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The Connection Public Relations
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla – The Jacksonville Equestrian Center was the setting for exciting competition as junior and adult riders from throughout the southeast and beyond competed in 2016 Southeast Medal Finals Sept. 16-18.
Top junior and amateur adult riders as well as up-and-comers competed in equitation, hunters and jumpers, many preparing to go on to the Southeast Regionals and indoors circuit. The 5th annual Southeast Medal Finals attracted riders from 15 states. For some, it was their first time competing in a coliseum.
Equitation Team Challenge winners, with Coach Leslie Terry
“The 5th Annual Southeast Medal Finals was fantastic,” said show creator James Lala of Wellington, Florida. “We were happy to see riders and trainers who come out every year to compete are are understanding the mission and how it is a win-win-win for the riders, trainers, sanctioned shows and the Southeast Medal Finals! I was also pleased that we saw a number of new stables who loved the event and plan to return next year. It was really nice to see that the riders and trainers really liked the new events we introduced.”
This year’s new highlight event, the Equitation Team Challenge of the States, drew praise from trainers and riders as it provided an opportunity for top juniors and adults to compete in an equitation team format and to devise their own strategy for the win.
“I’m always about finding places that challenge in different ways,” said trainer Leslie Terry of Cornerstone Farm in Naples, who coached the winning equitation team. Winning the blue ribbon was the team of Reily Rieker, 22, of Jacksonville, McKenzie Kreilich, 15, of Naples, and Erika Jakobson, 14, of Boca Raton.
“Our strategy definitely worked having Erika go first,” Kreilich said. “She had to walk in, lay it down, and get a high score.” The strategy paid off handsomely as Jakobson, who trains under Jane Fennessy of Carriage Hill Farm, posted a first-round score of 90 and setting up the team for the win.
In the prestigious Southeast Junior Medal Finals, Phoebe Alwine of Delray Beach won first, Dominique Gonzalez of Ocala took second, and Camryn Halley of Oveido placed third. Alwine was in the lead after the first round, and held on through the final round.
The Southeast Hunter Finals Under Saddle Challenge presented an opportunity for winners from each of the hunter finals under saddle classes to test themselves against each other. Darby Madden, 15, of Winter Park, who had won a blue ribbon in the Essex Classics Low Children’s Hunter Finals, bested the field. Placing 2nd was Danica Pryce, and 3rd was Paige Moose. Madden, also took first in the GGT Footing Low Children’s Medal Finals.
In the jumper classes, John Angus of Fort Lauderdale had a great showing. He placed both 1st and 5th in the Boy-O-Boy Bridleworks Low Childrens/Adults Jumper Finals, and 3rd in the Wood Craft Solutions High Childrens/Adults Jumper Finals.
Complete results can be found at www.horseshowsonline.com
Selected Results:
Phoebe Alwin, winner Junior Medal Finals, with trainer Jane Fennessy
EQUITATION FINALS
Equitation Team Challenge of the States: Gold: Reily Reiker, Erika Jakobson and McKenzie Kreilich; Silver: Sofia Carbone, Caroline Hudon, and Gracie Cammack; Bronze: Allison Postier, Dominique Gonzalez, and Sarah Brecher
Southeast Junior Medal Finals: Gold: Phoebe Alwin, (Trainer: Jane Fennessy), Silver: Dominique Gonzalez (Trainer: Terry Gonzalez); Bronze: Camryn Halley (Trainer: Laura Barrett-Gurtis)
The Riding Habit Adult Medal Finals: Gold: Fiamma Gonzalez-Perotti (Trainer: Karen Flynn), Silver: Reily Rieker (Trainer Kristal Tooma), Bronze: Alexandra Kulick (Trainer Stephanie Gingles)
Ovation Low Adult Medal Finals: Gold: Lindsey Williams (Trainer: Claudia Heath), Silver: Sabrina Schmidt (Trainer: Laura Barrett-Gurtis), Bronze: Daniella Vitale (Trainer: Danica Pryce)
GGT Footing Low Children’s Medal Finals: Gold: Darby Madden (Trainer: Steven Hawkins), Silver: Shira Hadar (Trainer: Peggy Thorndyke), Bronze: Kaci Loveland (Trainer: Jane Fennessy)
Global Horse Transport Pony Medal Finals: Gold: Paige Moose (Trainer: Richard Matthews), Silver: Samantha Palermo (Trainer: Steven Hawkins)
Southeast Children’s Pony Medal Finals: Gold: Savannah Strasberg (Trainer: Steven Hawkins), Silver: Mary Mac Illges (Trainer: Andrea Duffy), Bronze: Meghan Lynch (Trainer: Kristal Tooma)
Darby Madden and Dhirector , winner Hunter Finals Under Saddle Challenge
HUNTER FINALS
Southeast Hunter Finals Under Saddle Challenge: Gold: Darby Madden riding Dhirector (Owner: Stacey Madden, Trainer: Steven Hawkins), Silver: Daniella Pryce riding Ricochet (Owner: Daniella Vitale, Trainer Danica Pryce), Bronze: Paige Moose riding Masterpiece (Owner: Paige Moose, Trainer: Richard Matthews)
