Day 1-2 Recap From 2014 AZ. Fall Championship
By: Brittany Bevis
The first two days of the 2014 Arizona Fall Championship are now complete and, thus far, class numbers seem to be on par with those of last year’s event. Following a similar trend at other major events across the nation, the largest class sizes were seen in scored events featuring leveling like Trail and Western Riding.
Wednesday’s largest Special Event class numbers:
- L1 Amateur Western Riding- 16
- L1 Senior Western Riding- 16
- L2 Senior Western Riding- 16
- L1 Junior Trail- 17
- L2 Amateur Select Trail- 20
- L1 Amateur Trail- 24
- L1 Senior Trail- 23
- Amateur Trail- 23
- L2 Senior Trail- 28
- L3 Senior Trail- 31
Thursday’s largest class numbers:
- Amateur Performance Halter Mares- 16
- L2 Amateur Select Trail- 18
- L1 Senior Trail- 19
- Amateur Select Showmanship- 20
- L1 Junior Trail- 21
- Amateur Performance Halter Geldings- 22
- Amateur Showmanship- 22
- Amateur Trail- 23
- L1 Amateur Trail- 28
- L2 Senior Trail- 28
- L1 Amateur Showmanship- 31
- L3 Senior Trail- 32
The show kicked off on Wednesday with a Special Event Trail and Western Riding that was judged by Michele Pearson and Suzy Jeane. Topping Michele Pearson’s card in a 16 entry L1 Amateur Western Riding was Kathryn Devries with The Vital Invitation. Coming in second was Alexandra Chavez with Only In Showbiz. In the regular Amateur Western Riding, Fon Laughlin piloted Zip Along Home to a win, Chavez came in second, and Jason Wanderer showed Zippos Petite Prince to a third place finish. (Judge- Michele Pearson)
Select riders came out in full force to Scottsdale with many local Arizonians claiming the top spots. Katherine Tobin and RA Undisputed won the Amateur Select Western Riding; Bonnie Elber with Zip Past The Jag was second; and Joanne Garnett with So Much Potential came in third. (Judge- Michele Pearson)
Many of the same select riders dominated Trail classes as well. Joanne Garnett rode So Much Potential to a first place finish in L3 Amateur Select Trail with Marlene Gomes and Collective Goods coming in second. The winner of the L2 Amateur Select Trail was Bonnie Elber with Zip Past The Jag, and Tori Jean Miller came in second with Art Xzibit. (Judge- Suzy Jeane)
The 15 entry L2 Junior Trail was won by Melissa Zanetti and Without Regret. Will Knabenshue and JL Western Bar came in second. A 28 entry L2 Senior Trail was won by Karen Graham with Blazin Occasion, and Jimmy Daurio with Show Me The Honey came in second. The 31 entry L3 Senior Trail was won by Robin Frid aboard Credits For Heaven. Second place was Deanna Searles with RA Undisputed, and third was Bruce Vickery with Zip Along Home. (Judge- Suzy Jeane)
Click here to view complete results from Wednesday’s Special Event Trail and Western Riding.
The action began bright and early at 7:00 am on Thursday with halter classes in the Equine Chronicle Equidome. A 22 entry Amateur Performance Halter Geldings class was won by Jason Wanderer with Cool Krymsun Zip. Cindy Tollefson showed A Certain Luxury to a first place finish in a 15 entry Amateur Performance Halter Mares class. In Youth Performance Halter Geldings, Kyra Bouma with Unique Alibi was named first and Sharese Rivait with Show Your Invitation placed second. (Judge- Beckey Schooler)
Large Showmanship classes followed Halter, such as a 31 entry L1 Amateur Showmanship that was won by Joy Norris and A Certain Rockstar. Brittany Lofton-Morgan and Lil Bit Western won a 22 entry Amateur Showmanship, and Christine Hocutt-Senteney with Bellieve Hes Blazing won a 20 entry Amateur Select Showmanship. (Judge- Jonathan Meilleur)
Meanwhile, Arena 3 was split into two sides for Trail classes. Then, Hunter Under Saddle winners were crowned in the Equine Chronicle Equidome in the afternoon. Big winners included Ryan Painter with It Will Be Al Right in L1 Hunter Under Saddle, Shayley Beaton with Tommy Lee Loper in L1 Youth Hunter Under Saddle, and Jaclyn Landers with BMQ Decked In Chrome in Youth Hunter Under Saddle. (Judge- Jonathan Meilleur)
Lauren Rae Shepherd and Must Be A Detail won the L1 Amateur Hunter Under Saddle and Lauren Rodberg and The Fire Escape won Amateur Hunter Under Saddle. (Judge- Beckey Schooler) Then, Michelle Patin and Call Me Interested won L1 Youth Hunt Seat Equitation, and Miranda Mitten with Sudden Persuasion won Youth Hunt Seat Equitation. Brittany Lofton-Morgan and Huntin For Fun scored at the top of the Amateur Hunt Seat Equitation, and Linda Layon-Watson with Gotta Good Feelin won the Select Hunt Seat Equitation. (Judge- Jonathan Meilleur)
Click on the links below to view results from Thursday.
Halter Championship Round 9-25
The competition will continue today through Sunday at WestWorld in Scottsdale, Arizona. Stay tuned to www.EquineChronicle.com for more results and photos coming soon.
View the live feed for the show on http://horseshowglobal.com/.
