Penn Ohio Kicks Off The July Fourth Weekend In Tricolor Style
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
by Deborah Cojocar
MEADVILLE, Penn. -- Great weather and great horses are always a recipe for success and this year was no exception at the Penn Ohio Morgan Horse Show held on July 1-3. Show manager Julie Schmidt and her very hard working committee once again catered to exhibitors to make their visit a pleasant one. Starting with the Welcome Party on Thursday evening, everyone had a chance to relax and have fun throughout the weekend. The exhibitors' party on Saturday night was a nice place to visit with new and old friends. New to the show this year was a change in the schedule. After eliminating the futurity classes, the schedule was rearranged so that classes would end on Sunday afternoon. A tentative show committee was very pleased as many of the exhibitors seemed to be happy with this change.
Center ring couldn't have been more appealing with the lovely Terry Jones Brennan expertly putting the horses through their paces all weekend. Ringmaster, Jack Dougherty, ably assisted her. Mike Kropp served as a learner judge for the event. Bob Kleinfelder made the calls to the ring and Debbie Uecker-Keough snapped plenty of pictures of all exhibitors. Adam Pendleton kept everyone shod for the ring and even had some time to practice his own photography skills. Marilyn Ackerman's friendly face in the office kept exhibitors happy while Virginia Paradise represented USEF as the steward. And once again, Amy Paradise provided her favorite tunes to show horses.
The in hand division had some high quality horses with Waterford Farm taking the triple crown with all three in hand champions. EKL Review The Vision is a beautiful two-year-old mare sired by Astronomicallee that owner Eli Lapp can be very proud of. After claiming the junior champion spot, this smooth-bodied mare moved right into the Grand Champion Mare position with Lynn and Kathy Peeples, just like she'd been doing it for years. The reserve grand champion also came from the junior division. Whitemud Miami Blues and Selvin Torrez put on a beautiful show for owners Charles and Elizabeth Wyandt. Lynn Peeples was back again in the gelding division with his own, Red Zone claiming the Grand Champion Gelding title after winning the five and over geldings class. LaLoma Wing Command was the reserve champion for a very happy owner, Judy Cramer. The Peeples made one more trip in the halter division with their own handsome, Town Assets. After winning the four-year-old class, he moved right on to be named Senior and Grand Champion Stallion with the reserve champion Mikalela's Victory and Marilyn Rutledge coming from the five and over class. Holly Linden is the owner of this nice stallion.
In the English pleasure division, it was NBN Out Of The Blue with Selvin Torres being named champions of the open division for owner Gina Reali. Kathy Ferenc and Up Hyre On Command were very pleased to be named reserve champions in this tough division. Jeanne Fuelling and Hall's Meltdown found their way down victory lane again in the amateur championship after winning the stallion and gelding qualifier. Jeannie and Mel are trained by Nancy Flower Stables. Bellagio and owner Tina Lessnau were the reserve amateur champions directed by Damian and Melinda Hyde. The junior competition saw Motivated Ms and Mike Peel turn in a tricolor showing for Alex and Deborah Cojocar with reserve honors going to Promiscuity and Kathy Ferenc. Caitlyn Scholl enjoyed many trips to the winner's circle including the junior exhibitor championship victory aboard JLH Valarian where JW Sensability and Julia Strier picked up the reserve.
Sioux's Boogie Knight and Lynn Peeples had no trouble winning the pleasure driving championship after a victory pass in the gentlemen's class. Victory passes are getting to be "old hat" for this pretty stallion as he also made one in the limit English pleasure class with Shannon Scioscia. Sioux Mingaye has much to be proud of with this handsome boy. The amateur pleasure driving division was a tough one, but King Lehr's Bravado and Sandra Benko came out on top as champions followed by MSV Razzle Dazzle and Gina Reali. The pretty three-year-old, Cum Laude Nell and Tim O'Gorman claimed the Junior Pleasure Driving Championship for owner Diane Garrow with the four-year-old winner, Sontree Buckeye and Nancy Flower putting on a great show for the reserve spot for owners Dale and Martha Livermore.
Brian Stewart marched right through the park harness division without ever looking back. Minion Valentino put on a very exciting show for owner Darwin Olson to claim top honors. HDP Warrior Princess and Tina Lessnau were the reserve champions. Damian Hyde drove this nice horse in the qualifier, which boasted four really nice harness horses. RER Popcorn and Scott Niedlinger opted to show back under saddle for owner Carey Churchill. This was a wise decision as they were victorious in the Park Saddle Championship. Keeping it in the family, Travis Niedlinger had a very nice ride for reserve champion with CBMF Leading Man for Catherine Ehnle.
