APHA World Show Amateur Equitation Winners Include Bankford, Weiser, Bull

By: Brittany Bevis

This evening at the 2015 APHA World Championship Show saw several big winners named in Equitation classes. First up, Sarah Bankford rode Scotch With Roses to win the World Championship title in Novice Amateur Hunt Seat Equitation. The Reserve Champion was Lacey Armstrong with This Sheik Rocks. Third place was Kathleen Hugh with A Spot Of Zip. Fourth place was  Samantha Wurth with Just Roll With It.

In Classic Amateur Equitation Christine Weiser rode Nighttime Sensation to snag her second World Champion title of the horse show. Just yesterday, she and her 10-year-old black gelding “Cole” were named the World Champions in Classic Amateur Showmanship. Coming in Reserve today in Equitation was Kylee John with Krymsunized. Third place was Desarae Gilley with A Sudden Legacy. Fourth place was Taylor Dixon with My Sensational Cookie. Fifth place was Ashley Wildes with Heza Texas Hobo.

Christine has won both Showmanship and Equitation here at the World Show before, two years ago and three years ago, respectively. To be able to claim World Champion titles in the same events once again feels like a dream. “It’s incredible,” she says. “I’ve worked so hard, and to have it pay off like this is a dream come true!”

Christine and Cole have been a team for several years now. She describes her gentle giant as being “completely spoiled rotten.” Christine has competed under the guidance of trainer Karen Qualls for the past eleven years. Karen’s words of advice to Christine tonight were “to keep my elbows and knees tight and keep my chin an inch higher than where I think it should be!”

Looking forward to next year and beyond, Christine hopes she will be able to show Cole for many more years. “He’s my dream horse; I don’t think I’ll ever be able to replace him. Yesterday, I couldn’t have asked for anything more from Cole in our Showmanship finals pattern. That was one of the best Showmanship patterns I’ve ever had. It felt like he was my dance partner.”

“In my Equitation pattern, I really liked my lead change. I was really worried I might get an extra lead change when I went into the hand gallop, because he’s done that a couple times here at the show, but he didn’t do it today. He came back really nice from the hand gallop, and  I came around the corner and broke down from the trot and got my diagonal right away. I was really pleased with it.”

Later on in the show, the pair will compete in Classic Amateur Hunter Under Saddle, Horsemanship, Trail, and Western Riding.

In Masters Amateur Equitation, Coleen Bull rode Timeless Assets to win the class. The Reserve Champion was Linda Rice with I’m Real Sensational. Third place was Kelli Foster with Fleets Serenity. Fourth place was Paris Hughes with Fancy Favors. Fifth place was Diane Luckey with Hez Got It Go N On.