Jacksonville, FL – September 21, 2013 – The third day of the 2013 Southeast Medal Finals was another booming day at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. Highlights of the day were the Children’s Adult Jumper Championship, the Phelps Media Group Junior Medal with an astounding number of entries in its second year- over 60 entries, and the Southeast Adult Medal Final.
Barbara Ann Merryman and El Paso Photo by Randi Muster
For the second year in a row, Dr. Juan Gamboa and his incredible horse, Partizan, captured the lead of the World Cup format competition. Gamboa had much to celebrate as it was also the anniversary of his wedding day to his wife, Jennifer.
Gamboa bested the tough competition by carrying only 2.5 faults throughout the three rounds. Round three was open to the top 15 riders in rounds one and two and included two trips around the course. Faults were added throughout the rounds. Barri Platt and Vicky were second with only 3.5 points out of the three rounds and Meghan Flanagan and Revelation were third, carrying only 5 points over the course of the three rounds.
“He’s a magician, he’s unbelievable,” said Gamboa. “He’s 23, he’s the oldest horse here and I am the oldest rider! He liked it, he enjoyed himself.”
Juan Gamboa and Partizan Photo by Randi Muster
To keep Partizan sound and happy Gamboa says he gives him lots a love, good food and three months off in the summer. “Last time I showed him was in June. He was ready to come here. He knows his job. He wants to go clean and he wants to go fast. He’s a good boy.”
Gamboa trains with Daniel Geitner in Aiken, SC and Derek Peterson is schooling him here at Southeast Medal Finals. “I have a lot support. I cannot believe I beat all these kids!
For the Southeast Adult Medal Finals, and the Phelps Media Group Junior Medal Finals, there was a panel of four judges which included Tony Sgarlatti, Linda Andrisani, Jennifer Drahan and Molly Flaherty. The four judges scores were averaged for each round, then the two round scores were averaged to determine the final score.
For both classes, Allen Rheinheimer built a course that provided many options for the horse and rider pairs. There were opportunities to take an inside track and make tight rollbacks or to go around and for easier approaches. A forward five going away from the in gate kicked off the first round of both classes and required that a good pace be established to begin the course.
Emily Jones and Califernia Photo by Randi Muster
Ten riders competed in the Southeast Adult Medal first round. Four were asked to return for a second round. Lindsay Tomeu aboard Siboney Ranch’s Take Note, earned an average score of 76.99, which landed the pair in second place. Samantha Senft and Whisper VDL, owned by Pursuit Farms LLC, scored a 69.16 for fourth place. Audrey Gallagher and Alexander Worthington’s Romina 58 were third with a score of 75.66. Emily Jones piloted Califernia, owned by Donald Stewart, around the course, putting in a smooth and flawless performance earning them an average score of 78.33 and the victory gallop.
“I grew up with Jen (Miller) riding as a junior,” said Jones. “After I graduated college, I kind of stopped riding a little bit and have just been riding every now and then. I hadn’t ridden in six months until this week. We called Don (Stewart) and we said, ‘Don, we want to go to this horse show.’ So he said, ‘Sure, take this horse, he’s awesome. I rode him, took him, I’ve been practicing all week. Showed up and he has been amazing, to say the least. He is a good, good horse. He has taken good care of me and I have had a blast. I’m going to keep riding and showing as much as possible. Hopefully, one day I’ll get back to more consistently riding and showing.”
Watch an interview with Emily Jones! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZQSWoKozRw
Bob Bell and James Lala, added a new class that provided some good fun and comedic relief in between rounds of the Southeast Medal Finals – the Parent Lead Line Class.
Junior riders were encouraged to have a little fun and embarrass their parents for a good cause. All proceeds from the entry fees went to the show charity partner, Unbridled Warriors, equine assisted programs for military and first-responders.
Parent Lead Line- “Most resembles Bob Bell” – Abbi Bendz
Photo by Randi Muster
“A member of our PR team, Mary Adelaide Brakenridge came up with the concept,” said Lala. “We all loved the idea and ran with it. Everyone gathered around to watch the class. We laughed so hard we cried, especially when it came to awarding the creative categories. Don Stewart is such a great sport and his sense of humor is infectious!”
Parent Lead Line – “Most embarrassing to their family and barn”- Don Stewart
Photo by Randi Muster
The Phelps Media Group SEMF Junior Medal had 63 entries, a significant increase over last year Rheinheimer’s course provided the riders with options to showcase their strengths. . Twelve juniors horse and rider combinations were asked back for the second round.
Meghan Flanagan and Thrift Shop Photo by Randi Muster
Meghan Flanagan, riding Fairfield Farm’s Thrift Shop, was the first rider to break the 80 mark in the second round, with an average score of 82.56. Her score would stand as the leader until Brett Burlington and Sunman had their second to last round. The pair scored an average score of 82.68 for their two rounds.
Brett Burlington and Sunman Photo by Randi Muster
Then, last to go, Barbara Ann Merryman and Don Stewart’s El Paso edged Burlington out of the top spot with an average score of 85.68.
