Starting things off on Friday morning, it was the Missouri-Kansas Country Pleasure Championship. Second in both classes a year ago, Santana’s Star Status swept the division in 2009 with Rochele Cochrane once again in the irons. By Sultan’s Santana, Star Status is out of Reach For The Stars, by Penny’s Superior Stonewall. Moving up from their qualifier finish, Reedann’s Phancy Phootwork and Karen Cooley were Reserve Champions. They were the UPHA Chapter 5 Champions earlier this year.
The Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Show Pleasure National Championship was split into two classes, with the 14-and-Under riders coming to the ring first. There was a shake up at the top in this one, as Maya Manilow made trainers Kenny and Donna Smith and mom Barbara Goodman Manilow quite proud. She and The Majestic got the nod from all three judges as the National Champion. It was possibly their most consistent performance together, even more so than their 13-and-Under World’s Championship in August. The Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Park Reserve World’s Champion of Champions, First Class Heir was reserve here with Brianna Meyer riding for the Brown-Anderson Farms. Directed by Hollow Haven, this team is tough to beat in any division. Qualifier winner and the reigning World’s Champion of Champions, CH Brookhill’s King Of Kool was third with Jessie Wuesthofen riding Glenn A. Werry Jr. Heir’s Halo and Kaitlyn Creekmore rounded out the top four for Thomas R. Brock Jr.
There was no change at the top of the 15-17 section, as Stonecroft I’m Radiant and Got No Shame once again went one-two. Now sitting on a four-class winning streak after the qualifier win and two wins at the All American Horse Classic, Rebecca Boorstein has teamed well with I’m Radiant over their first year together, putting it all together here this week under the direction of Jim and Fay Lowry. The Reserve World’s Champion of Champions earned the Reserve National Championship today. Rachel Machamer got the call to pilot this Jeff and Kelly Williamson and BRK Equestrian LLC entry. Another significantly deep class, Fox Grape’s Forever Yours and Elizabeth Ververeli were third, while World’s Champion of Champions CH New York Style was fourth with Ben Ferreby for John and Sandy Ferreby.
Under the Fairfield South banner, Kailin Elizabeth Baechle and Gavin Gagnon took the top two spots in the Saddle Seat Equitation 11-13 class. The 12-Year-Old World’s Champion, Baechle is in her second year out of the Walk-and-Trot ranks. Gavin Gagnon, with brother Kyle coaching him from the rail, earned the reserve title for the second year in a row. He was the Reserve Champion at Lexington Junior League in July. It was a New England sweep today as third place honors went to Cater Stables top young rider and former Walk and Trot National Champion Maggie McCool.
In the Missouri-Kansas Amateur/Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Stake, Cara Clara and Marjorie Townsend took a second round of honor together on the week, as they had also won the qualifier. Directed by Missy Hughes, this team has really come together nicely. Teresa Freyer moved up a place from her qualifier finish to take the Reserve Championship with Callaway’s Blue Blood, a repeat finish from 2008.
The first AHHS Youth Medallion National Championship had as many entries as the first three UPHA Pony Classics combined, as seven showed for the Road Pony Under Saddle title. Kent Swalla trained the winning entry in this one, as Rolls Royce shifted into top gear with Morgan Brison aboard to take a unanimous tri-color pass. They were Reserve National Champions the past two years for Gary Dickherber. Fourth in these Finals in 2007 and third a year ago, Melbourne’s Classic Headlines and Alex Terry moved up one spot again to earn the Reserve National Championship.
From the 14-15 ranks of Saddle Seat Equitation, Katie Moeller was judged to be the best. Directed by Max Ciampoli, she was also the 15-Year-Old Reserve World’s Champion. Showing out of Kierson Farm, Mary Mitkish earned the reserve win. She was the Equitation Champion at Syracuse International.
Gregory Haston took over the reins of Uncle Charlie to show back in the Missouri-Kansas Three-Gaited Stake for owner Diana Ennis. The results were quite good, as Uncle Charlie took the tri-color round of honor for the third consecutive year. By CH Heir To Champagne, Uncle Charlie is out of You Betcha. Missy Hughes moved up a spot from the qualifier to take the Reserve Championship with Azure Dreams for Ever Glades Farm. Azure Dreams is by CH Playboy’s Wild Hunter and out of an Attache mare.
With their winning streak now at five since just mid-September, Allie Wellington and Hawkeye’s Chatter Box have been on fire here in Kansas City. Directed by Drowning Creek Farm, Chatter Box and Allie were crowned the AHHS Hackney Pleasure Driving Youth Medallion National Champions today. They were Junior Exhibitor winners earlier this week. They finished second in this event a year ago. Queensbury Debutante and Patsy Loeb made one of their best performances of the year to earn the Reserve National Championship for Queensbury Farm LLC, under the direction of Rick Wallen.
