Photo Credit: Jessica Springsteen and Tiziano, who were champions of the Large Junior Hunters, Grand Junior Hunter Champion, Best Junior Hunter Round award and Best Child Rider award. Photo © 2008 Randi Muster. This photo may be used free of charge only in relation to this press release.
Jessica Springsteen Is Victorious At The Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament Featuring The 125th National Horse Show
Syracuse, NY – October 31, 2008 – The weather was noticeably warmer today at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament featuring The 125th National Horse Show. Exhibitors and spectators showed up festive in orange and black for Halloween, which also happens to be The National Horse Show colors. The horse show is being held at the Oncenter Complex in downtown Syracuse and will run through November 2.
After the professional hunter classes concluded last night, it was determined that the Leading Hunter Rider award went to Jennifer Alfano. Alfano rides for SBS Farms, which is led by Susie Schoellkopf and based in Buffalo, NY. Alfano was presented with the The Leading Hunter Rider Challenge Trophy.
The junior hunters were the first classes of the day and competed for championship honors. The first course for both divisions was a handy round. It was a twisting, turning course made up of many single fences and a snake fence.
Champion of the Small Junior Hunters was Lucy Davis aboard Red Rooster, who is owned by Old Oak Farm. Over the past two days, Davis piloted Red Rooster to two first place ribbons. Davis was presented with The “Follow Me” Challenge Trophy. Reserve champion was Jessica Springsteen and Sublime.
“It is really great to win here at The National Horse Show. It is a great way to end the year; for me and for Rooster,” said Davis. “We have worked hard this year, and it is nice to do well. It is really fun out there in the ring. It’s exciting. I love it.”
Davis thought the handy course was challenging, but thought it was a good way to separate the good from the best riders.
“I thought it was a great handy course. I think it really tested the riders. I just wanted to get around with a solid trip, but that didn’t really work out so well,” said Davis. “After the shaky first trip I just wanted to lay down a good round and do the best I could. I think he was great, and we did well.”
Jessica Springsteen continued her success in the Large Junior Hunters where she and her eight-year-old horse Tiziano took home Large Junior Hunter Champion. Springsteen had two firsts, a fourth, and fifth place ribbons in the division. For her championship win, she took home The “Whiskey Before Breakfast” Memorial Challenge Trophy.
“I only got to watch one person go in the handy class, and I did not know my course. I was third to go, and as I was getting ready to go across the street a big truck got in the way,” said Springsteen. “So I hopped off and ran to the ring. I was able to watch one person go before me; I was afraid that I was going to go off course, but it all worked out. There was an inside turn that I wasn’t supposed to do, but I just kept turning because I didn’t want to forget where I was going.”
Springsteen took home several other awards as well. The “Blue By You” Memorial Challenge Trophy was presented to her in honor of the Best Junior Hunter Round award. In addition, Springsteen was also Grand Junior Hunter Champion and took home The “Theodorus Van Wyck Cusny” Memorial Challenge Trophy. She also received the Best Child Rider award.
“It has been really fun this year. All of my horses couldn’t have gone any better,” said Springsteen. “I am really happy with the way things have turned out. I am really excited. I think now I am going to take a few weeks off and catch up on my school work.”
Tomorrow, the day is scheduled to begin at 6:30 a.m. and begin with the ASPCA Maclay Championship. The class will conclude with the top 20 riders called back to compete in the second round, which is scheduled to begin after the $15,000 TK99 Speed Derby and the $5,000 Empire Tractor Ride & Drive at 2:10 p.m. The evening performance will be the $100,000 Budweiser FEI World Cup Qualifier of Syracuse. This event is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
For more information and to view full results, please visit www.syracuseinvitational.com
Photo Credit: Jessica Springsteen and Tiziano, who were Large Junior Hunter Champions, Grand Junior Hunter Champions, Best Junior Hunter Round award and Best Child Rider award. Photo © 2008 Randi Muster. This photo may be used free of charge only in relation to this press release.