Drew Keller and "Rudy". Courtesy of Drew's Facebook Page.
It was a gorgeous cloudy weekend in Geneseo New York, and eventers made good use of it at the Area I Championships at GVRDC.
In the Preliminary Championship Division, Drew Keller aboard her own Detailed Just Right finished on their dressage score of 32.2 to capture the win. Drew has been patiently and consistently bringing her gray appendix quarter horse up the levels for the past eight years from the novice level, and have been successfully dabbling in the one-stars the past two years. It was also the pair’s best dressage score to date.
Reserve champion was Carol Kozlowski with Main Attraction, a 2008 Dutch Warmblood owned by Donna Donaghy. The pair had a terrific dressage score of 27.6 and ultimately added a handful of time on cross country and a show jumping rail to clinch the second place slot of a final total of 52.4. Third in the division and also qualified for the championships was Missy Miller and her own Oldenburg mare, Limited Edition.
The Training Championship Division was extremely competitive, with less than two points separating first through third. Rain Anderson was able to finish on her impeccable dressage score of 27.1 to maintain her narrow lead over Meredith Webb and Carolyn Wehle in second and third, respectively. In fact the top six all finished on their dressage scores.
Rain claimed the championship aboard Amy Anderson’s Limited Access, a 15-year-old thoroughbred gelding who Rain has been campaigning since August of last year.
Rain Anderson and Limited Acess. Photo courtesy of @ra.eventing, photo by Eliza Goldberg.
Meredith Webb took the reserve honors aboard her own Jade vom Rappenhof, a lovely black Trakehner mare on a final score of 27.7, and Carolyn Wehle claimed third on Edelmann, a Polish Warmblood owned by Amy Winnen.
In the Novice Horse Championship, Gina Teresi and her own Totally Truman earned their top slot with a 34.0 in dressage and adding just a rail in the jumping phases.
In the Novice Rider Championship, Kristina Kleeh and Everlasting were able to make an impressive jump up the standings from seventh to first by being one of only two combinations to finish on their dressage score. Hannah Berger on her own Moranda were right behind them, jumping from eighth to reserve champions on a first and final total of 37.5. Third place went to Eve Kaplan-Walbrecht and her own Huckleberry.
Winners of the Beginner Novice Horse Championships were Anne Eillinger and Bruichladdich, a Percheron / Dutch Harness Cross who stands at 17.3 hands tall! The mighty lad owned by Bonnie Andre scored an impressive 22.8 in dressage and stayed on that score in only his second recognized event.
Reserve Champions were Carol Kozlowski and John & Margaret Fretow’s Regally Blonde, a 13-year-old Thoroughbred mare. Together the pair also finished on their dressage score of 30.5. Third place went to Farley Wagner and Jim Wagner’s In the Groove, who added just a rail in the jumping phases to finish on a 33.3.
Finally, Championships were also awarded in the Beginner Novice Rider division, and this year’s honors went to Lori Elrod aboard The Red Baron with a first and final score of 25.3. Reserve champion was Wiebke Bank and Didore on a score of 31.5, and third place went to Rebecca Blackburn and Oberto, who just sneaked into their slot by .4 points.
For their hard work and tremendous performances, the horses and riders were awarded some beautiful swag which included custom grooming boxes, dazzling ribbons, and — where age appropriate — adult spirits!
Courtesy of On the Bit Events Facebook Page.
Courtesy of On the Bit Events Facebook Page.
Congratulations to all the Area I winners and GVRDC for putting on a fantastic event! We hope to see all of you and many more at the AECs in just a couple short weeks.
Go Eventing.
Championship Results at GVRDC:
