For Immediate Release

Clara Lindner for Equestrian Sport Productions

Wellington, FL - February 20, 2010 - Hunter action continued on Friday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center as Junior and Amateur hunters vied for the top prizes in their divisions.  Ten more spots were secured for this week's featured class, the WCHR/AHJF Hunter Spectacular, which will take place Saturday, February 20^th at 7 p.m. at the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.

In the Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunters, Laura Sexton rode her horse Zoom to the championship honors. Sexton enjoyed riding in the International Arena on Thursday, and noted, "This is my favorite week of the year. I always love going in that field and galloping around. It's so much fun, especially on a horse that you can just gallop and that backs off the jumps."

Sexton bought Zoom about a year and half ago from Jennifer Waxman, and must commute from New York on weekends to compete in the Amateur-Owners. Sexton is originally from Greenwich, CT, but is currently attending the Bank Street College of Education in New York City.

Sexton plans to show Zoom, an eight-year-old Hanoverian gelding, tonight under the lights in the WCHR/AHJF Hunter Spectacular. "I can't wait to go under the lights. I have all the confidence in him, which makes a big difference," Sexton beamed.

The reserve champion ribbon in the Amateur-Owner Hunters 18-35 was awarded to Sarah Ward and her mount, Isaac.

Jane Gaston, of The Plains, VA, continued her winning streak this week in the Amateur-Owner Hunters 36 & Over. This time Gaston took home the championship ribbon with her horse, Lumiere.  Gaston has owned the nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding for five years.

"He's a great horse that you can do whatever you want with. I keep him at home and take him cross-country. He goes wherever you want him to go," Gaston commented.

Lumiere and Gaston will be competing in the International Arena under the lights as well. The duo had stellar performances in the International Arena on Thursday, earning a score of 90 in one of the rounds.

"He was awesome out there. I love riding out there on a horse like him because he's got a big step and a lot of power, and for once you actually get to use the power, rather than cantering around a normal ring. It's good fun," Gaston said of her experience in the International Arena.

 

 

Jane Gaston and Lumiere
 

The Amateur-Owner Hunter 36 & Over Reserve Championship was awarded to John Ingram and John & Stephanie Ingram's Hush.  The pair will also try their luck under the lights tomorrow night.

The Large Junior Hunter 16-17 had so many entries this week that the division was split into two sections.  Emerging victorious in the first section, and claiming the overall high point award for the division was 16-year-old Taylor Ann Adams and Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Oare's Rosalynn.

Adams, a native of Tennessee, was full of compliments for Rosalynn, an eight-year-old mare. "Rosie is the best. She is so smart. She's like my best friend, I can really trust her. She's always there when I need her, and tells me when I do it wrong," Adams said of Rosalynn.

The pair was very successful this week, earning scores of 89 and 90 on Thursday to win both over fences classes, and took home the third and first place ribbons on Friday.

When asked if she plans to compete tomorrow night, Adams responded, "Of course!" "We're going to go, and we're going to go for the win!" said owner, Ernest Oare with a smile.

Katie Dinan and Katherine Dinan LLC's Allejandro were the champions of the B section of the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division.

The 16-year-old New York native has owned Allejandro for a little over three years. "He's a lot of fun. He loves Florida, and WEF (shows) are always his best," Dinan acknowledged. "He's a little on the slower side, so I really need to make sure I get my pace before I start, and keep him straight," she said of her 11-year-old gelding.

Dinan is thrilled to get the chance to compete again in the AHJF Hunter Spectacular of Palm Beach. She has shown in the class before, but never with Allejandro.  "I'm really excited. I think he'll be good under the lights, but either way it's a fun class to go into, and it's something I look forward to every year," Dinan smiled.

The two reserve champion ribbons were awarded to Jessica Springsteen and Stone Hill Farm's Class Action, as well as Samantha Schaefer, who rode Molly Gardner's Fiyero.

The championship tricolor in the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 was awarded to Kelsey Thatcher aboard Stone Hill Farm's Sublime.  The reserve championship was claimed by Samantha Schaefer and Seventh Heaven, owned by Lora and Michael Schultz.

The final competitors for tonight's AHJF Hunter Spectacular of Palm Beach will be decided this afternoon when the Junior Hunter divisions conclude.

For full results please visit www.shownet.biz or www.equestriansport.com.

The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 13 through April 4. WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are "AA" rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $5.5 million in prize money will be awarded.

WEF is proud to be supported by their title sponsor, FTI Consulting, Inc. FTI Consulting, Inc. exists to help companies and their stakeholders protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex economic, legal and regulatory environment.  FTI is the trusted advisor entrenched in many of the game-changing events that make headlines, move markets and create business history. For more information, please visit www.fticonsulting.com.

During the 12 weeks of WEF, "Saturday Night Lights" headlines the entertainment each Saturday night where spectators not only enjoy the Grand Prix class, but a street carnival, live music, and numerous dining options with box seats, sports bars, and the famed Tiki Hut for front row fun.

Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.