finale following the last class of the show on Saturday night to toast the Citrus Cup champions at the afterglow breakfast in the show arena.
Citrus Cup featured many special presentations held in center ring. Diane Tanguay was again in charge of the Youth of the Year Contest which featured Lindsay Bofman earning a trip to Oklahoma as well as a replica of the Jennifer Montgomery Perpetual Trophy for the third year in a row with the title of Senior Youth of the Year while Megan Dunkle earned the title of Junior Youth Of The Year. A great field of young riders enjoyed a week full of competitive classes in the show ring as well. This culminated in the presentation of the High Point Junior Exhibitor Award to Kelly Rooney. The many time champion Rose Valley Roman drove away as the High Point Carriage Driving Champion and also earned the UVM Windfall Sport Horse Challenge with Dede Bushneck. Oak Knoll Bird Colonel and Allison Spence collected the Dressage High Score Award for their top ride, while PTR Joint Venture and Susan Milbrath jumped their way to the High Point Working Hunter Award.
The Citrus Cup was presented by the Florida Morgan Horse Association under the direction of president Jane Brown. Alicia Davis continued her tenure of outstanding service as show chairman. Davis was delighted with the show as she summed up on Sunday morning, "It was the best show we've ever had. We had 149 horses and everyone packed up with smiles on their faces."
In addition to Davis, the list of show officials also included; show manager Euchee Matthews, show secretary LouAnn Bergeron, USAE Steward Joyce Hamblin, announcer Jeff Hyman, photographer Shane Shiflet, and ringmaster Janet Barber along with numerous other committee members and volunteers. Ann Slomkowski officiated in all of the performance, equitation and in hand classes while Charlotte Trentleman scored the dressage division.
For the complete show story, see the printed edition of Saddle Horse Report dated April 29, 2002.
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