Barbara Ann Merryman and El Paso Photo by Randi Muster
Merryman who is studying at Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, lives in the Baltimore area and trains with Kimberly Stewart. They contacted Don Stewart (no relation) to help them find a horse to ride in the Regionals on Sunday. They tried two horses.
“I rode El Paso and he was fabulous,” said Merryman.
“He’s young but he’s nice, he never looks at anything,” added Stewart. “He just goes right around. I thought the courses were awesome. You had options but he has a big stride so we had a lot of choices we could make. Thank you to Don because he’s been a huge supporter with equitation horses.
Barbara Ann Merryman and El Paso Photo by Randi Muster
“And congratulations to Don for his win in the Lead Lines,” joked Merryman.
On Sunday the Southeast Medal Finals continues at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center with Children’s Hunters, Adult Hunters the SEMF Adult Hunter Classic and the highlight of the day, the highly-anticipated ASPCA Maclay Regionals.
Watch an interview with Barbara Ann Merryman! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHdD34_kJRE
RESULTS
Phelps Media Group SEMF Junior Medal
397/1/0.00/0.00/$0.00/EL PASO/STEWART, DONALD/MERRYMAN, BARBARA ANN/HILL, BIBBY/3104/
486/2/0.00/0.00/$0.00/SUNMAN/SWEET OAK FARM, /BURLINGTON, BRETT/SWEETNAM, ALLISON/3104/
411/3/0.00/0.00/$0.00/THRIFT SHOP/FAIRFIELD FARMS LLC, ./FLANAGAN, MEGHAN/HILL, BIBBY/3104/
533/4/0.00/0.00/$0.00/WIZ KHALIFA/STEWART, DONALD/HOFT, VICTORIA/HILL, BIBBY/3104/
536/5/0.00/0.00/$0.00/URCO/STEWART, DONALD/ALEXANDER, ASHTON/HILL, BIBBY/3104/
394/6/0.00/0.00/$0.00/C’ASSINO/GONZALEZ-PEROTTI, FIAMMA/GONZALEZ-PEROTTI, FIAMMA/FLYNN, KAREN/3104/
455/7/0.00/0.00/$0.00/PAPER GANGSTER/BUTEHORN, MADISON/BUTEHORN, MADISON/KOROTKIN, ALAN/3104/
358/8/0.00/0.00/$0.00/COOPER/KIMMELL, ELLIE/KIMMELL, ELLIE/BEJARANO, SHANON/3104/
328/9/0.00/0.00/$0.00/QUI MARO/POSTIER, ALLISON/POSTIER, ALLISON/BARTH, LAUREN/3104/
463/10/0.00/0.00/$0.00/TIGGER/KOROTKIN, ALAN/QUALLS, MORGANE/KOROTKIN, ALAN/3104/
476/11/0.00/0.00/$0.00/ALCHEMY/RITTENBERG, ADAM/RITTENBERG, ADAM/CORNACCHIO-MORRISSEY, TIFFANY/3104/
Southeast Medal Finals Adult Medal
83/1/0.00/0.00/$100.00/BORIS/YOUNG, KAREN/YOUNG, ELLE/BRASWELL, ROBERT/2410/
472/2/0.00/0.00/$70.00/WHISKEY BLUE/WHEELER, DOUGLAS/FOSTER, ASHLEY/FOSTER, PATTY/2410/
387/3/0.00/0.00/$50.00/CHROMEO/WIGHT, MELISSA/WIGHT, SAMANTHA/SWEETNAM, ALLISON/2410/
407/4/0.00/0.00/$30.00/VICTOR VDL/STEIN, SUSAN/ALEXANDER, ASHTON/HILL, BIBBY/2410/
402/5/0.00/0.00/$30.00/CR MOET/MILLIREN, SARAH/FLANAGAN, MEGHAN/HILL, BIBBY/2410/
390/6/0.00/0.00/$20.00/NOBILITY/WIGHT, MELISSA/WIGHT, SAMANTHA/SWEETNAM, ALLISON/2410/
496/7/0.00/0.00/$0.00/TOMMY/MAYFIELD, CATHERINE/MARTIN, ALYSSIA/DUFFY, ANDREA/2410/
408/8/0.00/0.00/$0.00/O’ RYAN/FAIRFIELD FARMS LLC, ./FLANAGAN, MEGHAN/HILL, BIBBY/2410/
Children’s /Adult Jumper Championships
05/1/0.00/0.00/$1,800.00/PARTIZAN/GAMBOA, JUAN/GAMBOA, JUAN/GAMBOA, JUAN/3500/
453/2/0.00/0.00/$1,320.00/VICKY/OAKLAND VENTURES LLC, ./PLATT, BARRI/KOROTKIN, ALAN/3500/
409/3/0.00/0.00/$900.00/REVELATION/FAIRFIELD FARMS LLC, ./FLANAGAN, MEGHAN/HILL, BIBBY/3500/
417/4/0.00/0.00/$540.00/VERONIKE/ZAVODNEY, LAUREN/ZAVODNEY, LAUREN/WILLS, KATIE/3500/
515/4/0.00/0.00/$540.00/OFRENDA/BOLLING, ANNIE/BOLLING, ANNIE/GRICE, DANIELLE/3500/
437/6/0.00/0.00/$300.00/POPSTAR/COMBS, AMY/COMBS, AMY/YOUNG, KATIE/3500/
447/7/0.00/0.00/$300.00/MILORD DE KERGANE/HARNCH, DALTON/HARNCH, DALTON/KOROTKIN, ALAN/3500/
