Congress Western Riding Wins Go to Perry Jackson/Cutelicious and Susan Knapp/Heavenly Mac

By: Brittany Bevis

Today’s afternoon competition wrapped up by crowning two new Congress Champions in Western Riding. First, Susan Knapp rode Heavenly Mac to score a 230.5 to win Select Western Riding. 

This was a very competitive class, with the top three places separated by just .5-1 point. The Reserve Champion was Kathy Tobin with More Radical, scoring a 230. Third place was her sister, Susan Johns, with Heza Radical Zip, scoring a 229. “That’s how this class is won; in the little details,” Knapp says.

Knapp and 11-year-old “Mac” have had a very successful year claiming top titles at the Select World Show and NSBA World Show. “This has been a good year,” she says. “Jason [Martin] won Senior Western Riding at the NSBA World Show, and I was Reserve. Here, Jason won Senior Western Riding, and I was third in Select Trail.”

One part of the pattern Knapp was very pleased with this evening was Mac’s stop and back, which she’s been working on hard at home. Also, she feels today’s pattern number 4 was a good fit for Mac’s strengths.

“He is very kind and very forgiving,” she says. “When I bought Mac, I didn’t know anything about Western Riding or Trail. He’s taught me everything I know, him and Jason!

At the upcoming AQHA World Show, Jason Martin will show Mac in Senior Trail and Senior Western Riding.

Fourth place in Select Western Riding was Mary Lou Searles with Flashy Attraction. Fifth place was Perry Glenn Jackson with Cutelicious. Sixth place was Bonnie Sheren with Dun It In The Dark. Seventh place was Jan Bruner with Blazin Occasion. Eighth place was Carrie Ann Geldner with Must Be A Detail. Ninth place was Isabel Scobie with Range To A Te. Tenth place was Bonnie Sheren with Corporate Credit.

In Novice Amateur Western Riding, Perry Jackson rode Cutelicious to a big win by scoring a 221. This has been Perry’s first year competing in Western Riding, and he is very thankful to have received a good start in the discipline from one of the industry’s experts, Bruce Vickery.

“Bruce Vickery picked her out for us,” Perry says. “We’ve had a great year so far. We were seventh at the Select World in Western Riding, third in Western Pleasure, and won at the NSBA World.”

Earlier at the Congress, Bruce showed Mac to place third in Senior Western Riding. At the upcoming World Show, the pair will compete in Senior Western Pleasure and Senior Western Riding.

Perry was very pleased with “Cutie’s” performance in his go today where they had to perform pattern number two. “I think we did a good job going down the line by being on time and not being late,” he says. “I think it was really clean everywhere, but I could’ve steered a bit better around the corners.”

Not only was Perry very excited about winning his first Congress Champion title in 33 years, he was surprised to accept a show headstall in addition to his trophies, neck ribbon, belt buckle, and other prizes. “You can never have too many headstalls,” he says. “I showed as a kid 33 years ago, and I won Showmanship. I haven’t shown at the Congress since then! Next year, Trail is on our list.”

The Reserve Congress Champion was Maria Salazar with Winkin For Chocolate, scoring a 220.5. Third place was Elizabeth Rinder with Hot Rockin Potential, scoring a 220. Fourth place was Shelly Germaine with Leaguers Finale, scoring a 220. Fifth place was Erin Girolamo with Hez Raising The Bar. Sixth place was Jordan Ferguson with Baileys N Chocolate. Seventh place was Bonnie Sheren with Dun In The Dark. Eighth place was Katherine Bernick with Gimmea Charlie Horse. Ninth place was Carrie Ann Geldner with Must Be A Detail. Tenth place was Cathrin Gutmann with Onlyafraid Inthedark.