AG Equestrian Junior Hunter Finals: Gold: Dominique Gonzalez riding Ingo De Kalvarie (Owner: T.M. Hills Farm International Corp., Trainer: Terry Gonzalez); Silver: Dominique Gonzalez riding Euro D’Hyrencourt (Owner: Wadsworth Equestrian, Trainer: Terry Gonzalez), Bronze: Alanna Geoffroy riding Voka D.N. (Owner: Comfortside Farm, Trainer: Allison Campbell)
Southeast Amateur Owner Hunter Finals: Gold: Alexis Martin riding Budweis’czar (Owner: Alexis Martin, Trainer: Andrea Duffy), Silver: Alexandra Kulick riding Purple Encore (Owner: Alexandra Kulick, Trainer Stephanie Gingles)
Tenney’s Custom Saddlery Children’s Hunter Finals: Gold: Leah Rodman riding Cartoon (Owner: Anna Feldman, Trainer: Karen Flynn), Silver: Emmanuelle Greenberg riding Vermeer (Owner: Pumpkin’s Patch Farm, Trainer: Jane Fennessy), Bronze: Sara White riding Lexington (Owner: Zoe Reardon, Trainer: Vivianne Marzullo)
Van Dell Equestrain Jewelry Adult Hunter Finals: Gold: Alexandra Carroll riding Chinchino (Owner: Alexandra Carroll, Trainer: Taryn Adamy); Silver: Linda Long riding Amoroso Z (Owner: Long’s Stable, Trainer: Gretchen Arndt), Bronze: Allyson Hall riding Chimay Rouge (Owner: Allyson Hall, Trainer Katie Young)
Essex Classics Low Children’s Hunter Finals: Gold: Nicole Yunick riding Invictus (Owner: Nicole Yunick, Trainer Claire Lee), Silver: Taylor Guasti riding Penny’s Portrait (Owner: Taylor Guasti, Trainer: Michele Blair), Bronze: Taylor Estes riding Patent Pending (Owner Peggy Fuller, Trainer: Claire Lee)
Southeast Low Adult Hunter Finals: Gold: Danica Pryce riding Ricochet (Owner: Daniella Vitale, Trainer Danica Pryce), Silver: Reily Reiker riding It’s Kosher (Owner: Reily Reiker, Trainer Kristal Tooma), Bronze: Sabrina Schmidt riding The Only Exception (Owner: Katie Rudnick, Trainer: Laura Barrett-Gurtis)
Long Creek Farms Pony Hunter Finals: Gold: Samantha Palermo riding Neptune (Trainer: Steven Hawkins), Silver: Emma Arnhols riding Home Aroan (Owner: Emma Arnhols, Trainer: Karen Flynn), Bronze: Paige Moose riding Artwork (Owner: Paige Moose, Trainer: Richard Mathews)
Peterson Bernard Children’s Pony Hunter Finals: Gold: Sophia Ibanez riding Spilt Milk (Owner: Sophia Ibanez, Trainer Vivianne Marzullo), Silver: Savannah Strasberg riding Sugarbrook Game Plan (Owner: Savannah Strasberg, Trainer: Steven Hawkins), Bronze: Clara Schor riding Donatella (Owner: Pam Livecchi, Trainer: Michele Blair)
JUMPER FINALS
Southeast Junior Jumper Finals: Gold: Dominique Gonzalez riding Coca II (Trainer: Terry Gonzalez)
Woodcraft Solutions High Children’s/Adult’s Jumper Finals: Gold: Katherine Weisenmiller riding Paramo (Owner: KMW Ponies, Trainer: Keith Powell), Silver: Amy Nelson riding Popstar (Owner: Amy Nelson, Trainer Clair Lee), Bronze: John Angus riding Nine to Five (Owner: Stephanie Angus, Trainer: John Angus)
Boy-O-Boy Bridleworks Low Children’s/Adult’s Jumper Finals: Gold: John Angus riding Vertigo (Owner: Stephanie Angus, Trainer: John Angus) Silver: Rachel Rolfs riding Lost My Sok (Owner: Katiea Vargas, Trainer Katiea Vargas), Bronze: Sara Takacs riding Maxim Marcos (Owner: Sarah Takacs, Trainer: Janie Reinhard)
Southeast Medal Finals Fact Sheet
WHAT: A finals show offering a special end of season culmination and finals that is more attainable for everyone.
WEBSITE: http://wwwsoutheastmedalfinals.com
PRIZE LIST: http://www.southeastmedalfinals.com/#!prize-list-time-schedule/c72d
WHEN: Sept. 16-18, 2016
WHERE: Jacksonville Equestrian Center, Jacksonville, FL, featuring a large indoor coliseum with 3000 seats, two outdoor rings, and 500 permanent stalls.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Finals classes in hunters, jumpers, and equitation
• Equitation Team Challenge of the States
• Hunter Finals Under Saddle Challenge
• Tally Ho Farm Pony & Developing Rider Jumper Classic
SPONSORS:
• AG Equestrian
• Boy-O-Boy Bridleworks
• C. M. Hadfield’s Saddlery
• Essex Classics
• GGT Footing
• Global Horse Transport
• Noble Outfitters
• Ovation Riding
• Peterson Bernard
• The Riding Habit
• Tenney’s Custom Saddlery
• Tally Ho Farm
• Van Dell Fine Jewelry
• Wellington Quarantine
• Wood Craft Solutions
CONTACT:
James Lala 561-906-6668, jdlala@aol.com
Alexis Newman 904-993-2053, SEmedalFinals@gmail.com
BENEFICIARY:
Kids Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2001 whose mission is to provide resources and emotional support to children battling cancer and their families. Kids Cancer Foundation provides numerous programs, including a pediatric oncology patient care navigator, arts and health programs, tutoring and homework club for patients and siblings, and family socials. For more information, visit http://www.kidscancersf.org.
