Twin State - The Horse Show With A Heart
Friday, June 17, 2005
DEERFIELD, N.H. -- Devoted exhibitors throughout New England and New York shared in the 20th anniversary of the Twin State American Saddlebred Association Horse Show over an unusually warm June weekend (10-12). Twin State is the third Saddlebred/Morgan show in a six week span at the Deerfield fairgrounds, but the effort given by the committee and the association makes this strong grassroots show a must on many exhibitors¹ list. It has a family atmosphere, starting with one of the most pleasant show offices you will ever work with.
Show manager Helen Fenton has a great team which included secretary Mary Wahl, assisted by Skeeter Combs and Christy Balch.These ladies, like the rest of the committee, really make exhibitors feel welcome. Larry Wahl and Barry Caisse kept everything under control as ringmaster and assistant. This was just one of the many jobs they performed.
The facility is a little distance from hotels so traveling back and forth between sessions can play a role. To make it better for the officials, each day a feast of great home cooking is prepared in the mini clubhouse which serves as a show office/trophy booth/announcer¹s and organist area. Sissy and Raymond Paradise, along with Steve DeScharme, kept the official family fed as well as put out the coffee and doughnuts for exhibitors each morning.
Enjoying the great hospitality were judges Dick Boettcher and Gayle Lampe, announcer Robb Platz, photographer Terry Young, who was making his first appearance in the area, and steward Jo Hight. Ron Boucher, Sue Arthur, Nancy Roberts, Rick Howe, and Peter King also served in the official family.
Year after year, a core group of trainers and exhibitors return to Deerfield for Twin State. It¹s like one big family reunion, but instead of competing in volley ball and croquet, the competition is between American Saddlebreds, Morgans, Hackneys, and Friesians.
Family is also what made this 20th anniversary show one to remember. Northgate Stables, Rocking Horse Farm, Sir Echo Farm, Miscoe Meadow, and L.M. Turner Stables opened their annual Belmont Race cookout to the entire show grounds and used the festive afternoon as a benefit for fellow horseman Todd Mathieson and his family. Mathieson has faced extremely critical health issues over the past few years, most recently losing both of his legs.
With an army of grills and cookers, an array of food was prepared to go with all the fixings topped off by Courtney Cahill¹s famous Belmont Punch.Trainers, exhibitors, officials and those in related equine businesses responded with overwhelming support. Between donations and monies from the 50/50 raffle, more than $3,800 was raised that afternoon. The following afternoon during the last performance, incoming Twin State president Robin McGahey and outgoing president Kevin Tomasko announced the show was making a $3,500 donation, bringing the total to $7,366. It was an incredibly kind gesture that went a long way in giving support to a horseman who has given so much to the New England Saddle Horse industry.
The horse show with a heart also had plenty of talented competitors to go with a good dose of beginners. One and all enjoyed the three days of classes which ended with Sunday afternoon¹s Five-Gaited Championship. Morgan judge Gayle Lampe looked on with pride as two of her former students battled it out for the tricolor title. Judge Boettcher made the same decision he did in the open class, putting the new team of Darla DelTorchio and Callaway¹s Player¹s Choice on top. The Rowland family¹s entry had a most impressive head set and go forward motor. With a big, powerful stride, Shamrock¹s Locomotive was the reserve grand champion with Kristie Cutting.
With six entries competing for the Amateur Five-Gaited Championship, The King Of Music and Raye Lynn Funkhouser turned in a winning performance. Their closest competition was a good show from juvenile winners Hawkcrest and Geralyn Dexter. The reserve grand champions were trained by Robin McGahey. Bob Funkhouser had qualified The King Of Music with a blue ribbon ride in the amateur class in which Sharon Alemian and Showcases Dream Machine were turning on the heat as the reserve champions. Riley O¹Neil and Meadowlake Fandango picked up the red streamers in the juvenile class.
Sunday afternoon¹s Three-Gaited Championship was as good a three-horse class as you will find at anybody¹s horse show. The beautiful, black mare Broadway¹s Mama Mia received the encore victory pass with Careen Dubuc in the irons. Their first appearance resulted in a junior/novice victory pass. Owner Sandra Provanzano stepped up and gave open champion Mild Emotion a good ride to make the championship a really competitive event. Making quite a good show themselves, Ann Rowland and A Winter¹s Tale, reserve winners of the amateur class, were third in the championship.