There are few juvenile riders who can work a ring like Drew Taylor Hewitt. Coming down from the trot second way, "DT" made an unbelievably slick maneuver. She timed the call of the slow gait like a linebacker timing a blitz. She started walking off the rail and around one of her competitors as she started coming out of the in-gate turn. As soon as she heard Peter Fenton’s voice, the legs went into her longtime partner and she sent him down the rail like a machine. It was impressive to watch it unfold, and even more impressive that she had the sense of ringmanship to do that. Steve and Peggy Brackett are the excited owners of this horse that looks like just an absolute blast to ride. He was the Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Pleasure National Champion today. With dad Bob Brison calling instructions from the in gate, Morgan Brison put together a masterful performance with Take A Guess, the Missouri-Kansas Five-Gaited Pleasure winner on Tuesday. It was a scintillating show by last year’s Missouri-Kansas Amateur/Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Champion.
Brought into the national eye in 2006 by Shawn Stachowski, Santana’s Gypsy Gal continues to impress as her career continues. Always put together, punched up and marching, Gypsy Gal teamed up with Chris Reiser to earn the Park Pleasure Championship today, repeating their qualifier finish. Ray Krussell made an impressive show aboard Park Ridge’s Perfect Manhattan for Todd Buffington. Krussell really went for it today, moving up from his qualifier finish. Celtic Lass and Lisa Strickland finished up in third, while Steal My Thunder and John Field were fourth for Marty Reynolds.
Riding Tango Till Dawn under the direction of Scott and Carol Matton, Angela Darrow won the Saddle Seat Equitation 16-17 class. Giving the "hand over the mouth" move that basically amounts to the universal sign for excitement and surprise, Angela rode to the winner’s circle as proud parents Russ and Mara Darrow cheered her on. Having won every National Final offered at the American Royal, Brittany Ann McGinnis trimmed her Pleasure Equitation mount, Soli Deo Glori, and picked up reserve under the DeLovely banner.
With fields of seven, seven and now six in the AHHS 13-and-Under Road Pony Youth Medallion National Championship, the Medallion program was steady on entries all throughout the day. Undefeated in their short career together, Alex Ververeli and Heartland Victory Maker made their debut at ASHAV in one of the best juvenile road pony classes you will see anywhere. Turning back that field to take the blue, they set sail for Kemper Arena and took the National Championship honors today for the Ververeli family and the Kierson Farm banner. Alex held up under the pressure of continuing the great week of winning for the newly founded Kierson Farm. Owned by Donna Whatley and exhibited by a young lady who is no stranger to taking the last pass in this class, Surprize Surprize was the Reserve National Champion. Kirstie Buerkley was at the helm of this one. She was the winner of this National Championship in 2007 and 2008 with the great Dun-Haven Grandiose, under the Majestic Oaks banner.
Speaking of Kierson Farm winners, Mike and Jessie Richardson sent another winner down victory lane in the Five-Gaited Pleasure National Championship. Titleist Right Tonight and Allyson Ehle put together two phenomenal displays this week for Bob and Nancy Ehle to earn both the qualifier blue and the National Championship. Obviously a son of Titleist, Right Tonight was "locked in" this week, mowing down the competition in high style. Winner of the 39-and-Over qualifier, Under Oath was the Reserve National Champion for Jacque Nance. Directed by James Nichols and Barbe Smith, Under Oath is by Harlem Globetrotter and out of Santana’s Gypsy Girl, not to be confused with the Park Pleasure Champion, Gypsy Gal. Though it is no longer Janet Thompson Day in the State of Missouri, Janet Thompson still had a great ride aboard Quidditch to take third, while CH Callaway’s Dealbreaker and Betts Coup were fourth for Karen Coup.
The final class before the Walk-and-Trot Finals was the Missouri-Kansas Amateur/Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Stake. Winner of this class in 2007 and second in 2006, She’s Poison was the Champion once again today with Cortney Lynch the rider for Robert and Robin Lynch. Qualifier winners Enchanting Hour and Kaitlyn Alemian were the Reserve Champions for William Woods University. By Phi Slama Jama, Enchanting Hour is out of a CH The Talk Of The Town mare.
With four riders called back to the rail for a second workout in the UPHA 10-and-Under Walk-and-Trot Challenge Cup National Championship, Clara McCool and the Cater Stables team came away with a hard-earned National title. This team earned the 9-10 World’s Champion of Champions title in Freedom Hall this August. It was no small feat, as she had to battle off a field of the very best young riders in the business, including the 8-and-Under World’s Champion of Champions, Maisie Benfield. Directed by Zubrod Stables, Maisie was also a two-time winner in Freedom Hall.