401/8/0.00/0.00/$300.00/CHEPETTO/STEWART, DONALD/ALEXANDER, ASHTON/HILL, BIBBY/3500/
448/9/0.00/0.00/$0.00/REFLEX Z/HARNCH, KENDRA/HARNCH, KENDRA/KOROTKIN, ALAN/3500/
331/10/0.00/0.00/$0.00/CASTLEBAY/DREYER, GRACE/DREYER, GRACE/CAWLEY, JANET/3500/
431/11/0.00/0.00/$0.00/FLORESTANO/CESERY, CHRISTIE/CESERY, CHRISTIE/CESERY, LEE/3500/
441/12/0.00/0.00/$0.00/RIGAL D’ARSOUILLES/QUIET HILL FARM, /SMITH, CALLIE/YOUNG, KATIE/3500/
Special thanks to Dressage Collection with fine handbags and accessories for sponsoring the Southeast Medal Final. Each piece from Dressage Collection is meticulously hand made in Italy and uniquely designed to incorporate classic equestrian style. Please visit them online at http://www.DressageCollection.com.
Southeast Medal Finals Fast Facts:
WHAT: The Southeast Medal Finals is a USEF A-Rated indoor and outdoor hunter, jumper and equitation horse show. USEF Rated Jumper Level 3
WEBSITE: www.southeastmedalfinals.com
WHEN: September 19-22, 2013
WHERE: The Jacksonville Equestrian Center, Jacksonville, FL, featuring a large indoor coliseum with 3,000 seats, two outdoor rings and 500 permanent stalls.
13611 Normandy Blvd.
Jacksonville, FL 32221
FEATURES:
Phelps Media Group Southeast Junior Medal Finals
Southeast Adult Medal Finals
ASPCA Maclay Regionals
$25,000 Land Rover Jacksonville Grand Prix
$5,000 Welcome Stake
$7,500 Child/Adult Jumper Finals
New European Style Developing Sport Horse Division sponsored by Team Rakowsky
New Southeast Children’s Hunter Final sponsored by Jerry Parks Insurance
New Southeast Adult Hunter Final sponsored by Jerry Parks Insurance
New EMO Cup Championship
Click here for the prize list, entry forms, schedules and more.
HUNTER & EQUITATION JUDGES: Linda Andrisani & Molly Flaherty (Hunter, Maclay & SEMF), Tony Sgarlatta (Hunter, Equitation & SEMF), Jennifer Drahan (SEMF)
JUMPER JUDGES: Allen Rheinheimer & Fred Brown
STEWARD: Janet McCarroll
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Susan Rindal (904) 655-5497 – rindal@bellsouth.net
Bob Bell (843) 768-5503 – bbell@earthlink.net
James Lala (561) 906-6668- jdlala@aol.com
HUNTER & EQUITATION JUDGES: Linda Andrisani & Molly Flaherty (Hunter, Maclay & SEMF), Tony Sgarlatta (Hunter, Equitation & SEMF), Jennifer Drahan (SEMF)
JUMPER JUDGES: Allen Rheinheimer & Fred Brown
STEWARD: Janet McCarroll
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Susan Rindal (904) 655-5497 – rindal@bellsouth.net
Bob Bell (843) 768-5503 – bbell@earthlink.net
James Lala (561) 906-6668- jdlala@aol.com
SPONSORS:
Maker’s Mark
http://www.makersmark.com
Land Rover Jacksonville
www.landroverjacksonville.net
Cedar Street Advisors
http://www.bmo.com/cedarstreetadvisors
Jerry Parks Insurance Group
http://www.jerryparksinsurance.com/
Phelps Media Group International
http://phelpsmediagroup.com/
Bruce Duchossios HND Stables, Inc.
John Deere
http://www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_US/regional_home.page
Jacksonville Tourist Development Council
http://www.visitjacksonville.com/about-us/TDC
Horse Shows Online
http://horseshowsonline.com
Classic Company
www.classiccompany.com
Geddaway Farm
http://geddawayfarm.com
Bridlewood Equestrian Center
www.bridlewoodequestrian.org
Mandarin Equine / Adequan
www.Mandarinequine.com
James Lala’s Wellington Quarantine, LLC
www.JamesLalaQuarantine.com
Equestrianstylist.com
http://www.equestrianstylist.com
DIRECTIONS: For map and address information click here:www.southeastmedalfinals.com/Location.aspx