The classic division, as with many shows, is a very hotly contested one. The saddle championship watched nine horses come into the ring to compete. When Judge Brennan was finished, it was LSC Georgian Bay and Lee Sutherland making the victory pass for the second year in a row. This pretty gelding is very tough to beat. PKM Gamborian and Lori Sargeant put on a great show to claim the reserve spot. Lori was also at the lines of classic pleasure driving champion. After winning the stallion and gelding qualifier for owner Kathi Hummel, Lori and HFF Thrill Seeker came back to win the seven horse class. Priceless Jule and Julie Schmidt were named reserve champions in the driving after winning the mare qualifier.
Crossing the border from Canada was a good trip for Michelle Yake as she and Meldon Hawk won the Open Hunter Pleasure Championship while owner Anne Munro won the amateur tricolor. Marcie Palmer made it look easy on Rockridge Valiant Sabbath riding to the reserve spot in the open championship for owners Jeff and Sue Evans. Sugarlane Center State and Roberta Bartlett were named reserve champion in the amateur class for Jon and Vicky Sweet. The junior exhibitor division of hunters was very full with the final nod going to Final Analysis and Sarah Jaromin riding for Christine Clay in the junior exhibitor championship. John Thomas was great with Cingate Jack Flash in the reserve spot and also took top honors in the equitation division.
One can't talk about western horses in this part of the country without mentioning. Jeff Bessey. He and his wife, Amy, have some superb western horses in their ranks. JW High In Command is no exception as Jeff expertly rode to the open championship with his handsome horse. HVK Bold Light and Jamie Bish once again teamed up to be reserve champions. Not only does she win the award for having the most gorgeous western clothes but the girl can ride too! That would be junior exhibitor, Brittany Clark and TCS Supreme Aire. This sharp team won the amateur championship for proud mom, Linda Clark in a 10-horse class. Joyce Ackerman was also cheering as her own Seaway Admiral was named reserve amateur champion with Brian Burroughs aboard. This horse looks good, no matter whether he's western or hunt. When it came to the junior horses, Amy Bessey showed her husband how it was done. She made the victory pass with MSV Ringo Starr for owner Kathryn Daly. Jeff followed very closely in the reserve spot with Worked In Gold owned by Francis Beers.
The roadsters were fast and furious as Sting and Melinda Hyde won both the saddle and bike classes. Penn Ohio was very proud to offer $100 educational/travel stipends to the first five places in the AMHA Medal Classes. A 50/50 raffle helped to fund the classes with $1000 raised for the classes from the raffle and the other $1000 won by the ticket of Kellie Dreher. The hunters saw 12 entries go for the medal (and money) with Tracy Butkovich winning the class. Jocelyn Bos-Fisher was victorious in the western medal class and Caitlyn Scholl made the victory pass in the saddle seat class.
This was the second year for the carriage division for the Penn Ohio show. Once again the committee was very pleased with the great turnout. When the classes were tallied, it was Al Celecki with his beautiful team of Cum Laude Juhl and Cum Laude Kapsreiter masterfully maneuvering to claim the high point carriage title. Michael Flower has demonstrated his superb driving abilities for two years now finishing as reserve champion this year for a very proud Robert Wyatt with LSC Creme De La Creme. Mike looks like a natural in this division.
The Breeders Sweepstakes classes at Penn Ohio always are a treat to watch. This year was no exception. With the yearlings going first, Allan and Marilyn Rutledge entered the ring with the beautiful filly, Hornes Memphis Belle owned by Gary and Mimi Horne. This big filly is a force to be reckoned with! Following her was Brian Stewart's handsome Bri B XTC. In the Four-Year-Old English Pleasure Sweepstakes, Nonesuch Simply Gorgeous was just that as she cruised in for the victory pass with Erin Koenig riding for the very happy owner, Kim Hayes. SPA Flawless Gem with Danielle Pipper riding for Elwood Schell followed them. The park saddle sweepstakes saw Hornes Desperado and Marilyn Rutledge make the victory pass for Gary and Mimi Horne. The Hornes continue to produce park horse after park horse, each one trotting a little higher than the last.
As another Penn Ohio is in the books, the show committee is already looking forward to next year and another great horse show. Complete results can be seen on this web site by going to Statistics and clicking on Show Results.
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