Paulette Brim and Extreme Rites went home with the blue from the ladies walk-trot class while Eastwood¹s Prime Time and Lexie Quarantiello went uncontested in the juvenile division.
Results were switched in the Three-Gaited Park Championship as open class reserve winner Royalty At Midnight was crowned the grand champion for trainer Darlene Trento-Wright and owner Brian Fizimmons. Diogenes Elite and Kevin Tomasko, representing owner Lindsay Westover, had to settle for the reserve championship.
Aubergine has made countless victory passes on the Deerfield fairgrounds and two more were added to the total by week¹s end. Janice Tilley rode the veteran champion to the Amateur Three-Gaited Park Championship and qualifying blue. Jenna Montani and Foxy¹s Proud Son MC were twice reserve.
Ultimate Steel and Lilly Birch were the only team to come back for the Junior Exhibitor Park Championship. They had been reserve to Ellen Kipp and CH M.T. Hopper in the qualifying round.
Among the young stars, Phinest Heirloom was a standout in the Junior/Novice Park class with David Cater aboard for Donna O¹Keefe. David Arnold and Memories Of 42nd Street led the way in the A-1 Three-Year-Old Park Sweepstakes. Celtic Charmer and Deidre Henry followed in reserve.
The best of the Hackney Pleasure Driving Pony Championship was the always marching Model Of Excellence. The grand champion was driven by High Tail Acres¹ Dawn DelTorchio. Driving for Irene York, Brenda Billings presented reserve grand champion Crescendo Spellbound. Highly successful juvenile driver Lilly Birch guided Oh Happy Day to the winner¹s circle in both the Hackney Pleasure Driving qualifier and the AHHS Medallion. Tyler Lampropoulos drove Sir Love Alot to the reserve medallion title for Birch.
Sheri Lampropoulos shifted Twin Willow Solomon into high gear to win both the Road Pony Championship and open class for Tyler Lampropoulos. Lillian Gilpin and Rhythm King LF cranked it up to take two reserves for Courtney Cahill.
Making driving a family affair, John Lampropoulos had Megabucks primed for the Open Hackney Pony blue. Reserve winner Our Sweet Inspiration made the championship victory pass with Brenda Billings providing the winning drive for Irene York who also owns Megabucks.
Spicing things up in the Show Pleasure Driving Championship and qualifier, Kiann¹s Red Pepper and Linda Taylor represented Northgate Stables as the two-time winners. Tracy Burkhead and Roseridge¹s Big Sky were twice reserve.
From Rocking Horse Farm, Tova¹s Priceless Gem and Kaitlyn Alemian turned it on in the Five-Gaited Pleasure Championship to go home with tricolor honors. Joshua Rowland had a nice ride aboard Callaway¹s Brass Ring for reserve grand champion honors. In their only appearance of the weekend, Berry Garcia and Caroline Deshaies won the qualifying round.
Judy Davis sent Hurricane¹s Dream Dancer and Stephanie Verdile to the winner¹s circle twice in the adult pleasure division. Tastefully trimmed in white, the grand champion turned back a good field of challengers including reserve grand champions What¹s Ky Rose and Miriam Hirshon.
Beede Farm enjoyed the two victory passes made by Superfine¹s Frosty Morning and Angela Hardy in the Junior Exhibitor Show Pleasure Championship and qualifier. From the nine championship contenders, Andrea Gregory and Pure Imagination were reserve.
Dark Heiress and Jessica Bernier made both of their classes count by winning both the Junior/Novice Park Pleasure Championship and qualifier ahead of Midnight Snow and Jon Holmes.
Competition for young riders featured Oak Crest Centennial Miss and Katharine McCaughey on top as the Walk-Trot Pleasure Grand Champions. In her first performance classes ever, Kasey Saccocia was a star as the reserve grand champion and reserve qualifying winner with Indian Creek Belle Star. Corrina Arruda and Stonewall¹s Night Of Pandemonium were qualifying winners.
