Wow, Week III at Thermal was a home run for the team!! I’m already hoping I don’t leave anything out, but here is some of the best..
Shelley and Kohala were ….. AMAZING! Of the six classes they won 3 firsts and 3 seconds in the Green Conformation which netted the pair not only the Week III Championshipbut contributed to the hugely prestigious Mid Circuit Championship as well. Speaking of Mid Circuit Champions, Madison Cameron and Legatus are leading the circuit with the Mid Circuit Championship in the Equitation 16-17 and a third in both the USEF Medal and the ASPCA Maclay- Great Job!! Maggie Dennis and Greyscale are looking like a finished product, blending together into a beautiful team with a fourth place finish in the USEF Medal, a win in the Junior Hunters and culminating with winning the Large Jr Hunter Classic this past Sunday. Diane Laycoe and Final Act were DC III Champions in the Adult Hunters 56 and over, while Bryan Laycoe and Locaro Z were Reserve. Great Laycoe domination! My favorite class was when Diane, Zizi Zell and Bryan were 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the AA Hunters! Not to be forgotten, the amazing Zizi, who arrived wk 3 and simply rode into the show ring and won her 1st class of 2011 on Adam-12. Kathy Waldorf and Penny Lane jumped in the Adult Equitation 2′ and Modified Adult Hunter taking home the Reserve Championship in both. Pretty fantastic since Kathy has not jumped a course in 8 years! Seems long-winded, but I can’t leave out the huge value of the ‘Thermal Experience’ for the learning curve of all of our riders. Jane Hood improved out of the pastel ribbons and into the primary colors, Stephanie Haralabatos won the Under Saddle, Alexandra Ulmer had victories in both equitation and jumpers, and Kimberly Bruce debuted as an Oz rider and jumped the 3’0″ for the first time!
On the other side of the fence in the jumper venues, Zenon and I won in the Level 4 and finished off the first half with the Mid Circuit Reserve Championship Level 4 Jumper. Red Legend is a true show horse. He and I had terrific, consistent finishes bringing home good paychecks. Lea Snyder and Hakuna Matada jumped the very difficult High Amateur Owner Jumpers. Lea had a great tour and is really riding well (not just because of the new stirrups:) we’ll really miss her during this 2nd half. Mary Masterson and Glory are models of consistency. Their times get faster and faster (with a little gentle prodding) and the pair finished off the first half with a good paycheck in the $4,000 Low Jr/AO Jumper Classic.
We’ll keep you posted…..
Many thanks for the most enjoyable 1st half ever! Jeff
Agreed! Most enjoyable first half EVER!
Great first half, Congratulations to all!! Shelley & Jeff, were you aware that Alex and Vi were level 1 1st half Champions???