Best Buds, Ellexxah Maxwell and Mallory Vroegh, Take Top Two Spots in Youth 12-14 Showmanship

By: Brittany Bevis

Four hours and 87 Showmanship runs later and a Congress Champion has been crowned in the Youth 12-14 Showmanship. Ellexxah Maxwell led Zips Bossy Chip to a win in a competitive class of young exhibitors. The Reserve Champion was Mallory Vroegh with Some Sweet Machine. Third place was Alexandrea Albright with Certainly Radical. Fourth place was Liana Caroccio with An Everlasting Touch. Fifth place was Kamiah McGrath with Secrets Until Dark.

Maxwell has prior Congress and Youth World Champion titles to her credit, but this is her first Congress Championship earned in her favorite event.

“Showmanship is actually my favorite class,” Maxwell says. “My mom and I have a huge thing for Showmanship. I’ve always been second, so winning this is a big deal for me.”

Making this win even more special is the fact that standing right next to Maxwell, as the last two competitors in the arena, was one of her good friends, Mallory Vroegh.

“I had a panic attack out there in the pen,” she says. “When they said her number, I ended up on my knees. Having a friend out there with me was… I can say she was right there next to me when it happened.”

Maxwell was very pleased with the performance of her horse, “Annie B,” especially the high degree of difficulty points obtained during the extended trot portion.

“She’s very spontaneous; I’ll give her that,” Maxwell says. “She likes to pull patterns out of nowhere. It was awesome; I couldn’t have asked her for anything better. Probably my extended trot [was my favorite part]. When I asked for it, she just blew it out and was booking it.”

Later on in the week, Maxwell and Annie B will compete in NYATT Showmanship, Trail, Hunter Under Saddle, and Equitation.

 

Youth Showmanship 12-14-

1- Zips Bossy Chip/Ellexxah Maxwell

2-Some Sweet Machine/Mallory Vroegh

3- Certainly Radical/Alexandrea Albright

4-An Everlasting Touch/Liana Caroccio

5-Secrets Until Dark/Kamiah McGrath