Breakfast With Muffin and Alyssa Birt topped Carriage Road Showman and Kaitlyn Nye in both pleasure pony classes.
The crowds at Deerfield always love the Friesians so they were thrilled when David Arnold rode the multi-titled Jorrit to the English Pleasure Championship just as he did in the qualifier. NEHC Pleasure Champion Meinsje R took the reserve streamers home with Ethel Nye.
Moving to the country pleasure division, Rob Turner directed Erica Faulkner and Costar¹s Irish Blend to the adult championship following their qualifying win. York Rogers K.K., winner of the novice rider class, was the reserve grand champion for Linda Turpin. Corrine Arruda and Stonewall¹s Night Of pandemonium were two for two in the junior exhibitor section. Sierra Gamble and De Beers were two for two as the reserve champions.
Jogging to the ASB Western Country Pleasure Championship was Manhattan Medic. Julie Lanocha was sitting tall in the saddle. Jessie Green and Bayhead Spartan collected reserve honors. In the qualifier it was New Town Classic with Fabian Simon in the number one spot.
Making the trip from New York, Darlene Trento-Wright was the winning instructor in the Saddle Seat Equitation Championship. Fourteen and under winner Marissa Gillispie was her grand champion rider. Winner of the UPHA Challenge Cup, High Tail Acre¹s Alexis Taylor Pearson was the reserve grand champion. Christie Milbury won the NEHC Medal.
Coming from a reserve in her qualifier, Katherine Owens was the Walk and Trot Equitation Grand Champion, followed by 9-10 Year Old Champion Alicia Allen. UPHA Walk and Trot Challenge Cup Champion Giovanna Leone was third in the deep championship. Also in the championship ribbons, Natasha Cote was the 8 & under champion.
Leadline is taken very seriously at Twin State and following in the family tradition, Conor Patrick Henry was the best of the Saddle Seat Leadline riders. Stablemate Alice Rowland was reserve, followed by the smiling Kellie Saccocia in third. Hunter/Western Seat Champions included Morgan O¹Neil (first), Jenna Hill (second), and Rebecca Rowland in third.
Pleasure equitation continues to be solid in New England. Nicole York topped the competition in the championship round just as she did in the 10-entry qualifier. Christie Milbury was the reserve grand champion.
Morgans were also well-represented and in the Morgan Park Saddle Championship judge Lampe had The Silver Brook Surprise, the In Hand Champion, on top just as she did in the four-horse qualifier. Owner/rider/trainer Tim Lydon made the winning rides. The athletic RAM Mighty Impact was twice reserve with Kaitlyn Nye.
Also a two-time winner, Sarde¹s Up In Smoke led the way in the pleasure driving section. Toplands Gorgeous Royale and Rebecca Fish followed Up In Smoke both times.
Beating five in the qualifier and four in the championship round, DRF Little Deuce Coupe sailed through the Morgan English Pleasure Championship and qualifier with Ethel Nye up. DRF How Suite It Is and John Lampropoulos were pushing hard as the reserve grand champions for Nancy Collier. Deerfield veteran Treble¹s High Command captured the amateur pleasure blue with owner Diann Sanel. Also in the pleasure saddle section, KGA¹s Center Stage wore the junior/novice blue with David Arnold riding for Linda Dzicek.
There were several two-time winners in the Morgan ranks. Among them, BEF Finduilas was Western Pleasure Grand Champion and qualifying winner with Rachel Coombs. Fox Ridge Crusader and Alison Peterman were reserve in both classes.
Not only did BEF Finduilas win the western section, he also dominated both Morgan Hunter Pleasure classes with Rachel Coombs. Sandra Mooney¹s DRF Immortal Nicholas was reserve grand champion. SMS Victory Lane and Jenna Montani were Morgan Classic Pleasure winners.
Rounding out the competition from the 2005 Twin State American Saddlebred Association Horse Show, Another World and Brianna Gariepy were ahead of 10 others in the Morgan English/Western Pleasure Junior Exhibitor Championship. Moving up three places from the qualifier, Rum Brook Galahad and Hannah Nydegger were reserve grand champions. Also under the direction of Susan Casper, Meadowair Yomen and Katie Brihser won the qualifier.
Complete results may be found in the show results section of our website.
|